Equity Issues Research Articles

Comprehensive Exploration of CRISPR and Gene Editing Technologies: Applications, Ethical Considerations, and Future Implications in Genetic Research

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) and other gene-editing technologies have revolutionized genetic research by enabling precise, targeted modifications of DNA sequences. This paper provides a comprehensive exploration of CRISPR technology, detailing its development, mechanism of action, and versatility in diverse applications. From advancements in medicine, including therapeutic interventions for genetic disorders, to innovations in agriculture aimed at enhancing crop resilience and yield, CRISPR's transformative potential is vast. However, the rapid evolution of gene editing presents significant ethical and societal challenges, particularly concerning human germline editing, ecological impacts, and issues of accessibility and equity. This paper examines these ethical considerations, emphasizing the need for robust regulatory frameworks and responsible scientific practices. It also projects the future trajectory of gene editing technologies, speculating on emerging trends, possible breakthroughs, and the global implications of CRISPR in fields such as personalized medicine, synthetic biology, and biotechnology. By critically analyzing current applications and addressing ethical concerns, this study aims to provide a balanced perspective on CRISPR's potential to reshape genetic research while advocating for ethical governance and public engagement in its ongoing development. CRISPR’s ability to target specific genes with high accuracy has made it an invaluable tool not only in research laboratories but also in clinical settings, where it shows promise in treating previously incurable diseases. Recent advancements have extended CRISPR’s applications beyond simple gene knockout, allowing for base editing, prime editing, and epigenetic modifications that expand the possibilities for genetic correction and enhancement. As scientists explore using CRISPR in complex organisms, the precision and control required for safe and effective treatments become a key focus, particularly in addressing off-target effects that could lead to unintended genetic consequences.

“Us versus Them”: is the voice of the community heard when planning communication screening programmes for preschoolers?

ObjectivesCommunity consultation is necessary to ensure the uptake and use of community-based screening intervention to detect early childhood disabilities, as its absence can result in poor service acceptance and usage. To document stakeholders' perspectives regarding planning a community-based communication disorder (an impairment in the ability to receive, send, process and comprehend concepts or verbal, non-verbal and graphic symbol systems) screening programmes for pre-schoolers. Study designThis qualitative research design used purposive and random sampling to recruit 46 participants from eThekwini Municipality, South Africa. These stakeholders consisted of caregivers/parents of children who underwent screening for communication disorders, People who are Deaf, their parents, early childhood development practitioners, health professionals and government officials involved with children with disabilities. All participants were adults aged between 19 and 79 years, with an average age of 39.7 years. MethodsData was collected through focus group discussions and individual interviews, which were thematically analysed. ResultsThe four emergent themes were screening approaches, methods, location and personnel. Service users expected greater access to screening and reliable tests to identify problems by trained personnel at sites within the community. Service providers preferred a targeted approach to screening with parental input. Task shifting and sharing were seen as a solution to address staff shortages and provide services at health facilities, as resource constraints made it challenging to provide outreach services. ConclusionStakeholder engagement revealed diverging views between service users and providers, with implications for programme provision and uptake. There is a need for ongoing, inclusive discussion to ensure consensus during the planning stage, in order to render services that address issues of equity and accessibility for people with disabilities in marginalised communities.

Airline industry equities under external uncertainty shocks

We gauge the impact of news and other relevant external uncertainties facing airline firms via an equity market lens. Using local projections, we establish that rising investors’ fear shocks have long-lasting negative effects on airline industry equity returns, while increasing geopolitical, climate policy, and fuel cost uncertainties have comparatively short-lived impacts. Our results are robust to several alternative model specifications, including a pre-pandemic subsample. Based on our findings, we provide a promising avenue for future research in airline financial management.

