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The past practice of programme accreditation in Hungary is evaluated. One of the main weaknesses was the imperfect adherence to the principle of uniformity of evaluations. Reasons for this were the uneven quality of the performance of visiting committees, and the changing of quality requirements. Another weakness was 'built in' to the system: accreditation of programmes was done in the framework of institutional accreditation, that is, all programmes of a given institution were evaluated at the same time, while the same programmes taught at various institutions were visited and evaluated by various panels at different times. Realising the drawbacks of the old system and the emerging needs of comparisons of programmes, the Hungarian Accreditation Committee plans to undertake two pilot parallel evaluations in the fields of history and psychology. The methodological framework of the new parallel evaluations is outlined.

To deal with the growing amount of e-waste propelled by introduction of new products, increasing governments are considering amending take-back regulations to impose more stringent collection targets. Motivated by this trend, this study focuses on the reuse policy for e-waste with three factors: product innovation degrees, collection targets, and reuse decisions. We first confirm the traditional wisdom that a higher innovation degree often results in a higher profitability but hurts the environment. As such, we agree with the suggestion that the environmental agencies need to impose more stringent collection targets to deal with the growing amount of e-waste propelled by new product introduction. Moreover, our analysis further indicates that the more stringent collection target results in an inverted U-shaped curve for profitability and lower environmental impact. Therefore, besides confirming the intuitive expectation, we also add a word of caution on the recast of WEEE Direct: although tightening the overall collection target for the OEM is a powerful tool, we still call for the governments and environmental agencies, rather proceeding from the entire industry, should amend take-back regulations to set detailed collection targets based on the specific products characterised by the rate of innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using environmentally friendly packaging (E-packaging) instead of non-environmentally friendly packaging (N-packaging) can mitigate pollution and reduce carbon emissions. However, the market penetration rate of E-packaging is low, and the packaging carbon reduction level is uneven. This study uses game theory models to examine the factors affecting packaging carbon reduction levels and fees as well as firms' package-type decisions. First, we obtain the optimal solutions for packaging manufacturers and firms when they use different types of packaging under monopoly and competition, respectively. We find that green competition reduces the carbon reduction level of E-packaging, whereas price competition can increase it under certain conditions. The unit manufacturing cost of N-packaging and cost coefficient of carbon reduction are critical considerations for package-type decisions. When the unit manufacturing cost of N-packaging is low and the cost coefficient is large, no firm uses E-packaging. We also demonstrate that firms in a competitive market may become trapped in a prisoner's dilemma after making package-type decisions. Interestingly, we show that the firms' package-type decisions can hurt consumers and welfare under certain conditions, depending on the N-packaging's unit manufacturing cost and pollution damage factor. Our findings provide insights for packaging manufacturers, firms, and environmental regulatory agencies, and can help promote E-packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries play an increasingly significant role in responding to the needs of the local economy. They have the resources to survey the business community to determine what these needs are. Libraries can also form partnerships with government agencies and nonprofits that can help to foster a thriving economy. Programming and events can be targeted to assist segments of the population that have traditionally been underserved or have only limited access to the resources needed for business creation. Richland Library in Columbia, SC, and the Baltimore County Public Library are cited for the community partnerships they have formed and for their innovative programming in support of small business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes current issues in protecting the information security of enterprises, which is an integral part of modern business activities. Emphasizing the importance of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information assets, the authors highlight the need to implement comprehensive measures aimed at neutralizing both internal and external threats. By utilizing modern methods of encryption, authentication, and access management, enterprises are capable of integrating information security into their overall business strategy, ensuring its resilience. Focusing on the importance of personnel training, the researchers recommend employing enhanced monitoring mechanisms to timely detect threats, thereby maintaining business stability and competitiveness in the contemporary information landscape. Effective information security of business activities requires the implementation of comprehensive mechanisms that cover both legal and technical aspects. One of the main elements of such a system is the legal framework. Modern laws and regulations create a legal framework for the protection of information data. Information cooperation between business entities, government agencies and international organizations is one of the main components of the information security system. Cooperation between these entities allows for timely detection and neutralization of threats. It is necessary to develop mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of information security measures. Modern businesses need tools that allow them to respond quickly to threats and adapt to new challenges. Solving these unresolved issues is important for creating a reliable system of ensuring information security of business activities in the mod ern information environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe a process model for assisting partners in addressing requirements of legislation and review policy analysis, planning, and evaluation design processes and tools. Throughout its 25‐year history, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) program has been a forerunner in partnering with organizational leaders to improve health care. The Foundations of Evidence‐based Policymaking Act of 2018 provided new opportunities for QUERI and other implementation scientists to support federal agency leaders in implementing, evaluating, and reporting on congressionally mandated programs. Although implementation scientists have the skills to support partnered implementation and evaluation, these skills must be adapted for congressionally mandated projects as many scientists have limited experience in policy analysis and the intersection of data informing organizational policy, programs, and practices (i.e., evidence‐based policy). Data Sources and Study Setting: During the conduct of four congressionally mandated projects, our national VA QUERI team developed processes and tools to achieve the goals and aims of our VHA partners and to ensure our collective work and reporting met legislative requirements. Study Design: Our process model, program planning, and analysis tools were informed by an iterative process of refining and adapting the tools over a period of six years, spanning the years 2017 to 2023. Principal Findings: Work to support our partners was conducted across three phases: preparation and planning, conducting implementation and evaluation, and developing the congressionally mandated report. The processes and tools we developed within the context of mutually respectful and honest partnerships have been critical to our QUERI center's success in this area. Conclusions: Lessons we learned may help other scientists partnering in VA or other federal agencies to plan, conduct, and report on congressionally mandated projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the authors conducted a systematic research of the legal areas of improvement of the State Agency for Reconstruction and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine. The relevance of the research is due to the fact that at this stage of the State Agency's activities there are a number of unresolved legal issues that require regulatory regulation, in particular, the establishment of a «legislative framework» for the reconstruction processes, distribution of powers between it, state and local authorities and other participants in the reconstruction process, introduction of an electronic document flow system from the contractor to the Treasury, unification of decision-making procedures in regional reconstruction services, etc. It is established that the competence of the State Agency was significantly changed after the full-scale invasion of the russian federation, in