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Purpose: The success of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is impacted by significant pre-surgical attrition rates and poor postoperative follow-up. This study focused on geographic variations in attrition rates and surgical outcomes for MBS practice for which the patient population is drawn from nine Chicago neighborhoods, to examine whether suboptimal weight loss or reduced adherence to the program varied across neighborhoods. Methods: Patients who presented for their initial MBS consultation at the University of Illinois (UI) Health's program between January 2019 and December 2020 were identified from electronic medical records. Demographic and medical information was extracted, along with postoperative weight at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The Chicago area was divided into nine geographic regions. The outcomes of interest were preoperative attrition rate, postoperative compliance to follow-up appointments, and postoperative weight loss for each group and by residential neighborhood. Results: A total of 1202 patients were included in this analysis, of whom 423 (35%) underwent surgery and 780 did not, representing a pre-surgical attrition rate of 64.9%. Age, sex, and race/ethnic distribution varied markedly across geographic regions. Postoperative weight loss varied significantly in neighborhoods with higher proportions of residents from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds. Preoperative attrition and postoperative compliance did not differ across geographic regions. Conclusion: Patients' residential neighborhoods may influence weight loss after MBS. Preoperative and postoperative compliance did not vary by residential neighborhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since around 2008 there has been a sharp decline in homeownership rates in many OECD countries, particularly among young adults. This may reflect changing preferences for more flexible housing options or a decline in affordability due to a combination of house price increases and more difficult access to finance (mortgage loans, deteriorating labour market conditions, insufficient income, etc.). We first examine how these trends affect Austria as a whole and then focus on two regions with long-term policy strategies to promote homeownership through tailored housing subsidy programmes (Lower Austria, Vorarlberg). We use survey data from three sources (Microcensi, EU-SILC, HFCS) and regional administrative data. Our results show that young adults (up to 35) are less likely to become homeowners in 2020 than in 2010, although this is more pronounced for the middle-aged (35–49) than for younger people. We show that the analysis at national level is insufficient, as there are large differences between regions and between types of dwelling. Focusing on the regional level reveals that price dynamics in urban areas, which exceed income developments, appear to be the main drivers. As young households participate less in homeownership than previous generations, this points to a latent and deepening problem of intergenerational equity. Current regional policies to promote homeownership do not reach the necessary scale to counteract the dominant market trends. We discuss regional policy options that make use of the Austrian housing policy framework and focus on increasing the overall supply of housing rather than exclusively on demand-side measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A collaborative analysis of constructed wetlands in Latin America and the Caribbean, published in Spanish, brought together insights from 10 different countries in the region. The collective reports focused on both subsurface and surface flow wetlands. Treatment targets included industrial and agricultural discharges, yet the emphasis was on the treatment of domestic wastewater as a pollutant, and a lack of sufficient municipal wastewater treatment infrastructure. Common macrophyte genera as well as unique species were highlighted for their potential contributions to treatment and ecological diversity. Finally, a growing body of legal frameworks for establishment and protection were reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

States of India like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal along the Ganga River, endure natural disasters periodically, resulting in repeated trends of economic loss and damages. Especially, most of the districts of Bihar, India, are prone to floods. Based on this background, this study aims to assess the flood vulnerabilities across districts of Bihar, India, employing data from the Central Water Commission from 1953 to 2020. Further, we explore trends and patterns of loss and damage due to flood risks in Bihar. Using the flood vulnerability integrated method and the principal component analysis, the index is constructed by incorporating the three major indicators: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. This study is unique, and advances from previous studies in using a greater number of variables in exposure indicator. The proxy variable for each indicator is identified through both inductive and deductive approaches, and the composite index is constructed using all three indicators. Also, we identify the districts with high level of education and per capita income are less likely to expose flood vulnerability. The comparison of the districts reflects wide range of variation in terms of flood vulnerability as per their adaptive capacity and sensitivity. Specifically, these findings align with Target Sustainable Development Goal 11.5. This study addresses the policy for disaster prevention, risk reduction, and mitigation measures, as well as the enhancement of the capability of adaptation to floods by the affected community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the spatiotemporal decoupling effects among economic development, energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions is paramount to achieving sustainable development. This relationship sheds light on how regions can grow economically while managing their energy resources efficiently and minimizing environmental impacts. This study examines the critical and globally relevant issue of spatiotemporal decoupling that includes economic development, energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions in Xinjiang Province from 2006 to 2020. The Tapio Elasticity Analysis Method is utilized to achieve this objective. We found that the early years showed expansive coupling, reflecting a phase where economic growth was closely tied to increases in energy consumption and