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Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated healthcare needs and caused excess mortality, especially among lower socioeconomic groups. This study describes the emergence of socioeconomic differences along the COVID-19 pathway of testing, healthcare use and mortality in the Netherlands. Methodology: This retrospective observational Dutch population-based study combined individual-level registry data from June 2020 to December 2020 on personal socioeconomic characteristics, COVID-19 administered tests, test results, general practitioner (GP) consultations, hospital admissions, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions and mortality. For each outcome measure, relative differences between income groups were estimated using log-link binomial regression models. Furthermore, regression models explained socioeconomic differences in COVID-19 mortality by differences in ICU/hospital admissions, test administration and test results. Results: Among the Dutch population, the lowest income group had a lower test probability (RR = 0.61) and lower risk of testing positive (RR = 0.77) compared to the highest income group. However, among individuals with at least one administered COVID-19 test, the lowest income group had a higher risk of testing positive (RR = 1.40). The likelihood of hospital admissions and ICU admissions were higher for low income groups (RR = 2.11 and RR = 2.46, respectively). The lowest income group had an almost four times higher risk of dying from COVID-19 (RR = 3.85), which could partly be explained by a higher risk of hospitalization and ICU admission, rather than differences in test administration or result. Discussion: Our findings indicated that socioeconomic differences became more pronounced at each step of the care pathway, culminating to a large gap in mortality. This underlines the need for enhancing social security and well-being policies and incorporation of health equity in pandemic preparedness plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aporophobia, the rejection of poor people, is a major social problem with known harmful consequences, especially for the most excluded in our society, i.e., homeless people. However, this phenomenon has been only rarely studied using testable means on the ground. This article reports on empirical research conducted on a sample of homeless people in Ghent, Belgium. The principal objective was to analyse aporophobic discriminatory incidents and hate crimes which were experienced by around 50% of the respondents. The most common offences were property crimes, particularly thefts and robberies, with the belief being that the perpetrators were motivated to perform these crimes as they saw this particular demographic group as more helpless and vulnerable. Moreover, the victims usually experienced more than one crime and different typologies. Unfortunately, underreporting was pronounced. It is therefore necessary to increase the visibility of these crimes and the reporting rate, as well as to reduce victimisation. To this end, it is essential to know the real scope of such crimes and their characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, microinsurance witnessed an upward trend in India, accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting its necessity. Despite this, research indicates that microinsurance penetration remains limited, especially in Developing Countries like India. This study aims to evaluate the reach of micro-term insurance and the challenges faced by the underprivileged in accessing its benefits. Secondary data reveals that microinsurance failed to reach Poor People. However, Primary data underscores that the primary barriers are lack of awareness and the amount of premium. Moreover, we found that individuals outside the poverty demographic perceive microinsurance as advantageous for themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, I examined the role of socioeconomic variations in the prevalence of stunting and underweight among children in Ethiopia. The study aimed to identify key health factors contributing to these disparities in child malnutrition by utilizing concentration indices, concentration curves, and regression-based decomposition analysis. Despite a notable decline in the average rates of stunting and underweight prevalence, the relative and absolute gaps between different demographic and socioeconomic groups have widened in Ethiopia. The empirical analysis revealed that higher levels of maternal education and household wealth significantly benefited children from better socioeconomic backgrounds, making them less likely to experience malnutrition. The disparity in socioeconomic status is the primary driver of inequalities in child malnutrition. The findings suggest that to reduce these disparities, national health policies should focus on promoting maternal literacy and targeting interventions for underprivileged groups. Key messages: Children from higher socioeconomic backgrounds and mothers' educational levels were less likely to suffer from malnutrition. The disparity in socioeconomic positions is the major cause behind child malnutrition inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilized Facebook and Instagram as communication channels for disseminating evidence-based food and nutrition information to low-income adults. From February 2021 to October 2022, 442 identical posts were shared across both platforms for audience reach and engagement. Posts were categorized in two ways: hedonic and three levels of utilitarian (informative, convenience, utility), based on widely applied social media uses and effects theory (Uses and Gratifications Perspective); and food/nutrition topics (dietary guidance, mealtime behaviors, recipes, food resource management, health behaviors, and community building). From predominantly image-based posts (82.6%), reach and engagement for Instagram (136,621 versus 6096, respectively) outperformed Facebook (83,275 versus 1276, respectively). Analysis of covariance of rank-order reach and engagement metrics (likes, replies, shares) showed Facebook engagement was consistent across hedonic and utilitarian categories while Instagram showed highest reach and engagement for utilitarian posts, especially those emphasizing food