Assessing Barriers and Facilitators to Participation in a Nurse-Driven, Opt-Out HIV Screening Program in the Emergency Department

Emergency department (ED) HIV screening is a key component of the strategy to end the HIV epidemic, reaching populations with limited access to care for screening and early diagnosis. Many screening programs rely primarily on participation from ED nurses; however, little is known about the factors affecting nurse participation in screening. Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with ED nurses to explore perceptions of HIV screening, barriers and facilitators to participation, and implementation insights. Nurses were categorized as either high adopters or low adopters based on the number of HIV tests ordered 3 months prior to interviews. The Stanford Lightning Report Method, a rapid qualitative analysis approach, was used to analyze field notes. All participants generally agreed that the ED was an appropriate location for screening and that frequent, multimodal education about screening was needed. Integration of screening into standard workflows, education about the public health impact of screening, and the use of peer champions and mentors were identified as important strategies to increase participation. By incorporating these findings into implementation strategies, EDs may be able to increase nurse participation in screening, addressing important health equity issues in HIV diagnosis.

Bibliometric Analysis to Improve Combined Treatment Strategies for Glioblastoma in America

Introduction: Bibliometric analysis quantitatively examines scientific literature to extract insights. This article has conducted such analysis on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment articles. GBM, a prevalent brain tumor, is typically treated with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Objectives: The article aimed to bibliometrically analyze articles discussing combined GBM treatment to identify impactful research areas and encourage collaboration. Materials and Methods: The study encompassed a comprehensive search in the Scopus database, spanning articles published from 1974 to 2022. Inclusion criteria encompassed research conducted in the Americas, both clinical and experimental. A total of 772 articles were collected and categorized based on their primary focus on combined treatment approaches. Results: Clinical studies constituted 52% of articles, suggesting a slight dominance. The analysis unveiled key research moments, including a 1998 focus shift and a pivotal 2005 study on temozolomide- radiation combination. Top journals, trends, and authors were identified, with the USA leading in contributions. Discussions: Despite high brain tumor incidence, research distribution discrepancy is concerning. Regional epidemiological studies have been endorsed. The dominance of US and German authors in GBM collaboration has raised equity issues due to budget and GDP disparities limiting Latin American representation. Conclusion: GBM research in the region is dominated by the USA, while contributions from Latin American countries remain limited. The absence of comprehensive epidemiological studies on GBM in Latin America is concerning, considering the evident impact of the disease in the region. This underscores the urgent need for increased research participation and collaboration to advance the understanding and treatment of GBM across Latin American nations.

Physical climate change risk and ESG green premium

ABSTRACT We build an asset pricing model that incorporates climate change risk and firms’ ESG engagement to analyse their interactive effects on equity returns. Our model shows that a firm’s ESG engagement has three channels for influencing stock returns: its direct impact on resisting climate change risk, indirect reduction in systematic risk and attraction of green preference, and the empirical evidence shows that both risk–return relation and ESG engagement are priced. We also point out an inevitably negative and convex relation between the market Sharp Ratio and stocks market beta in an economy with climate change risk.

Accessing the Impact of Policy Reforms on the Rights to Education: A Comparative Study of Emerging and Developed Economies (Nigeria and the U.S. )

This study examined the impact of education policy reforms on the right to education in emerging and developed economies, focusing on Nigeria and the United States. It analyzed how policy interventions shaped access to education, the quality of educational outcomes, and equity in both countries. The key research questions investigated the effectiveness of education reforms in improving access, addressing regional and socioeconomic disparities, and ensuring quality education. The study adopted a comparative case study methodology, analyzing secondary data, policy documents, and education statistics from both nations. Theoretical frameworks such as Human Capital Theory and a rights-based approach to education were used to evaluate the policies' impact. Findings revealed that while Nigeria made significant strides in increasing school enrollment through policies like the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program, it struggled with quality, funding, and regional disparities. In contrast, the U.S. achieved widespread access to education but faced persistent challenges related to racial and socioeconomic inequities, influenced by the shortcomings of standardized testing and uneven funding allocation. The study’s implications suggested that addressing policy implementation, funding, and equity issues is essential for advancing the right to education. Recommendations were provided to strengthen reforms, improve funding mechanisms, and promote equitable access to quality education in both contexts.