emissions. However, over time, particularly post-2010, there is a noticeable shift towards weak decoupling and eventually to more substantial forms of decoupling. The primary sector displayed mostly weak and strong decoupling. The secondary sector, however, showed fluctuating decoupling states. In the tertiary sector, a generally weak decoupling was observed. A spatial analysis across Xinjiang's prefectures and cities revealed pronounced regional variations. This investigation validates the effectiveness of regional ecological policies and illustrates the necessity of tailored strategies to foster sustainable development. Our findings provide valuable insights not only for regional policymakers but also for international stakeholders aiming to achieve sustainable development. The results underline the importance of tailored strategies in different regions, contributing to the broader understanding of sustainable development dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the low-carbon economy, agricultural products, and the resource environment as three interconnected subsystems, establishing an evaluation framework for their coordinated growth across eight regions of China. The results highlight significant regional imbalances, particularly in North China, Northwest China, and Northeast China. Principal component analysis (PCA) shows that the agricultural product system captures 99.502% of its information, while the resource-environment system accounts for 84.823%, demonstrating robust explanatory power. The national Economic–Agricultural–Resource–Environment (EARE) system progressed from sub-coordinated growth (2010–2014) to coordinated growth (2019–2020), moving from mild imbalance to high-quality growth. Initially, resource growth lagged behind economic development (2010–2015), which then shifted to economic growth lagging behind resource and environmental growth (2015–2020). This study underscores the need for targeted policies to enhance regional sustainability and balanced development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Within the framework of EU policies and measures to develop a just and fair green energy transition model. This paper aims to offer valuable insights into a paramount concern not so well debated in the literature, i.e. the spatial variation of energy poverty. Design/methodology/approach – This empirical analysis investigates the regional variation of energy poverty we draw on a sample of more than 300,000 Spanish households, extracted from the Spanish Household Budget Survey (HBS) for the period 2006–2022. To characterize the probability of a household finding itself in a situation of energy poverty the authors use a discrete choice univariate probit model. Findings – The results confirm that energy poverty is a phenomenon that is asymmetrically distributed across Spain, and mainly occurs in un-densely populated regions. In addition, the findings demonstrate that the incidence of energy poverty drivers is highly heterogeneous across regions. Research limitations/implications – The paper ends with some recommendations for policymakers suggesting that countries need to design an energy poverty policy for the households that jointly pursue both a correct identification of vulnerable groups and a match with the type of measure to the characteristics of each region. Originality/value – This study enhances previous research by considering the case of areas at a lower level of aggregation (i.e. on the NUTS two regions in Spain called autonomous communities) and offers the opportunity to tailor policies to those regions most in need. Furthermore, to provide a more realistic picture of the complex phenomenon of energy poverty, the authors use the information for the period 2006–2022 differentiating by economic micro-cycle. This timespan allows the authors to understand the dynamics of energy poverty in periods of economic crisis, including the effects of the 2008 crisis and the present global energy crisis.

The forest bioeconomy links to a climate-neutral economy for which effective economic and financial promotion is essential to sustainable development. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects of financial support on the development of the forest bioeconomy in the Czech Republic in the period 2000-2021. Research objectives were met by applying literature review, time series analysis, spatial data analysis, cartogram and cartodiagram method, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. Firstly, regional divergences in financial flows were observed. Owing to the bark beetle calamity, the peak of the financial support was detected in the Vysočina Region (CZK 4 658/EUR 190 per ha), and the Olomouc Region (CZK 2 780/EUR 113 per ha) in 2020. An upward trend - more than 6-fold growth of financial flows to forestry was found. Secondly, the forest carbon model was discovered and tested. Financial contribution for reforestation, establishment, and tending of forest stands increases net carbon sinks while financial contribution for green and environmentally friendly technologies increases net carbon sources. Regional carbon reservoirs offer the potential to contribute to climate targets and achieve sustainable progress.

Abstract Tropical cyclones (TCs) and their associated intense rainfall are among the most significant natural disasters. Exploring the characteristics of tropical cyclone precipitation (TCP) has always been a challenging issue in TC research. This study utilized the TC track data from the International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship and precipitation data from the multi-source weighted-ensemble precipitation covering the years 1980–2019, to examine shifts in precipitation rates and peak precipitation levels before and after TC landfall. The results highlight several key findings: (1) Precipitation during the TC landfall process is relatively stable beforehand but tends to decrease slightly after landfall. Generally, the maximum precipitation occurs during the landfall. (2) From 1980 to 2019, the rate of precipitation changes before landfall has significantly increased. Conversely, after the year 2000, the rate of precipitation changes after landfall has significantly decreased. (3) Over the past 40 years, while peak precipitation levels of landfalling TCs have remained relatively constant, the total precipitation has shown an increasing trend, particularly in regions like the main island of Hainan, southern Zhejiang, and Shanghai, which are characterized by high peak precipitation. The results help clarify the TC processes and provide reference points for parameter selection in regional TCP modeling.

