Reduction Efforts Research Articles

Mandatory salt targets: a key policy tool for global salt reduction efforts.

Mandatory salt targets: a key policy tool for global salt reduction efforts.

Economic Growth Targets, Innovation Transformation, and Urban Carbon Emissions: An Empirical Study of the Yangtze River Delta

In the face of carbon emissions reduction efforts, which are a common but differentiated global responsibility, it is crucial to explore the potential synergistic path between economic growth and carbon emissions reduction. This study integrates economic growth management and carbon emissions into a theoretical framework, based on city-level panel data from 2005 to 2019 in the Yangtze River Delta and the fixed effects model. We explore the impact of economic growth targets on urban carbon emissions. Then, we explore the mechanism by which economic growth target affects carbon emissions with the mediation effect model and moderation effect model. The results reveal that economic growth targets are beneficial for carbon reduction, and innovation development from innovation transformation is an important mechanism driving carbon emissions reduction, but the effects of different innovation outputs exhibit notable variations. In addition, marketization and industrial structure affect the relationship between economic growth targets and carbon emissions. The heterogeneity analysis reveals substantial spatial and temporal differences. Based on the realities of developing countries’ ongoing economic targets, this study provides a new explanation for the relationship between government policies and carbon emissions, establishing a scientific basis for policymakers to formulate strategic green development policies.

Risk factors threatening children’s safety in the school environment

School safety encompasses risk reduction efforts to ensure that children act in an environment that is safe and promotes the well-being of the students to achieve their full potential. Therefore, a safe and secure environment is a prerequisite for effective teaching and learning. This scoping review aims to address a range of school safety risk factors and introduce the complexity of school safety. School is believed to be a safe learning and growing environment; however, various conditions can threaten children’s safety in a school setting and lead to injuries caused by accidents, risky or/ aggressive behavior, or environmental exposure. In addition to the physical, psychological, and behavioral characteristics of children that make them particularly vulnerable to accidents, there are several unpredictable risks associated with natural or man-made conditions or disasters that can also put children at extreme risk. A balance between safety, surveillance, and emergency preparedness measures may be beneficial to create a safety culture in schools that will enable student behavioral and intervention support.

The Scenario of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) & Increased Women’s Empowerment in Bangladesh

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) remains a significant issue in Bangladesh, despite the recent strides in women’s empowerment. This study investigates whether the empowerment of women plays a role in reducing IPV, while also examining the influence of a patriarchal social structure on this dynamic. Utilizing qualitative research methods, this analysis draws primarily on secondary data sources, including journal articles, prior studies, news reports, and editorials. Process tracing, a storytelling-based analytical tool, is employed to explore the patterns and relationships involved. The findings suggest that while women's empowerment serves as a mitigating factor in reducing IPV, the entrenched patriarchal nature of male dominance initially triggers resistance to both empowerment and IPV reduction efforts. Nonetheless, the study argues that this resistance can be overcome through concerted efforts, involving government and NGO initiatives that focus on effective law enforcement, supportive policies, and the creation of a safe and respectful environment for women. These collaborative approaches offer promising pathways for addressing IPV in Bangladesh.

Daily vulnerability and disaster resilience: a case study of preferred community assets and social capital for Latinx coastal residents

PurposeThis study explores how marginalized populations in high-hazard-risk areas on the Oregon coast utilize valued locations and social networks to adapt to daily challenges and natural hazards.Design/methodology/approachWe hypothesize that locations most valued for their associated resources (community assets) also support the most social capital. Focus group discussions and a novel conceptual mapping activity were employed to identify preferred community assets and associated social capital for Latinx residents.FindingsCommunity-based organizations, churches and schools are the preferred community assets found to enable strong social capital, although differences existed in which forms of structural social capital were identified. Mechanisms by which relationships are formed in this case study and implications for disaster resilience are discussed and theoretically linked to other relevant contexts.Research limitations/implicationsWe provide policy recommendations to utilize community assets and social capital to support disaster resilience for marginalized populations.Originality/valueRecruitment of participants through a community-engaged process developed trust with Latinx community members. Focus group design addressed barriers to participation to create space for diverse perspectives. By applying social capital theory to this data, actionable insights are identified to better incorporate the values and needs of marginalized groups into disaster risk reduction efforts.