affordability. Facebook and Instagram differed in which food/nutrition topics achieved maximal reach and engagement. Fifteen posts were randomly selected for qualitative analysis to identify features reflecting engagement levels. Low-engagement posts featured low-color-contrast or less-appealing images, especially on Instagram. This study offers insights for practitioners and researchers aiming to use social media to promote healthy food and nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 New York City (NYC) subway system accommodates 5.5 million daily commuters, and the environment within the subway is known to have high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution. Naturally, subway air pollution varies among individuals according to their mobility patterns, introducing the possibility of inequality in PM2.5 exposure. This study aims to evaluate individual and community-level exposure to subway PM2.5. We simulated the intracity home-to-work trip patterns using the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) records of 3.1 million working commuters across 34,169 census blocks in four boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx) of NYC. We incorporated the on-platform and on-train measured PM2.5 concentration data for the entire subway system. The mean underground platform concentration in the city was 139 μg/m3 with a standard deviation of 25 μg/m3, while the on-train concentration when underground was 99 μg/m3 with a standard deviation of 21 μg/m3. Using a network model, we determined the exposure of individual commuters during their daily home-work trips. We quantified the mean per capita exposure at the census block level by considering the proportion of workers within the blocks who rely on the subway for their work commute. Results indicate statistically significant weak positive correlation between elevated subway PM2.5 exposure and economically disadvantaged and racial minority groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article delves into the genre of domestic advice media in the United States, particularly focusing on television programs that provide guidance on homemaking, hosting, and crafting. It explores the traditional image of the mid-twentieth-century homemaker and the emergence of feminist artists who use satire and nostalgia to create a parallel genre called domestic satire. The author analyzes Amy Sedaris and her show "At Home with Amy Sedaris," which satirizes the traditional domestic advice genre. The article also discusses the historical context of domestic programming and its impact on cultural memory and contemporary representations of domesticity. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the ecumenical dialogue between the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Pentecostal World Fellowship (PWF) from 2016 to 2022, exploring their shared beliefs, challenges, and opportunities for deeper unity in Christ. It highlights the dialogue's evolution, significant themes discussed, and the commitment to achieving greater cooperation between these distinct Christian traditions.

There is a long history of examining the connection between crime and delinquency and economic well-being and employment quality. Despite this vast literature, there still remains unanswered questions surrounding these associations, including whether the timing of adolescent delinquency is associated with adulthood economic disadvantage and job quality, whether different types of adolescent delinquency maintain differential associations with measures of economic disadvantage and employment quality in adulthood, and whether any associations between delinquency and economics/employment are invariant between males and females. The current study sought to address these issues by exploring the associations between adolescent involvement in nonviolent and violent delinquency (measured at two times in adolescence) and adulthood economic disadvantage and job quality. To do so, data drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were analyzed. The results revealed consistently null associations between the measures of adolescent delinquency and economic disadvantage and job quality for males. For females, however, the results were consistently significant, indicating that females who self-reported greater involvement in delinquency were more likely to be economically disadvantaged as adults and to have lower quality jobs. These results indicate that the associations between delinquency and economic disadvantage and job benefits differs between males and females, with females, in comparison with males, paying a significantly greater toll for engaging in acts of violent and nonviolent delinquency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A previous network meta-analysis established 16-week relative efficacy with bimekizumab, an inhibitor of interleukin (IL)-17F in addition to IL-17A, versus other treatments for patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA; i.e., ankylosing spondylitis), including the IL-17A inhibitors secukinumab and ixekizumab. This matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) assessed 52-week relative efficacy of bimekizumab versus secukinumab and ixekizumab. Methods: Individual patient data from BE MOBILE 2 (bimekizumab 160 mg; N = 220) were matched to pooled summary data from MEASURE 1/2/3/4 (secukinumab 150 mg), MEASURE 3 (secukinumab 300 mg; escalated dose for inadequate responders), COAST-V (ixekizumab) and COAST-V/-W (ixekizumab). BE MOBILE 2 patients were reweighted using propensity score weights based on age, sex, ethnicity, tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) exposure, weight, baseline ASDAS and BASFI (secukinumab) and baseline BASDAI (ixekizumab), and 52-week efficacy outcomes from the trial recalculated. Odds ratios (OR) or mean difference for unanchored comparisons are reported with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: At week 52, MAIC demonstrated that patients may have higher likelihood of improvement in key efficacy outcomes with bimekizumab versus secukinumab 150 mg (e.g., ASAS40: [OR (95% CI): 1.48 (1.05, 2.10); p = 0.026]; effective sample size [ESS] = 177). Differences in 52-week efficacy outcomes between bimekizumab and secukinumab 300 mg dose escalation were non-significant (ESS = 