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PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Patients with cleft lip -palate (CLP) experience morbidity and social stigma, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as those of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Delays in treatment secondary either to lack of awareness, skills, equipment and consumables; poor health infrastructure, limited resources or a combination of them, has led to SSA having the highest rates of death and second highest rates of disability-adjusted life years in patients with CLP globally. Here we review current perspectives on the state of comprehensive cleft lip and palate repair in Africa. RECENT FINDINGS: To bridge gaps in government health services, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have emerged to provide care through short-term surgical interventions (STSIs). These groups can effect change through direct provision of care, whereas others strengthen internal system. However, sustainability is lacking as there continue to be barriers to achieving comprehensive and longitudinal cleft care in SSA, including a lack of awareness of CLP as a treatable condition, prohibitive costs, poor follow-up, and insufficient surgical infrastructure. With dedicated local champions, a comprehensive approach, and reliable partners, establishing sustainable CLP services is possible in countries with limited resources. SUMMARY: The replacement of CLP missions with locally initiated, internationally supported capacity building initiatives, integrated into local healthcare systems will prove sustainable in the long-term.

Exposure to high and low ambient temperatures increases the risk of neonatal mortality, but the contribution of climate change to temperature-related neonatal deaths is unknown. We use Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data (n = 40,073) from 29 low- and middle-income countries to estimate the temperature-related burden of neonatal deaths between 2001 and 2019 that is attributable to climate change. We find that across all countries, 4.3% of neonatal deaths were associated with non-optimal temperatures. Climate change was responsible for 32% (range: 19-79%) of heat-related neonatal deaths, while reducing the respective cold-related burden by 30% (range: 10-63%). Climate change has impacted temperature-related neonatal deaths in all study countries, with most pronounced climate-induced losses from increased heat and gains from decreased cold observed in countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Future increases in global mean temperatures are expected to exacerbate the heat-related burden, which calls for ambitious mitigation and adaptation measures to safeguard the health of newborns.

Two of every three persons living with dementia reside in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The projected increase in global dementia rates is expected to affect LMICs disproportionately. However, the majority of global dementia care costs occur in high-income countries (HICs), with dementia research predominantly focusing on HICs. This imbalance necessitates LMIC-focused research to ensure that characterization of dementia accurately reflects the involvement and specificities of diverse populations. Development of effective preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches for dementia in LMICs requires targeted, personalized, and harmonized efforts. Our article represents timely discussions at the 2022 Symposium on Dementia and Brain Aging in LMICs that identified the foremost opportunities to advance dementia research, differential diagnosis, use of neuropsychometric tools, awareness, and treatment options. We highlight key topics discussed at the meeting and provide future recommendations to foster a more equitable landscape for dementia prevention, diagnosis, care, policy, and management in LMICs. HIGHLIGHTS: Two-thirds of persons with dementia live in LMICs, yet research and costs are skewed toward HICs. LMICs expect dementia prevalence to more than double, accompanied by socioeconomic disparities. The 2022 Symposium on Dementia in LMICs addressed advances in research, diagnosis, prevention, and policy. The Nairobi Declaration urges global action to enhance dementia outcomes in LMICs.

We report a case of Taenia solium taeniasis in a 10-year-old child in Timor-Leste, confirmed by molecular analysis, suggesting T. solium transmission to humans is occurring in Timor-Leste. Proactive measures [...]

Role theory generally predicts that when the demands and norms of two roles are highly contrasted, individuals will construct a strong boundary to separate the roles. However, such predictions are grounded primarily in the Global North, emphasizing role pairings including "work–family" and hybrid "work–work." Comparatively, the Global South is characterized by a lack of public services that creates a highly contrasted, highly salient, and yet understudied role pairing—"work–community." Additionally, the socioeconomic features of the Global South (e.g., dense and overlapping community networks, financial poverty) call into question whether existing predictions surrounding boundary strength are likely to hold. We conducted a qualitative study of 73 Tanzanian participants who had both a self-employed work role and a family planning counselor community role. We found that highly contrasted roles can be simultaneously perceived as both incompatible and compatible. Specifically, the boundaries we observed were neither uniformly strong nor weak, but rather of asymmetric strength: strong when a social interaction was anchored in the community role, but weak when anchored in the work role. The specific role contrasts we identify, and the importance of role anchoring we observe, have important implications for role theory and boundary-setting more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundEach year an estimated 2.3 million newborns die in the first 28 days of life. Most of these deaths are preventable, and high-quality neonatal care is fundamental for surviving and thriving. Service readiness is used to assess the capacity of hospitals to provide care, but current health facility assessment (HFA) tools do not fully evaluate inpatient small and sick newborn care (SSNC).MethodsHealth systems ingredients for SSNC were identified from international guidelines, notably World Health Organization (WHO), and other standards for SSNC. Existing global and national service readiness tools were identified and mapped against this ingredients list. A novel HFA tool was co-designed according to a priori considerations determined by policymakers from four African governments, including that the HFA be completed in one day and assess readiness across the health system. The tool was reviewed by > 150 global experts, and refined and operationalised in 64 hospitals in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania between September 2019 and March 2021.ResultsEight hundred and sixty-six key health systems ingredients for service readiness for inpatient SSNC were identified and mapped against four global and eight national tools measuring SSNC service readiness. Tools revealed major content gaps particularly for devices and consumables, care guidelines, and facility infrastructure, with a mean of 13.2% (n = 866, range 2.2-34.4%) of ingredients included. Two tools covered 32.7% and 34.4% (n = 866) of ingredients and were used as inputs for the new HFA tool, which included ten modules organised by adapted WHO health system building blocks, including: infrastructure, pharmacy and laboratory, medical devices and supplies, biomedical technician workshop, human resources, information systems, leadership and governance, family-centred care, and infection prevention and control. This HFA tool can be conducted at a hospital by seven assessors in one day and has been used in 64 hospitals in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania.ConclusionThis HFA tool is available open-access to adapt for use to comprehensively measure service readiness for level-2 SSNC, including respiratory support. The resulting facility-level data enable comparable tracking for Every Newborn Action Plan coverage target four within and between countries, identifying facility and national-level health systems gaps for action.