DIVING DEEP INTO FIN- TECHS: AN EXAMINATION OF ONE 97 COMMUNICATIONS LTD. (PAYTM) FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

India has seen rise in the number of the Fin -Techs as a part of Start Ups project coming up. Need to analysis the financial statements of such start ups becomes an important task as many stakeholders as being connected directly or indirectly with the company. In this study the financial statement analysis of ONE 97 COMMUNICATIONS Ltd. popularly well known as Paytm was done in the context of profitability and financial stability ratios using the data for the period of 2 years since its listing of the Stock Exchanges. Results showed that there are positive trends in the reduction of loss magnitudes and improvements in operational efficiency. It is crucial for the company to continue its efforts to enhance profitability, manage costs, and work towards achieving positive returns for both assets and equity. On side of financial stability the company has a healthy current and liquid ratio, indicating strong short-term liquidity but the position still needs to be continued for a long term to see a better and positive picture.

6.Q. Round table: Artificial Intelligence in healthcare: navigating ethically with equity and workforce empowerment

Abstract Background Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a pivotal technology with vast promises for healthcare. However, integrating AI into clinical and public health settings must be cautiously approached to ensure that it does not inadvertently exacerbate existing health system problems. The healthcare workers, already under severe stress, could view AI as a threat to job security rather than as a support mechanism. Moreover, past experiences with digital transformations, such as Electronic Health Records, have shown that technological integration can sometimes increase rather than decrease the burden on healthcare workers, leading to burnout and dissatisfaction, and thus worsening the healthcare workforce crisis. Furthermore, equity and ethical considerations are paramount in the deployment of AI in healthcare. Data privacy, patient consent, and algorithmic bias must be addressed to ensure that AI applications are designed to support and enhance human decision-making that is sensitive to the social determinants of health and accountable to equity and social inclusion, to the needs and rights of the healthcare workforce, and the dignity of the patients and populations. While AI presents significant opportunities for health systems and healthcare workers, there is a lack of knowledge, evidence-based policies, and ethical frameworks that support equitable and human-centred approaches to AI implementation. Objectives This round table workshop aligns three major public health challenges: the integration of AI in health systems, the global healthcare workforce crisis, and the improvement of equity and equality. It critically explores capacity building for AI, equity in AI implementation, and regulatory measures for ethical and responsible AI deployment, addressing the following major questions: What are the critical impacts of AI on the healthcare workforce? How can the healthcare workforce be effectively upskilled and supported to adapt to the changes brought by AI technologies? What regulatory frameworks and governance models are necessary to ensure AI’s safe and ethical implementation in healthcare, that is also sensitive to equity, gender equality and the needs of minority groups? Finally, what actionable steps and leadership can public health take to implement AI technologies while addressing the healthcare workforce needs, equity issues, and ethical guidelines? The panellists will illuminate these questions from different disciplinary approaches, helping us to disentangle complexity and to build capacity for evidence-based and socially inclusive AI policies. The workshop contributes to better understand the risks and benefits of AI. It seeks to advance knowledge exchange of good practice experiences and effective implementation. Key messages • The effects of AI on the healthcare workforce must be monitored and strategies adapted to mitigate the healthcare workforce crisis and to upskill and empower healthcare workers. • There is a need for human-centred and ethically responsive AI implementation and governance measures that support equity, gender equality, and diversity in healthcare settings. Speakers/Panelists Abi Sriharan Schulich School of Business York University, York, Canada Kasia Czabanowska Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands Bernadette Kumar Migration Health Unit, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway Marius-Ionuț Ungureanu Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Farhang Tahzib Faculty of Public Health, Haywards heath, UK

