Government Sources Research Articles

Five Years of National Health Policy in India: Critical Analysis of the Public Health Expenditure from 2017 to 2022 and Way Forward

This retrospective study assesses the impact of India’s National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 on public health expenditure and its implications for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG-3). Using secondary data analysis from government sources, we observed health budget trends relative to GDP from 2017 to 2022. The study found a marginal increase in public health expenditure from 0.9% to 1.6% of GDP, which is below the NHP’s target of 2.5%. The results underscore the challenge of high out-of-pocket expenses, which remain a barrier to UHC. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the inadequacies of the current funding levels. We conclude that a substantial increase in health budget allocations is crucial for India to make significant strides toward UHC and meet SDG-3 targets. The study also calls for strategic enhancements in healthcare infrastructure and services to address the persistent gaps in healthcare delivery and financing. The findings advocate for a more aggressive approach to public health investment to ensure that quality healthcare services are accessible, affordable, and equitable for all citizens, thereby advancing India’s progress toward comprehensive health coverage.

Effect of police expenditure on crime rate in India

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between law enforcement expenditures, economic indicators and various crime rates in India using data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) spanning from 2001 to 2021. Design/methodology/approach The study uses data sourced from the NCRB covering violent crimes, property crimes, economic crimes and total crimes under the Indian Penal Code across 27 states and 2 union territories in India. Crime rates per 100,000 people are calculated using projected population figures from the 2001 and 2011 censuses, adjusting for census periods and growth rates. Economic variables such as per capita real gross state domestic product (GSDP) and total police expenditure are obtained from state government sources, adjusted to constant prices. Pooled ordinary least squares analysis is conducted to explore the relationships between crime rates, conviction rate, economic factors and police expenditure over the three-time points: 2001, 2011 and 2021. Findings The study reveals a complex relationship between police expenditure and crime rates across different categories in India. Increased police expenditure is positively associated with higher reporting rates for violent and economic crimes, suggesting that enhanced law enforcement resources may improve crime detection and reporting. However, contrary to some expectations, higher police spending does not necessarily lead to a reduction in overall crime rates. Economic prosperity, measured by per capita GSDP, is found to reduce violent crime rates but is associated with an increase in property and economic crimes, likely due to the greater opportunities for such crimes in wealthier regions. Research limitations/implications The study’s reliance on state-level aggregate data and NCRB crime statistics, which are based on reported incidents, might not fully capture the true extent of criminal activity, particularly in regions with underreporting issues. In addition, the use of projected population data beyond 2001 and 2011 introduces some uncertainty into the analysis. Future research should explore district-level data to better understand regional variations in crime and incorporate social, cultural and innovative policing strategies to provide a more comprehensive analysis. Practical implications Policymakers should recognize the nuanced impacts of police expenditure and economic prosperity on crime rates. While increased law enforcement resources may enhance crime reporting, they do not guarantee a reduction in overall crime rates. Economic growth, while beneficial in reducing violent crimes, may inadvertently increase property and economic crimes due to greater opportunities for criminal activity. These insights suggest the need for targeted interventions that consider both economic factors and law enforcement strategies in crime prevention efforts. Originality/value This study contributes to the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of police expenditure in reducing crime by highlighting its limited impact on overall crime rates in India. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the diverse effects of economic prosperity on different crime types, offering valuable insights for policymakers aiming to design evidence-based crime prevention strategies that account for socioeconomic disparities and regional contexts.

The rising tide of tuberculosis in Pakistan: Factors, impact, and multi-faceted approaches for prevention and control.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health concern in Pakistan, which is ranked fifth among high-burden TB nations worldwide. The growing frequency of drug-resistant TB strains, particularly multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), creates new obstacles. Socioeconomic factors, a lack of awareness, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure all contribute to the spread of the disease. This study investigates the mechanisms contributing to the growth in tuberculosis cases in Pakistan, the implications for public health, and multifaceted approaches to prevention and control. A comprehensive literature study was undertaken, including an analysis of peer-reviewed articles, World Health Organization (WHO) data, and government sources, to identify factors driving tuberculosis prevalence, control issues, and disease-fighting tactics.Result: Several factors like Poverty, overcrowding, malnutrition, stigma, and restricted access to healthcare services are all factors contributing to an increase in tuberculosis incidence in Pakistan. The prevalence of MDR-TB, along with a lack of an integrated healthcare response, complicates efforts to contain the disease's spread. Tuberculosis has a profound social, mental, and financial impact on individuals and communities. Public health efforts, such as the National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) and international partnerships, have been created to eradicate tuberculosis, although considerable hurdles persist. This study investigates the mechanisms contributing to the growth in tuberculosis cases in Pakistan, the implications for public health, and multifaceted approaches to prevention and control.