120). Bimekizumab versus ixekizumab 80 mg comparisons (COAST-V only; ESS = 84) also suggested that differences were non-significant for most key efficacy outcomes. Other ixekizumab comparisons (COAST-V/-W; ESS = 45) suggested bimekizumab may have higher comparative efficacy for many of the same efficacy outcomes, however ixekizumab analyses were limited by poor population overlap, likely due to the greater proportion of patients with previous TNFi exposure. Conclusions: Patients treated with bimekizumab may have a higher likelihood of achieving improved longer-term efficacy versus secukinumab 150 mg, suggesting bimekizumab may be a favorable therapeutic option for r-axSpA. Differences in efficacy outcomes with bimekizumab versus ixekizumab 80 mg were mostly non-significant, depending on the populations considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty is still a global problem that must be immediately eradicated by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, namely ending poverty anywhere and in any form. In 2021, West Papua province will have the 2nd most significant percentage of poor people after Papua province, with 21.84% of the poor population. Poor households in West Papua province are dominated by families, with the Head of Household (KRT) working in the agricultural sector at 65.10 %. In this research, joint modelling was carried out between the level of household welfare and the employment sector of the head of the household in the West Papua province. It is suspected that these two variables have endogeneity problems, where one of the response variables becomes a predictor variable in the other equation, so a recursive bivariate binary probit regression model is used. Recursive bivariate binary probit regression parameter estimation uses Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE), but the results are not closed form, so it is continued using the Newton-Raphson iteration method. The results of hypothesis testing show that partially, variables that significantly influence the level of household welfare include the variable marital status, KRT formal/informal workers, health complaints, asset ownership status, migration status, number of household members, classification of area of residence (Village/City), age of head of household, and employment sector of head of household. Meanwhile, variables that significantly influence the choice of working in the agricultural sector include the director of household education, classification of area of residence (rural/city), and the age of the head of household. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outdoor environmental education aims to immerse students in environmental spaces and create opportunities for classroom learning to be applied in the field. However, students from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and low-income communities often have less access to these educational opportunities. This study examined the environmental education programs of nine community organizations in the San Francisco (SF) Bay Area. Through twenty-one interviews with program educators, we assessed two areas: (1) place-based learning being used as a connective tool for students and the community, and (2) ways in which access barriers to programming were addressed. Findings showed that community spaces, like gardens, brought students and the community together to reinforce the mission of place-based learning. Additionally, the findings contribute to the field of outdoor environmental education and place-based education by addressing how local organizations strategized to support equitable access through tactics like financial support and multilingual programming and materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dominant narrative in much of the world is that public safety is provided by policing, evidenced by supportive rhetoric from institutional forces including politicians, media, and large budget allocations in all levels of government. Alongside a long history of police violence, especially against Black, Brown, poor, and other marginalized people, many social movements reject the idea that policing provides safety and seek other methods for community wellness. The present study utilizes critical narrative analysis (CNA) to describe how marginalized residents of a small city in Iowa construct their understanding of personal and community safety. Their stories and the dialectic exchange during interviews illustrated several counternarratives and moments of conscientization for participants and researchers where safety was deconstructed and understood outside the power of recycled institutional narratives. Participants rejected popular notions of safety such as police, and instead embraced safety through robust relationships, community resources, and forms of self‐knowledge such as mental health. We analyzed their interviews as efforts to be humanly recognized within violent white supremacist structures, and their stories help to radicalize popular messages about safety. We highlight their world‐making abilities as they craft their own networks of community and safety outside of the state and police. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the social and economic disparities equity-owed low-income residents experience that prevent participation in community sport and recreation is complex. Community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) has been utilized to facilitate the participation of equity-owed communities in sport and recreation initiatives. However, in this paper, we discuss how CBPAR and human-centred design (HCD) help engage communities in discourse and action to support innovative social change in the context of sport and recreation for equity-owed lowincome communities. This paper compares processes, core principles, and outcomes of CBPAR and HCD. It highlights how they can collectively drive discourse and action to foster innovative social change in sport and recreation for equity-owed communities. The proposed integration, called CBPAR+HCD, is suggested to initiate solutions that address the multifaceted challenges through a social justice lens, placing community-driven social innovation at the forefront. This paper highlights the benefits of combining CBPAR+HCD and acknowledges the inherent challenges in