particular, in terms of ensuring the elimination of the consequences of armed aggression and reconstruction of infrastructure. That is why, given the short period of the State Agency's functioning, the authors have analysed the key legal acts on the reconstruction and direct activities of this body, the involvement of international technical assistance in the reconstruction processes in Ukraine, and identified areas for improving its activities in accordance with the leading international practices and standards. On the basis of this analysis, the authors focus on the need to adopt a separate law to define the charter of the State Agency for the Reconstruction and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine. It is substantiated that it would be strategically prudent to adopt the Law of Ukraine «On the Basic Principles of Reconstruction of Ukraine» (working title), which would provide for a special status for the State Agency for Reconstruction and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine. It is concluded that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine should decide to increase the number of employees of the State Agency to 190 and to enshrine the plan for the State Agency's capacity and transformation in the Government's programme documents. The State Agency is recommended to develop a target operating model of the Agency's IT strategy and automation of business processes of the Reconstruction Services (in particular, ERP systems), and document management systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topical focus of the paper is to examine how national sports administration reflects the interconnectedness of politics and public administration in Zimbabwe. To achieve this aim, the paper examines the patron-client relationship between the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) and the ruling political party, the Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). The paper demonstrates how the interference of ZANU-PF in the management of the ZIFA has soiled the governance and formal administration of the national football administration body. The study reveals that due to constant political manipulation, ZIFA has been marred by allegations of corruption and maladministration, sexual harassment and the marginalization of women and the subsequent suspension by the global football governing body, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in February 2022. The paper argues that these challenges are not unique to football administration but are reflective of the broader public administration culture in Zimbabwe, which is entangled with partisan politics. This entanglement has over the years expressed itself through transactional relationships, whereby the ruling ZANU-PF seeks to control football administration for its political and hegemonic purposes. Some individuals have used their political links with ZANU-PF as political capital to both legitimize and entrench their football administration careers. This implies that ZIFA has morphed into a subsidiary of the ruling political establishment, in the process compromising its independence as a football governing and regulatory body. Football administration is therefore a useful lens that can help us understand and theorize on the impact of politics in public administration. Methodologically, the paper utilizes a qualitative research design which included in-depth interviews and document analysis with the intent to capture and express in detail the nexus of politics and football administration in Zimbabwe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was to investigate the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding halal pharmaceuticals among sharia practitioners in Palestine. A total of 420 sharia practitioners with different educational levels were included. This was a cross-sectional study conducted between March and July 2021 with the use of a standardized, self-administered questionnaire. Volunteers were selected throughout Palestine using a systematic random selection approach. The data were summarized using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage, median, and interquartile range). The Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to examine the relationship between demographic factors and the knowledge, attitude, and perception scores, respectively. The results revealed that sharia practitioners have relatively good and positive knowledge toward halal pharmaceuticals. The main knowledge of most halal pharmaceuticals was about 50.2%, yet there is still significant latitude in their knowledge of a few issues. The main attitude and perception score was about 96.4%. The results showed a positive and fair correlation between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.153, P < 0.001) and also between knowledge and perception (r = 0.341, P < 0.001). In addition, there is a good correlation between attitude and perception (r = 0.681, P < 0.001). The study concluded that better knowledge of halal pharmaceuticals is associated with positive perceptions and behaviors. The government, pharmaceutical manufacturers, religious scholars, and health care professionals should collaborate to achieve the goal of using halal medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. Federal Reserve plays a major role in the global economy, despite low public awareness of its functions and responsibilities. Scholars have recently noted three ongoing developments in the politics of the Fed: A dramatic increase in the size of the Fed's balance sheet, a decrease in the Fed's insulation from partisan politics, and evidence that the Fed has struggled to manage inflation in recent times. Despite the contributions of recent studies, little is known about how Americans' levels of diffuse and specific public support for Federal agencies are influenced by trends in agencies' size and scope, politicization, and performance. In this study, I use a survey experimental design to evaluate the effects of emphasis frames on support for the Federal Reserve. Results demonstrate that while specific support declines in reaction to frames that associate Fed actions with rising inflation, messages about the Fed's growing balance sheet erode diffuse support for the Fed. However, when reminded of the Fed's declining political independence, partisans' levels of support diverge. These results imply the potential for substantial future declines in public support for the operation of this critical, yet largely overlooked, Federal institution, especially among partisans of the presidential out-party. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hospital at home (HaH) is an innovative approach to healthcare delivery that brings specialized services to patients' homes. HaH services are typically available in urban areas where hospitals can easily reach nearby patients. An integrated care model that utilizes the public primary healthcare system may extend HaH services to include patients residing further away from hospitals. However, there is limited evidence of primary healthcare employees' views on integrating HaH care into primary healthcare services. This study aimed to explore the reflections of primary healthcare employees on integrating HaH care into primary healthcare services. Methods: Ten focus group interviews were conducted with homecare nurses and managers of primary healthcare services in five municipalities in Mid-Norway. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The analysis resulted in three key themes regarding the integration of HaH care into primary healthcare. Participants discussed how they capture the distinctiveness of HaH care within the primary healthcare landscape. Moreover, they identified that the introduction of HaH care reveals opportunities to address challenges. Lastly, the study uncovered a strong primary healthcare commitment and a sense of professional pride among the participants. This resilience and dedication among primary healthcare employees appeared as an incentive to make the integration of HaH work. Conclusions: This study offers valuable insights into integrating HaH into primary healthcare services, highlighting opportunities to address challenges. The resilience and dedication of primary healthcare employees underscore their commitment to adapting to and thriving with HaH care. To establish a sustainable HaH care model, it is important to address geographical limitations, consider the strain on providers, maintain robust relationships, enhance funding, and formalize decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the role that social capital plays in ensuring the survival of street vendors in Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia. The study employed a qualitative research approach informed by a case study design. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select 35 street vendors. In-depth interviews, key informant interviews, and non-participant observations were used as data collection methods. The study revealed that street vendors rely on various forms of bonding, bridging, and linking social capital in their daily life. Such social capital helps them to secure accommodation and food, get suitable vending places, start and expand enterprises, save money, socialize, and maintain social ties. It also helps them to ensure their families' well-being, mutual protection, and the security of goods. Thus, the study recommends that government agencies and non-governmental organizations should work together to help street vendors through their social networks to improve their socioeconomic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homeownership rates have declined, underscoring the significant challenges our society faces in affording homes. This research aims to develop an effective and precise tool for swiftly evaluating and filtering out unqualified applications and establish consistent review criteria for cities and townships across Taiwan. The proposed approach involves the creation of a tool that utilizes particle swarm optimization-based fuzzy hyperrectangular composite neural networks. This paper, chosen without political bias and based on a randomly selected year, uses a data set of 36,086 entries from across Taiwan, with each application containing 10 distinct features for further analysis. The result achieves an impressive accuracy rate of 98.6% and produces 66 recommended rules for determining eligibility for rental subsidies. The contributions of this study are twofold: (1) the rapid auditing tool benefits both government agencies and applicants, streamlining the application process; and (2) the 66 rules generated by the tool offer valuable guidance to internal auditors, expediting audits and reducing personal biases. This promotes a more standardized and efficient workflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Privacy by Design (PbD) is a well-known concept that aims to provide a high level of protection for privacy throughout the entire life cycle of systems development. Despite the considerable attention from stakeholders such as researchers, government agencies, and system suppliers, the widespread adoption of PbD faces obstacles due to a lack of knowledge, insufficient awareness of PbD benefits, and the absence of specific implementation guidelines. In this study, stakeholders are identified primarily as diverse participants from government agencies and system suppliers engaged in National Identification Systems (NIDS). Specifically, government agencies representing regulatory bodies and administrators of NIDS, setting the legal framework that governs the NIDS's privacy aspects. The NIDS system suppliers includes private companies playing a crucial role in the development and implementation of NIDS with a focus on privacy considerations. Through the perspectives of NIDS stakeholders, this study aimed to examine the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of PbD principles and its integration in NIDS. A survey involving 203 participants from government agencies and NIDS system suppliers engaged in NIDS development was conducted. Subsequently, a focus group discussion was held with 11 members to provide qualitative insights into the KAP of PbD. The survey results revealed a significant correlation between attitudes and practices but a weak correlation between knowledge and attitudes or practices. The focus group discussion assured these findings, emphasizing the role of positive attitudes in facilitating PbD practices and highlighting knowledge-practice gaps. In conclusion, this study offers tailored recommendations for improving the integration of PbD in NIDS development. The recommendations includes strategies such as developing training programs, establishing clear guidelines and standards and creating awareness campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the enormous technical and financial advantages of cloud computing, security and privacy have always been the primary concerns for adopting cloud computing facilities, especially for government agencies and commercial sectors with high-security requirements. Homomorphic encryption (HE) has recently emerged as an effective tool in ensuring privacy and security for sensitive applications by allowing computing on encrypted data. One major obstacle to employing HE-based computation, however, is its excessive computational cost, which can be orders of magnitude higher than its counterpart based on the plaintext. In this paper, we study the problem of how to reduce the HE-based computational cost for general matrix multiplication, i.e., a fundamental building block for numerous practical applications, by taking advantage of the single instruction multiple data operations supported by HE schemes. Specifically, we develop a novel element-wise algorithm for general matrix multiplication, based on which we propose two HE-based general matrix multiplication algorithms to reduce the HE computation cost. Our experimental results show that our algorithms significantly outperform the state-of-the-art approaches of HE-based matrix multiplication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although there is a growing body of work on immigrants' information behavior, little is known about the pre-arrival information experiences of immigrants who consult formal information sources such as immigration agents. Drawn from a larger study on the information behavior of immigrants, this paper mainly reports the semi-structured interview findings on the pre-arrival information experiences of Bangladeshi immigrants who used formal information sources with discussion on how that affected their post-arrival settlement into Canada. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a mixed method approach with semi-structured interviews (n = 60) and surveys (n = 205) with participants who arrived in Canada between the years of 1971 and 2017. Data were collected from May 2017 to February 2018. Findings: Although the overall scope of the original study is much larger, this paper features findings on the pre-arrival information experiences derived mainly from an analysis of interview data. This study provides insights into the pre-arrival information experiences of Bangladeshi immigrants consulting formal information sources such as immigration firms, individual immigration consultants and more formal government agencies. The author introduces a new concept of "information crafting" by exploring the negative consequences of selective information sharing by immigration consultants/agents in newcomers' settlements in Canada, primarily positive information about life in Canada, sometimes with exaggeration and falsification. The interview participants shared story after the story of the settlement challenges they faced after arriving in Canada and how the expectations they built through the information received from immigration consultants and government agencies did not match after arrival. This study emphasizes the importance of providing comprehensive information about life in Canada to potential newcomers so that they can make informed decisions even before they apply. Originality/value: The findings of this study have theoretical and practical implications for policy and research. This study provides insights into the complicated culturally situated pre-arrival information experiences of Bangladeshi immigrants. Moreover, the study findings encourage researchers in various disciplines, including psychology, migration studies and geography, to delve more deeply into newcomers' information experiences using an informational lens to examine the information newcomers receive from diverse sources and their effects on their post-arrival settlement in a new country. The study challenges the general assumptions that formal information sources are always reputable, useful, and comprehensive, and it provides some future directions for research that seeks to understand the culturally situated information behavior of diverse immigrant groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) oversee pharmaceutical regulations, including orphan drugs targeting rare diseases with limited patient populations. Post‐marketing studies are crucial for monitoring safety and efficacy, with post‐marketing requirements (PMRs) mandated by the regulatory agencies to ensure compliance. This study aims to compare PMR statuses, objectives, and pivotal trial characteristics of orphan drugs approved by the FDA (n = 154) and EMA (n = 79) from 2008 to 2018, shedding light on regulatory differences and their impact on drug development. Contrary to expectations, our analysis found no significant disparity in the proportion of orphan drugs with and without PMRs approved by both the FDA (48.1%) and EMA (55.7%). Safety concerns surrounding orphan drugs post‐approval, attributed partly to pivotal trial design, underscore the need for robust post‐marketing surveillance. While the FDA primarily focuses on post‐marketing safety (36.1%), the EMA places a higher emphasis on both efficacy and safety (47.1%), reflecting distinct approaches to PMR management between the two regulatory bodies. The observed trend of delayed PMRs at the EMA (47.1%) highlights the importance of effective cooperation between regulators and pharmaceutical companies to ensure the timely completion of PMRs and enhance drug safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of segment reporting has prompted regulatory bodies to place significant efforts in refining the existent segment