HOW DOES THE DIGITAL ECONOMY AFFECT ENERGY EFFICIENCY?

As a new way of promoting high-quality economic development, whether the digital economy can enhance energy use efficiency by improving resource allocation is of great practical significance to global energy conservation and emission reduction efforts. This research employs principal component analysis and slacks-based measure data envelopment analysis in a case study of 30 provinces in China between 2014 and 2020 to evaluate the digital economy and energy efficiency. The analysis explores how the digital economy impacts energy efficiency, considering direct impacts, mediating effects, and their nonlinear relationship. The findings indicate a declining trend in China’s energy efficiency before it starts to moderate. The digital economy can boost energy efficiency by encouraging industry upgrades and reducing labor mismatches. The threshold regression model reveals that when the capital mismatch level exceeds 0.8871, the digital economy adds considerably to energy efficiency. The study’s findings confirm the linear and nonlinear energy efficiency impact trajectories of the digital economy, offering useful references for sustainable development policymaking.

Efficient computation of magnetic polarizability tensor spectral signatures for object characterisation in metal detection

PurposeMagnetic polarizability tensors (MPTs) provide an economical characterisation of conducting magnetic metallic objects and their spectral signature can aid in the solution of metal detection inverse problems, such as scrap metal sorting, searching for unexploded ordnance in areas of former conflict and security screening at event venues and transport hubs. In this work, the authors aim to discuss methods for efficiently building large dictionaries for classification approaches.Design/methodology/approachPrevious work has established explicit formulae for MPT coefficients, underpinned by a rigorous mathematical theory. To assist with the efficient computation of MPTs at differing parameters and objects of interest, this work applies new observations about the way the MPT coefficients can be computed. Furthermore, the authors discuss discretisation strategies for hp-finite elements on meshes of unstructured tetrahedra combined with prismatic boundary layer elements for resolving thin skin depths and using an adaptive proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) reduced-order modelling methodology to accelerate computations for varying parameters.FindingsThe success of the proposed methodologies is demonstrated using a series of examples. A significant reduction in computational effort is observed across all examples. The authors identify and recommend a simple discretisation strategy and improved accuracy is obtained using adaptive POD.Originality/valueThe authors present novel computations, timings and error certificates of MPT characterisations of realistic objects made of magnetic materials. A novel postprocessing implementation is introduced and an adaptive POD algorithm is demonstrated.

Research on the green development path of prefabricated building industry based on intelligent technology