BackgroundHundreds of millions of people become infected globally every year while seeking care in health facilities that lack basic needs like infection control measures and personal protective equipment (PPE). We aimed to evaluate the availability of infection control items and PPE in eight low- and middle-income countries and identify disparities in the availability of those items.MethodsIn this study, we combined publicly available nationally representative cross-sectional health system surveys (Service Provision Assessments by the Demographic and Health Survey Programme) conducted in eight countries between 2013 and 2018: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Malawi, Nepal, Senegal, and Tanzania. The availability of infection control items was evaluated using a list of six items (a waste receptacle, a sharps container, disinfectant, single-use disposable or auto-disposable syringes, soap and running water, or an alcohol-based hand rub, and guidelines for standard precautions). PPE includes four items: gloves, medical masks, gowns, and eye protection. We considered these items available in a facility if they were observed in general outpatient areas or any service-specific area (i.e. delivery room).ResultsWe analysed data from 7948 health facilities (694 hospitals and 7254 health centres/clinics). Overall, among the infection control items and PPE, most surveyed facilities had high availability of single-use disposable or auto-disposable syringes (91.40%) and latex gloves (92.56%). Of infection control measures, guidelines for infection control were the least available during the survey, with the lowest (6.15%) in Nepal and the highest (68.18%) in Malawi. Of the PPE items, eye protection was the least available during the survey, with the lowest (5.4% in Senegal) and the highest (28.17%) in Haiti. Only 1567 (19.71%) facilities looked to have all the basic infection control materials, and 1023 (12.87%) of the analysed facilities possessed all of the PPE. Within the same country, the availability of items varied more between hospitals and health centres/clinics than between them.ConclusionsAll eight of our study countries experience shortages of the most fundamental standard precaution items to avert infection. Steps must be taken in each of these countries to reduce inadequacies and disparities and enhance efficiency in the conversion of health-system inputs into the facility's availability of standard precaution items for infection control - to curb the risk of infectious disease transmission.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, approximately one in six inpatient antibiotic prescriptions are for surgical-infection prophylaxis, including postoperative prophylaxis. The WHO recommends against prolonged postoperative antibiotics to prevent surgical-site infection. However, in many low- and middle-income countries, postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis is common due to perceptions that it protects against surgical-site infection and data informing recommendations against antibiotic administration are largely derived from high-income countries. The aim of this study was to describe postoperative antibiotic-prescribing patterns and related surgical-site infection rates in hospitals in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: Patients from 19 hospitals in Ethiopia, Madagascar, India, and Bolivia with wound class I and II operations were included. Data on antibiotic administration, indication, surgical-site infection, length of hospital stay, and adherence to perioperative infection-prevention standards were collected by trained personnel. The association between postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis for greater than or equal to 24 h and surgical-site infection was analysed via modified robust Poisson regression, controlling for patient and procedural factors and degree of adherence to perioperative infection-prevention practices. RESULTS: Of 8714 patients, 92.9% received antibiotics for prophylaxis after surgery and 27.7% received antibiotics for greater than or equal to 24 h. Patients receiving postoperative prophylaxis for greater than or equal to 24 h did not have lower surgical-site infection rates (Relative risk 1.09 (95% c.i. 0.89 to 1.33); P = 0.399), but the length of hospital stay was 1.4 days longer (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Prolonged postoperative antibiotics did not reduce surgical-site infection, but pervasive use was associated with a longer length of hospital stay, in resource-limited healthcare systems. With the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, surgical initiatives to implement antimicrobial stewardship programmes in low- and middle-income countries are critical.

Ecosystems generate a wide range of benefits for humans, including some market goods as well as other benefits that are not directly reflected in market activity1. Climate change will alter the distribution of ecosystems around the world and change the flow of these benefits2,3. However, the specific implications of ecosystem changes for human welfare remain unclear, as they depend on the nature of these changes, the value of the affected benefits and the extent to which communities rely on natural systems for their well-being4. Here we estimate country-level changes in economic production and the value of non-market ecosystem benefits resulting from climate-change-induced shifts in terrestrial vegetation cover, as projected by dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) driven by general circulation climate models. Our results show that the annual population-weighted mean global flow of non-market ecosystem benefits valued in the wealth accounts of the World Bank will be reduced by 9.2% in 2100 under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway SSP2-6.0 with respect to the baseline no climate change scenario and that the global population-weighted average change in gross domestic product (GDP) by 2100 is -1.3% of the baseline GDP. Because lower-income countries are more reliant on natural capital, these GDP effects are regressive. Approximately 90% of these damages are borne by the poorest 50% of countries and regions, whereas the wealthiest 10% experience only 2% of these losses.