This paper sought to analyze the behavior of regional economic disparities in regions by productive sectors in the geographic regions of Mato Grosso State in Brazil. For this, we used the methodological procedure based on the estimate of the Williamson Coefficient (Vw), using as a parameter the Gross Value Added (GVA) per capita for the economic sector and the resident population in the years 2002, 2010 and 2020. Furthermore, the GVA per capita of Mato Grosso State was used as a parameter to evaluate the intra-regional scenario. The results showed that the services sector presented the greatest regional convergence in the period between 2002 and 2020. The industrial sector is also moving towards greater regional homogeneity, however, with less intensity in some regions when observing the performance of the Vw. Regional differences were detected in the agricultural sector, with emphasis on the region of Sorriso, which presented the highest Vw significant value in 2020 in 2020. Furthermore, the regions of Cuiabá and Diamantino showed a moderate variation towards the highest regional divergence, that is, they are distancing themselves from the others in terms of homogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Atlantic Review of Economics / Revista Atlántica de Economía is the property of Colegio de Economistas de La Coruna 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 relationship between education and societal development is unquestionable. Education contributes to achieving both societies' and individuals' social and economic goals. Quality education is recognized as one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which, jointly with other behaviors and attitudes, could impact the development of societies in other fields like health and well-being, cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and even peace and stability—all of them also listed as SDGs. However, the capacity, or not, to reach higher levels of compliance with quality in education (SDG 4) varies from country to country, according to the 2023 Sustainable Development Report results. Thus, the present study aims to identify the sufficient conditions for achieving higher levels of quality education (SDG 4) globally and to analyze how these conditions vary across different world regions. Applying a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis and using data from the 2023 Sustainable Development Report, we focus our analysis on four SDG 4 indicators—early education, primary education, lower secondary education, and literacy rate—across 117 countries, in order to assess the conditions for attaining higher levels of quality education. The results reveal there are specific and identifiable conditions that are sufficient for achieving higher levels of quality education on a global scale, with significant regional variations. These insights contribute to understanding the complex dynamics of educational quality and could be used as guidance for policymakers and educators aiming to improve educational outcomes worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical cyclones (TCs) and their associated intense rainfall are among the most significant natural disasters. Exploring the characteristics of tropical cyclone precipitation (TCP) has always been a challenging issue in TC research. This study utilized the TC track data from the International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship and precipitation data from the multi-source weighted-ensemble precipitation covering the years 1980–2019, to examine shifts in precipitation rates and peak precipitation levels before and after TC landfall. The results highlight several key findings: (1) Precipitation during the TC landfall process is relatively stable beforehand but tends to decrease slightly after landfall. Generally, the maximum precipitation occurs during the landfall. (2) From 1980 to 2019, the rate of precipitation changes before landfall has significantly increased. Conversely, after the year 2000, the rate of precipitation changes after landfall has significantly decreased. (3) Over the past 40 years, while peak precipitation levels of landfalling TCs have remained relatively constant, the total precipitation has shown an increasing trend, particularly in regions like the main island of Hainan, southern Zhejiang, and Shanghai, which are characterized by high peak precipitation. The results help clarify the TC processes and provide reference points for parameter selection in regional TCP modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent global developments such as Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have affected regional house price dynamics in Turkey. As a result, the rise in house prices has been more pronounced in some regions of Turkey than in others. The central authority's implementation of common monetary and fiscal policies creates the expectation that a single price law will prevail across regions. However, the impact of structural shocks such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war on regional house price convergence is also of interest. In this context, this study aims to analyze the convergence of house prices in Turkey's NUTS-II regions between January 2003 and June 2023 using the log t test developed by Philips and Sul (2007). The log t test findings indicate that house prices in NUTS-II regions do not converge to a single equilibrium point. According to the findings of the clustering algorithm, two clubs are defined in terms of house prices in NUTS-II regions. The first convergence club includes the coastal TR32 (Aydın, Denizli, Muğla) and TR61 (Antalya, Isparta, Burdur) tourism regions, while the second convergence club includes the remaining twenty-four regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) who are most likely to respond to the Janus kinase (JAK) 1/2 inhibitor baricitinib (BARI) are known to have an impacted body surface area (BSA) ≤ 40% and severe itch (numerical rating scale [NRS] ≥ 7], collectively termed 'BARI itch-dominant' patients. Our objective is to build on our previous work by providing a body region-specific, clinical characterization of the BARI itch-dominant patient at baseline and their response to BARI 4 mg. Methods: BREEZE-AD7 was a phase 3 trial in adults with moderate-to-severe AD receiving placebo or 2 mg or 4 mg BARI in combination with topical corticosteroids. Assessing only data from BARI itch-dominant patients, we summarized the baseline characteristics and conducted body region-specific analyses on Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) data in order to report the response to placebo versus BARI 4 mg within this patient subtype. Results: BARI 4 mg was highly effective across all body regions; at week 16, 75% improvement was seen in EASI scores (EASI75), and response rates with BARI 4 mg (head/neck, 58.3%; trunk, 69.2%; upper extremities, 61.5%; lower extremities, 87.5%) all exceeded those with placebo (head/neck: 37.5%; trunk, 40.6%; upper extremities, 18.8%; lower extremities, 40.6%) as well as the overall EASI75 rates of the intent-to-treat (ITT) population (BARI, 48.0%; placebo, 23.0%). At baseline, most BARI itch-dominant patients presented with involvement of all regions (mean regional BSA 22.7%–40.3%), highest in the head and neck, mean EASI region scores of 15.7–24.0, and considerably severe sign ratings (mean EASI sub-scores: 1.4–2.3, out of 3), especially for erythema. Conclusion: BARI itch-dominant patients exhibit AD involvement across all body regions and considerable sign severity, especially erythema. In response to BARI 4 mg, EASI quickly improved across regions, substantially more so in this subtype than in the ITT population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, circular economy (CE) relevance in Germany will be discussed based on LinkedIn readily available data. LinkedIn company profiles located in Germany with 'circular economy' in their description or any other field were selected and used as a data source to analyze their CE relation. Overall, 514 German companies were analyzed in reference to the 15 German regions they belong. Most companies are located in the federal state of Berlin (126), followed by North Rhine-Westphalia (96) and Bavaria (77). In terms of the industry sector, they are self-classified to environmental services (64), management consulting (50), renewables & environment (33), research (31), and computer software (18) etc. Regarding their employees with LinkedIn profiles, 22,621 people are affiliated with these companies, ranging from one to 7,877. All examined companies have a total of 819,632 followers on LinkedIn, ranging from none to 88,167. An increase in CE-related companies was recorded in 13 of the 16 federal states of Germany over a one-year period. This work provides essential insights into the increasing relevance and trends of the circular economy in German enterprises and will help conduct further national studies with readily available data from LinkedIn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista del Museo de Antropología is the property of Museo de Antropologia - IDACOR 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.)