implementing this dual approach. Furthermore, it offers recommendations to support the combined approach, emphasizing the importance of this integrated methodology in promoting social change and addressing inequities within community sport and recreation initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special section on literacy and social justice in the journal Behavior and Social Issues. The section includes various articles that discuss the importance of math literacy, the role of different systems in supporting literacy, and the conceptual understanding of literacy. The articles highlight the need for continued research in effective instructional practices, the impact of verbal development on reading comprehension, and the importance of addressing cultural factors in literacy instruction. The authors call for collaboration between disciplines and emphasize the power of literacy as a tool for social justice. [Extracted from the article]

Poor people in a developing country like India face energy poverty and are deprived of clean cooking fuel. Clean cooking fuels are costlier and require more willingness to pay (WTP) from the consumer. Therefore, this is a descriptive study aims to analyze factors associated with differences in cooking fuel expenses at the household level in Uttar Pradesh, India. For this purpose, panel data from the Consumer Pyramids Household Survey of CMIE from 2014 to 2019 has been considered. The study uses fixed-effect panel data model to control individual-specific effects. Cooking fuel expenses show positive elasticity concerning per capita income. However, this elasticity is lower for the higher-income group than the bottom-income group. Less educational attainments of households are associated with lower spending on cooking fuel. Moreover, households with better access to electricity are willing to spend more on cooking fuel expenditure. Hence, improved access to electricity nudges households towards more WTP for cooking fuel. It is further confirmed by finding a positive association between electricity-using household appliances and cooking fuel expenses. Therefore, improved access to electricity may increase the WTP for cooking fuel and adopt clean cooking fuel in different ways. This suggests positive spillover effects of modern energy services on clean cooking fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of rapid urbanization in Sukabumi triggers the need for decent housing for low-income people (MBR). This study aims to evaluate the policy of the Cikudul Simple Rental Flat (RUSUNAWA) Program in Sukabumi City. The research method used is qualitative with data collection techniques through observation, interviews, and documentation. The results showed that although RUSUNAWA was available, there were still obstacles in physical and financial accessibility for MBR. The policy evaluation revealed that apparatus resources, institutions, infrastructure and technology, finance, and regulations play an important role in the management of RUSUNAWA. Key findings include the need to improve the skills and knowledge of officials, improve public facilities, and provide social assistance to ease the financial burden of residents. With continuous evaluation, it is expected that the RUSUNAWA program can be more effective in improving the quality of life of lowincome people in Sukabumi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This interdisciplinary paper blends knowledge from computer science and economics in proposing a complex dynamic system subpopulation model for a blockchain form of local complementary currency, generic to the Grassroots Economics Foundation's Community Inclusion Currency (CIC) implemented in Kenya. Our contribution to the emerging economics literature is five-fold: (i) we take a novel meso-economic approach to elicit utility from actual transactions data and reveal an 'optimal' disaggregation number of typical community subgroups; (ii) we relate the local CIC functioning to a nation-wide currency board monetary regime to argue that such a credible CIC implementation ensures trust in the CIC and makes it a valuable market-based channel to alleviate poverty, in addition to humanitarian or government aid channels. However, (iii) we also find evidence in our data that substitutes for real-world money such as CICs are perceived as inferior, and hence CIC systems can only be transitional. Then, (iv) we reveal that, for a poor population, saving dominates as a use of a cluster's CIC balance, accounting for 47%, followed by purchase of food and water, 25%. Despite these dominant patterns, (v) we uncover a considerable heterogeneity in CIC spending behavior. Our contribution to the related computer-science and Tokenomics literature is two-fold: (i) we provide an open-source scaffold for modeling CIC viability and net flows; (ii) to simulate a subpopulation mixing process, we employ a network-based dynamical system modeling approach that is better grounded in economic principles and monetary theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimulating the endogenous motivation of the impoverished individual is crucial to prevent the reoccurrence of widespread poverty, consolidate efforts of poverty eradication, and achieve rural revitalization. Considering whether villages receive tourism-targeted assistance as a quasi-natural experiment, using the Double Machine Learning (DML) method and six periods of balanced panel data from 392 impoverished households, the research analyzes the impact of tourism-targeted assistance on endogenous motivation. Findings indicate that, through promoting rural industry development and facilitating local employment, tourism-targeted assistance stimulate the endogenous motivation of the impoverished individuals efficiently. This effect is more pronounced in impoverished households with affluent labor force, high level of education and those engaged in tourism. Consequently, future efforts for rural revitalization should refine the strategy of targeted assistance based on the resource and demand of the rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Historia Agraria is the property of Historia Agraria 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 Historia Agraria is the property of Historia Agraria 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.)