This study investigated successful strategies for engaging students in sustainable initiatives and encouraging a sense of accountability and ownership for sustainable development. Using a qualitative study methodology, eighty-three (83) administrators and lecturers from ten (10) Ugandan higher institutions participated in in-depth interviews. The data revealed eight major themes: awareness and education, practical engagement and hands-on activities, integration into the curriculum, student leadership and ownership, community and collaboration, recognition and reward, personal relevance and connection, and long-term impact and legacy. These results are consistent with international best practices in sustainability education, highlighting the necessity of an all-encompassing strategy incorporating knowledge dissemination with practical experience and active student involvement. Nonetheless, by offering context-specific insights pertinent to developing nations like Uganda, where such strategies have not received enough attention, our study attempts to address the literature gap. The findings highlight the importance of institutional support and offer practical suggestions for university administrators, educators, and policymakers who want to increase student involvement in sustainability projects. This study adds to the expanding body of information on sustainability education and provides a useful framework for using higher education to promote a sustainable future. Article Highlights: A key strategy for making sure that sustainability ideas become established in the educational system is to incorporate sustainability into the curriculum Systems of rewards and recognition inspire students and reaffirm the importance of their contributions. Making sustainability personally relevant to students increases their engagement and commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In global impact modeling, there is a need to address the heterogeneous characteristics of households and individuals that drive different behavioral responses to, for example, environmental risk, socio-economic policy changes and spread of diseases. In this research, we present GLOPOP-S, the first global synthetic population dataset with 1,999,227,130 households and 7,335,881,094 individuals for the year 2015, consistent with population statistics at an administrative unit 1 level. GLOPOS-S contains the following attributes: age, education, gender, income/wealth, settlement type (urban/rural), household size, household type, and for selected countries in the Global South, ownership of agricultural land and dwelling characteristics. To generate GLOPOP-S, we use microdata from the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS) and Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and apply synthetic reconstruction techniques to fit national survey data to regional statistics, thereby accounting for spatial differences within and across countries. Additionally, we have developed methods to generate data for countries without available microdata. The dataset can be downloaded per region or country. GLOPOP-S is open source and can be extended with other attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper builds on decolonizing educational research discourse. Rich, generative, and diverse forms of knowledge production, includes that of the Caribbean. Specifically, the paper uses the Black Caribbean method of Liming, which is an indigenous methodology. The paper illustrates how educational research practices can be enriched by Black and Caribbean ways of thinking, being and knowing. This diversity would support a pivot from Western methods. The author employs reflections from her dissertation writing and research experience, while highlighting the dire need to incorporate and institutionalize methods from Black scholars, Black communities, and the Global South. Via this paper, I illustrate how Liming has allowed for greater discourse, and learning with the diverse communities served. Liming's contributions are beneficial in educational research as well its utility for other areas of research. Lastly, this paper processes the idea that Caribbean, African-centric, and Black, knowledge- making such as Liming are liberatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurses play a crucial role in the adoption and continued use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), especially in developing countries. Existing literature scarcely addresses how personality traits and organisational support influence nurses' decision to persist with EHR use in these regions. This study developed a model combining the Five-Factor Model (FFM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to explore the impact of personality traits and organisational support on nurses' continuance intention to use EHR systems. Data were collected via a self-reported survey from 472 nurses across 10 public hospitals in Jordan and analyzed using a structural equation modeling approach (Smart PLS-SEM 4). The analysis revealed that personality traits, specifically Openness, Experience, and Conscientiousness, significantly influence nurses' decisions to continue using EHR systems. Furthermore, organisational support, enhanced by Performance Expectancy and Facilitating Conditions, positively affected their ongoing commitment to EHR use. The findings underscore the importance of considering individual personality traits and providing robust organisational support in promoting sustained EHR usage among nurses. These insights are vital for healthcare organisations aiming to foster a conducive environment for EHR system adoption, thereby enhancing patient care outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Until local healthcare infrastructure is strengthened, cardiac surgical care in low- and middle-income countries is often provided by non-governmental organizations by way of visiting healthcare teams. This is generally considered to be a cost-effective alternative to transporting patients to high income countries for surgical care, but the costs of cardiac surgery consumables under this model are poorly understood. Our objective was to identify the per-patient cost of cardiac surgery consumables used in single and double valve replacements performed by a non-governmental organization in Rwanda. Methods: Financial data from 2020 were collected from Team Heart, a non-governmental organization that supports cardiac surgical care in Rwanda. A comprehensive list of consumables was generated, including surgical, perfusion, anesthesia, and inpatient supplies and medications. Acknowledging the variability in perioperative needs, the quantities of consumables were calculated from an average of six patients who underwent single or double-valve replacement in 2020. Total costs were calculated by multiplying purchasing price by average quantity per patient. Costs absorbed by the local hospital were excluded from the calculations. Results: The total cost per patient was estimated at $9,450. Surgical supplies comprised the majority of costs ($6,140 per patient), with the most substantial cost being that of replacement valves ($3,500 per valve), followed by surgical supplies ($1,590 per patient). Conclusions: This preliminary analysis identifies a cost of just over $9,000 per patient for consumables used in cardiac valve surgery in Rwanda, which is lower than the estimated costs of transporting patients to centers in high income countries. This work highlights the relative cost effectiveness of cardiac surgical care in low- and middle- income countries under this model and will be instrumental in guiding the allocation of local and international resources in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D printing (3DP) has emerged as a disruptive manufacturing technology that benefits both the manufacturing and educational sectors. The emergence of low-cost and affordable 3D printers has facilitated the widespread use of 3DP technology, particularly in higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing countries. Despite its promising benefits, 3DP is still poorly adopted in developing countries. While research has explored the use and adoption of 3DP in education within developed nations, little research