reporting regulation. The introduction of the IFRS 8 'management approach' in the segment reporting regulation was anticipated to facilitate a better understanding of the company's diverse businesses and regions, providing an opportunity to improve segment reporting disclosures. However, the effectiveness of segment reporting regulation is heavily influenced by the country regulatory environment and the characteristics of the firms. We exploit the Spanish institutional setting to provide further evidence on the real impact of IFRS 8 adoptions. Our findings support the notion that the adoption of IFRS 8 has yielded few benefits to segment reporting. Importantly, our research reveals that segment disclosures have not exhibited heightened responsiveness to proprietary costs and have shown only a moderate response to agency costs after the adoption of IFRS 8.M41, M48 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the factors behind growing communal violence in Bangladesh that is mostly perpetrated against non-Muslim communities by examining three different cases. The qualitative study has been undertaken with the help of available secondary resources and in-depth interviews of experts as primary sources. The findings confirm that the ongoing communal violence in Bangladesh is not spontaneous but rather comprises deliberate and well-orchestrated incidents. It has been noted that apart from communal identity or ideological discord, other factors have played a pivotal role in these constant attacks. All these attacks are primarily intertwined with local politics and power relations as there is evidence of local political leaders' and members' involvement in the assaults. Besides, the entrenchment of extremist elements and growing intolerance at the mass level have a formidable impact on the gradual alienation of non-Muslim communities. The inaction of the state agencies and a culture of impunity have been largely responsible for the deterioration of communal harmony in Bangladesh. Due to these factors, no organised cultural campaign or resistant mechanism could gain a strong foothold against communal violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using critical place research and documentary methods, this article examines the Mapuche territorial cause in Chile and exposes the deficiencies of state-produced Mapuche land titles, known as Títulos de Merced, which are required for and (mis)used as evidence by Chile's Indigenous land restitution program. The Títulos de Merced were granted to Mapuche families during and after the military occupation of Wallmapu (Mapuche territory), as documentation of their relocation to reducciones (reservations) between 1884 and 1929. However, these approximately 3000 titles do not fully represent Mapuche land claims. Instead, they were used by the newly formed Chilean state to reduce Mapuche territory to approximately 5% of its ancestral span, leaving undocumented much of the territories that communities were effectively using before the reduction process––what Mapuche claimants refer to as tierras antiguas or ancestral lands. Despite this, CONADI, the government agency that administers the land program, defines these titles as the primary sources of documentary evidence to prove Mapuche land dispossession. Therefore, not only are the Títulos de Merced not enough, but they negatively impact Mapuche land claims by purposefully reducing, once again, Mapuche ancestral territory, this time discursively. Mapuche claimants are paradoxically forced to validate claims to their ancestral land through documents that were designed to legitimize their dispossession. By examining the insufficiency and inappropriateness of the Títulos de Merced as evidence for Mapuche territorial claims, this paper proposes the intercultural practice of documenting territorialidad—the expression of cultural, economic, and spiritual Mapuche practices over the territory—in addition to colonial demarcations of land, as a form of producing/using evidence for Mapuche land restitution claims. Suggesting the mapu (land/territory) as provenance and territorialidad as evidence, this alternative documentary practice unsettles the Títulos de Merced as the only legitimate form of evidence for Mapuche land claims and theorizes interculturalidad—the recognition of and dialogue between diverse ways of knowing coexisting within the same territory—as a framework for thinking about provenance when working with Indigenous land records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the current stock of infrastructure is not sufficient to meet the rising demand for infrastructure services. Billions of people around the world lack access to essential infrastructure services, especially in developing countries. Infrastructure project development is an inherently complex endeavor. The ability of governments to prepare and deliver quality infrastructure projects that meet societal need hinges on the strength of their infrastructure enabling environments: the actors, resources, and conditions that facilitate the development of quality infrastructure projects. Governments in developing countries often are burdened by weak enabling environments, but it is not clear how this can be remedied to improve project development. The complexity of project development necessitates a systems perspective. This paper advocates for a systems approach to address project development challenges and strengthen the enabling environment. A systems analysis was conducted to map the infrastructure enabling environment, identify key relationships and causal loops within this system, and uncover leverage points to improve project development. A systems stakeholder map and causal loop diagram were employed for this investigation, using the INABLE Framework for the infrastructure enabling environment as a reference. The systems stakeholder map highlights the central role of dedicated government institutions, the need for trust between stakeholders, and the role of power dynamics within these relationships. Similarly, the causal loop diagram demonstrates the limits of debt financing, the potential of quick-win projects and success stories to drive investor confidence, the trade-offs between affordability and bankability, and the power of data and information to drive decision-making. Using a case study application in Saint Lucia, the systems analysis is grounded in practical examples of system dynamics within the enabling environment. The case study highlights the role of legislation and institutional structures, and the impact of external technical assistance from development financiers and civil society in supporting the enabling environment. Practical Applications: Sustainable development is rooted in meeting present needs without compromising the ability to do so in the future. It is rooted in preserving the natural systems that enable human life, while balancing the needs of society and economy, and ensuring quality of life for all. Infrastructure is essential to achieve sustainable development. It is foundational to human life. However, the infrastructure currently in place is not sufficient to meet the needs of growing populations. This paper investigated the systems that enable infrastructure development in developing countries to understand the challenges that prevent infrastructure from being built and to uncover potential solutions to address these challenges. The primary audience of this research is developing-country government agencies that are responsible for infrastructure development, and the organizations that support them. In North America, these are engineering consulting firms, federal government agencies, international organizations, and not-for-profit organizations that support infrastructure project development in developing countries. This work seeks solutions to the challenges these organizations and practitioners face in developing infrastructure projects. The paper presents a novel framework which provides common language that can be used to understand the enabling environment for infrastructure, a term which is not well defined or understood in this field. By applying the framework to a systems analysis and case study in Saint Lucia, the paper produced several findings, insights, and recommendations for government and development organizations to strengthen infrastructure development in their countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the concept of crime prevention (criminal offenses) in the field of security activities, providing a characterization of the directions and measures of its prevention. Various approaches to understanding these definitions are examined, taking into account the experience of Ukrainian scholars in classifying crime prevention measures. Based on a general theoretical analysis of approaches to understanding the concept of «crime prevention» and defining its content, establishing the main crime prevention measures with their characteristics, as well as studying the system of crime prevention measures (criminal offenses) in the field of security activities and approaches to their classification, the author concludes that crime prevention is a multi-level socio-preventive activity aimed at eliminating and hindering the action of determinants or