This paper investigates the financial importance of development banks across regions and income groups. We construct a global banking dataset for the period 1995 to 2021 and analyse the distribution of development banking assets across macro regions and country income groups. We create a composite global and national Development Bank Financial Importance index (DBFI index) that enables us to rank the most financially important development banks across the globe. Development banks play significant and diverse roles in the global financial system, but their financial importance varies across regions and income groups. The paper offers a broad analysis of the global development banking landscape and advances the area of research further.

BackgroundAcute kidney injury (AKI) and the need for Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) are critically important health concerns. This study analyzes global and regional Internet search queries to understand public attention in AKI and CRRT over time.MethodsWe used Google Trends™ to analyze search queries for AKI and CRRT from January 2004 to March 2024. The study examined global trends and detailed insights from the United States, including state-by-state breakdowns. We identified patterns, peaks of attention, and temporal trends in public attention, comparing regional variations across the US and top-ranking countries worldwide.ResultsGlobal attention in AKI peaked in October 2022, with Portugal, Zambia, and Spain showing the highest regional attention. Within the United States, peak attention was in February 2008. Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were the top states that paid attention to AKI. Attention in CRRT peaked globally in March 2024. South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain have led the global attention to CRRT. In the United States, peak attention was in April 2020. West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky showed the highest state-specific attention in CRRT.ConclusionsThis study reveals significant temporal and geographical variations in online search patterns for AKI and CRRT, suggesting evolving public attention to these critical health issues. This knowledge can guide the development of targeted public health initiatives, enhance medical education efforts, and help healthcare systems tailor their approach to improving awareness and outcomes in kidney health across diverse populations.

Relevance. Crime in border regions poses the greatest danger to society and the state in the digital world. During the period of digitalization of society, the problem of criminal law risks with the use of information technology is becoming more dangerous, large-scale and intractable. As you know, the era of the dominance of digital technologies has not only positive consequences, opening up new opportunities for the development of society and the state, but also creates additional criminal threats to national security. In such circumstances, government policy is aimed at building an effective system of digital confrontation. In a digital society, the crime prevention system in the border regions of the Russian Federation, although based on the unified legal framework of state policy in the field of combating crime, cannot be the same for all regions of the country. Its construction should take into account regional economic, social, demographic, ethno-confessional, territorial, historical, cultural and national characteristics. Purpose and methods. The purpose of the scientific report is to summarize the criminal risks of digitalization for the national security of border regions and to analyze some areas of state policy in the field of combating crime in a digital society. To achieve this goal, the research uses methods of analysis and synthesis; generalization of expert opinions in various fields of science, materials of legal statistics and investigative practice; analysis of messages in mass media; dialectical and sociological methods. Conclusion. The digitalization of society is associated with an increase in the number of criminal law risks in all areas of public life. At the same time, the development of digital technologies also affects the successful organization of preventive activities within the framework of public policy. The use of achievements in the field of digital technologies makes it possible to significantly improve the criminal procedure and penal enforcement policy of

For this research project, a DEA-based Malmquist index model was built to evaluate the effectiveness and productivity of Greece's thirteen distinct tourist zones. The purpose of this article is to present a statistical analysis comparing the economic performance of different tourist locations in Greece. It does this by using a technique known as data envelopment analysis (DEA), which measures the Malmquist efficiency of the tourist sector in each of Greece's thirteen regions for the years 2017-2021. According to the findings of our study, the level of competitiveness enjoyed by a number of Greece's areas has not increased throughout the period under review. Our study approach and results give a reference for places in Greece that urgently need quick tourist growth to affect economic recovery. This need arises against the background of global climate change, the energy crisis, and the age that follows COVID-19.

AbstractThis paper explores the impact of digitalization on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in 270 Chinese cities from 2012 to 2019, focusing on regional disparities in income levels. Employing the System Generalized Moment Method (GMM), it aims to bridge the gap in understanding how digitalization influences FDI inflows across regions with different income levels. The findings indicate a positive correlation in low-income cities where digitalization significantly attracts FDI, but this effect is limited in medium and high-income cities. These results highlight that incentives and digital infrastructure development could be crucial for enhancing FDI in lower-income regions, making digitalization a potential strategic tool for economic growth.