has been conducted on the integration of 3DP to capitalize on its benefits in developing countries. Therefore, in this study, we aim to investigate the perspectives of students and faculty members in higher education (HE) regarding 3DP integration in the classroom. A survey was conducted with 307 participants (272 students and 35 faculty members) at 12 Vietnamese universities where 3DP education is offered. We found that a misaligned curriculum, lack of training for faculty members, the high cost of materials and equipment, English language barriers, and limited student exposure to 3DP technology were significant obstacles to 3DP education. Several recommendations have been provided to address these challenges; for instance, faculty members and industry professionals need collaboration to ensure that the curriculum is current and that faculty members receive adequate training to teach 3DP effectively. This study provides guidelines for faculty members and policymakers to reinforce 3DP education for sustainable development in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) remain one of the leading causes of maternal mortality globally, especially in Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To reduce the burden of associated morbidity and mortality, standardized prompt recognition, evaluation, and treatment have been proposed. Health disparities, barriers to access to healthcare, and shortage of resources influence these conditions. We aimed to synthesize the literature evidence for the management of HDPs in LMICs. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Epistemonikos, Clinical Key and, Scielo) using MeSh terms, keywords, and Boolean connectors. We summarized the included studies according to the following categories: study design, objectives, settings, participant characteristics, eligibility criteria, interventions, assessed outcomes, and general findings. Results: Six hundred fifty-one articles were retrieved from the literature search in five databases. Following the selection process, 65 articles met the predefined eligibility criteria. After performing a full-text analysis, 27 articles were included. Three themes were identified from the articles reviewed: prevention of HDPs, management of HDPs (antihypertensive and non-hypertensive management) and pregnancy monitoring and follow-up. The topics were approached from the perspective of LMICs. Conclusions: LMICs face substantial limitations and obstacles in the comprehensive management of HDPs. While management recommendations in most LMICs align with international guidelines, several factors, including limited access to crucial medications, unavailability of diagnostic tests, deficiencies in high-quality healthcare infrastructure, restrictions on continuing professional development, a shortage of trained personnel, community perceptions of preeclampsia, and outdated local clinical practice guidelines, impede the comprehensive management of patients. The development and implementation of protocols, standardized guides and intervention packages are a priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This research aims to evaluate patterns of prescription of medications used to manage acute agitation in adult Iranian patients at the emergency department (ED) of Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital in Tehran. Method: The study analyzed data from the medical records of 252 patients who received pharmacotherapy for agitation. Results: The findings revealed that 181 patients (71.82%) were given typical antipsychotics, with haloperidol being the most commonly prescribed medication. Atypical antipsychotics were administered to 24 participants (9.52%), primarily olanzapine, and 52 patients (20.63%) received benzodiazepines, predominantly lorazepam. The treatment response was also assessed as appropriate in 224 patients (88.89%) and inappropriate in 28 patients (11.11%). Conclusion: The study recommends providing new-generation medications to developing countries and underscores the importance of updating student educational programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, the US pursues the global capture of data (understood as a significant engine of growth) by way of bi- and plurilateral trade agreements. However, the project of securing the global free flow of data has been pursued ever since the dawn of digital telecommunication in the 1960s and the US has made significant legal efforts to institutionalise it. These efforts have two phases: In the first 1970s and 80s "freedom of information" phase, the legal justification (and contestation) of the global free flow of data hinged on imagining data as information, and its exchange as a practice of liberty. The second phase began in the late 1990s and continues today. In this phase, the free flow of data is aligned with a free-trade agenda in the context of first e-commerce and, starting in the 2000s, through attempts at creating a global public domain of personal data for the platform economy. The global free flow of data is an intrinsic aspect of informational capitalism. Assuming a constitutive, but not commanding role for law in informational capitalism, we conclude that the US attempt at ensuring free flow for its informational corporations is neither an entirely contingent nor a necessary outcome. It is a product of legal imagination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the construction industry's detrimental effects on environmental sustainability, the concept of green procurement (GP) is still relatively new in the developing world. The barriers hindering GP adoption need detailed investigation as studies in the context of developing countries are still limited and the underlying dimensions remain a known-unknown. This study appraised the critical barriers to GP adoption in the Malaysian construction industry. Twenty (20) barriers were identified from the detailed literature review and a field survey was conducted with 150 professionals. The ranking analysis results indicated the top five barriers are: high initial cost; lack of expertise and regulations; lack of government regulations; lack of top management commitment and lack of awareness among construction stakeholders. A factor analysis further identified five major underlying dimensions. The study showed that both government and organisational commitments are crucial in promoting GP adoption. This study adds to incremental knowledge in GP literature by analysing the critical barriers and the associated underlying dimensions to GP adoption in a developing country, which could help practitioners and policymakers in evaluating the organisation's or industry's readiness to adopt GP practices along with devising apt measures to mitigate the barriers to shift to sustainable and environmentally friendly construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on 662 studies from 102 countries, we present a systematic review of published empirical studies about site-level biodiversity conservation initiated between 1970 and 2019. Within this sample, we find that knowledge production about the Global South is largely produced by researchers in the Global North, implying a neocolonial power dynamic. We also find evidence of bias in reported ecological outcomes linked to lack of independence in scientific studies, serving to uphold narratives about who should lead conservation. We explore relationships in the sample studies between conservation initiative types, the extent of Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' influence in governance, and reported social and ecological outcomes. Findings reveal positive ecological and social outcomes are strongly associated with higher levels of influence of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and their institutions, implying equity in conservation practice should be advanced not only for moral reasons, but because it can enhance conservation effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health concern, ranking as the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. However, in Africa, CRC is the fifth most common invasive malignancy. Limited data hinder our understanding of the evolving burden of CRC in sub-Saharan Africa. This study explores CRC trends in