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.)

Using high‐frequency spending data, we show that household consumption displays excess sensitivity to salient macroeconomic news, even when the news is not real. When the announced local unemployment rate reaches a 12‐month maximum, local news coverage of unemployment increases and local consumers reduce their discretionary spending by 1.5% relative to consumers in areas with the same macroeconomic conditions. Low‐income households display greater excess sensitivity to salience. The decrease in spending is not later reversed. Households in treated areas act as if they are more financially constrained than those in untreated areas with the same fundamentals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research article examines the relationship between individuals' pro-environmental behaviors and their subjective wellbeing. Through a meta-analysis of existing research, the authors find strong evidence supporting a positive association between engaging in pro-environmental behaviors and experiencing subjective wellbeing. This information is valuable for library patrons interested in understanding the personal benefits of taking environmentally friendly actions. [Extracted from the article]

This article, titled "Gabrielle Peters," discusses the author's perspective on the expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in Canada and its impact on disabled individuals. The author argues that modern Western ableism, rooted in historical and ongoing links between colonialism and policy, serves to rationalize unequal distribution of wealth and resources. They criticize the lack of representation and inclusion of disabled people in the discourse surrounding MAiD, and highlight the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. The author emphasizes the dehumanization and oppression faced by disabled individuals and warns of the potential escalation of oppression and loss of human rights. [Extracted from the article]

The aim of this paper is to analyse the evolution of Spanish households' indebtedness and financial vulnerability over the course of this century using micro-data from the Household Finance and Consumption Survey. Our results show a growing debt participation of Spanish households and an increase in the stock of outstanding debt of indebted households, a trend that reversed with the end of the Great Recession. Moreover, the percentage of financially vulnerable households according to three indicators grew dramatically until the end of the downward phase of the last economic cycle and showed considerable signs of improvement during the second half of 2010s. These results, nonetheless, call attention to the number of Spanish households being unable to service their debts in the face of an economic downturn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to strengthen governance institutions and fisheries restrictions and laws is needed to improve conservation and management of common‐pool resources. We evaluated the potential for stimulating change with modest interventions by studying fishing village households before and after a 27‐month intervention period in a high‐priority coral reef conservation area. Interventions included training in catch monitoring, stock assessment, mapping fishing grounds, microcredit, gender inclusion, theatrical skills, fuel efficient stoves, and participation in the planning of a conservation proposal. There was a background increase in reported formal education, household size, group membership, and household wealth but a decrease in fish consumption and public services. Of conservation importance, the perceived strength of 13 governance institutions and benefits of 6 fisheries restrictions increased over the intervention period. Finally, correspondence between knowledge of and agreement with recent national fisheries laws was moderate to high and positively correlated. The intervention period was stronger than demographic factors that often influence perceptions, such as village, government services, gender, household size, membership in community groups, and age responses. In general, perceptions of strengths of governance and benefits of restrictions increased more among women and youth than adult men respondents. The largest changes in perceptions of increased benefits were among strict restrictions initially ranked low, specifically fisheries closures, parks, and species restrictions. Consequently, capacity building overrode demographic factors common to poor people with limited employment capacity that can have negative perceptions of strict conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid the escalating global climatic challenges, hydrological risks significantly influence human settlement patterns, underscoring the imperative for an in-depth comprehension of hydrological change's ramifications on human migration. However, predominant research has been circumscribed to the national level. The study delves into the nonlinear effects of hydrological risks on migration dynamics in 46,776 global subnational units. Meanwhile, leveraging remote sensing, we procured globally consistent metrics of hydrological intrusion exposure, offering a holistic risk assessment encompassing hazard, exposure, and vulnerability dimensions, thus complementing previous work. Here, we show that exposure is the primary migration driver, surpassing socioeconomic factors. Surrounding disparities further intensified exposure's impact. Vulnerable groups, especially the economically disadvantaged and elderly, tend to remain in high-risk areas, with the former predominantly migrating within proximate vicinities. The nonlinear analysis delineates an S-shaped trajectory for hydrological exposure, transitioning from resistance to migration and culminating in entrapment, revealing dependence on settlement resilience and adaptability. Hydrological risks drive migration more than socioeconomic factors. Vulnerable groups often stay in high-risk areas or migrate nearby. The study reveals an S-shaped migration pattern influenced by settlement resilience and adaptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines Tianqiao, the largest commercial and entertainment centre, which underwent a significant transformation into the most popular public space in Republican Beijing. Spatial informality has often been overlooked in planning history, due to its deviation from traditional disciplinary norms, tools, and materials, yet it can offer valuable insights into Chinese urban public spaces and their social values. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including government documents, newspapers, social surveys, and personal records, this paper elucidates how everyday life and popular culture emerged as effective strategies for the poor population to exert their political power and passively resist the state's incomplete urban regularization efforts. This exemplifies a distinct type of Chinese public space that acts as a mediator between the state and society, particularly from a bottom-up perspective of urban modernization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV/AIDS knowledge deprivation fosters fear, discrimination, and stigma and, thus, reduces the impact of prevention efforts. This article investigates the socioeconomic determinants of HIV/AIDS knowledge deprivation in Bangladesh, a country largely affected by HIV incidence, using the 2011 and 2014 waves of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. To analyze the factors impacting the unequal distribution of HIV/AIDS knowledge deprivation among socioeconomic groups, the study proposes a multidimensional knowledge deprivation index and constructs a knowledge deprivation concentration index. Results show that the concentration of knowledge deprivation among the most disadvantaged groups (those with low household wealth) significantly correlates with the concentration of women's empowerment among the least economically disadvantaged. These findings highlight the role of institutional support for programs improving women's agency as an important complement to programs that focus on traditional forms of deprivation and disadvantage. HIGHLIGHTS In Bangladesh, women are disproportionally exposed to the risk of HIV/AIDS. Multidimensional HIV/AIDS knowledge deprivation is concentrated among disadvantaged women. Key prevention strategies are those focused on knowledge deprivation. Policies targeting women's education and employment will reduce the risk of infection. Women's empowerment and agency improve HIV/AIDS knowledge deprivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Dismantling Development: How Black Activists Spearheaded Affordable Housing In Paterson, New Jersey, 1950-1980" by Emily Sánchez discusses how Black residents in Paterson took the lead in creating affordable housing for people of color in the 1960s and 1970s. It sheds light on the neglect of affordable housing needs by city officials, focusing on downtown development instead. Through organizations like INCCA and UNITED, community members worked to address urban inequalities and redefine local housing policies, despite opposition from city officials. The text emphasizes the importance of community-led initiatives in tackling housing inequalities and advocating for equitable city governance in Paterson. [Extracted from the article]

This study examines contemporary migration patterns in the Hirakud Command Area, an agriculturally prosperous region in Eastern India. Traditionally, internal migration in India has been associated with factors such as backwardness, agrarian distress, and food insecurity. However, this research challenges this perspective by uncovering a growing trend of migration among the upper socio-economic strata. Contrary to popular belief, present study shows an increasing trend of migration among the educated, unmarried male youths belong to the upper strata of the socio-economic hierarchy, guided by their aspirations, accessibility, and ability of migrants rather than merely by hunger and distress. By highlighting these findings, this study urges a departure from conventional economic determinants and suggests a broader understanding of migration dynamics. It reveals that individuals from marginalized backgrounds are less likely to migrate, while migrants from higher caste-class categories possess better positions, income, and occupational status in their migration destinations. These insights contribute to a more nuanced comprehension of contemporary migration in the Hirakud Command Area. It underscores the importance of considering non-economic factors in migration analysis and calls for tailored policy interventions that address the specific needs and aspirations of different migrant groups. Plain language summary: This study looked at why people moving out from Hirakud Command Area, a relatively agricully Prospoous region in Eastern India. According to popular understanding of migrarion, people migrate because they are poor or hungry and lack of economic oppertunities at origin. But this study found that young men who are educated and belongs to well to do families are migrating more than poor and marginalised families. They move because they want to, not because they have to. This means that we need to think differently about why people move. The study also found that poor people are less likely to move. People who do move usually have better jobs and make more money than poor people who don't move. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the civil rights movements in Texas during the 1960s and 1970s, with a focus on the efforts of African Americans and ethnic Mexicans to achieve equality. It discusses the tensions between older, more moderate leaders and younger, more radical activists, and highlights the role of Reverend Reynell Parkins, a Black man and Latino immigrant who bridged the gap between different generations and ethnic groups. The article argues that understanding Parkins' activism provides a new perspective on the conflicts and collaborations within minority communities during this era. It also discusses Parkins' accomplishments as a social worker, Episcopal minister, and community organizer, including his work towards racial integration, housing improvement, and addressing racial exclusion within the Episcopal Church. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the Supreme Court case Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education which deals with educational choice. Topics mentioned include the impact of race and housing patterns on educational policies, the conflict between equal opportunity and diversity over liberty and individual rights, and effect of the city's desegregation policies on student achievement.