Judgments pertaining to sexuality can often serve as a mirror, reflecting the cultural norms and values of a specific country or region. In the current study, we employ provincial panel data to examine the temporal and spatial variances in the attitudes of the Chinese populace towards "same-sex sexuality." Our findings indicate that the Chinese public's stance on same-sex sexual behavior is equivocal. It is neither wholly embraced nor entirely rejected. While there has been a gradual progression towards a more accepting attitude towards this form of sexual behavior, the level of tolerance remains relatively conservative in comparison to international standards. Moreover, significant regional disparities are evident. To further investigate these regional differences in attitudes towards sexuality in China, we employ a panel regression analysis with fixed time effects. The outcomes of this study provide substantial evidence in support of the social construction of sexuality. That is, the shifts in the sexual attitudes of the Chinese populace can be attributed both to the subconscious influence of traditional Chinese culture and the shaping effects of modernity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study adopts a new macro-perspective to explore the complex and dynamic links between financial instability and the Euro-American green equity market. Its primary focus and novelty is to shed light on the non-linear and asymmetric characteristics of dependence, causality, and contagion within various time and frequency domains. Specifically, the authors scrutinize how financial instability in the U.S. and EU interacts with their respective green stock markets, while also examining the cross-impact on each other's green equity markets. The analysis is carried out over short-, medium- and long-term horizons and under different market conditions, ranging from bearish and normal to bullish. Design/methodology/approach: This study breaks new ground by employing a model-free and non-parametric approach to examine the relationship between the instability of the global financial system and the green equity market performance in the U.S. and EU. This study's methodology offers new insights into the time- and frequency-varying relationship, using wavelet coherence supplemented with quantile causality and quantile-on-quantile regression analyses. This advanced approach unveils non-linear and asymmetric causal links and characterizes their signs, effectively distinguishing between bearish, normal, and bullish market conditions, as well as short-, medium- and long-term horizons. Findings: This study's findings reveal that financial instability has a strong negative impact on the green stock market over the medium to long term, in bullish market conditions and in times of economic and extra-economic turbulence. This implies that green stocks cannot be an effective hedge against systemic financial risk during periods of turbulence and euphoria. Moreover, the authors demonstrate that U.S. financial instability not only affects the U.S. green equity market, but also has significant spillover effects on the EU market and vice versa, indicating the existence of a Euro-American contagion mechanism. Interestingly, this study's results also reveal a positive correlation between financial instability and green equity market performance under normal market conditions, suggesting a possible feedback loop effect. Originality/value: This study represents pioneering work in exploring the non-linear and asymmetric connections between financial instability and the Euro-American stock markets. Notably, it discerns how these interactions vary over the short, medium, and long term and under different market conditions, including bearish, normal, and bullish states. Understanding these characteristics is instrumental in shaping effective policies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including access to clean, affordable energy (SDG 7), and to preserve the stability of the international financial system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our work sheds light on the joint role of human capital and geography during the early stages of the transition from stagnation to growth in early twentieth century Greece. We uncover a robust association between geography and literacy. We also show that geography is correlated with land inequality and thus establish that land distribution is a channel through which geography influences literacy. Finally, the impact of geography on human capital formation weakens with industrialization. Our work contributes to the literature on geography and human capital in the transition from stagnation to growth since Greece was at the early stages of the industrial era during the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision agriculture is an innovative and high-tech approach for effective management of processes in the economy and increase crop yields. Precision farming combines with high efficiency the knowledge of the land, the conditions of the environment and the needs of the cultures with the high technologies of the modern world. The object of the study are the regional differences in yields in northern and southern Bulgaria and the factors due to which this happens. The aim of the research team is to find the relationships between natural conditions, climate and human activity and to assess the environment where precision agriculture can be applied in order to improve yields and product quality. For this purpose, the statistical method of ANOVA was chosen and Factor analysis, which is used to assess whether the influence of a given factor-cause or a group of factor-causes is statistically significant or not. Taking into account the natural/soil conditions of northern Bulgaria, we aim to find out what are the determining factors for this in comparison with southern Bulgaria and to assess what significance each of them has. This basis will serve to study how the application of precision agriculture would improve some of these factors in order to optimize the cultivation and yields of agricultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, research on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) has significantly increased. Numerous studies have analyzed demonstration projects, outlined scenarios, modeled pathways, or focused on CDR's national or international governance. However, regional case studies investigating the dynamics that may facilitate or impede the broader adoption of CDR methods in spatially explicit settings are critically absent. Understanding implementation contexts on the ground is vital, and comparing them across different removal methods is essential for effectively scaling up CDR. This paper aims to address this research gap by comparatively examining the development of biomass-based CDR in three regions of Germany. Taking an exploratory approach, we conducted surveys in these regions to gain insight into stakeholder perceptions of the following six CDR methods: forest management, agriculture and soil carbon, long-lasting building materials, rewetting of peatlands and