Mozambique, utilising data from population-based oncological registries. Methods: CRC data were gathered from Beira and Maputo population-based cancer registries, along with supplementary information from pathology-based and hospital-based registries. Comparative analyses were performed across different time periods, focusing on trends and epidemiological characteristics. Results: Incidence rates of CRC in Maputo and Beira were relatively low historically. However, data from recent years showed an increase, especially in age groups above 50. Analyses from pathology-based and hospital-based registries affirmed the rising trend. The age-standardised incidence rate in Maputo (2015-2017) was 3.17 for males and 2.55 for females. Beira exhibited increasing rates between 2009 and 2020, particularly in individuals aged 50 and above. Conclusion: The study reveals an emerging burden of CRC in Mozambique, challenging the perception of low incidence. The rising trend underscores the necessity for tailored interventions, emphasizing early diagnosis, preventive strategies, and investments in healthcare infrastructure to address the increasing CRC burden in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has struck the construction industry gravely. Accordingly, numerous studies reported the impact of COVID-19 on various aspects of the construction industry and projects. However, there exists no framework that can guide the evaluation of holistic impact of COVID-19 on a construction project specifically for developing countries. To fulfill this knowledge gap, this study conducted state-of-the-art review of recent related journal articles from developing countries and developed an eight-dimensional assessment framework to assess the impact of COVID-19 on construction projects. These eight dimensions include: (1) on-site safety measures, (2) productivity, (3) supply chain management, (4) transportation, (5) labor issues, (6) time and cost performances, (7) contractual implications, and (8) social impact. Additionally, to demonstrate the usefulness of the framework, the study utilized the framework to assess four projects in three developing countries: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Finally, the study presented the best practices to mitigate the impacts of any future wave of COVID-19 on construction projects. The developed framework holds potential applications ranging from policy planning to construction operations under COVID-19 and similar pandemics. It can be implemented to assess the impacts of COVID-19 on the construction industry, evaluating project performance across eight dimensions. Moreover, it aids in the development of COVID-19 impact management actions to control project performance. Additionally, the framework assists in building organizational resilience for managing construction projects under the challenges posed by COVID-19 or similar pandemic scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In today's world, the socio-economic statuses of women and men have evolved; however, the effects of masculine ideologies are still evident, particularly in developing and underdeveloped countries. The function of governments as a shield that protects the interests of men is widely believed to be historically and institutionally related to this inequality of opportunities. As a result, the present paper has investigated the role of political structure and power on gender inequalities using two methods of variance analysis and random forest, as well as over 2500 observations from 94 countries between 1970 and 2020. For this purpose, Hofstede's cultural dimensions and political rights and civil liberties indicators were implemented. Based on the variance analysis, two dimensions of democratic political structure were found to be significantly involved in the explanation of the disparity between gender development and gender inequality, particularly the primary difference between not-free and partly-free countries and free countries. In order to experience a society with minimal gender discrimination, it is imperative to prioritize civil liberties and political rights, as the random forest results also confirmed. However, the results concerning cultural characteristics are exceedingly susceptible to fluctuations and are contingent upon the sample or gender index . A policy trade-off between gender freedom and development is not presented to policymakers in developing and underdeveloped countries; rather, they are presented with an all-or-nothing choice. Reducing gender inequality and achieving a free political system are two aspects of the same coin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric review of the scientific literature on women's entrepreneurship in agriculture across developed and developing countries. The paper delineates the evolving landscape, challenges, and opportunities that shape women's entrepreneurship experiences in agriculture in the contexts of developed and developing countries. Through a detailed bibliometric analysis of 728 papers from 1992 to 2022, employing performance analysis and science mapping, our methodology distinguishes itself by quantifying contributions and mapping the thematic evolution within this domain. Our study reveals the significant contributions of women entrepreneurs to agricultural innovation, sustainability, and rural development while facing systemic biases, limited access to resources, and societal stereotypes that hinder their entrepreneurial path. The paper underscores the disparity in women's entrepreneurship between developed and developing regions, with developed countries showcasing lower participation rates in agricultural entrepreneurship but a higher presence in decision-making roles within agribusinesses. In contrast, developing countries display a higher engagement of women in entrepreneurship, driven by necessity and marked by significant contributions to food security and economic stability, though under challenging conditions. Notably, the paper highlights the underrepresentation of women's agricultural endeavours in scholarly research, pointing to a gap in the documentation and understanding of their contributions. The study reveals emerging themes such as digital agriculture, climate resilience, sustainability, and innovation, pointing towards future research directions that could further empower women in agriculture. It calls for more inclusive research and policy-making to recognise and support women's vital role in agriculture, advocating for a holistic approach to address women entrepreneurs' challenges in different economic contexts. Through this analysis, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of gender dynamics in agricultural entrepreneurship and suggests pathways for fostering more equitable and sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-government is a prominent approach in environmental sustainability as it brings various arrangements that allow for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. The article explores two main objectives. Firstly, the direct impact of e-government on ecological sustainability and secondly, whether e-government enhances environmental sustainability indirectly by improving state capacity. By understanding this nexus, we believe that states in LDCs will seek to explore the maximum potential benefits of ICTs in government operations to establish a more responsive, open, and people-oriented government. The paper utilizes a balanced macro-panel sample of 45 United Nations classified least developed countries from 2003 to 2022. To ensure the reliability of empirical findings, three econometric methods--system generalized methods of moments (GMM), instrumental variable GMM (IV-GMM), and bootstrap ordinary least squares (BOLS) are employed. The results of the entire sample model reveal several key findings. These findings are that e-government development has a direct and positive impact on environmental sustainability, secondly state capacity negatively influences ecological sustainability, and lastly e-government development indirectly affects environmental sustainability by enhancing state capacity. Additionally, intriguing sub-sample findings for least developed countries in Africa and Asia are observed, with notable