Characteristics of financial capital flow circulation and the risk transmission effect in China

Financial capital is an important force driving China's economic modernisation. Examining the characteristics of financial capital flow circulation across sectors and risk transmission laws is crucial in guiding financial market operations and deepening financial system reforms. This study establishes a 2011–2020 China matrix that includes capital fund flow statements for non-financial corporations, financial institutions, the general government, households, and foreign sources and examines changes in capital flow circulation by developing a financial flow multiplier system model to measure the direct and indirect transmission effects of capital flows between sectors from the perspective of liabilities. Results show that China's overall scale of financial capital flows has increased, but fluctuations have emerged in the last decade. The sectors' financing structure has changed significantly, with financial institutions remaining the primary capital inflow and outflow sectors of the financial market; however, the proportion of liability and investment in the household sector has increased, resulting in increased risk transmission. Moreover, the sectoral fund surpluses and shortages are highly volatile and uncertain, with non-financial enterprises serving as the primary drivers of real-economy investment. The capital flow from financial services to the real economy shows a fluctuating growth trend, primarily flowing to non-financial corporations; however, the proportion exhibits a downwards trend. Finally, we find that the flow transmission relationship between different sectors and financial transactions in the financial market is complex, with both direct and indirect risk transmission effects between sectors. Changes of financial institutions' liabilities significantly affect the liabilities and investments of other sectors.

Economic Analysis of the Export Trends of Livestock and Livestock Products in India

Livestock provides livelihood to two-third of rural masses and employs about 8.8 per cent population of India. While dairying ensures livelihood to 70 million farm families. The study utilized export data from government sources and conducted a statistical analysis to assess trends and stability. Data revealed that the overall export value increased significantly from ₹22,092.62 crore in 2011-12 to ₹48,947.55 crore in 2021-22, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.90%. Buffalo meat emerged as the leading export product, while dairy products exhibited a notable growth rate while dairy products and other categories showed varied growth. The instability index for the total exports was 19.02%, indicating moderate stability. State-wise analysis indicated Uttar Pradesh as the leading exporter, followed by Maharashtra and Haryana, with these three states together accounting for 85% of the total exports in 2021-22. The average growth rate of exports across states was 3.57%, demonstrating a stable growth pattern. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector showed resilience with a 13.98% growth in exports for 2021-22, aided by government initiatives. The analysis of dairy product exports highlighted a significant increase from ₹2,382.91 crore in 2020-21 to ₹4,742.70 crore in 2021-22, marking a 99% growth. The primary export destinations were the USA, Bangladesh, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Malaysia. A transitional probability matrix revealed shifts in market shares, with notable increases in the USA and Bangladesh. Trade performance from 2011-22 showed that India's export share in dairy products improved from 0.03% to 0.135%, while import share decreased significantly. The instability index for exports was 63.53%, reflecting high volatility. Investing in advanced breeding technologies to increase productivity, and enhancing market access through trade agreements and promotional activities. Additionally, policies to manage volatility, such as price stabilization measures and export incentives, could further support industry growth.

The Women and Children of India's Red-Light Brothel Districts: An Exploratory Investigation of Vulnerability and Survival During a Global Pandemic.