preventing the commission of acts at various stages of criminal manifestations that lead to the emergence of a certain type of crime, with the aim of ultimately ov ercoming it. The main goal and directions of crime prevention (criminal offenses) in the field of security activities in Ukraine are to create a positive, socially acceptable activity for individuals, introducing into their consciousness a correct, socially recognized understanding of criminal offenses and fostering intolerance towards their commission. General social crime prevention (criminal offenses) in the field of security activities includes a complex of measures conducted by state bodies, public organizations, and other entities aimed at reducing conflicts and stabilizing socio-economic, political, moral-psychological, and legal relations within the state and society. Special criminal crime prevention (criminal offenses) in the field of security activities includes a system of special government agencies that act to influence criminogenic factors, as well as identify the causes and conditions of committing criminal offenses in this sphere and take measures to eliminate them. Individual preventive work in the field of security activities includes early individual prevention, direct individual prevention, and post-criminal prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article approaches regulation of the wholesale energy market as a part of coordinated effort to establish single EU-27 energy market. We analyze the forms of the cooperation among the national regulators responsible for competition in the wholesale energy markets; such responsibility is split - between two, three or more regulators. The principle of cooperation dominates in the oversight of the wholesale energy market [over concurrency] and has been institutionalized in the form the memo, statute or code; it had also evolved in the EU acquis. Domestic legal system of a state remains a fundamental framework in the traditional nation-state world order as the domestic regulators (NCA, NRA or SMA), along with domestic authority, get also to vote in the EU authorities. Previous research concentrated on delegation of the sovereign powers to the EU level and, to a lesser extent, on coordination between national and state level in the federal EU Member States. This article, instead, looks at horizontal cooperation on the national level only using the comparative legal method. The national level appears to generate the ideas for the EU level and not vice versa, at least, in the analyzed settings of Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. The working arrangements on the information exchange, pooling of resources in the form of task force, investigation crew, joint unit as well as consultations and mutual comments on the policy proposals are common cooperation formats in each of the countries analyzed, often as a formal legislative rule. At the same time, the EU level inter-agency cooperation for the wholesale energy market can boast only memoranda of understanding, quite short. The research also lay prospectives of how Ukrainian government could fit in with its oversight mandate split among the competition authority, financial market authority and energy regulating authority given decision by the European Council on 14-15 December 2023 to open accession negotiations with Ukraine. This publication is third in the planned series of four comparative legal research papers on the inter-action between the regulatory agencies, the first two papers deal with the characterization of the wholesale energy product and wholesale energy market, undertake a content-analysis of the EU-level agencies interactions; the closing fourth part will systematize regulatory policy proposals for the domestic inter-agency cooperation in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The COVID‐19 pandemic continues to cause nurses stress and trauma, with alcohol potentially being used to manage this stress. Prior studies of nurses' alcohol consumption during the COVID‐19 pandemic have shown increases in alcohol consumption to manage stress associated with the pandemic. The aim of this paper is to explore perceptions of alcohol consumption and stress among nurses, particularly since the declared end of the COVID‐19 pandemic. We used semi‐structured interviews with Australian nurses (n = 55), using a qualitative‐descriptive study design, conducted between October 2023 and January 2024. Data were analysed using structural coding and reported in accordance with CORE‐Q guidelines. Four key themes emerged from the data: (1) Alcohol consumption in response to ongoing role stress, (2) Alcohol consumption in response to incidents, (3) The lasting impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and (4) Do nurses feel comfortable seeking help for alcohol use? High‐risk alcohol consumption has persisted beyond the end of the COVID‐19 pandemic to manage the stress associated with clinical environments. Alcohol was also used in response to incidents, and the ongoing trauma and impact of the pandemic was described as a significant source of stress and anxiety. Not all nurses in our study felt comfortable seeking help for alcohol use, with participants describing concern for their nursing registration if they self‐reported their alcohol consumption. Participants reported stronger links between stressful working environments and increased alcohol consumption. Nurses in our study do not feel safe seeking help or self‐reporting alcohol consumption for fear of the regulatory body instituting sanctions that lead to loss or suspension of their registration. These factors require urgent attention to ensure workforce wellbeing and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the role of root-seeking summer camps in enhancing Chinese cultural identity among the new ethnic Chinese generation (ECNG) amidst the challenges of globalization. Semi-structured interviews with thirty campers revealed that ECNG often lack clear ethnic consciousness, experience conflict in community relationships, and have limited opportunities for traditional cultural experiences. The study found that summer camps exert both intrinsic and extrinsic influences on campers. Intrinsically, they facilitate the internalization of leisure motivation, foster a deepened leisure experience, and promote strengthened leisure interactions. Extrinsically, they provide opportunities for leisure education and cultural immersion. Through this synergy, summer camps enhance the cultural identification of ECNG. However, the study also noted that course enjoyment and teaching staff behavior could influence perceptions of the camp. This study contributes to understanding the relationship between leisure and identity, explaining how summer camp activities enhance ECNG's cultural identity, and offering insights for governments and agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rise of digital technologies, a political‐economic configuration recognised as “platform capitalism” has raised concerns over monopolistic tendencies, lack of accountability, expanded rentiership, workers’ precarity, and more. Existing analyses, however, show a distinctly urban bias—centring on housing, transportation, retail, and gig labour—and have yet to engage with the agrarian dimensions of this phenomenon despite considerable potential impacts on the future of farming. Here we begin the process of theorising agrarian platform capitalism, offering a typology of platforms in the agri‐food sector, and bringing together critiques of platform capitalism with the distinctive features of agrarian political economy. Our analysis identifies four prominent characteristics of agrarian platform capitalism which largely corroborate existing critiques albeit with some distinctive contours. As in other sectors, platforms intensify rentiership regarding both real estate and digital assets. Agricultural platforms also display a familiar tendency to thrive in spaces of regulatory retreat and are in some cases even endorsed by regulatory agencies, highlighting the potential for public–private platformisation. Some agricultural platform companies deploy populist rhetoric beyond established tropes of consumer welfare, latching onto farmers’ deep frustrations with the highly concentrated agribusiness sector. Efforts to reign in agrarian platform power may be further constrained by legitimising discourses of hunger relief and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This perspective reflects on conservation efforts to increase the coverage of marine protected areas in Solomon Islands. We demonstrate that the current model in which international conservation NGOs provide technical and financial support to pilot projects, from which community‐based resource management will spontaneously spread, is misguided. These site‐based projects typically require substantial financial resources, ignore external threats to coastal ecosystems, and tend to bypass existing governance structures, which makes replication in other areas highly problematic. We argue that to effectively support indigenous peoples and local communities in the management of marine resources and, thereby, achieve biodiversity conservation outcomes at scale, it is necessary to