Indicators of primary health care workforce equity for attaining health equity

Abstract Background Healthcare workforce crises are often the result of inequities faced by healthcare workers. This study aims to discuss the primary policy questions related to health equity regarding the primary healthcare (PHC) workforce indicators. Methods Following the purposive review of published literature on HWF equity in PHC services, we applied an intersectional analysis of the compendiums of HWF indicators (e.g., supply, flows, skill mix, working conditions, promotion, training, funding, governance, etc.) to strategically link them to PHC policy issues for health equity and categorized qualitatively under each policy pillar against HWF crises. Results The proposed indicators address the measurement of multiple dimensions of health workforce equity. These include financial and non-financial incentives to monitor worker attrition reduction, gender pay gap, fairness in employment arrangements, remuneration, and working conditions. By monitoring the minimum wage for financially vulnerable health workforce groups, we can identify the need for potential increases to support well-being, reduce turnover, and increase productivity. Equally important is monitoring equity in health workforce education, planning, and management, which is crucial for achieving population health equity. By implementing indicators of health workforce diversity to address rural and underrepresented communities, primary healthcare managers can effectively plan the reduction of their unmet needs and minimize avoidable referrals. Conclusions To ensure equitable access to primary healthcare, we must measure workforce equity and its impact on population health. Monitoring the indicators of equitable health workforce policies and evaluating the improvement in retention and recruitment processes can more effectively address workforce crises. Key messages • Health workforce crises often stem from healthcare workforce inequities. • Health workforce equitable policies require a clear set of indicators.

Capital structure decisions in the energy transition: Insights from Spain

The renewable energy transition depends heavily on capital structure decisions of energy firms. Most previous research has focused on the decisions of oil companies. This study investigates the financing of new investment in the Spanish renewable energy sector, including decisions about: i) equity versus debt, ii) short versus long-term debt, and iii) equity issuances versus retained earnings for new investment. Our analysis is based on data from over 22,000 energy firms from 2008 to 2021 and shows that these firms prefer debt over equity (more than 90% of changes in assets are financed through increasing debt) and have extended the term of the debt over the period studied (reaching a maximum of almost 73% long-term debt in 2021). The deployment of retained earnings is less usual than raising new equity capital. Our analysis points to a generalized use of project finance to support new investments. Policymakers should focus on increasing financing through equity and thus diversifying the financial risk of the energy transition. In addition, a supportive fiscal policy and a stable regulatory environment are desirable for achieving this goal.

Conceptualizing Teachers Unions as Organizations Leading for Equity

Purpose: Teachers unions in the United States are increasingly taking up issues of equity and justice. While there is a growing and robust body of scholarship on leading for equity, unions are rarely included as sources of education leadership. This creates an opportunity to not only consider unions in these equity efforts, but also re-shape our understandings of the shifting purposes and priorities of unions themselves. Methods: This paper synthesizes the literature to argue for the conceptualization of teachers unions as consequential sites of equity-focused leadership. Drawing from a larger year-long qualitative case study of a social-justice minded teachers union, I illustrate how a union may infrastructure towards equity by highlighting key mechanisms by which they lead. Findings & Implications: Through the creation of a union-based equity center and leveraging the collective bargaining agreement, this teachers union was able to implement formal structures to prioritize racial equity, educator agency, and autonomy. Unions are making strides to lead for equity and should be examined as a form of district leadership. Investigating these new contexts expands our conceptualizations of leadership and opens new possibilities for systemic change.

Low-carbon transition or low-carbon trap? — An instrumental variable regression analysis based on carbon decoupling and energy equity

ABSTRACT Although the low-carbon transition has enormous potential for improving economic and environmental benefits, it may also lead to social equity issues, trapping certain regions in a low-carbon dilemma. Based on panel data from the Yangtze River Economic Belt for the period 2007–2019, this study empirically analyzes the impact of carbon decoupling on energy equity, employing the carbon emission trading policy and natural wetlands as joint instrumental variables. The findings reveal that: (1) from 2007 to 2019, the average level of carbon decoupling in the Yangtze River Economic Belt was recorded at 0.415, maintaining a weak decoupling state overall and nearly forming an “inverted V” shape; (2) in the instrumental variable regression results, for every 1% increase in the level of carbon decoupling, the energy equity in the Yangtze River Economic Belt decreased by an average of 0.095% (p < .01); (3) environmental burden played a partial mediating role between carbon decoupling and energy equity, with the mediation effect value being −0.007 (p < .05); (4) green energy consumption and marketization can variably mitigate the adverse effects of carbon decoupling. Examining the sustainability of the economic-environmental system from the perspective of energy equity contributes to shaping a low-carbon economy that maintains social justice and sustainability, thereby avoiding falling into a low-carbon trap.