Globally, women and children were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vulnerable populations of women and children-including those who live in poverty, lack access to health care, have little informal support, and who face stigma and discrimination-were particularly susceptible to harm incurred by the pandemic. Using social determinants of health framework, this investigation sought to understand the lived experiences of women and children residing in an impoverished, resource-poor, urban brothel red-light brothel area district in India, at the outset of the pandemic and following the national lockdown(s). Four questions guided the investigation: (1) How did participants first hear about COVID-19 and what was learned regarding self-protective measures? (2) What daily life challenges were posed by the national lockdown? (3) To what extent were participants able to access or rely on informal supports support during the initial stages of the pandemic? and (4) What types of assistance, if any, did participants receive from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or other (e.g., governmental) sources? This is one of only a handful of empirical investigations elevating the voices of children residing in urban brothel-based red-light districts. Findings pose significant implications for practice, policy, and continued research.

Is YouTube a sufficient source of information on Sarcoidosis?

BackgroundThe internet is a common source of health information for patients and caregivers. To date, content and information quality of YouTube videos on sarcoidosis has not been studied. The aim of our study was to investigate the content and quality of information on sarcoidosis provided by YouTube videos.MethodsOf the first 200 results under the search term “sarcoidosis,” all English-language videos with content directed at patients were included. Two independent investigators assessed the content of the videos based on 25 predefined key features (content score with 0–25 points), as well as reliability and quality (HONCode score with 0–8 points, DISCERN score with 1–5 points). Misinformation contained in the videos was described qualitatively.ResultsThe majority of the 85 included videos were from an academic or governmental source (n = 63, 74%), and median time since upload was 33 months (IQR 10–55). Median video duration was 8 min (IQR 3–13) and had a median of 2,044 views (IQR 504 − 13,203). Quality assessment suggested partially sufficient information: mean HONCode score was 4.4 (SD 0.9) with 91% of videos having a medium quality HONCode evaluation. Mean DISCERN score was 2.3 (SD 0.5). Video content was generally poor with a mean of 10.5 points (SD 0.6). Frequently absent key features included information on the course of disease (6%), presence of substantial geographical variation (7%), and importance of screening for extrapulmonary manifestations (11%). HONCode scores were higher in videos from academic or governmental sources (p = 0.003), particularly regarding “transparency of sponsorship” (p < 0.001). DISCERN and content scores did not differ by video category.ConclusionsMost YouTube videos present incomplete information reflected in a poor content score, especially regarding screening for extrapulmonary manifestations. Quality was partially sufficient with higher scores in videos from academic or governmental sources, but often missing references and citing specific evidence. Improving patient access to trustworthy and up to date information is needed.

Social learning and collective action in flood-hazard management in Manitoba, Canada

ABSTRACT Knowledge of social learning about flood hazards in the literature, especially regarding its transformation into collective action for risk reduction, is very limited. This study addresses these gaps by developing an integrated framework that describes how social learning is transformed into collective action – particularly the underlying components and processes – and then applying it to empirical case studies of two communities, (namely, St. Adolphe and St. Agathe) of the Rural Municipality of Ritchot, Manitoba, Canada. Primary data were collected during the summer months of 2022 using participatory research appraisal (PRA) tools (i.e. key informant interviews and oral histories), while secondary data were collected primarily via government and NGO sources. The findings revealed that a) the flood experience and related interactions among community members and local institutions produced unique and distinct types of social learning, and b) that local and multilevel institutions had helped to create learning platforms that facilitated the formation of strategies for collective action related to flood risk reduction. These processes resulted in single – and double-loop learning at the community level. Based on the findings of this work, we recommend that learning and reflection relating to community members’ flood experiences be integrated into disaster risk reduction and management policies.

The Impedance of East Jakarta Road Network to Estimate Fire Station Service Areas

Urban fires, prevalent in densely populated areas, pose significant risks by increasing deaths and injuries. Fire departments must navigate challenging access routes to manage these incidents effectively. This study analyzes the service coverage of fire stations in East Jakarta, considering road network, width, speed, and travel time. The study utilizes secondary data from the DKI Jakarta Provincial Fire and Rescue Service, road network data from local government sources, and traffic data from Google Maps. Additionally, a field survey was conducted to validate road conditions and accessibility. Using graph theory-based network analysis, the study assesses connectivity, flows, directions, and destinations to determine the coverage extent. The optimal route, defined by road class, width, and condition, exhibits the lowest impedance. Google Maps’ estimated travel times, incorporating traffic conditions, are used to assess travel times, with a 5-minute travel time set as the standard barrier for coverage. Results reveal that the current service coverage of East Jakarta fire stations is only 66.57%. This disparity indicates an inadequate number of fire stations relative to their required service areas. The findings underscore the need for strategic placement of additional fire stations and potential improvements in road infrastructure to enhance response times. Traffic dynamics often affect travel times, demonstrating that shorter distances do not always result in faster arrivals according to real-time data.