PurposeIn order to make the construction industry develop in the direction of greening, this paper analyzes whether the application of intelligent technology in prefabricated buildings can achieve carbon emission reduction, starting from the problems of weak technology and insufficient encouragement policies in the prefabricated building industry. It also designs dynamic and adjustable incentives for the smart transformation of prefabricated buildings and makes recommendations to facilitate the transformation of assembly manufacturers into “smart factories”.Design/methodology/approachThis paper takes the intelligent technology for carbon reduction, energy efficiency and policy design in the prefabricated buildings industry as the starting point. Based on in-depth expert interviews and questionnaire survey data, a linear multiple regression model is used to establish an association network of intelligent technology in the production and transportation, construction, operation and maintenance, demolition and scrapping stages. On this basis, an evolutionary game theory is used to construct a smart transformation and carbon reduction utility game model between the government and manufacturers, and relevant suggestions for smart empowerment of green construction development technology combinations and policy settings are proposed.FindingsAn assembly manufacturing plant with smart empowerment is an important way to achieve green and sustainable development in the construction industry. Among them, BIM and IoT have made a greater impact on carbon emission reduction of prefabricated buildings in all stages of the whole life cycle. The government’s proposed energy efficiency incentives and environmental tax amount will effectively increase companies' motivation for smart transformation of prefabricated buildings. However, when the environmental tax amount is low, the government should strengthen the regulation of the industry in order to increase the speed of smart transformation of assembly manufacturers. Therefore, a reasonable setting of the environmental tax rate and energy-saving incentives and flexible adjustment of the regulatory efforts can maximize the functional utility of the government in the process of smart transformation.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper focuses on the impact of intelligent technologies on the overall carbon emissions of the industry and provides an evolutionary analysis of the strategic game between the government and assembly manufacturers, the main players in the smart transformation process of prefabricated buildings. However, smart technologies for different categories of assembly manufacturing plants and strategic options for a wider range of stakeholders have not been examined in depth.Originality/valueDifferent from existing research, this study focuses on exploring the strategic game between the government and assembly manufacturers in the smart transformation of prefabricated buildings. It provides an innovative explanation of the connection between intelligent technology and carbon emissions. The study develops an evolutionary game model for both parties, addressing the research gap on the combined effects of policy incentives and intelligent technology on carbon reduction and efficiency improvement in the prefabricated buildings industry. This research not only offers practical reference for the government in designing incentive mechanisms and establishing regulatory systems but also provides feasible practical guidance for the smart transformation and carbon reduction efforts of assembly manufacturing plants.

Financial inclusion, financial stability, and poverty reduction in Africa

AbstractFinancial inclusion universally remains one of the critical means to end poverty in the world, especially Africa, where the level of poverty is high. It has however been argued that financial inclusion equally has the tendency to destabilize the financial system, thwarting the poverty reduction efforts, which necessitates the interrogation of the relationship between the variables. This study therefore investigates how financial stability mediates the financial inclusion and poverty reduction relationship in Africa. Using the panel Autoregressive Distributive Lag model, covering a period of 2004–2020, the study found that financial inclusion is positively related to financial stability in both short and long‐run, with education, Gross National Income per capita (GNI) and domestic credit to private sector, contributing to financial stability, and trade openness negatively related to financial stability in the long‐run. The study further established that financial stability is positively related to household consumption expenditure as such leads to poverty reduction with trade openness, government expenditure, GNI, education, domestic credit to private sector, and institutional quality contributing significantly to poverty reduction. This confirms the mediating role financial stability plays in enhancing the impact of financial inclusion on poverty reduction in Africa and must therefore be given the necessary attention, through proper regulatory mechanisms.

A strategic optimizing carbon neutrality within profit and emission reduction efficiency: a stackelberg game analysis under a cap-and-trade scheme.

Carbon emissions (CO2e) are a main problem, and many countries are committed to reducing CO2e to attain carbon neutrality. To narrow this gap, this research considers green technology implementation (GTI) and CO2e quota in dual green gaming. The objective is to explore the integration of GTI and CO2e quotas into optimal production and pricing decisions in emission-generating companies (EGCs). To achieve this, a two-party simulation Stackelberg game model involving the CO2e strategy of EGCs and governments is proposed. We formulate a mathematical model and experimental methods to optimize EGCs' decision-making using neutral indicators. EGCs optimize production quantity, achieving CO2e reduction through ERE maximization. EGCs exhibit a strong commitment to ERE enhancement practices, enhancing profit and carbon-neutral goals. Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of CO2e quotas and GTI as carbon-neutral indicators in EGCs, contributing to global CO2e reduction. Our research provides both literature and inspiration for global CO2e reduction efforts. Moreover, it aids governments in exploring optimal incentives and decisions for pricing and production. Last, this work enables EGCs to maximize profits and move toward a carbon-neutral environment.