Bangladesh's complicated socioeconomic background serves as an example of the 21st-century worldwide environmental challenges. With a land area of 10,200 km2, the 'Sundarbans' is the world's biggest mangrove forest, a hotspot for biodiversity, and home to several rare or endangered birds, reptiles, and mammals. Issues with biodiversity and climate change are linked here. Bangladesh and India share this important carbon sink ecosystem downstream of the Ganges Brahmaputra Meghna River complex. The Sundarbans are extremely beneficial to the local population because they produce beeswax, honey, and an abundance of seafood. They also prevent saltwater intrusion onto arable land, accumulate sediment as sea levels rise, and lessen the effects of seasonal droughts and monsoon floods. The mangrove is the main source of food and money for a large number of the impoverished residents that live in and around this forest, mostly from farming and fishing. The negative effects of climate change are becoming more and more evident. Preserving this worldwide treasure is of utmost importance; nevertheless, how can this forest be sustained over the long haul? In order to ensure the effective conservation of this globally significant ecosystem in the context of climate mitigation, this paper evaluates the advantages of the Sundarbans ecosystem's good ecosystem function and lays out an integrated approach at the national (Bangladesh), bi-national (India-Bangladesh), and regional (with all countries of the Sundarbans river catchment system) levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of energy poverty in the Global South is identified by the lack of basic access to modern fuels and energy carriers. Impoverished people have traditional biomass and human power as their only sources of energy. This situation of deprivation of basic resources, in which (according to estimates of international agencies) almost one third of the world's population lives, masks other relevant characteristics of energy poverty. Current assessments of energy poverty in impoverished areas and the mitigation strategies being implemented are derived from the development agenda and, with variations in detail and scope, highlight electricity connections and access to clean cooking fuels as guarantors of progress. However, a comprehensive understanding of energy poverty requires focusing beyond basic access, building on the interactions between the supply of energy sources and carriers, the provision of energy services, and their impact on decent living conditions. To deal with the effects of these interactions on the energy poor, several studies have attempted in the last decade to construct an assessment framework centred on energy services. This work discusses the relevant dimensions in the framework (supply, services, and impact on wellbeing), reviews the multidisciplinary work available in each aspect, presents a range of proposed taxonomies, and discusses the different issues. A detailed framework is proposed for the integrated assessment of the supply of energy carriers and energy equipment, the provision of relevant energy services, and the improvements obtained in living conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many European countries employ Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the administration of public benefits. However, there is limited understanding of how RPA is applied at the client level. This article investigates the utilization and impact of RPA use on social assistance (SA) distribution in Sweden, drawing on a sample of 800 SA applications in four Swedish municipalities. The results show that RPA use correlates with applicants' country of birth, age and duration of SA receipt. Additionally, RPA implementation coincides with less generous decisions, disproportionately affecting financially vulnerable groups. Rather than a correlation between generosity and the technology itself, the results suggest a conflict between the reorganisation of SA administration during RPA implementation and the principle of individualized judgments inherent in SA casework. Hence, public organisations are encouraged to ensure that their adoption of RPA neither exacerbates unequal access to services nor compromises professional discretion in favour of efficiency‐driven measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has highlighted the importance of thermal comfort and its health-related outcomes, particularly for the most vulnerable members of society living in social housing. Due to their vulnerable living conditions, low-income people are more exposed to negative outcomes of overheating and cold indoor temperatures in buildings. Previous studies suggest that there is a significant risk of overheating in retrofitted buildings both for the current and future weather scenarios. The UK government has introduced new building regulations to assess and limit the risk of overheating in new buildings; however, there is still a need to assess and improve conditions for existing and retrofitted properties. This study aims to evaluate the effect of retrofit strategies on thermal comfort and the risk of overheating in social housing under current and future climatic conditions. A typical case study building was simulated in DesignBuilder to assess thermal comfort conditions for upgraded building fabric to Part L of the UK building regulations and Passive House standards. The summer results were analyzed according to CIBSE TM59 while the Predicted Mean Vote index (PMV) was used for winter analysis. Findings revealed that the south-facing bedrooms are most exposed to overheating. Risk of overheating significantly increased for the future weather scenarios by up to 10 times while winter thermal comfort improved for the retrofitted scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an array of studies documenting community preparedness to flooding in towns and cities, particularly those in countries of the developing global south. However, fewer studies have investigated how cultural and social factors influence flood preparedness. In this article, we