The News Sourcing Practices of Solutions Journalists in Africa, Europe, and the U.S.

ABSTRACT Solutions journalism is one of the newest alternative journalism strategies aimed at combating news fatigue through rigorous reporting on solutions to society's problems. One of the primary goals for the movement is increased source diversity that features more non-official and citizen voices, like those often used in other forms of alternative media. This study examined the types of sources journalists included in 555 text-based solutions journalism articles from the U.S., Europe, and Africa collected from the Solutions Journalism Network. The results indicate solutions stories are meeting the goals set forth by proponents of the movement, as they most frequently include nonprofits/groups and unaffiliated citizens. Solutions stories in American publications contained significantly more non-official sources than did their European and African counterparts, though these sources still comprised the majority of those used across all three continents. However, solutions stories included in the study contained fewer total sources than traditional news articles and still featured government and business sources regularly. This finding suggests solutions journalism practitioners may still have work to do to increase their use and variety of sources.

Subsidizing a sports arena in a bankrupt city: Detroit's Little Caesars Arena

AbstractObjectivesThe potential for ancillary real estate transformation and downtown revitalization has moved to the forefront of sports venue subsidy arguments. Despite the City of Detroit being in the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history at the time, $324 million in public funding was directly provided to Little Caesars Arena, a new home for the Detroit Red Wings hockey team. Using the Detroit context, this article examines how a major arena subsidy deal arose in a severely financially distressed city.MethodsUsing a snowball technique, documents were collected from government, media, industry, community, legal, and academic sources to inform a retrospective, single case study. Over 300 documents covering a period from 1992 to 2021 were then reviewed for prospective relevance. A review of secondary media sources was conducted in lieu of traditional interviews.ResultsThe arena funding outcome is best explained by three interrelated aspects: local growth coalitions, real estate development promises, and lacking procedural and financial transparency exacerbated by both the chosen funding mechanism of tax increment financing (TIF) and the bankruptcy.ConclusionsWhere flexible financial subsidies and arena deal making are concerned, procedural transparency matters. Growth coalitions and rent‐seeking team owners can use the earmarked nature of TIF to circumvent traditional budgetary processes and mute prospective opposition through promises of self‐financing subsidies that will not result in new tax rate hikes. For venue deals where the substance is in the details of contractual obligations, transparency and adequate time for scrutiny are especially important.

Continental Scale Regional Flood Frequency Analysis: Combining Enhanced Datasets and a Bayesian Framework

Flood frequency analysis at large scales, essential for the development of flood risk maps, is hindered by the scarcity of gauge flow data. Suitable methods are thus required to predict flooding in ungauged basins, a notoriously complex problem in hydrology. We develop a Bayesian hierarchical model (BHM) based on the generalized extreme value (GEV) and the generalized Pareto distribution for regional flood frequency analysis at high resolution across a large part of North America. Our model leverages annual maximum flow data from ≈20,000 gauged stations and a dataset of 130 static catchment-specific covariates to predict extreme flows at all catchments over the continent as well as their associated statistical uncertainty. Additionally, a modification is made to the data layer of the BHM to include peaks over threshold flow data when available, which improves the precision of the discharge level estimates. We validated the model using a hold-out approach and found that its predictive power is very good for the GEV distribution location and scale parameters and improvable for the shape parameter, which is notoriously hard to estimate. The resulting discharge return levels yield a satisfying agreement when compared with the available design peak discharge from various government sources. The assessment of the covariates’ contributions to the model is also informative with regard to the most relevant underlying factors influencing flood-inducing peak flows. According to the developed aggregate importance score, the key covariates in our model are temperature-related bioindicators, the catchment drainage area and the geographical location.