lessons from the latter, where environmental performance is improving at the expense of a high volume of carbon emissions. However, these overall findings underscore the importance of considering how governments can address environmental sustainability requirements by managing e-government programs and enacting responsible ICT-enabled transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The humanitarian discourse has recently shifted towards bolstering the intervention capacities of affected countries and communities through "localization." However, the implementation of this approach has encountered challenges and disappointments, partly due to conventional short-term interventions driven by external organizations rather than beneficiaries. Empowering women in developing nations is vital for gender equality and women's rights, given the barriers they face such as unequal access to resources and underrepresentation in governance. Malawi"s context, marked by poverty, limited access to education and healthcare, and cultural norms posing barriers to gender equity, complicates efforts to address inequalities against women. This article explores how localization, particularly through local NGOs, can advance women's rights in Malawi by challenging gender norms. While recognizing its potential, caution is advised to avoid reinforcing past exclusions. This research investigates how aid localization, leveraging identification, affects gender equality and women's rights in disaster management and humanitarian efforts. Through field research in Malawi, including 33 interviews with NGO members and beneficiaries, it underscores the role of localization in promoting gender equality and women's rights, advocating for a more equitable and locally responsive approach to humanitarian action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The few existing studies on the effect of Aid for Trade (AfT) flows on economic complexity have reached inconclusive outcomes. The present analysis re-examines this issue through the lens of the concept of 'quality of AfT flows' that takes into account not only the amount of AfT flows, but also the predictability and volatility of these capital inflows. A country enjoys a better quality of AfT flows if it receives higher AfT flows in predictable and less volatile fashions. We investigate the effect of the quality of AfT flows on economic complexity, over a set of 86 countries and the period from 2004 to 2019, and using the within fixed effects estimator and the Method of Moments Quantile Regression with fixed effects approach. The findings suggest that not only does a better quality of AfT flows fosters economic complexity in recipient countries, but its positive effect is larger in less complex economies (including poorest countries) than in relatively more complex economies among recipient countries. These findings reveal that what really matters for the enhancement of economic complexity in developing countries may not be only the amounts of the total AfT flows, but more importantly the predictability and the stability of these resource inflows. Improving the quality of AfT flows by increasing AfT amounts in predictable and stable fashions would be beneficial to developing countries and particularly to a greater extent to poorest countries among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the impact of Sustainable Tax Revenue and Expenditure on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in African countries using secondary data. The dataset was extracted from the World Development Indicators database. The large gap between developed and developing countries when comparing the probability of them achieving the SDGs was the main motivation behind this study. Data retrieved from 45 countries comprised of both African and developed countries for the period 2010–2020 was analyzed using the Generalized Method of Moments technique. The results revealed that the coefficients of grants received, various forms of taxes, and other revenue have a positive effect on economic growth but a negative effect on poverty and unemployment for African and developed countries. This finding suggests that improvements in tax revenue generation, grants and other revenue accumulation across different sources boost economic performance and the welfare of individuals in the analyzed countries. The outcome is an indication that accumulating more grants from different sources will help to achieve sustainable development, improve financial stability, contributes to the economic growth and development in these countries. This study can guide policymakers, governments, international institutions, revenue bodies such as SARS and other stakeholders in their various planning and other decision-making endeavors. Governments and other policymakers must ensure the efficient generation and sustainable utilization of revenue generated from taxes and other revenues to spur the growth and development of their countries. They should have Growth-Sustainability-Oriented Fiscal Adjustment Programs and Sustainable Government Expenditure that can help push and redirect governments to achieve the SDGs in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Child malnutrition is a grave concern for Pakistan, as the country has one of the highest incidences of child stunting in the developing world. The present study examines the relative significance of parents' education on a child's nutritional status in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach: For analysis, the study has used data from Phase 7 of the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) (2017–2018). Since the dependent variable ranges from 0 to 1 (1 indicates not a stunted child, while 0 represents a stunted child), binary logistic regressions are used for the analysis. Findings: The results show that mothers' and fathers' education positively contributes to a child's nutrition. However, mothers' education is considered more significant, especially in the long run. The mother's education categories are positive and significant in the long run, while only their higher education is positive and significant for the father's. Moreover, the magnitude of the effect also shows that the probability of stunting is less if the mothers are educated. The long-run coefficient for mothers' higher education is 0.752, while that of fathers' higher education is only 0.232. Originality/value: The present study compares the importance of mothers' and fathers' education in child nutrition and concludes that the role of the mother is more crucial for child upbringing. There are rarely any studies that focus on the role of fathers' education in child nutrition and compare whose role, mothers' or fathers,' is more important for child well-being. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-06-2023-0483 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The global presence of high blood pressure and depression poses a significant public health threat, particularly in emerging nations. High blood pressure and depression are inevitable among the working population of Ghana, and it is crucial to recognize the potential influence of these conditions on the working‐age population. Materials and Methods. The study analyzed the risk factors associated with high blood pressure and depression among the working population of Ghana. The data in this study were drawn from Wave 1 data of the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) survey, which was conducted by World Health Organization (WHO) in Ghana from January 2007 to December 2008. A longitudinal survey under the banner of SAGE was conducted. The study used 2681 participants aged 18–60 years. We modeled high blood pressure using logistic regression and depression with the proportional odds model of ordinal logistic regression. Results. The study revealed that the prevalence of depression among the working‐age population was 42.5%, whereas that of high blood pressure was 48.7%. The result also showed that males have a lower risk of developing high blood pressure and depression (OR = 0.851 and OR = 0.658, respectively) compared with females. Also, older adults (40–60 years) have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure and depression (OR = 