Essential Services Research Articles

Envisioning the Future of Burnout Support: Understanding Frontline Workers' Experiences in Nonprofit Gender-Based Violence Organizations

Frontline workers (FLWs) provide essential services necessary for a functioning society, but the nature of their work contributes to their high rates of burnout. This burnout impacts not only their own health, but also has dire consequences for the people most in need of their services. Digital interventions for burnout may provide scalable, accessible, and cost-effective care. However, such interventions have been designed to intervene at the individual-level and have been inadequate in sustainably alleviating burnout. In addition, these interventions have not considered how we might integrate more effective organizational-level strategies or reflect FLWs' own experiences and the unique contexts of frontline work in their design. One important, yet understudied, domain of frontline work that experiences high rates of burnout is gender-based violence (GBV) service provision in nonprofit organizations. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we ran 8 co-design workshops with FLWs and supervisors from various nonprofit GBV organizations in a large metropolitan city in the United States to understand their experiences, hopes, and perceptions of technology for burnout support within their organizations. We found that participants greatly valued their support systems and supervisory relationships at work. And while there was a desire to use technology as support tools for burnout, participants were wary of how it could conflict with these support systems and important organizational values. We contribute a multilevel framework for digital burnout interventions and argue for a methodological shift to an assets-based approach, reframing the future of research and design of burnout interventions to center and reflect the needs, values, and lived experiences of FLWs.

PROGRESS: the sectoral approach to cyber resilience

Each critical infrastructure and vital service represents a unique instance of a complex socio-technical–economic system. Resilience in complex systems is an emergent behaviour that occurs from interactions between components and is not easily predictable from understanding each component in isolation. Yet, cybersecurity practice and maturity models still focus on the robustness of separate components: organizational units, firms, or IT applications. Such a fundamental mismatch between theory and tools is among the causes of pervasive cyber insecurity. We introduce the sectoral capability maturity model to enable a comprehensive improvement of systemic resilience. The promoting global cyber resilience for sectors cyber-capability maturity model incorporates the science of complex systems, cybersecurity frameworks, and two decades of CIP operations experience. The model was successfully applied in resilience assessment projects in a dozen countries. Real-life experience emphasizes the benefits of the sectoral approach to cyber resilience: creating feedback loops within the sector, integrating supply chain and third-party risks, facilitating information flows between stakeholders, enabling cooperation with and among ministries, departments and other authorities, weighting in the links and processes between actors in cybersecurity issues. The established value of the sectoral approach calls for applications that will improve the resilience of essential services while lowering sector-wide cybersecurity expenditures.

Assessing Buffer Gradient Synergies: Comparing Objective and Subjective Evaluations of Urban Park Ecosystem Services in Century Park, Shanghai

Urban parks provide essential ecosystem services (ESs) that enhance human wellbeing. However, discrepancies often arise between objective assessments of these services and stakeholders’ subjective perceptions. This study addresses a research gap concerning the synergies and tradeoffs between objective evaluations and subjective perceptions of key ecosystem services across various spatial scales. We investigated six key ecosystem services in Century Park, Shanghai, across seven buffer radii (8–100 m). Objective data were obtained from park view images (PVIs) and spatial analysis, while subjective perceptions were gathered through a scoring survey of 33 stakeholders. The key finding is that a buffer radius of 35 m offers optimal synergy between objective and subjective assessments for most ESs, particularly in pollution mediation, temperature regulation, and cultural services. Professionals showed stronger alignment in regulatory services like pollution mediation and temperature regulation, while residents exhibited higher synergy in net primary production (NPP) beyond a 75 m radius. Notably, cultural services displayed nuanced differences, with professionals preferring simpler landscapes and residents demonstrating varied aesthetic preferences. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating objective data and human perceptions in urban green space planning and governance. By incorporating diverse stakeholders and identifying optimal buffer zones, planners and designers can effectively balance ESs with human experiences. This approach ultimately fosters more sustainable and wellbeing-centered urban environments.