Analysis of agricultural development in Ngringo Village, Kecamatan Jaten, Karanganyar District

Background: Agricultural development is crucial for rural economic growth and food security. This study analyzes agricultural development in Ngringo Village, Indonesia, examining potentials, challenges, structural and institutional transformations, technology transfer, and appropriate development models. Previous research has focused on broader regional agricultural trends, while this study provides an in-depth analysis of a specific village undergoing rapid change. Method: The study employed purposive sampling to select Ngringo Village. Data collection involved observations, structured interviews with key informants, and document analysis. Both primary data from village officials and secondary data from government sources were utilized. Findings: Ngringo Village exhibits both physical potential (strategic location, affordable land) and non-physical potential (socio-cultural life, efficient administration). Challenges include limited farmer knowledge of marketing and post-harvest processing. Structural transformation is evident in the shift from agriculture to industrial and service sectors due to urbanization pressures. Institutional transformation has led to the establishment of farmer groups and associations. Technology transfer is occurring, with the adoption of mechanized farming equipment, though digital technologies are not yet fully embraced. Conclusion: The agricultural development model in Ngringo Village aligns with the location model, influenced by its proximity to urban areas. Ngringo Village is undergoing significant agricultural transformations driven by urbanization and industrialization. While facing challenges in land conversion and marketing, the village demonstrates resilience through institutional adaptations and selective technology adoption. Future agricultural development strategies should focus on enhancing digital marketing skills, strengthening farmer institutions, and balancing agricultural preservation with urban expansion. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study proposes an integrated digital platform for sustainable agricultural development. The platform connects farmers to markets, provides online training, and facilitates stakeholder collaboration, adaptable to different peri-urban contexts across the country.

The first global landscape analysis of multiple sclerosis research funding

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated central nervous system disorder and a growing global health challenge affecting nearly 3 million people worldwide. Incidence and prevalence continue to increase with no known cause or cure. Globally governments and non-profit organizations fund research toward better understanding of and treatments for multiple sclerosis. Methods: This study identified MS research projects funded between 2021 and 2023 by government and non-profit organization sources. Projects were described by type of scientific approach, Pathways to Cure research category (i.e. Stop, Restore, End), and other key characteristics. Results: Over 2,300 MS research projects were identified through 16 non-profit MS organizations and 18 government databases. The overall global portfolio of these projects is valued at nearly one and a half billion Euros. The majority of projects were classified in the Stop category (60%). Research collaboration occurs in many forms among the research community; around 272 projects were reported to be co-funded. Conclusion: Global MS research collaboration will accelerate progress toward increased knowledge, effective treatments, improved health outcomes, and ultimately cures for MS. This landscape analysis highlights the current distribution of MS research investment between topics and begins to suggest where the MS community should focus to increase potential impact for current and future endeavors.

On Concepts, Analytics, and Statistics in Comparative Policy Studies: An Introduction from the New Section Editors

Effective comparative public policy research necessitates three key aspects. Firstly, it requires concepts that allow the differences in policies and policy developments across various domains to be discerned. Secondly, even with robust concepts established, they typically must be “put into practice”. This means scholars need analytical tools that can either provide theoretical insights helpful in creating careful research designs or extract relevant information from laws, legislation, and other governmental sources and organize it meaningfully. Lastly, the objective of these endeavors is to produce statistics on policies or their effects that permit robust conclusions to be drawn about policy efficacy and impact. Building upon this “trinity” as the foundation of successful comparative policy research, the new section editors of the Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis (JCPA) are seeking contributions in the areas of policy concepts, analytics, and statistics. This introductory article further clarifies what these aspects entail and presents examples from existing research that may align with this section.