paludiculture, biochar, and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. In this article, we present the results of the stakeholder survey, which offers multiple perspectives that can shape future studies of regional implementation and yield policy-relevant guidance. Although our research primarily focuses on the regional level in Germany, it sheds light on various conflicts, uncertainties, and potentials that are likely to be relevant for the rollout of CDR in other countries. By examining these aspects, we contribute to the broader discourse on CDR and its potential implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Selected 37 typical data comparing the industry's eight MW disposal technologies. • The average disposal of 1 ton of MW produces 0.94–1.2 tons of CO 2. • LCC and NPV results showed that steam sterilization with landfill is the best. • The environmental and economic impacts of MW disposal in 10 megacities were studied. • 10 megacities employ MS-MSWI technology to reduce 279,000 tons of CO 2 emissions. Medical waste (MW) is exploding due to the COVID-19 pandemic, posing a significant environmental threat, and leading to the urgent requirement for affordable and environmentally friendly MW disposal technologies. Prior research on individual MW disposal plants is region-specific, applying these results to other regions may introduce bias. In this study, major MW disposal technologies in China, i.e., incineration technologies (pyrolysis incineration and rotary kiln incineration), and sterilization technologies (steam sterilization, microwave sterilization, and chemical disinfection) with residue landfill or incineration were analyzed from an industry-level perspective via life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC) and net present value (NPV) methods. Life cycle inventories and economic cost data for 4–5 typical companies were selected from 128 distinct enterprises and academic sources for each technology. LCA results show that microwave sterilization with residue incineration has the lowest environmental impact, emitting only 480 kg CO 2 eq. LCC and NPV analyses indicate that steam sterilization with landfilling is the most economical, yielding revenues of 1,210 CNY/t and breaking even in the first year. Conversely, pyrolysis and rotary kiln incineration break even between the 4th and 5th years. Greenhouse gas emissions from the MW disposal in ten cities with the largest MW production in 2020 increased by 7% over 2019 to 43,800 tons and other pollutants increased by 6% to 12%. Economically, Shanghai exhibits the highest cost-effectiveness, while Nanjing delivers the lowest. It can be observed that the adoption of optimal environmental technologies has resulted in a diminution of greenhouse gas emissions by 279,000 tons and energy conservation of 1.76 billion MJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are substantial differences across regions regarding COVID-19 infections and deaths, which are partly explained by differences in practicing social distancing. In this paper we argue that the portrayal of COVID-19 in regional media might be an important factor in explaining regional differences in social distancing. By using mobility as a proxy, and analysing data on regional news coverage in Germany, we investigate empirically whether the geographical heterogeneity in COVID-19-related news reporting has translated into spatial variations in social distancing. Our results confirm that the frequency of and the element of fear in COVID-19 news have a significant, albeit time-varying, relationship with social distancing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study challenges the traditional reliance on GDP as the sole indicator of the success of the EU's cohesion policy, aligning with the evolving academic discourse that calls for a broader spectrum of metrics incorporating social factors. The research aims to assess the impact of cohesion on economic performance and social progress at the regional level in Central and Eastern European countries, using regression analysis on panel data. Inspired by the call to move beyond GDP-focused assessments, this research re-evaluates cohesion policy within an expanded framework that prioritizes economic and social dimensions. Specifically, it addresses the escalating concerns of income disparity and poverty in Central and Eastern European nations. Utilizing panel data regression models, this study scrutinizes data from 2007 to 2018, covering two recent programming periods, to offer a comprehensive, multifaceted analysis of the impact of cohesion policy. It underscores the policy's dual role in spurring economic growth and fostering social progress, particularly in mitigating income inequality and reducing poverty. The findings reveal that cohesion policies positively affect both economic performance and social progress, with notable impacts on narrowing the income gap and alleviating poverty in these regions. However, the economic benefits for poverty reduction materialize over a prolonged period, reflecting the gradual nature of policy impact and the time needed for investments to materialize. The study emphasizes the need for a long-term strategic vision in implementing cohesion policies. This includes enhanced data collection, a deeper focus on the social ramifications of policies, streamlined policy processes, capacity building, institutional strengthening, and prioritizing equitable opportunities to bridge income gaps effectively. This comprehensive approach aims to maximize the dual benefits of cohesion policies, promoting balanced economic and social progress across Central and Eastern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastritis is one of the most prevalent disorders affecting individuals. Helicobacter pylori infection, along with other factors such as lifestyle, gender, alcohol drinking, and smoking are causes of gastritis. Northeast Indian population is geographically, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically a blend of its surrounding nations, being different from the North Indian population. The objective of the study was to predict the prevalence and risk factors of gastritis in Northeast India and compare it with North India. Methods: A total of 909 dyspeptic patients (Northeast India: 362 and North India: 547) were enrolled and had undergone endoscopy. H. pylori status was identified, determined, and genotyped. They were divided into gastritis and nongastritis samples based on the presence or absence of gastric ulcerations and erosion. The risk factors for gastritis in Northeast and North India were estimated with Chi-square analysis, odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of gastritis and H. pylori infection was higher in Northeast India than North India. The risk factors significantly associated with gastritis in Northeast region were H. pylori infection, increased smoking, and alcohol drinking and in North region were smoking and body mass index. Conclusion: Although our study found the risk factors associated with gastritis in Northeast India, the available data do not provide sufficient evidence. Further studies are recommended.