Study of the Psychological Condition of Students Living in Border Conflict Regions

Since the 1990s, the conflicts and destructive processes that began in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have remained a major crisis for the population of Georgia. For nearly 30 years, the populations of both regions, governed by powerful Russian influence and de facto authorities, have been isolated from the rest of Georgia. The lack of social and intensive interactions, limited communication, and ideological confrontations have further distanced Georgians, Abkhazians, and Ossetians from one another. Under conditions of constant fear, socio-economic hardship, and restricted mobility, protecting the rights of students living in border and conflict regions, ensuring access to essential services, and addressing their mental health remain significant challenges for Georgian society. Students are a crucial part of society who can not only participate in processes of change and development but also become initiators of transformative processes. Given that mental health is linked to an individual’s psychosocial and physical well-being, studying students' mental health is important not only in terms of their knowledge and skills but also in terms of assessing their psychological condition and providing appropriate responses. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the psychological condition of students living in border conflict regions. To achieve this goal, the research utilized instruments adapted for the Georgian population, including the Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), Life Orientation Test–Revised (LOT-R), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and PROMIS Emotional Distress—Anxiety—Short Form. By employing these tools, it became possible to analyze the mental health challenges faced by students in border conflict regions and identify differences in their psychological conditions based on specific characteristics.

Zooming In and Out of Programming: Developing an Approach to Trauma-and Violence-Informed Physical Activity “Post-Pandemic”

Researchers have found that physical activity is an effective health promotion tool due to its positive effect on wellbeing, however, despite the overwhelming evidence on the benefits of physical activity, many structural and systemic inequities exist that affect access and uptake particularly for women. These barriers have been exacerbated over the last few years as conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has made engagement in physical activity even more difficult for equity-deserving populations. Community organizations have reported an increase in gender-based violence and a strain on support services. In this qualitative research study, we present findings that demonstrated how COVID-19 complicated the delivery of in-person programs for equity-deserving populations. Using a feminist participatory action research approach, community-specific barriers to physical activity from the perspectives of individuals who deliver physical activity programming and social services to self-identified women were generated in three themes using thematic analysis: 1) Increased Need, Decreased Services; 2) Online Service Provision was Not Effective for Clients or Providers; 3) Physical Activity was Not Deemed an “Essential Service”-Transitioning from Survival Mode to a New Normal. Taken together, findings underlined the importance of effective and sustainable resources and strategies to improve access for women to engage in physical activity programs.

Storm resilience of subtidal soft‐bottom mussel beds: Mechanistic insights, threshold quantification and management implications

AbstractWith the projected escalation of extreme storm events, coastal ecosystems risk undergoing catastrophic shifts and losing essential ecosystem services. Subtidal soft‐bottom mussel beds, vital components of these ecosystems, are particularly vulnerable to hydrodynamically‐induced dislodgement (i.e., detachment of mussel clumps from the bed), especially during storms. However, the mechanisms underlying the resilience—comprising both resistance and recovery—of these beds to storms remain unclear, despite being essential for informed management.This study addresses this knowledge gap regarding subtidal soft‐bottom mussel beds by: (i) quantifying their dislodgement threshold (i.e., the hydrodynamics causing widespread dislodgement of mussel clumps) using novel in situ monitoring methodologies in a representative region, namely the Dutch Wadden Sea; (ii) unveiling the influence of prior life history (here, wave exposure extent) and storm durations on their dislodgement thresholds through a flume study; and (iii) assessing the impacts of repeated storms and prior life histories (here, wave exposure extent and substrate types) on their recovery (i.e. mussel re‐aggregation) through mesocosm experiments.Integrated experimental evidence indicates that: (i) hydrodynamic‐induced dislodgement is a sudden process characterized by distinct near‐bed orbital velocity thresholds, which were identified at our study site to be between 0.45 and 0.50 m s−1; (ii) peak storm intensity, rather than storm duration, primarily drives the dislodgement of subtidal soft‐bottom mussel beds, and prior wave exposure extent regulates the dislodgement threshold; (iii) repeated storms do not seem to affect the recovery of these beds following storm‐related disturbances when the conditions between storms are conducive to mussel re‐aggregation, whereas substrate type significantly impacts recovery.Synthesis and applications. Overall, concerns regarding subtidal soft‐bottom mussel beds degradation primarily stem from increasing storm intensity and their limited resistance to such events. The methodology we developed enables low‐cost quantification of mussel resistance thresholds across broad spatiotemporal scales, facilitating the pinpointing of vulnerable areas. Our findings inform strategic management by highlighting the influential role of prior life histories in shaping mussel bed resistance and the potential to accelerate mussel bed recovery through substrate modification (e.g., shell additions). Both our methodology and findings hold promise for application in comparable ecosystems, such as oyster and coral reefs.