Towards sustainable development: financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment in India

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between financial inclusion and economic empowerment of women, recognising that empowering women is not just an issue of equity and fairness but also an essential prerequisite for achieving sustainable development. Design/methodology/approach This research used a survey method to gather data from the female population in northern India. The quantitative analysis was conducted using structural equation modelling with Smart PLS 4 software, based on the theoretical framework of economic empowerment theory. Findings The results demonstrated a notable association between financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment. The presence of active participation in financial services appears to contribute significantly to variations in women’s earnings, savings and accumulation of assets. Originality/value This study contributes to guiding development agencies and policymakers by highlighting the importance of expanding financial services tailored to women and advocating inclusive banking.

Feasibility of Emergency Department-Initiated HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

Introduction: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV—using antiretroviral medication in non-infected individuals to prevent HIV—has immense potential to slow the spread of the virus. However, uptake has been insufficient, and stark racial disparities exist in both HIV acquisition and PrEP usage, making PrEP access a health equity issue. A promising venue to engage high-risk populations in PrEP care is the emergency department (ED); however, existing ED PrEP initiatives have been costly or have had limited success. We hypothesize that two strategies could overcome these barriers: prescribing PrEP during an ED visit and providing patients with an initial supply of PrEP medication in the ED. Here, we describe the results of a qualitative study exploring multidisciplinary emergency clinicians and HIV clinicians’ needs and views about the feasibility of such an initiative. Methods: We conducted 22 semi-structured interviews with multidisciplinary clinicians from an urban, safety-net medical center in the ED and the on-site HIV clinic that provides PrEP services.We performed thematic analysis to summarize challenges and potential solutions described by participants. Results: Participants’ responses fell into three thematic categories: operational challenges; patient-level considerations; and potential impacts. Operational challenges highlighted the difficulty of PrEP initiation in a busy ED and clinician support needs. Patient-level considerations included the complex psychosocial needs of ED patients who could benefit from PrEP. Finally, participants anticipated that an ED-based PrEP initiation program could positively impact both individual patients and public health. Conclusion: Interviews with emergency department and HIV clinic staff revealed important considerations and potential solutions for ED-initiated PrEP workflows. Clinicians in both specialties were enthusiastic about such an initiative, which could facilitate its success. This study lays the groundwork for the future design of an efficient and innovative workflow to leverage the ED as an essential entry point into HIV prevention services.

Training for transformation: examining food systems courses at US land-grant universities

Higher education institutions can play an essential role in preparing students to participate in movements for just and sustainable food systems change. For the past two decades, many United States land-grant universities (LGUs) have developed food systems education (FSE) courses. This study examined the extent to which FSE courses employ four capacities deemed crucial by the FSE literature: multidimensional approaches, interdisciplinarity, centering equity, and training students to take action in food systems. The syllabi of 171 undergraduate courses at 20 LGUs were obtained by contacting instructors, and their course descriptions and learning outcomes were analyzed. This subset of LGUs were identified from the membership list of the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative (MCURC), a nationwide network of colleges using campus dining halls and classrooms as living laboratories for food systems change. Most course descriptions and learning outcomes exhibited multidimensional approaches and interdisciplinarity. However, many failed to incorporate teaching content and practices that help students critically examine equity and social justice issues in food systems, or engage in transformative change. LGUs have both the resources and urgent responsibility to empower students to be part of movements to transform unjust, unsustainable food systems. The findings of this study, and an accompanying open-access syllabus website, aim to accelerate the development of FSE curricula that prepare students to change food systems.