How does auditing outgoing officials' natural resource asset management policies affect carbon emission efficiency? Evidence from a debiased machine learning model

Reducing carbon emissions to improve environmental quality has been the Chinese government's unwavering dedication in recent years. Several policies have been implemented with the objective of driving carbon reduction. The implementation of the outgoing leadership natural resources audit policy has played a pivotal role in encouraging local government officials to prioritize both economic and environmental development in their pursuit of performance metrics. However, whether the implementation of this policy contributes to an enhancement in carbon emission efficiency requires further empirical validation. This study, utilizing panel data from 282 cities across China, explores the potential impact of the audit policy (specifically referring to the outgoing leadership natural resources asset audit policy, without ambiguity) on carbon emission efficiency through the application of a debiased machine learning model. The results of the study show that the audit policy has been crucial in greatly raising the regional level of carbon emission efficiency. Furthermore, mechanistic analysis results suggest that the audit policy can enhance regional carbon emission efficiency by influencing green innovation and raising government environmental awareness and green financial levels. Based on the heterogeneity analysis, the regions east of the Hu Line, cities with low levels of corruption, less stringent economic growth objectives, and areas with high levels of public environmental concern are the areas where auditing rules have the greatest influence on carbon emission efficiency. In conclusion, based on the comprehensive results of this study, a series of policy recommendations are presented to further advance China's efforts in carbon reduction, ultimately achieving a more sustainable balance between economic and environmental development objectives.

Reengineering Web applications into pervasive information systems

In today’s mobile-driven world, organizations face the challenge of adapting legacy Web applications to pervasive information systems, such as mobile applications, ensuring seamless accessibility across devices. This paper presents a systematic, three-phase approach to reengineering Web applications into mobile applications: Reverse-engineering, Transformation, and Forward-engineering. In the reverse-engineering phase, high-level conceptual models of the Web application are generated to capture its architecture and functionality. During the transformation phase, these models are refined using Unified Modeling Language (UML) profiles to align with the requirements of mobile systems. The forward-engineering phase utilizes the Acceleo technology, along with predefined mapping rules and code patterns, to automate the generation of mobile application code. A case study is conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of this framework, revealing a significant reduction in manual effort throughout the reengineering process. This approach offers a scalable and efficient solution for transforming Web applications into mobile applications, contributing to advancements in model-driven engineering and software reengineering.

Analysis of the Impact of China's Carbon Neutrality Policy on the Environment and Economy at Home and Abroad

China has made remarkable achievements in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially in achieving the emission reduction targets set for 2020. This progress is mainly due to China's reduced dependence on coal and other fossil fuels, which not only promotes significant improvements in air quality but also lays the foundation for the transformation of China's economic structure. Especially in the energy and industrial fields, carbon neutrality policies are driving companies to transform into greener and more sustainable operating models. Facing the economic challenges brought about by the COVID-19 epidemic, China is actively seeking a path to low-carbon economic recovery by increasing public investment in renewable energy and other fields. From an international perspective, China's carbon neutrality commitment has the potential to inspire other large carbon-emitting countries, especially countries along the Belt and Road and neighboring countries, to strengthen their emission reduction efforts. At the same time, Southeast Asian countries face shortages of technology, equipment, and raw materials, as well as insufficient investment when developing renewable energy. In this regard, Chinas experience and investment have a significant impact on Southeast Asian countries carbon neutrality policies and renewable energy development. China can use its technological and manufacturing advantages to share resources with neighboring countries in renewable energy technology and equipment manufacturing, and provide support for ASEAN countries to achieve their renewable energy goals.

Sustainable development in African countries: evidence from the impacts of education and poverty ratio

This paper uses the autoregressive-distributed lag model to investigate the effects of education, poverty, trade volume, ICT development, and GDP per capita on sustainability in the 15 largest African economies from 1999 to 2019. The results show a positive correlation between higher tertiary education rates and sustainability, emphasizing the importance of investing in education for sustainable development. In contrast, higher poverty rates are linked to lower sustainability, highlighting the need for poverty reduction efforts. Increased trade volumes are associated with reduced sustainability, indicating the challenges of trade liberalization policies in achieving sustainability goals. However, ICT development has a significant positive impact on sustainability. Interestingly, higher GDP per capita is linked to lower sustainability, potentially due to unsustainable consumption patterns and social inequalities. Policy recommendations for promoting sustainable development in African countries include targeted measures focusing on education and poverty reduction. Gender-friendly policies and initiatives to eliminate educational disparities, especially among marginalized groups, can enhance human capital development. Additionally, promoting e-businesses and sustainable entrepreneurship, along with attracting foreign investment for sustainable education and employment initiatives, can drive economic growth while minimizing environmental impact and fostering inclusive development.