Researchers interested in studying whether convergence dynamics are in place among regions within the same country have adopted both statistical tools and empirical frameworks developed when studying convergence across different economies. We show that this approach is risky, because when an analysis is conducted at the regional level, the absolute and club convergence processes are more likely to co-exist than in the case of world economies. We propose an empirical approach where the two hypotheses are not taken as competing. Our procedure uncovers periods of convergence and periods of divergence for the three samples we studied: Italy observed at both the regional and provincial levels; EU regions; and world economies. We find a process of absolute convergence for Italian regions from 1951 to 1999, and that their convergence process ends in 1971 after a period which we define as clustering convergence. We also find a process of convergence across European regions from 1977 to 1993; that ends in 1985 in favor of a process of clustering and divergence. Finally, our procedure uncovers a process of absolute convergence from 1964 to 1975 and divergence from 1975 to 1999 in the case of world economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decarbonization policies require public support to be implemented and to remain in legislation. Examinations of public support for climate policies tend to focus on a small number of policy instruments and/or use hypothetical instead of real policy proposals. Here, we address these criticisms by examining public support across four distinct policy instruments – command-and-control, market-based, information-based, and voluntary – using sixteen policy proposals by UK political parties and government institutions. In addition to assessing UK national policy support, we also explore regional differences. Using a representative sample of the UK population (N = 1,911), we find that, at a national level, individuals preferred instruments shown to be less effective in reaching net-zero: information-based and voluntary policies. Our results indicate that the extent to which individuals believe in the free market, their environmental worldviews and political party support as well as their age are all correlated with policy support. We find stark regional differences where, compared to individuals living in Greater London, those living in the remainder of the country were 32% and 30% less likely to support command-and-control and market-based policies, respectively (among other regional differences). Regional variations in free-market beliefs and population density partly explain differences in policy support. We propose policymakers focus on place-based initiatives to increase support for decarbonization policies that are more effective in reaching net-zero and on improving the perception of market-based and command-and-control policies through positive framing and policy bundles. The majority of the UK public supports all climate policy instruments (command-and-control, market-based, information-based, and voluntary) regardless of their stringency. More stringent decarbonization policies (command-and-control and market-based instruments) received less public support compared to more lenient policies (information-based and voluntary). Population density as a structural factor helps to explain regional variation and points to the crucial role of improving public infrastructure, particularly in more rural areas. Free-market beliefs are associated with regional and individual variations in support and stress the need for overcoming ideological barriers. Income was found to influence support for less stringent (e.g. information-based) instruments, but was not associated with support for regulatory and market-based instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is not yet known whether regional bioelectrical impedance (BIA) phase angle (PhA) may be informative of different types of strength performed by the lower and upper limbs, independently of lean soft tissue mass (LSTM). Using a sample of healthy adults, we aimed to examine the association and relevance of regional PhA relative to isometric and isokinetic strength of each limb. A total of 57 participants (32.7 ± 12.9 years; 24.7 ± 3.5 kg/m2) were included in the present investigation. Regional raw BIA variables were determined using a phase-sensitive BIA device. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to evaluate LSTM. Absolute isometric and isokinetic (i.e., 60°/s and 180°/s) strength of each limb (extension and flexion) was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer and used to calculate relative strength. In absolute strength, only dominant leg PhA was associated with isometric extension strength (β = 0.283) and isokinetic 180°/s flexion strength (β = 0.354), regardless of LSTM (p < 0.05). In relative strength, a significant association of regional PhA was found for dominant arm flexion isometric strength (β = 0.336), and non-dominant arm and dominant leg extension isometric strength (β = 0.377, β = 0.565, respectively; p < 0.05), independently of LSTM. Similarly, for isokinetic 180°/s strength, regional PhA significantly explained the variance in the relative strength of both arms and dominant leg (β = 0.350 to 0.506), regardless of LSTM (p < 0.05). Relative isokinetic 60°/s strength was not consistently associated with regional PhA (p ≥ 0.05). Regional PhA significantly explained relative (isometric and 180°/s isokinetic strength of both arms and dominant leg), but not absolute muscle strength, independently of regional LSTM. Thus, after accounting for body size, regional PhA seems to have its own characteristics that explain relative strength independently of LSTM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For this research project, a DEA-based Malmquist index model was built to evaluate the effectiveness and productivity of Greece's thirteen distinct tourist zones. The purpose of this article is to present a statistical analysis comparing the economic performance of different tourist locations in Greece. It does this by using a technique known as data envelopment analysis (DEA), which measures the Malmquist efficiency of the tourist sector in each of Greece's thirteen regions for the years 2017-2021. According to the findings of our study, the level of competitiveness enjoyed by a number of Greece's areas has not increased throughout the period under review. Our study approach and results give a reference for places in Greece that urgently need quick tourist growth to affect economic recovery. This need arises against the background of global climate change, the energy crisis, and the age that follows COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastritis is one of the most prevalent disorders affecting individuals. Helicobacter pylori infection, along with other factors such as lifestyle, gender, alcohol drinking, and smoking are causes of gastritis. Northeast Indian population is geographically, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically a blend of its surrounding nations, being different from the North Indian population. The objective of the study was to predict the prevalence and risk factors of gastritis in Northeast India and compare it with North India. Methods: A total of 909 dyspeptic patients (Northeast India: 362 and North India: 547) were