Patients With Shoulder Labral Tears Search the Internet to Understand Their Diagnoses and Treatment Options

PurposeTo analyze the most frequently searched questions associated with shoulder labral pathology and to evaluate the source type availability and quality. MethodsCommon shoulder labral pathology related search terms were entered into Google and the suggested frequently asked questions were compiled and categorized. Suggested sources were also recorded, categorized, and scored for quality of information utilizing Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the types of questions and their associated sources, as well as the quality of sources. ResultsFive-hundred and thirteen questions and 170 sources were identified and categorized. The most popular topics were Diagnosis/Evaluation (21.5%) and Indications/Management (21.1%.). The most common website types were Academic (27.9%), Commercial (25.2%), and Medical Practice (22.5%). Multiple statistically significant associations were found between specific question categories and their associated source types. The average JAMA quality score for all sources was 1.56 and medical websites had significantly lower quality scores than non-medical sites (1.05 vs 2.12, p<0.001). ConclusionPatients searching the internet for information regarding shoulder labral pathology often look for facts regarding the management of their condition. They use various source types to understand their conditions, with government sources being the highest quality, while medical sites showed statistically lower quality. Across the spectrum of questions, the quality of readily available resources varies substantially.

Learnings from the past to inform future ecosystem restoration projects: an Australian perspective

Coastal and marine ecosystems provide valuable ecosystem services and functions. Unfortunately, these habitats have experienced increasing anthropogenic and climate‐related pressures, leading to significant degradation and loss not only in Australia but also globally. Hence, the urgency for coastal and marine ecosystem restoration has never been more pronounced. We present a synthesis of 151 projects on coastal and marine restoration in Australia spanning mangrove, seagrass, tidal marsh, kelp, shellfish reef, and coral ecosystems. Our findings reveal increased restoration efforts over the past 30 years, with an increased focus on coral and shellfish reef habitats. Across Australia, most efforts were in southeastern Australia, with a noticeable gap in the Northern Territory. Restoration strategies focused on enhancing propagule availability (74%) and substrate availability (42%), with additional efforts toward implementing top–down (7%) and bottom–up (4%) controls to boost natural recruitment. Projects were carried out with the participation mostly of research universities (45%), followed by state government entities (42%), philanthropy (34%), and private companies (16%). Funding came primarily from governmental sources, such as state government entities (50%), the commonwealth (44%), and philanthropy (19%). Restoration outcomes are centered on monitoring growth and survival resulting from both single and multiple restoration actions. Our findings highlight key factors influencing natural recruitment across habitat types, where sedimentation and species reproductive biology play a critical role. While acknowledging that our results represent only a small fraction of Australia's coastal and marine restoration efforts, our intent is to contribute insights that can support large‐scale restoration actions not only in Australia but also on a global scale.

Navigating vaccination choices: The intersecting dynamics of institutional trust, belonging and message perception among Congolese migrants in London, UK (a reflexive thematic analysis).

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted intersectionally marginalised migrants, revealing systemic disparities in health outcomes and vaccine uptake. Understanding the underlying social and structural factors influencing health behaviours is necessary to develop tailored interventions for migrants, but these factors have been seldom explored. This qualitative study aimed to explore contextual factors shaping COVID-19 vaccination decision-making among Congolese migrants in the UK.A community-based participatory research study was designed and led by a community-academic partnership in London, UK (2021-2022). Peer-led, semi-structured interviews were conducted in Lingala with 32 adult Congolese migrants and explored beliefs, perceptions and lived experiences of migration, healthcare, vaccination and the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflexive thematic analysis generated two themes and a model conceptualising the vaccination decision-making process. Participants and community partners were financially compensated; ethics was granted by the University of London ethics committee (REC: 2021.0128).Participants highlighted the incompatibility of lockdown restrictions with their communal culture, which intensified feelings of exclusion and alienation. Concerns about COVID-19 vaccination were attributed to safety and effectiveness, partly informed by experiences and legacies of racial discrimination and exploitation. Inequality in the pandemic response and COVID-19 outcomes heightened participants' sense that their views and needs were being overlooked, and government sources and information were perceived as coercive. Our model depicts the interplay between institutional trust, belonging, and message perception, which shaped participants' vaccination decisions and led to (non-)engagement with COVID-19 vaccination. This research enhances understanding of how social and contextual factors may influence migrants' engagement with health interventions. It underscores the importance of partnering with migrant communities to understand their needs in context and co-design tailored interventions and inclusive messaging strategies that promote trust and belonging. Implementing systemic changes to address structural inequalities will be crucial to create an environment that supports engagement with health-protective behaviours and enhances health outcomes among migrant communities.