Visualizing Disaster Risk Reduction to Inspire Positive Action

Dealing with disasters is typically illustrated with photos of the aftermath of disasters, notably collapsed infrastructure and destitute, hurt, or grieving people. Those images present the reality of disasters, but not the reality of actions seeking to avoid these scenes. This photo essay is of disaster risk reduction efforts as expressed through images.

Inhaled Dimethyltryptamine (DMT): Use Patterns and Predictors of Consumption Frequency

ABSTRACT Despite increasing interest in psychedelics and their potential therapeutic effects, research on inhaled N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) remains limited. Inhaled DMT has a reputation for rapid, dramatic onset and a brief duration, but correlates of use frequency remain poorly understood. A sample recruited from relevant internet sites, including nearly 400 people who had inhaled DMT, reported substance use histories, motivations for use, DMT sources, risk perceptions, and other variables. Generally, participants reported initiation motivated by curiosity about DMT’s effects, interest in psychedelics more broadly, and potential spiritual benefits. Those who had used other psychoactive substances (especially ayahuasca) and who had extracted DMT themselves reported inhaled DMT more frequently. Most (>60%) reported obtaining DMT from a friend and claimed it was “slightly difficult” to procure. Participants most commonly inhaled DMT from a glass pipe, in private homes, frequently alone or in small groups. Salient positives associated with inhaling DMT included psychologically cleansing or cathartic experiences. Associated challenges concerned difficult integration, aversive experiences, or “bad trips.” Participants rated DMT as very or slightly safe. These data underscore the need for continued work on this topic to inform education and harm reduction efforts, particularly as the molecule’s reputation for ameliorative effects receives media coverage.

Resource Adequacy and Integration of Renewables in Light of US, EU, and Pakistan’s Evolving Power Sector

This study investigates resource adequacy and renewable energy integration in the United States, European Union, and Pakistan amid global energy market liberalization and greenhouse gas reduction efforts. It explores how these regions are adapting to the surge in renewable sources like wind and solar, which, despite their financial and environmental benefits, challenge resource adequacy and the economic viability of traditional energy sources. In the US and EU, significant improvements have been introduced in wholesale electricity markets and capacity accreditation mechanisms, which enhanced the large-scale deployment of renewables. This shift has prompted a reevaluation of resource adequacy, leading to the increased deployment of battery storage and demand response. Presently, gas-based generation is largely upholding resource adequacy; however, future trends indicate a move towards greater consumer participation, energy efficiency, and utility-scale storage, with a decline in fossil fuel use. Pakistan aims to adopt a liberalized market structure by balancing competitive markets with legacy contracts. Public pressure is driving a shift from costly fossil-based generation to renewables. Similarly, a trend in the rise of behind-the-meter solar generation can be witnessed. In the future, Pakistan may also experience resource adequacy challenges. It will likely need to implement battery storage, demand response, and modern capacity accreditation tools, by drawing lessons from developed markets.

Carbon footprints, dynamic capabilities, and financial inclusion in G7 and E7 nations

This study explores the impact of financial inclusion on CO2 emissions in G7 and E7 countries over the period 2004 to 2020. Through fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), the research reveals that financial inclusion interacts with key factors such as income levels, energy consumption, urbanization, and foreign direct investment, shaping emissions outcomes in these countries. Trade openness is identified as a significant driver of environmental degradation, further complicating the relationship between financial systems and ecological impact. Despite these interactions, the study finds a clear gap in policies that directly connect financial inclusion with CO2 reduction efforts. The findings emphasize the need for governments to align financial inclusion strategies with environmental policies to foster more sustainable economic and ecological development.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Deported Guatemalan Migrants in Tecun Uman, Guatemala