A Framework for Upgrading Contaminated Urban Land and Soil by Nature-Based Solutions: Demonstration with a Swedish Case

To move towards a circular economy and to meet the upcoming EU soil health legislation, both contaminated land and contaminated soil should be acknowledged as fragile and valuable resources to be restored and recycled to provide essential ecosystem services to humans. Underused, often contaminated land can be returned to beneficial use as urban greenspace (UGS) with the help of gentle remediation options (GROs). GROs are plant-, fungi-, bacteria-, and soil amendments-based risk management mechanisms that can also simultaneously improve soil functions and the provision of ecosystem services. This study (i) presents a framework including tools and methods for exploring opportunities for transforming brownfields to UGS using GROs to deal with soil contamination, (ii) demonstrates its application for a case study site in Gothenburg, Sweden, and (iii) presents stakeholders’ views on the suggested framework. This framework can support the transition of brownfields to UGS while recycling both land and soil and increasing the market value of the site and its surroundings. Stakeholders found the suggested framework useful but identified some challenges for its practical implementation, mainly associated with financial aspects and the existing practice and level of knowledge. Stakeholders also identified the need for additional practical tools to (a) make predictions about the time required for GROs to reach acceptable risk levels, (b) monetize non-market benefits such as ecosystem services for communicating benefits to decision-makers, and (c) provide support for plant and soil amendment selection for various GROs and contaminants.

An assessment of the content of antenatal care provided by obstetricians in Lebanon: A cross-sectional study.

Quality and timely antenatal care is a vital component of pregnancy care for the well-being of mothers and babies. The aim of this study of to assess self-reported obstetricians' adherence to national and international antenatal care guidelines in Lebanon. This cross-sectional study approached all obstetricians registered with the Lebanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Lebanese Order of Physicians to participate in an online and telephone-based survey. The study tool included all of the items from the World Health Organization and national guidelines for antenatal care. Obstetricians' self-reported adherence was assessed across five modules including dietary interventions, dietary supplements, antenatal care assessment, fetal growth assessment, and antenatal care preventive measures. A total of 134 obstetricians completed the survey. Overall, adherence was high for most antenatal care guidelines except for providing nutrition services to undernourished pregnant women, screening for intimate partner violence, and providing tetanus vaccines. The number of recommended antenatal care visits (≥8 vs. <8 visits) was higher among obstetricians in Mount Lebanon or Beirut compared to other areas in Lebanon (72.7%vs.48.6%; p-value <0.01). Provision of tetanus or diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccination was lower for obstetricians who provide care for women who pay out-of-pocket compared to obstetricians who provide care to women who use other payment methods (25.3%vs.45.7%; p-value = 0.024). Group B streptococcus screening test and the provision of at least five ultrasounds were higher among obstetricians who provide care in private clinics or clinics in private hospitals compared to clinics in public hospitals or primary healthcare centers (88.8%vs.66.7%; p-value = 0.023) and (83.6%vs.55.6%; p-value = 0.011), respectively. Reinforcing the adherence to all antenatal care guidelines by continuous monitoring of health facilities is crucial for best practice. Subsidies for essential services may be required for those who are unable to afford components of antenatal care.

Decarbonizing the global steel industry in a resource-constrained future-a systems perspective.

Decarbonizing the global steel industry hinges on three key limited resources: geological carbon storage, zero-emission electricity and end-of-life scrap. Existing system analysis calls for an accelerated expansion of the supply of these resources to meet the assumed ever-increasing steel demand. In this study, we propose a different view on how to decarbonize the global steel industry, based on the principle that resource supply can only expand in line with historical trends and actual construction plans. Our analysis shows that global steel production cannot grow any further within a Paris-compatible carbon budget, resulting in a shortfall of approximately 30% against 2050 demand. This trajectory involves the phasing out of blast furnaces, along with strong growth in scrap recycling and hydrogen-based production. These findings highlight critical yet often overlooked challenges: (i) reducing excess demand while providing essential services, (ii) producing high-grade steel through upcycling scrap, and (iii) ensuring an equitable distribution of limited production across the globe. These perspectives contrast with those of the current agenda, which largely emphasizes the need to invest in new production technologies. Grounded in a physical basis, this analysis offers a complementary perspective for a more balanced debate in policymaking and industrial strategy. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Sustainable metals: science and systems'.