enrolled and had undergone endoscopy. H. pylori status was identified, determined, and genotyped. They were divided into gastritis and nongastritis samples based on the presence or absence of gastric ulcerations and erosion. The risk factors for gastritis in Northeast and North India were estimated with Chi-square analysis, odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of gastritis and H. pylori infection was higher in Northeast India than North India. The risk factors significantly associated with gastritis in Northeast region were H. pylori infection, increased smoking, and alcohol drinking and in North region were smoking and body mass index. Conclusion: Although our study found the risk factors associated with gastritis in Northeast India, the available data do not provide sufficient evidence. Further studies are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The debate on optimal bank capital and size and their association with bank performance is still ongoing and high on policy makers' agenda. This study analyzes the impact of capital and size on bank performance for 1053 banks operating in the EU and MENA regions over the period 2009–2020. The results show that capital is an important determinant of bank performance as it is highly significant in both regions; however, banks' performance in MENA seems to be more responsive to changes in the capital ratios. Further, while bank size has a positive non-linear relationship with profitability in the EU region, it does not seem to have a significant impact in the MENA region. This study contributes to the literature by providing a strong empirical evidence that more capital is associated with higher profitability in regions characterized by different levels of development, contrary to the bankers' belief that capital is costly. Regulators may find this conclusion to be useful and in line with their objective of boosting bank resilience and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a new dataset combining the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and Understanding Society (UKHLS), this paper examines the current state of intergenerational income mobility in the UK. This extends previous evidence in several directions, with a focus on younger cohorts of individuals born between 1973 and 1992. I find evidence of considerable intergenerational persistence in the transmission of resources at the household level with an intergenerational elasticity of 0.26 and a rank coefficient of 0.30. This picture of mobility remains at the individual level and under a range of robustness tests that address traditional methodological concerns. While mobility is relatively low at the national level, I find meaningful differences in income mobility rates across the country. More generally, regions with lower income in the North of England display substantially lower levels of both relative and absolute income mobility than regions in the South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and Impella device utilization as a bridge to heart transplantation (HTx) have risen exponentially. We aimed to explore the influence of device selection on HTx outcomes, considering regional practice variation. A retrospective longitudinal study was performed on a United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry dataset. We included adult patients listed for HTx between October 2018 and April 2022 as status 2, as justified by requiring IABP or Impella support. The primary end-point was successful bridging to HTx as status 2. Of 32,806 HTx during the study period, 4178 met inclusion criteria (Impella n = 650, IABP n = 3528). Waitlist mortality increased from a nadir of 16 (in 2019) to a peak of 36 (in 2022) per thousand status 2 listed patients. Impella annual use increased from 8% in 2019 to 19% in 2021. Compared to IABP, Impella patients demonstrated higher medical acuity and lower success rate of transplantation as status 2 (92.1% vs 88.9%, p < 0.001). The IABP:Impella utilization ratio varied widely between regions, ranging from 1.77 to 21.31, with high Impella use in Southern and Western states. However, this difference was not justified by medical acuity, regional transplant volume, or waitlist time and did not correlate with waitlist mortality. The shift in utilizing Impella as opposed to IABP did not improve waitlist outcomes. Our results suggest that clinical practice patterns beyond mere device selection determine successful bridging to HTx. There is a critical need for objective evidence to guide tMCS utilization and a paradigm shift in the UNOS allocation system to achieve equitable HTx practice across the United States. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Stream macroinvertebrate assemblages are shaped by natural and human‐related factors that operate through complex hierarchical pathways. Quantifying these relationships can provide additional insights into stream ecological assessment. We applied a structural equation modeling framework to evaluate hypothesized pathways by which watershed, riparian, and in‐stream factors affect benthic macroinvertebrate condition in the Western Mountains (WMT) and Xeric (XER) ecoregions in the United States. We developed a conceptual model grounded in theory, empirical evidence, and expert opinion to evaluate the following hypotheses: (1) macroinvertebrate assemblages are primarily driven by proximal, in‐stream factors (e.g., water quality and physical habitat); (2) anthropogenic land uses affect macroinvertebrates indirectly by altering in‐stream characteristics; and (3) riparian vegetation cover attenuates land use effects. We tested our model separately on three measures of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage condition: ratio of observed‐to‐expected taxonomic richness (O/E); a multimetric index (MMI); and richness of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera taxa (EPT). In the WMT, site‐level riparian cover, in‐stream physical habitat (relative bed stability), and water chemistry (total nitrogen) were the top three predictors of macroinvertebrate assemblages, each having over two times the magnitude of effect on macroinvertebrates compared with watershed‐level predictors. In the arid XER, annual precipitation and stream flow characteristics were top predictors of macroinvertebrate assemblages and had similar magnitudes of effect as in‐stream water chemistry. Path analyses revealed that land use activities in the watershed and at the stream site degraded macroinvertebrate assemblages indirectly by altering relative bed stability, water quality, and riparian cover/complexity. Increased riparian cover was associated with greater macroinvertebrate condition by reducing land use impacts on stream flow, streambed substrate, and water quality, but the pathways differed among ecoregions. In the WMT, site‐level riparian cover affected macroinvertebrate assemblages partly through indirect pathways associated with greater streambed stability and reduced total nitrogen concentrations. In contrast, in the XER, watershed‐level riparian cover affected macroinvertebrate assemblages through greater specific stream power. Identifying the relative effects of and pathways by which natural and anthropogenic factors affect macroinvertebrates can serve as a framework for prioritizing management and conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]