Abstract Background Migrant populations in Central America face complex disease burdens, including respiratory viruses. A frequently overlooked sub-group within the migrant populations is the returned migrants. Assessment of COVID-19 disease burden and associated risk factors are important for identifying high-risk groups, as well as for informing disease reduction efforts, including vaccination programs. Methods As a sub-study within a larger (AGRI-CASA) cohort study, we screened and offered enrollment to returned migrants on a weekly basis in El Centro de Retornados de Ayutla, located in the Tecun Uman community along the Guatemala-Mexico border. The existing screening program includes symptomatic screening of all returnees for cough or fever; we then performed SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen testing from nasopharyngeal swab on all symptomatic and 10% of asymptomatic individuals. In our sub-study of this screened population, we collected additional clinical and exposure data and a second mid-turbinate nasal swab on all consenting adults available with COVID-like illness (CLI). The samples underwent PCR testing at the Trifinio Center for Human Development (CHD) laboratory. We did not enroll minors due to uncertainty of legal guardians. Results From January-September 2023, 10,570 Guatemalans were deported through El Centro de Salud de Ayutla, of which 5,373 (50.8%) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and 42 (0.8%) were positive, a decrease from 2021 (n=40,927 migrants, 12,181 tested, and 714 [5.9%) positive) and 2022 (n=36,865 migrants, 12,406 tested, 403 [3.2%] positive). Our sub-study enrolled 197 (30.1%) of 655 symptomatic participants with CLI from January-September 2023. Of those, median age (SD) was 26 (7.87) years and 174 (88%) were male. The most commonly reported symptoms were cough (34.5%) nasal congestion (27.9%), sore throat (21.3%), and headache (19.3%). Of 197 participants, 163 samples were available for testing; 4 (2.5%) of those were SARS-CoV-2 antigen positive via POC testing and 5 (3.1%) of those samples were PCR-positive at the Trifinio Center for Human Development (CHD) laboratory. The PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive samples contained XBB1.15, XBB1.5.11, and XBB.1.5 variants. According to Guatemala’s Laboratorio Nacional de Salud, the main variant in the country in February and June 2023 was Omicron, especially the XBB variant. Conclusion Despite the crowding conditions for deported migrants returning from Mexico, SARS-CoV-2 positivity for symptomatic individuals was relatively low. Further studies should evaluate additional pathogens and migrants traveling in both directions to characterize the full disease burden of this vulnerable population. Combined with additional information on the vaccination status of the deported migrants, these results will be crucial in calculating the number-needed-to-vaccinate (NNV) among the departed migrant populations and the local Guatemalans as well as assessing the cost effectiveness of vaccination programs targeting these populations.

Microscopic Phage Adsorption Assay: High-throughput quantification of virus particle attachment to host bacterial cells.

Phages, viruses of bacteria, play a pivotal role in Earth's biosphere and hold great promise as therapeutic and diagnostic tools in combating infectious diseases. Attachment of phages to bacterial cells is a crucial initial step of the interaction. The classic assay to quantify the dynamics of phage attachment involves co-culturing and enumeration of bacteria and phages, which is laborious, lengthy, hence low-throughput, and only provides ensemble estimates of model-based adsorption rate constants. Here, we utilized fluorescence microscopy and particle tracking to obtain trajectories of individual virus particles interacting with cells. The trajectory durations quantified the heterogeneity in dwell time, the time that each phage spends interacting with a bacterium. The average dwell time strongly correlated with the classically-measured adsorption rate constant. We successfully applied this technique to quantify host-attachment dynamics of several phages including those targeting key bacterial pathogens. This approach should benefit the field of phage biology by providing highly quantitative, model-free readouts at single-virus resolution, helping to uncover single-virus phenomena missed by traditional measurements. Owing to significant reduction in manual effort, our method should enable rapid, high-throughput screening of a phage library against a target bacterial strain for applications such as therapy or diagnosis.