Examining Sex-Based Delays in Utilizing Advocacy Support Services Among Australian Military Veterans: Implications for Health Care Access and Suicide Prevention

This study explores the impact of sex on delays experienced by Australian military veterans in accessing advocacy support services within the veterans’ non-profit sector. A detailed analysis of intake records from 150 injured veterans who entered the Returned and Services League of Australia’s advocacy program in 2021 reveals significant disparities between male and female veterans in seeking assistance. On average, male veterans delay accessing support by 20.4 years post-service, compared to 9.1 years for female veterans. These prolonged delays hinder veterans’ ability to secure financial and medical support from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, limiting timely access to essential healthcare services. As a result, delays can exacerbate physical and psychological symptoms, impede recovery, and increase the risk of suicide. The findings provide valuable insights for international healthcare professionals on the influence of military culture and traditional masculine norms in shaping veterans’ help-seeking behaviors. By understanding these dynamics, healthcare practitioners can develop targeted, sex-sensitive interventions that address specific barriers faced by male and female veterans. Ensuring timely access to advocacy support is crucial for improving health outcomes and reducing suicide risk in this vulnerable population.

IoT-enabled smart cities towards green energy systems: a review

&lt;span&gt;Integration of internet of things (IoT) in smart city management to improve various functions and living standards due to increasing population growth has dramatically evolved ubiquitous and essential services at various stages of urbanization. Hence, smart cities need to be eco-friendly by improving various sectors like education, health, and transport to provide an urban and sustainable quality of life through solving complicated green energy networks, controlling toxic pollution risks, and public safety. Linking optimized green energy systems with the production and automation of advanced applications is crucial to compose implementation strategies for smart city services. This paper aims to conduct a review on eco-friendly plans and infrastructure of IoT-enabled smart cities by exploiting green energy approaches. This study performs critical observations, ideas, and analyses of recent research in the context of our mentioned research theme. This paper points out the technical and functional challenges of an optimal performance-based green IoT-enabled smart city infrastructure. In this sense, this study organizes observations of relevant initiatives, technologies, and experiences in IoT-enabled smart cities, as well as how to embed it with green energy. Moreover, it can provide significant directions to intellectuals and authorities to develop IoT-enabled smart city applications for prospective research.&lt;/span&gt;

Maternal and child health services during COVID-19 in India: Highlighting the role of primary care physicians in maintaining continuum of care

ABSTRACT Background: This study aims to address the lack of substantial evidence regarding the effect of COVID-19 on maternal and child health (MCH) services in India and also highlight the role of primary care physicians in maintaining essential services during a pandemic. While studies conducted worldwide and in India have examined the effects of COVID-19 on these services, a significant gap in robust evidence remains. Methods: Forty-two districts were selected randomly from seven regional states of India. Data on five selected MCH indicators were extracted from HMIS for the months from March to June 2019 and 2020. Relative changes in service utilization for each month from March to June over the two years were compared. Comparisons were also made between the selected districts based on the COVID-19 categorization into red and green zones. Results: COVID-19 and its associated restrictive measures created significant disruption to essential MCH service utilization in India across all states reviewed. Both institutional, and outreach services were impacted; however, hospital-based services were more impacted. Institutional deliveries and emergency obstetric services saw a decline in March and April 2020 which gradually improved between May and June in some states. Immunization sessions held in 2020 observed a decrease in April. Conclusions: The analysis indicates a disruption in service delivery during the initial phase of the lockdown. However, the services resumed gradually as national and state-specific operational guidelines were implemented to maintain a continuum of care.

Kabiraj Laxman Mishra: A pioneer of Ayurveda and social welfare in Odisha

Abstract Kabiraj Laxman Mishra, a prominent figure in the field of Ayurveda in Odisha, India, dedicated his life to serving patients from low socio-economic backgrounds throughout the region. Born in January 1900 into a Brahmin family, he received his foundational education at Satyabadi Vana Vidyalaya, renowned for its emphasis on moral values and formal learning. He subsequently graduated from Ravenshaw College in Cuttack and began his career in the police department during British rule in Odisha. However, his profound passion for Ayurveda and his fascination with the healing properties of herbs used by tribal communities inspired him to explore and promote traditional herbal medicine for the benefit of ordinary individuals. After retiring from government service, Mishra authored several books in the Odia language addressing various ailments and their Ayurvedic remedies. He established his pharmacy to prepare medicines based on his extensive experience and tested herbal combinations. His legacy continues through his son, the late Kabiraj Ganesh Mishra, and his wife, Dr. Smt. Sailabala Devi, who currently provides treatment at their residence in Puri. In addition to his contributions to Ayurveda, Kabiraj Laxman Mishra played a significant administrative role within the Temple Administration of the Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri. He served as the President of the Governing Body Council of Gopabandhu Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya and as Chairperson of the Governing Body Council of Samanta Chandra Sekhar College of Puri. In recognition of his impactful work, he was awarded the title of Ayurveda Siromani in 1987 by the Nikhila Utkala Ayurveda Baidya Sammilani. A committed social worker, Mishra also organized free medical camps to provide essential healthcare services to individuals from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Perceived patient navigator services and characteristics to address barriers to linkage to hepatitis C care among people released from provincial prison in Quebec, Canada