1.992 and OR = 2.334, respectively) compared with younger adults. Other risk factors associated with high blood pressure include diabetes (2.107), depression, and weight. Last, alcohol intake (1.502), tobacco intake (1.279), and high blood pressure were found to be other risk factors associated with depression. Conclusion. The prevalence of depression and high blood pressure is high among the working population of Ghana. There is therefore the need to incorporate health awareness programs on these topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The global spread and accumulation of plastics in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial settings are of great concern to public health and the environment, especially in developing countries with few resources. In the Caribbean and Latin America, nearly 17,000 tons of plastic waste are generated and trashed daily in open dumpsites with attendant consequences for the environment, the economy, aquatic life, the beauty of sea beaches, and public health. The increased use of plastics threatens public health and the ecosystem. Main Body. This systematic review assessed the impact of plastic waste on the environment, economy, and public health in LAC by searching relevant databases such as PubMed, HINARI, Google Scholar, and Scopus. PRISMA and Rayyan software were used to select and analyze research articles for the review. Conclusions. The review showed that plastic pollution significantly impacts the environment, aquatic life, economy, and human health in LAC. The review further indicated that countries in LAC are working assiduously to address the issues associated with plastic pollution. The use of biodegradable plastics, cleanup campaigns, and policies/programs to reduce or ban plastics are some current efforts in many LAC countries. More research on the impact of plastic waste needs to be conducted, especially in the Caribbean, to address and mitigate the challenges of plastic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The debate remains open as to the difference in prevalence of mortality and occurrence of acute events in patients with Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) and others with Myocardial infarction with coronary arteries disease (MI-CAD). Methods: We conducted a 2-year retrospective study for patients admitted for Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) to analyze the clinical and prognostic characteristics of patients with MINOCA versus MI-CAD. We defined 1-year all-cause mortality as the primary outcome, and the secondary outcome as a composite of 1-year readmission for myocardial infarction or acute heart failure (AHF). Results: Our study included 1077 patients, 95.3% with MI-CAD and 4.7% with MINOCA. At admission, 71.1% patient were diagnosed STEMI and 28.9% with NSTEMI. The difference between the 2 groups was found on age (P <.001), hypertension, diabetes with consecutive P -values of.007 and.001, as well as Ejection fraction (P <.001). For the outcomes studied, the difference was significant between the 2 groups for all events, and MINOCA patients had a better prognosis than MI-CAD patients, with adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for 1-year mortality (HR = 0.601 P =.004), for readmission for ACS (HR = 0.662; P =.002) and for readmission for AHF (HR = 0.539; P =.019). Conclusion: Despite the ambiguity in the genesis of MINOCA, the short- and long-term prognosis of these patients remains generally favorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aquaculture industry will be crucial in helping the world's food supply and keep up with the demand. Aquaculture, like agriculture, must expand and develop sustainably in all the countries to keep up with the rising demand for food. To this end, the aquaculture industry has forged new scientific and technological frontiers in pursuit of long‐term food security. Among these is organic aquaculture, whose distinctive protocol has great potential to advance aquaculture. Organic aquaculture is being explored for multiple reasons, encompassing the aim to minimize environmental footprints, fulfill escalating consumer appetites for seafood, and contend within the industry this paper endeavors to address the gaps in current literature by offering an exhaustive overview of various aspects of organic aquaculture. This encompasses its regulation, production methods, food quality, environmental impact, economic viability, as well as socioeconomic and marketing aspects. It is necessary to acquire more knowledge about organic farming techniques before switching over to organic aquaculture on a large scale. Organic regulation, production, food quality, economic performance, and social and marketing issues are at the top. This review found that consumers lack understanding of organic principles, and regulations are inconsistently applied. However, organic aquaculture promotes social equality by protecting producers' rights to work without discrimination based on gender, race, or sexual orientation factors that ultimately boost the industry's popularity. Organic aquaculture viability varies depending on factors like feed costs, fixed expenses, and the premium pricing sensitivity, making it unfeasible for certain species. However, from both societal and economic standpoints, organic aquaculture appears most suitable for implementation in developing nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting the elderly. Relevant studies suggest a significant connection between the mitochondria and PD. Publications exploring this connection have steadily increased in recent years. This study employs a bibliometric approach to comprehensively analyze the current status and future directions of the research on mitochondria and PD. Method: We retrieved data from the Web of Science database and used CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and "Bibliometrix" software to visually analyze various aspects of the research field. These aspects included the number of published papers, contributing countries and institutions, authors, publishing journals, cited references, and keywords. Results: Our analysis identified a total of 3,291 publications involving 14,670 authors from 2,836 organizations across 78 countries. The publication volume exhibited a continuous upward trend from 1999 to 2023. The United States emerged as the leading force in this research area, contributing the highest number of high-quality publications. Notably, the United States collaborated extensively with Germany and the United Kingdom. The University of Pittsburgh stood out as the most prolific institution. Harvard University had the highest academic influence and closely cooperated with the University of Pittsburgh, Juntendo University, and McGill University. Dr. Hattori Nobutaka was identified as the most prolific author, while Dr. Youle, Richard J emerged as the most influential author based on the highest average citation frequency. The Journal of Neurochemistry was the most published journal. The most co-cited paper was titled "Hereditary early-onset Parkinson's disease caused by mutations in PINK1." The major keywords included oxidative stress, alpha-synuclein, pink1, mitophagy, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitofusin 2, ubiquitin, and mitochondrial quality control have been identified as new research hotspots in recent years. Conclusion: Mitochondria-PD research is experiencing a steady increase in activity, fueled by increasing close collaboration between countries and different institutions. However, there is a need to further strengthen collaboration and communication between developed and developing nations. Current research has focused on the specific mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction and their relationship with PD. Mitofusin 2, ubiquitin, and mitochondrial quality control are positioned to be the hotspots and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat alteration is recognized as one of the most important drivers of biodiversity decline. Urbanization implies a major habitat alteration and its impact on biodiversity depends on type and degrees of habitat modifications. Growing cities generate great heterogeneity with respect to the uses of space that enable