Evaluation of Watershed Carrying Capacity on Flood Management in Greater Malang East Java Indonesia

Purpose: The over-depletion of natural resources in the Ambang watershed is the recent cause of the flooding in the region. The Ambang watershed, located in the larger Malang region of Indonesia's East Java Province, is the subject of this article because of the importance of this resource to local residents.This study follows the rules set out by Regulation No. P.61/2014 of the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, which governs the assessment and monitoring of watershed management, in order to determine the Ambang watershed's effectiveness. Finding out how much water the Ambang watershed can hold and how well the regulation works to control floods were the two main goals of this research Method: This study primarily uses data on floods, conservation initiatives, land use, and water value in the Ambang river basin. Data and information on floods, conservation regulations, and the worth of water infrastructure comes from government sources and community discussions. The data on land usage was derived from the analysis of satellite images. Literature reviews and reports from key government agencies (such as the regional agricultural agency, the regional environmental protection agency, and the district government) were used to gather secondary data for the Ambang watershed management study Results and Conclusion: Land cover, as a percentage, can reduce run-off rates and enhance infiltration capacity in a watershed, hence monitoring it is crucial for assessing the state of land carrying capacity. With an area of 86,783.77 ha, the Ambang sub-watershed has 27,311.79 ha of vegetative land cover (PPV), which is classed as poor, falling between 20 and 40%. The result is expressed as a percentage. One way to measure the difference between allowed and actual erosion is via the Erosion Index. Based on the analysis, the Ambang sub-watershed, which covers an area of 86,783.77 ha, experiences heavy erosion on average with 190.8 tons/ha/year. The erosion index is 14.2, and the IE classification is &gt; 2, which is very bad. This is due to factors such as steep to very steep slopes in some areas, poor to moderate soil conservation, and the presence of annual plants on the land, with some exceeding 25%. Research Implications: In order to better educate the public about the conservation and restoration efforts of different stakeholders and to improve the recommendations for potential conservation and restoration actions in each of the Ambang watershed regions, a series of investigations and experimental projects are planned. Laws enacted by the Indonesian government (number 37/2012) and the Ministry of Forestry (number 6061/2014) control the administration of water-related regions in the country. Before receiving any funds from the National State Budget, regional (provincial) governments must develop a management plan that takes into account the watershed's ability to sustain initiatives. Our investigation showed that Regulation 61/2014, issued by the Federal Forestry Minister, does not adequately evaluate the Ambang watershed's harbor capacity. Especially in arid regions, further studies should help Indonesian watersheds better gauge the potential of their water supplies.

Haunting Messages: Online Videos and Public Belief in Paranormal Phenomena.

Despite broad skepticism within the scientific community regarding paranormal phenomena such as ghosts and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), many members of the public believe in these phenomena. Previous studies have argued that viewing paranormal-themed television-including documentary, reality, and news programming-can cultivate such beliefs. In addition, recent research suggests that the online video-sharing platform YouTube may serve as an important source of messages about fringe phenomena. With that in mind, this study builds on theoretical accounts of genre-specific cultivation and social media affordances to examine how YouTube videos present paranormal topics and whether YouTube use predicts belief in the paranormal. A content analysis of 50 highly viewed YouTube videos about paranormal topics (25 about hauntings and 25 about UFOs) showed that a large majority of these videos featured paranormal claims and that a majority included purported footage of paranormal phenomena. Scientific sources appeared in only a quarter of UFO videos and almost no haunting videos, while government sources appeared in most UFO videos, but few haunting videos. An analysis of data from a survey of the U.S. public (n = 1,035), in turn, found that paranormal documentary or reality television viewing, paranormal news use, and YouTube use predicted belief in hauntings, controlling for a range of other media use variables and background factors. These results highlight the potential for video-sharing platforms such as YouTube to reinforce paranormal beliefs among the public.