BackgroundPatient navigation increases linkage to hepatitis C virus (HCV) care following release from prison; however, little is known about the services patient navigators should provide to maximize linkage to care. We aimed to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to linkage to HCV care post-release, and to determine patient navigator services and characteristics best suited to address barriers to linkage to care among people released from prison. MethodsTen semi-structured interviews were conducted with adult (age ≥ 18 years) men living with chronic HCV, released from the largest Quebec provincial prison, and linked to HCV care by a patient navigator. Interviews were guided by the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) and aimed to explore the multi-level barriers and facilitators to linkage to HCV care post-release. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a deductive, thematic approach. ResultsThe median age of participants was 54 years. Barriers to linkage to HCV care included competing priorities post-release (e.g., substance use, mental health issues, unstable housing), stigma (related to HCV, injection drug use, and incarceration), and lack of transportation. Facilitators included social support, established relationships with existing healthcare providers, prior cure with direct-acting antivirals, and HCV-related health literacy and knowledge. Perceived essential patient navigator services to enhance linkage included pre-release discharge appointments, housing assistance, and facilitated transportation to HCV appointments. Ensuring a consistent, non-judgemental, and empathetic patient navigator were considered important characteristics; lived experiences of incarceration and/or HCV were not felt to be essential for a patient navigator. ConclusionsInterventions that seek to improve linkage to HCV care for people following release from prison should address many levels (individual, interpersonal, and policy) of the SEM. While people experience several competing priorities post-release, having an empathetic and consistent patient navigator, regardless of their lived experiences of HCV and/or incarceration, may improve linkage to HCV care post-release.

Non-Attendance in Randomized Remote Mental Health Clinical Trial During the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant increase in psychiatric symptoms was found among essential service professionals (professionals or interns from the health and educational sector) who were exposed to high-risk contamination areas. These symptoms impair functionality, impacting quality of life, work, autonomy, and relationships. Recent data show that brief interventions are effective; however, between 20 and 30% of those individuals often do not attend their scheduled appointments. This study aimed to identify variables related to non-attendance for remote telepsychotherapy among participants with COVID-19-related emotional distress compared to those who initiated treatment. We included 2097 essential service professionals with PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) T-scores ≥70 for anxiety, depression, or irritability who scheduled a remote mental health appointment. Participants completed clinical and sociodemographic data, mental health risk and protective factors, and PROMIS subscales. We conducted a binary logistic regression, using attendance vs. non-attendance as the dependent variable and these demographic and clinical characteristics as independent variables. Of the 2097 participants, 230 (11%) did not attend the first session despite three rescheduling attempts. Non-attendance was associated with the presence of irritability and seeking treatment during the second COVID-19 wave. In contrast, anxious symptoms, older age, and coping mechanisms that typically include intellectual and reading activities were associated with attendance. Our findings shed light on non-attendance patterns in mental health services, revealing that personal characteristics and environmental factors significantly contribute to missed appointments. Understanding these dynamics can improve patient engagement and adherence to mental health treatments, particularly in the context of telepsychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The role of pharmacy in promoting public health: Pharmacy and public health in 2050

From 2000 to 2025, the profession of pharmacy expanded into vaccinations, point-of-care testing, and chronic disease prevention and management. In the next 25 years, pharmacy will continue to advance in new ways. This paper focuses on expanded roles of community and ambulatory care pharmacy to more directly improve public health. Built around the ten essential services of public health, this paper calls upon the profession of pharmacy to stretch beyond traditional roles to assume roles that would strengthen the public health workforce and make seminal contributions to improved population health. Barriers to be overcome in pursuit of that future are also addressed. The paper will conclude with a public health-focused call to pharmacy.