move away from site‐based conservation projects and focus instead on strengthening the capability of government agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Methods Results Discussion Immigrants and newcomers are identified by many provincial midwifery associations as “priority populations.” Recently, newcomer populations have shifted considerably, with more people coming to Canada with precarious immigration status who are increasingly ineligible for public healthcare insurance and facing barriers to accessing care. Our aims were to: (1) gain an understanding of the policies related to equitable access to midwifery care and how they may apply to migrant groups without public healthcare insurance and (2) identify existing policy themes, gaps, and regulatory barriers that limit access for this vulnerable population in Canada.We conducted a high‐level document content analysis using a health equity framework. We aimed to identify language related to equitable access in midwifery services, with particular emphasis on uninsured populations. A total of 64 documents were analyzed, including legislation and publicly available statements from midwifery regulatory bodies and associations.Midwifery regulatory authorities and associations across Canada are consistent in establishing an expectation that midwives will provide accessible care to diverse clientele. However, how these commitments are put into practice varies considerably between jurisdictions. We compared the cases of Manitoba and Ontario to illustrate the disconnect between commitments to priority populations and implementation.While there is a clearly demonstrated intention to provide equitable access to midwifery care to all people, including “priority populations” like migrants and newcomers, in practice, these commitments have not been fully realized. Equity is encumbered by broader structural issues, such as the growth in the number of newcomers without access to public health insurance. Moves toward equity within midwifery and healthcare more broadly need to meaningfully engage with other policy sectors, such as immigration, to be able to adapt to emerging issues affecting reproductive care, such as the growing precarity of newcomer populations in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slow progress towards implementation of conventional clinical bacteriology in low resource settings and strong interest in greater speed for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) more generally has focused attention on next-generation rapid AST technologies. In this Review, we systematically synthesize publications and submissions to regulatory agencies describing technologies that provide phenotypic AST faster than conventional methods. We characterize over ninety technologies in terms of underlying technical innovations, technology readiness level, extent of clinical validation, and time-to-results. This work provides a guide for technology developers and clinical microbiologists to understand the rapid phenotypic AST technology landscape, current development pipeline, and AST-specific validation milestones. Authors present a scoping review synthesizing new and upcoming technologies providing rapid phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusions To assess dental utilization of resettled adult refugees in Washington (WA) state and the demographic factors associated with dental utilization.Data were collected between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2015 for newly arrived adult refugees (>21 years) enrolled in Washington State dental Medicaid program. Three state agencies provided enrollment and claims data that included demographic information as well as number and types of dental claims, and time to first dental claim for the newly resettled adult refugee population.A total of 1294 adult refugees resettled in WA State in 2015. Approximately, 67% were aged 21–39 years and 32.4% White race and 93.9% without any disability. Over half (57%) of adult refugees had at least one dental claim within 12 months, and the median time to first dental utilization was 4.1 months [IQR:2.4–6.8]. Black refugees had a 74% greater chance of a first dental claim within 12 months of resettlement compared to White refugees (p < .001), and people from countries with high volume of refugees also had a 31% greater chance than those from countries with low volume of refugees (p = .005).Over half of all the adult refugees resettled in WA utilized dental services within 12 months of arrival. Understanding the mosaic of demographic backgrounds of newly resettled refugees in any given state will improve early utilization of dental care needs and therefore improve their oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitivity analyses are important components of physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model development and are required by regulatory agencies for PBPK submissions. They assess the impact of parametric uncertainty and variability on model estimates, aid model optimization by identifying parameters requiring calibration, and enable the testing of assumptions within PBPK models. One‐at‐a‐time (OAT) sensitivity analyses quantify the impact on a model output in response to changes in a single parameter while holding others fixed. Global sensitivity analysis (GSA) methods provide more comprehensive assessments by accounting for changes in all uncertain or variable parameters, though at a higher computational cost. This tutorial article presents a software package for conducting both OAT and GSA of PBPK models built in the Open Systems Pharmacology (OSP) Suite. The tool is accessible through either an R script or a graphical user interface, and the outputs consist of sensitivity metrics of pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters, such as Cmax and AUC, evaluated with respect to model input parameters. Results are formatted according to regulatory standards. The OAT analysis methods comprise two‐way local sensitivity analyses and probabilistic uncertainty analyses, whereas the GSA methods include the Morris, Sobol, and EFAST methods. These analyses can be conducted on single PBPK models or pairs of models for the evaluation of the sensitivity of PK parameter ratios in drug–drug interaction studies. The practical application of the package is demonstrated through three illustrative case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, the Supreme Court formally recognized that federal discrimination law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The opinion barely mentioned the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Rderal agency charged with enforcing federal discrimination law. Reading Bostock, it would be easy to get the impression that the EEOC played little to no role in the outcome. This Essay reclaims and restores the EEOC's role. In restoring the EEOC's role in this story, two themes emerge. First, Bostock 's methodology erases the administrative agency tasked with enforcing Title VII in ways that are inconsistent with the authority Congress gave to the agency. This idea is important because modern conversations about administrative agencies tend to jbcus on Chevron deference or the elimination of such deference. This Essay demonstrates how textualism is erasing the administrative agency outside of the Chevron context. This intervention comes at a particularly important time, given the rise of new textualism and progressive textualism. Second, the EEOC played an important role in developing the idea that Title VII prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity. This Essay demonstrates the mechanisms the agency used. It especially focuses on the EEOC's role under the federal-sector provision. Congress gave the EEOC extensive authority in this area. Even though the federal-sector provision also prohibits sex discrimination, the Supreme Court ignored the EEOC's federalsector decisions holding that sex included gender identity. Given the power Congress gave the EEOC in this area and others, it is unlikely that Congress intended for the courts to ignore the agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single State Agencies (SSAs) are responsible for managing the publicly funded alcohol and other drug prevention, treatment, and recovery service system. Recovery housing (RH) is an important recovery support service (RSS) for individuals experiencing substance use disorder (SUD). Despite its effectiveness, information on state utilization and support is limited. To assess state-level support for RH and its incorporation within the SSA-managed SUD service systems, we administered a survey with SSAs in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. In total, 48 out of the 51 SSAs responded, yielding a 94% response rate. Findings indicate strong state-level support for RH in terms of it being an integral RSS (98%), part of state-level strategic plans (73%) and prioritized for funding (87.5%). States are making progress to formalize RH with 68% reporting RH had been defined formally or within their agency. However, activities around understanding the capacity and need for RH are limited, with 44% indicating a needs assessment had not been conducted. At the same time, states perceive RH as a