the preservation of a certain diversity of amphibians within the urban frame. Our objective is to understand how environments with different levels of urbanization influence local amphibian diversity. We grouped various urban green spaces of a medium-sized and growing city of Argentina in relation to natural and anthropic environmental variables which allows us to describe an urban environmental gradient and we calculate beta diversity among these groups of urban environments considering the richness, composition and abundance of amphibian at each sites' group. From this, we analyze and tested the differences in the functional diversity of amphibians in the defined urban environmental gradient. We hypothesize that: (i) the described spatial heterogeneity would be related to an elevated beta diversity of amphibians within the urban frame; and (ii) the analysis of functional diversity would reveal a stronger biotic or abiotic filtering of the focal community. We found that groups of urban environments with an intermediate degree of urbanization can present a greater functional diversity and species richness than those that are less urbanized. We identified urban avoiders (T. typhonius, P. santafecinus and P. biligonigerus) and urban tolerant species (E. bicolor, R. arenarum, R. dorbignyi, L. macrosternum, L. latinasus, P. albonotatus, D. nanus and S. nasicus). The replacement beta diversity recorded indicated that the species assemblage changes throughout urban environmental gradient, but functionally similar species thrive in the less to the most urbanized sites, allowing them to occupy the entire functional space of the groups of urban environments with different types and degrees of urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces southern blue criminology, a novel theoretical framework that extends traditional criminological analysis to encompass the environmental harms affecting the world's oceans, particularly from a Global South perspective. This approach critiques crime-centric analysis and expands upon the concept of "harmscapes" - areas significantly impacted by ecological damage - by integrating socio-economic and cultural contexts often overlooked by prevailing enforcement paradigms developed in the Global North. Through a critical review of existing criminological theories and maritime enforcement practices, this study highlights the inadequacies of current approaches that fail to account for the transnational and complex nature of oceanic harms. Southern blue criminology is proposed through four integrative perspectives: shifting from a crime-centric view to embracing a broader conception of ocean harmscapes; moving beyond state-centric responses to foster whole-of-society involvement including non-state actors; transcending Western-centric governance models in favor of context-dependent strategies that respect local knowledge and practices; and expanding the analytical frame from human-centric approaches to include human-nonhuman assemblages, recognizing the ocean as an active participant in ecological and social interactions. The framework aims to foster more effective and sustainable management of marine environments, proposing a shift from a punitive focus to a more comprehensive, preventive, and restorative approach. The implications of this research are significant, suggesting a transformative shift in policies to better address the intricate web of factors contributing to maritime environmental crimes and to enhance global ecological justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green development, as a key link in the philosophy of new development, is the only way to achieve sustainable development. However, how science and technology (S&T) finance affects green development remains unclear. Based on panel data of 284 cities in China from 2007 to 2020, the multi-time-point difference-in-differences (DID) model and the mediation model were utilized to analyze the influencing mechanisms and paths of the S&T financial pilot policy on green development. The results show that S&T financial policy can significantly promote green development, for which green innovation (GI) capability, industrial structure advancement (ISA), and industrial structure rationalization (ISR) are important paths. Moreover, the effects of S&T financial policy on green development are heterogeneous: the policy exerts a stronger effect on the central region than on the eastern and western regions, a stronger effect on large cities than on small- and medium-sized cities, and a stronger effect on key cities than on general cities. Therefore, relevant governmental departments should continually optimize S&T financial policy; pay more attention to cities in the western region, small- and medium-sized cities, and general cities; actively foster GI capability; facilitate industrial structure transformation and upgrading; and vigorously support cross-regional exchange and cooperation to jointly realize green development. This study sheds new light on how the S&T finance related policy reform promotes sustainable growth and socioeconomic welfare in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among developing countries, the prevalence of being underweight is rising when compared with the over-weight and obese population in young adults have been a major public concern that will shape the future of every individual's health. The present study aims to provide recent estimates of the prevalence of under-weight, overweight, and obese and its influencing factors and complications in younger adults. Among 1004, the overall prevalence rates of underweight, overweight and obese were found to be 18.8%, 12.3% and 3.7% respectively. The majority of the participants were newly diagnosed with prediabetes and prehypertension conditions, and nearly a quarter had a possible risk of developing thyroid and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Management of these health consequences decreases the progression of the risks that should be prevented [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The global aging population has raised concerns about the fair distribution of elderly care resources. China, as the largest developing country, has made efforts to address population aging challenges. However, equitable distribution of elderly care resources remains a concern. This study analyzed the spatial layout and accessibility of elderly care service facilities (ECSFs) in Xiamen City to improve resource allocation and enhance the elderly care system in China. The findings provide valuable insights for other developing countries and regions seeking to improve their own elderly care resource allocation. Methods: Xiamen City was chosen as the research area due to its unique geographical location and advanced information technology infrastructure. The study examined the spatial distribution, accessibility, and equity of ECSFs. Using Python, point of interest (POI) data were collected and evaluated using the kernel density method and two‐step floating catchment area method. Spatial autocorrelation analysis identified areas of aggregation and dispersion in ECSF accessibility. Results: Xiamen currently has 660 ECSFs, including nursing homes, adult day care centers, home care agencies, and rural elderly care homes. The analysis revealed spatial disparities, with ECSFs clustering primarily in the central area of Xiamen Island. Significant differences in accessibility were found among the four types of ECSFs. Spatial autocorrelation analysis identified cold and hot spot areas, indicating variations in accessibility across regions. Conclusion: Xiamen City has made progress in allocating elderly care resources and constructing service facilities. However, equity in resource allocation remains a concern. Areas with limited accessibility were identified, leading to unequal access to elderly care resources and timely physical care. To address these challenges, decision‐making departments should consider increasing facilities, improving transportation, enhancing macro planning, and improving facility service quality and accessibility. These measures will optimize ECSF accessibility and promote equitable distribution of elderly care resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]