Holistic mapping of flood vulnerability in slums areas of Yaounde city, Cameroon through household and institutional surveys

Urbanization in major cities has resulted in increasing urban slum expansion. This, together with increased climate-change-driven hazards, and deplorable slum characteristics has led to considerably higher flood impacts in slum settlements. As such, there is a need for specialized flood vulnerability assessment tools that integrate features specific to the urban slums. Studies have consecrated efforts to integrated and multidimensional flood vulnerability studies. However, assessments that include social, economic, structural, and institutional realities of the slum settlements are rare in developing countries. This study comprehensively assessed the flood vulnerability in urban slums. It offers a simplified perspective of vulnerability in urban slums, capturing data from slum inhabitants, local councils, experts, and local NGOs since they often have profound insights into essential service availability, access, and quality within the study area. Utilizing data encompassing 40 indicators (exposure, susceptibility, and resilience), we assess the physical/structural, social, and economic/psychological vulnerability indices for slum households and the institutional vulnerability of 41 entities. Despite significant challenges of poor infrastructure and lack of basic disaster management tools, slum residents have developed recognizable strategies to overcome flooding. Institutions carrying out intervention activities in the slums were largely incompetent and plagued with challenges ranging from lack of technical know-how to access to funds and coordination. Finally, a significant gap exists between state efforts and the impacts of these efforts on the residents of these slums. These findings complement household-level data and provide an expanded understanding of vulnerability patterns, thus informing policymakers about interventions.

Take Care of the Patient: Pharmacists Should Advocate for Overdose Prevention Centers (OPC) as Harm Reduction.

Overdose prevention centers (OPCs) are places where people can bring previously obtained substances to use under the supervision of trained healthcare professionals who are prepared to intervene in the event of an overdose. Healthcare professionals, counselors and peer support provide services including naloxone distribution, provision of sterile injection equipment, counseling services, referrals to necessary providers, and above all, a safe and compassionate space for people to get the care they need. This is a method of harm reduction that has been used globally for decades and is now gaining traction in the United States. Pharmacists play a vital role in harm reduction for patients, and they should support the legalization and establishment of overdose prevention centers across the country to extend this essential service. A compelling body of evidence shows that overdose prevention centers reduce overdose deaths, emergency department visits for overdoses, wounds relating to injection drug use and reduce emergency medical service utilization in the area surrounding the centers. They also reduce drug use and discarded hazardous drug paraphernalia in public areas. Overdose prevention centers also provide wrap-around services that aid in holistic care of the person, including referrals to inpatient substance use treatment, detoxification, primary care, transportation and housing. It is the responsibility of pharmacists to advocate for the needs of patients, and overdose prevention centers will provide an effective avenue for pharmacists to deliver counseling and medication management services as part of care of the individual.

Entre dois mundos: um exame da recepção de ideias da Revolução Francesa em Raízes do Brasil

There is no doubt that the Enlightenment principles of liberty, equality and fraternity have been very present in the history of several Ibero-American nations. In the case of Brazil, however, the state, guided by these noble ideals, has often engendered their opposite. The lack of certain essential services and guarantees for citizens in the Brazilian state is undeniable. Knowing the importance of such principles in Brazil, the aim is to understand how Sérgio Buarque de Holanda uses certain emblematic concepts of Enlightenment philosophy and what role they played, in his perception, in Brazilian political formation.

Causes and Impacts of Flood Events in Emilia-Romagna (Italy) in May 2023

On 1–3 May 2023, severe hydro-meteorological events occurred in the Italian Emilia-Romagna region. Such events caused extensive flooding, landslides, isolation of many areas, evacuation of many families, and severe damage to infrastructure, agriculture, buildings, and essential services. Several municipalities were affected, thousands of civilians had to be evacuated, and losses of life occurred. The consequences beyond the recorded immediate impacts on infrastructure and life were impressive, and extended to the regional economy, specifically in the Fruit Valley, where, in addition to immediate yield losses, long-term damage to orchard production is expected due to persistent flooding. The civil and cultural building heritage has also been heavily affected, both in the countryside and in inhabited centers. Some of the damage, direct and indirect, caused by flooding on buildings will also see an evolution in the medium- to long-term that needs to be addressed. This paper analyzes the manifold aspects of such an atmospheric phenomenon and its impacts to understand the potential increasing occurrence of similar events in the climate change context.