priority RSS, with growing recognition of its positive impact on long-term SUD recovery. This research identifies the opportunities for stakeholders to further evolve and expand RH at the federal, state, and local levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: Localization is increasingly invoked in debates about how to reform international aid: to improve aid effectiveness and address ethical concerns by turning hierarchical aid relations on their head. This has proved to be easier said than done. The COVID‐19 pandemic produced logistical impediments to aid practitioners, which translated into a renewed, if temporary, interest in localization. Purpose: The initial scope of the research engaged with the notion of partnership during COVID‐19, but almost all informants drew attention to the concept of localization. The article maps and analyses the challenges and advantages of localization, as seen from the practitioners' perspective. Approach and methods: The article draws on 24 interviews conducted in Oslo with representatives of various Norwegian development and humanitarian non‐governmental organizations and government agencies, in addition to policy and grey literature review. Findings: The article shows that the re‐emergence of the localization debate during COVID‐19 occurred not because of any ambition to reform aid, but as a pragmatic and temporary response to the logistical impediments caused by the pandemic. Reflections from the interviewees on the pros and cons offer more substantial insights into why localization fails to change practice, while at the same time localization enables a form of indirect governance related to accountability regimes. This is analysed as developmentality, reflecting the logic that localization takes place when recipients do as donors want, but they do so voluntarily, which suggests that localization counterintuitively may reinforce existing power structures. Policy implications: Localization is poorly conceptualized. While a definition could be helpful in practice, one that is too rigid could undermine the diversity of actors and knowledge that localization aims to advance. At the operational level, localization requires greater flexibility and slack throughout the aid chain, especially in the audit and accountability regimes of donor and funding authorities, which permeate and uphold lopsided aid relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the provision of mental health support to the victims of the 2023 earthquake in Syria and Turkey by social workers. The recommendations are applicable to countries in which professional social work lacks recognition and have global implications for both policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission (EC) has tasked the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to provide a recommendation towards the acceptability of titanium dioxide (TiO 2) in pharmaceutical products by early 2024 to inform on final decision in early 2025[1]. Unlike the already implemented ban of TiO 2 in foods, removing this excipient from pharmaceutical products will likely have significant impact on the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, and patients. This commentary explores the challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry tasked with supporting the development and registration of TiO 2 free (TF) drug products. Specifically, justification of formulation changes and potential impact to in vitro and in vivo performance, as well as differences in global regulatory comparative dissolution requirements to justify changing to TF drug product are discussed. Particularly, the uncertainties around how a formulation change such as removal of TiO 2 from immediate release solid oral dosage forms will be viewed in Europe compared to other regions is discussed. To respond to these challenges and avoid disruption to the medicines supply chain in case in vitro data such as dissolution is either too challenging or insufficient to justify changing to TF product, pharmaceutical companies may have to decide if the level of risk is worth the effort needed to reformulate, develop, and register a new TF product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the spectrum of legal options considered in cases of treatment refusal, nonadherence, and abandonment (TRNA); clinicians' thought processes regarding legal intervention; and perceived consequences of legal involvement. METHODS: We conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews with 30 pediatric oncologists between May and September of 2019 regarding experiences with TRNA. The interview guide covered types of conflicts encountered; factors and strategies considered in response; effects of TRNA cases, personally and professionally; the role of ethical frameworks and legal requirements; and resources needed to manage TRNA cases. Interviews were transcribed and coded iteratively using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants represented a range of institutional sizes, geographic locations, and years in practice. Twenty-five of 30 interviewees discussed legal consideration with regard to TRNA. Most participants first engaged the legal system through child protective service agencies. They considered patient age, treatment efficacy, quality of life (burden of treatment), and prognosis; family resources and social context; and preservation of therapeutic relationships and possible consequences of reporting. Experiences and outcomes of legal involvement varied. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians struggle with the tension between obligations to report medical neglect and fears that reporting may result in more harm than benefit to the child in question. We urgently need more dialog between health care professionals and child protective services and legal professionals. Stakeholders from both groups would benefit from a greater understanding of the other's thought processes; clarity regarding the relevant facts; and mutual progress toward creative, evidence-based solutions to working out these complex challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are an innovative output of biomedical research, characterized by a high level of uncertainty on long-term efficacy and safety, elevated price tags and often complex administration. All these elements compounded make their European authorization, national price negotiation for reimbursement and subsequent dispensation and administration to the patient less straightforward and often less successful than for less innovative drugs. To assess if these hurdles have affected patient access and how are ATMPs used in Italy, we have analysed availability, access and expenditure of ATMPs in the period spanning from 2016 to 2023. Methods: We have analysed real world data on the duration of ATMP regulatory evaluations for authorisation and reimbursement, time to first patient access and expenditure for ATMPs through the Italian National Health System (INHS) expenditure data flow, as well as information on patient mobility and availability of health facilities specialized in administering ATMPs. Findings: Of the 18 ATMPs currently authorized in Europe, 9 are reimbursed by the INHS, but only 6 were actually used, generating a cumulative expenditure of roughly 300 Mln€ from 2016 to 2023, largely owing to CAR-T therapies. Time to patient access reaches an average of 340.6 days from the day publication in the official Gazette of the reimbursement decision to first patient treatment in one of the 107 health facilities authorized for ATMP administration, after an even longer evaluation time by regulatory agencies. Conclusion: Since the first reimbursement decision for an ATMP in Italy, back in 2016, these innovative drugs became progressively more and more available, both in terms of numbers and in terms of coverage across the country. Almost all Italian regions have at least one centre for ATMP administration and has performed a treatment in 2023. Notwithstanding their high per-treatment prices, ATMPs currently have a rather contained expenditure, however it is bound to keep growing in the next few years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the role of policy entrepreneurs in countering regulatory capture, a phenomenon whereby regulatory bodies influenced by industry lobbying often prioritize private over public interests. The study employs an abductive process‐tracing approach to investigate the 2013 drug pricing reform in Morocco, illustrating how substantial policy shifts can occur even in authoritarian contexts susceptible to regulatory capture. The findings underscore the pivotal role of Houcine El Ouardi, the former Minister of Health, whose strategic leadership exemplified policy entrepreneurship. His capacity to navigate and surmount industry resistance was instrumental to the reform's success, culminating in a significant reduction in drug prices. This case challenges conventional wisdom regarding regulatory capture, demonstrating that individual agency can reshape regulatory outcomes despite opposition. By elucidating how policy entrepreneurs can drive transformative change in resistant regulatory environments under authoritarian regimes, the study contributes to the literature on policy entrepreneurship and regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Itinerant merchants are actively involved in various economic activities within and around African cities, albeit on a small scale. However, there remains a gap in understanding their contribution to host cities' local economic development (LED). This research aims to fill this gap by examining how itinerant immigrant retailers support LED in host cities, using Wa in Ghana. Recognising their role is essential for informing location-specific development plans to boost local economies. Employing a qualitative research approach, we interviewed 52 participants, including itinerant immigrants, city residents, and officials from relevant state agencies. Thematic analysis using NVivo version 11 was employed to analyse the responses. Itinerant merchants play a crucial role in local economies by creating employment opportunities, providing income sources for residents, ensuring convenient access to goods and services, and contributing to market diversification. We discuss how these insights could inform LED policies and planning in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beyond navigating normative developmental tasks, Black American adolescents cope with race-related experiences that are distinct to their racial-ethnic group. However, little is known about how Black American adolescents, particularly those in racially homogenous communities, experience and cope with race-related stress. Using qualitative measures, this study investigates how Black American adolescents in urban, racially homogenous environments experience race-related stress and the coping methods used to combat it. Qualitative data via individual interviews with 20 high school seniors revealed that these adolescents experience race-related stress in individual, institutional, and cultural contexts, which evoked intense negative emotions. Seeking support from family and friends and social referencing positive cultural artifacts were the most widely utilized coping strategies. Implications of the protective nature of racially homogenous environments and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do some elected leaders use legalistic strategies to undermine democracy from within? And under what conditions do they succeed in the use of these strategies? In this article, we argue that the abuse of law is at the center of the toolkit of emerging autocrats. Executives use an ample menu of legal tools and mechanisms (laws, constitutional amendments, executive decrees, administrative resolutions, and regulations by federal agencies) to gradually dismantle each of the components of liberal democracy. We show how the co-optation of the judiciary by the executive helps create an appearance of institutional normalcy that enhances regime legitimacy. In an era of democratic backsliding, executives capture or coerce judiciaries to neutralize opposition threats, carry out their policy agenda, secure and distribute benefits among allies, and dismantle various components that make up liberal democracies. To understand how executives have different levels of success in using multiple legal tools and mechanisms to undermine democracy, we compare three Latin American countries with disparate regime trajectories: Argentina, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Our paper situates judicial actors at the center of the legal toolkit of emerging autocrats by studying how (and in what ways) courts become illiberal tools for legal reform and implementation to dismantle liberal democracy gradually. We show how, in these cases, "legal narratives" are used to legitimize the slow undermining of democratic rule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the governance of Granville Island, a former industrial stretch of land that operates as an arts destination abutting the City of Vancouver's waterfront. While Granville Island might look like any other neighbourhood in Vancouver, it is in fact owned and managed by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a federal agency, on behalf of the Government of Canada. This article examines what it means, democratically speaking, for the federal government to operate public space in a city. Public entities are each legally unique, raising questions as to how they and their relationships with other entities can be understood, evaluated and adjudicated. This article animates how public entities are understood under Canadian law by demonstrating the difficulty in crafting inclusive, participatory governance models that respond to the many interests involved in public space, especially spaces that are explicitly identified as 'innovative'. Drawing on qualitative data and document review, the article highlights the manner in which Granville Island has been structured and operated by the federal government, its singular focus on commerce and tourism and its weak commitments to accountability, transparency and representation. Granville Island is rendered 'invisible' in its governance: it blends into the urban form as though part of the City of Vancouver, while at the same time lacking in accountability, transparency and representation. We conclude that while Granville Island governs public space, making it seem like a neighbourhood in a municipality, it cannot be conceptualised as a 'democratic body'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracts made from plants are complex mixtures of substances with varying compositions depending on the plant material and method of manufacture. This complexity makes it difficult for scientists and clinicians to interpret findings from pharmacological and clinical research. We performed a narrative review summarizing information on ginkgo biloba leaf extract, its composition, pharmacological data and clinical evidence supporting its administration for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Medicinal products containing ginkgo biloba leaf extract which are manufactured in compliance with the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia are approved as medicinal products for the treatment of dementia and related conditions by drug regulatory agencies in Europe, Asia and South America. As multicomponent mixtures, they may affect various targets in the pathogenesis of AD, the most common form of dementia. Pharmacodynamic studies demonstrate the effects of EGb 761 and individual constituents on various pathophysiological features of experimentally induced cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration that could contribute to its clinical efficacy. The safety and efficacy in the treatment of AD and cognitive decline has been studied in randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Most of the studies that investigate the effects of ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) used the special extract EGb 761, which makes it the best-researched plant preparation worldwide. It is therefore the only herbal alternative to standard-of-care anti-dementia drugs. However, the mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated yet, and the clinical studies in AD show heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The present analysis estimated the cost‐effectiveness of treatment with the Tandem t: slim X2 insulin pump with Control IQ technology (CIQ) in children with type 1 diabetes in Sweden. Methods: A four‐state Markov model and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were used to assess the cost‐effectiveness of CIQ use compared with treatment with multiple daily insulin injections (MDI) or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) in conjunction with CGM. Data sources included clinical input data from a recent retrospective, observational study, cost data from local diabetes supply companies and government agencies, and published literature. Outcomes measures were quality adjusted life years (QALYs) at 10, 20 and 30‐year time horizons based on cost per QALY and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER). Results: A total of 84 type 1 diabetes children were included (CIQ, n = 37; MDI, n = 19; CSII, n = 28). For all time horizons, the use of CIQ was a dominant strategy (e.g. more effective and less costly) compared with MDI or CSII use: 10‐year ICER, SEK ‐88,010.37 and SEK ‐91,723.92; 20‐year ICER, SEK −72,095.33 and SEK −87,707.79; and 30‐year ICER, SEK −65,573.01 and SEK ‐85,495.68, respectively. PSA confirmed that CIQ use was less costly compared with MDI and CSII. Conclusions: Initiation of CIQ use in children with type 1 diabetes is cost‐saving, besides previously shown improved glycaemic control, and increased quality of life. Further investigations are needed to more fully elucidate the cost‐effectiveness of these technologies in different countries with existing differences in payment models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the ongoing struggles within French pediatric nephrology, highlighting a survey revealing that many pediatric nephrologists work excessively long hours and face mental health challenges, reflecting a broader crisis in the field. It mentions the "Assises de la Pédiatrie et de la Santé de l'Enfant," launched on December 7, 2022, by the French Health Ministry, aimed at addressing pediatric healthcare issues.