discuss the role of cultural and social attributes and how these can influence a community's preparedness to extreme flood events, with a focus on selected urban communities in Nigeria. Study revealed that despite, the effects of floods on the urban poor residents, they are actively involved and engaged in finding ways to build their adaptive capacity and resilience against flood events by deploying different strategies inspired through cultural and social attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Within the last 20-years, Medicare reimbursements for microsurgery have been declining, while physician expenses continue to increase. As a result, hospitals may increase charges to offset revenue losses, which may impose a financial barrier to care. This study aimed to characterize the billing trends in microsurgery and their implications on patient care. Methods The 2013 to 2020 Provider Utilization and Payment Data Physician and Other Practitioners Dataset was queried for 16 CPT codes. Service counts, hospital charges, and reimbursements were collected. The utilization, weighted mean reimbursements and charges, and charge-to-reimbursement ratios (CRRs) were calculated. The total and annual percent changes were also determined. Results In total, 13 CPT codes (81.3%) were included. The overall number of procedures decreased by 15.0%. The average reimbursement of all microsurgical procedures increased from $618 to $722 (16.7%). The mean charge increased from $3,200 to $4,340 (35.6%). As charges had a greater increase than reimbursement rates, the CRR increased by 15.4%. At the categorical level, all groups had increases in CRRs, except for bone graft (−49.4%) and other procedures (−3.5%). The CRR for free flap breast procedures had the largest percent increase (47.1%). Additionally, lymphangiotomy (28.6%) had the second largest increases. Conclusion Our analysis of microsurgical procedures billed to Medicare Part B from 2013 to 2020 showed that hospital charges are increasing at a faster rate than reimbursements. This may be in part due to increasing physician expenses, cost of advanced technology in microsurgical procedures, and inadequate reimbursement rates. Regardless, these increased markups may limit patients who are economically disadvantaged from accessing care. Policy makers should consider legislation aimed at updating Medicare reimbursement rates to reflect the increasing complexity and cost associated with microsurgical procedures, as well as regulating charge markups at the hospital level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of government spending across various sectors on poverty in Indonesia, motivated by the need to understand how fiscal policies affect the well-being of people experiencing poverty. Using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and Least Square Dummy Variable (LSDV) models, the findings reveal that government spending on public services, health, education, and social protection significantly affects the number of poor people. However, spending on public services and education shows a positive coefficient, which may result from mandatory spending regulations not directly aimed at improving welfare. In contrast, government spending in the economic sector has an insignificant impact on poverty, indicating that the effects may require more than one period to manifest. Further analysis is necessary to explore this relationship. The consistency of the results was enhanced by incorporating district/city status as a predictor. These findings highlight the need for a more targeted approach to government spending to reduce poverty in Indonesia effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses the current state of research on microinsurance and highlights the need for further study in this area. The microinsurance sector has experienced significant growth, particularly in Asian countries, and plays a crucial role in providing financial protection to low-income populations. However, there is still a lack of understanding regarding the theoretical benefits, practical effectiveness, and necessary regulation of microinsurance. The document introduces three articles from a special issue of The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance that address various aspects of microinsurance, including adoption determinants in Ghana, premium calculation for beekeeping insurance in Turkey, and the impact of microinsurance on the financial resilience of low-income households in Ghana. The articles provide valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners and suggest avenues for future research, such as exploring the role of digital technologies and mobile banking in enhancing accessibility and reducing costs, and examining the scalability of beekeeping insurance models to other agricultural sectors. The document concludes by suggesting the possibility of partnering microinsurance with inclusive insurance to improve financial inclusion. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the impact of technology, specifically artificial intelligence, on the legal profession. It discusses the historical development of lawyering and the values and functions that define the profession. The author argues that while technology can improve access to legal assistance, it also poses challenges to the core values of the legal profession. The article calls for a careful assessment of the negative impacts of technology and emphasizes the need to ensure that changes in legal service delivery benefit consumers and uphold the values of the profession. It also discusses different service delivery models and the importance of considering the complexity of legal problems and the needs of clients when choosing a delivery method. The article concludes by discussing the challenges and potential adjustments needed for lawyers to incorporate technology into their practice and deliver effective legal services. Overall, it encourages the legal profession to embrace new technology-enabled service delivery models to advance its core values and functions. [Extracted from the article]