Examining Stakeholders’ Prospects on the Implementation of Equity-Based Strategies in Public Secondary Schools in Tanzania

The desire to address equity issues in the education sector is a shared philosophy by a number of countries, including Tanzania. As a result, Tanzania as a country is striving to address the issue of equity in its education system through the implementation of various equity strategies. This paper therefore sought to examine stakeholders’ prospects on the implementation of equity-based strategies in public secondary schools in Tanzania. Precisely, the interest of the researchers was to explore what was being done in the selected public secondary schools to implement equity-based strategies. A mixed-methods research approach combining both qualitative and quantitative analysis approaches was employed. The study also used a multiple case study design, which allowed the selection of two case study areas i.e. Dodoma City representing the urban setting, and Kondoa district representing the rural setting. A total of One Hundred Forty-Four (144) participants from seven (7) public secondary schools were involved in the study. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive analysis and presented in numerical and graphical form while qualitative data were analyzed through inductive content analysis and presented in thematic form and narratives. Study findings revealed that the selected study schools were indeed implementing a number of activities towards the realization of equity and thus the prospects for implementing equity based strategies in these schools was found to be positive. For instance, activities such as the use of common and understandable language i.e., English and Kiswahili; ensuring that schools have qualified teaching staff, ensuring a supportive learning environment as well as strengthening and supporting school leadership were being implemented. Nevertheless, the study also noted that the implementation of some key factors critical for realization of equity in the schools such as incentive provision to teachers, use of appropriate technology and use of different learning styles was still weak and thus needed improvement.

Examining Diversity and Equity in LIS Education: A Syllabus to Reading List Analysis

To determine how effectively the Master of Library and Information Science curriculum at Indiana University - Indianapolis is addressing the new ALA core competency related to social justice, we analyzed all the course syllabi and are now in the process of analyzing all course readings, using various text analysis methods. We found the initial review of syllabi to lack the level of granularity that would have revealed the different kinds of diversity and equity issues in the curriculum. Additionally, courses we know for certain that covered topics related to social justice, the syllabus alone indicated otherwise. For these reasons, we decided to examine the readings that comprised the entire curriculum. With 68 courses and over 3000 readings to date, gathering the data for analysis has taken several months of time. Metadata and PDFs of course readings were stored in Zotero and extracted from there for analysis. Terminology, as identified from the study that examined all ALA-accredited LIS program course descriptions, will be used to frame the textual analysis (Dill, Grote, &amp; Hardin, 2023). We will present the topics and trends identified through bibliometric analysis, topic modeling, and visual analysis of the citation data. This analysis will shed light on areas of strength and for improvement within curriculum with the goal of preparing students to effectively work in socially just library environments.

From Hong Kong to the UK: A Community and Public Health Nursing Researcher's Reflections on an International Fellowship.

Our globalized world means that most public health challenges cannot be tackled alone; they require unified and collaborative working across countries. Overseas fellowships offer an immersive experience that empowers nursing researchers to enhance global collaborations and synergize diverse research expertise from various cultural contexts. This enriched collaboration leads to more innovative solutions to public health issues and significantly enhances the overall impact of their research. This paper presents a self-reflection from the perspective of a community and public health nursing researcher, based in Hong Kong. During a 2-month research secondment at a university in the UK, I explored ways to leverage my fellowship to strengthen global connections, expand collaborations, and enhance my research capabilities in addressing health equity issues among LGBTQ+ populations, particularly concerning sexual violence. By sharing my journey, I aim to inspire more nursing researchers to engage with global academic communities and collectively advance global public health initiatives.

Teachers’ perspectives and practices relating to refugee girls: a mixed-methods multidisciplinary survey

ABSTRACT Teachers’ perspectives are key to understanding practice and support for high-risk groups like refugee children. This mixed-methods multidisciplinary study explored primary teachers’ perspectives and skills on issues of equity, migration and social-emotional skills, using an online survey. The survey contained quantitative perspective questions and qualitative scenarios. Triangulated results suggested that teachers’ perspectives around equity and social-emotional skills differ from their practice when responding to student scenarios. Their perspectives on migration, however, are aligned with their scenario responses. Results show a skill gap that may impact teachers’ ability to support refugee children in adjusting to and thriving in their classrooms.