Human Development Research Articles

Economic development and pesticide use in EU agriculture.

Recent publications by the Food and Agriculture Organization show the growing concern about the use of pesticides and the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices. This study examines the relationship between economic development and pesticide use in the European Union (EU) within the framework of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) using a dynamic panel approach with the Arellano-Bond Generalized Method of Moments. The analysis of data from 26 EU Member States over a 20-year period confirms the EKC hypothesis: pesticide use initially increases with economic development, reaches a turning point at a Human Development Index of 0.865, and then decreases as human development progresses. Key determinants include education, investment in research and development, agricultural income and foreign direct investment. Our results confirm this relationship and underline the importance of policy interventions. Stricter enforcement of regulations, including pesticide reduction targets, and advances in agricultural technology are essential to accelerate the transition to less reliance on pesticides. In line with EU strategies such as the Farm to Fork initiative, this study emphasizes the role of human development, particularly education, but also the design of effective institutional mechanisms to reduce dependence on pesticides and reconcile economic progress with environmental sustainability.

Analysis of Factors Affecting GRDP per Capita in Eastern Indonesia: A Panel and Spatial Model Approach in the Context of the Planned Capital Relocation (IKN)

The Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) per capita in Eastern Indonesia, particularly in provinces adjacent to the planned new capital city (IKN), is influenced by various economic and infrastructural factors. This study examines the impact of national road length, population density, foreign investment, the Human Development Index (HDI), and poverty levels on economic growth in the region. Using data from multiple provinces, the analysis employs panel data models (Pooled OLS, Fixed Effect, and Random Effect), spatial models (Spatial Durbin Model), and autoregressive tests to observe temporal relationships. The entire analysis is conducted using RStudio, allowing for efficient data processing and advanced econometric modeling. The findings indicate that infrastructure development (measured by national road length), population (in total population), and quality of life (measured by Human Development Index/HDI) have a statistically significant effect on GRDP per capita in Eastern Indonesia. Meanwhile, foreign direct investment (FDI) shows no significant influence in the model. Therefore, economic policies that incorporate spatial and temporal considerations especially those targeting infrastructure, demographic dynamics, and human development are crucial for fostering more equitable and sustainable growth across Eastern Indonesia.

Evaluation implementation growth monitoring and promotion: a case study East Lampung district

The implementation of growth monitoring and promotion (GMP), which functions to monitor the growth and development of toddlers, is carried out by integrated service post community health volunteers (CHVs) (in Indonesia called Posyandu), allegedly has not been implemented properly. This research aimed to evaluate the implementation of GMP, its barriers, and supporting factors. The research design is concurrent mixed methods. Quantitative data collection was carried out using GMP practice observation sheets with a sample of 30 CHVs. GMP practice observations were carried out by three observers and the results were analyzed using multi facet Rasch measurement (MFRM). Qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussion (FGD) with 27 informants. The research results show that GMP practices in the components of growth measurement, plotting measurement results, interpretation of growth indicators, and counseling still need to be improved. Barriers to implementing GMP are human resources, facilities, and infrastructure, lack of motivation, attitude of mothers of toddlers, inadequate capacity of CHV Posyandu, and lack of village government support. Supporting the implementation of GMP is the participation, monitoring, and role of CHVs in human development. The research concludes that the practice of implementing GMP in these four components is considered not optimal. It is recommended that Posyandu CHVs need to increase their capacity in implementing GMP so that the growth and development of children under five can be properly monitored to prevent early malnutrition and stunting.

The development of processing nested structures in language and action and false-belief understanding in preschool children.

Influential theories have proposed that processing nested structures constitutes an important characteristic of human cognition among various domains. It might represent an important cognitive capacity in human development. We assessed the development of nested structure processing (NSP) in 3- to 6-year-old German children (N = 130) across two domains, language and action. We explored (1) whether NSP development is related across the domains, (2) to which extent it relates to general cognitive functions such as inhibitory control (IC) and working memory (WM), and (3) whether NSP in action and language relates to the early development of false-belief understanding (FBU). NSP in the action and language domain was correlated even when controlling for IC, yet the correlation was not significant anymore when controlling for WM or age. Furthermore, NSP in action related to FBU even when controlling for WM, IC, and age. Overall, the results point to the development of a domain-general NSP capacity during preschool years. They suggest that WM constitutes an essential basis for NSP. Furthermore, our results support cognitive theories proposing that NSP plays a role in the early development of explicit FBU. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Molecular insights into human soleus muscle atrophy development: long-term dry immersion effects on the transcriptomic profile and posttranslational signaling.

Muscle disuse results in complex signaling alterations followed by structural and functional changes, such as atrophy, force decrease, and slow-to-fast fiber-type shift. Little is known about human skeletal muscle signaling alterations under long-term muscle disuse. In this study, we describe the effects of 21-day dry immersion on human postural soleus muscle. We performed both transcriptomic analysis and Western blots to describe the states of the key signaling pathways regulating soleus muscle fiber size, fiber type, and metabolism. Twenty-one-day dry immersion resulted in both slow-type and fast-type myofibers atrophy, downregulation of rRNA content, and mTOR signaling. Twenty-one-day dry immersion also leads to slow-to-fast fiber-type and gene expression shift, upregulation of p-eEF2, p-CaMKII, p-ACC content and downregulation of NFATc1 nuclear content. It also caused massive gene expression alterations associated with calcium signaling, cytoskeletal parameters, and downregulated mitochondrial signaling (including fusion, fission, and marker of mitochondrial density).NEW & NOTEWORTHY The main findings of our study are as follows: 1) The soleus slow fibers atrophy after 21-day dry immersion (DI) does not exceed that after 7-day DI; 2) The soleus ubiquitin ligases expression after 21-day DI returns to its initial level; 3) The soleus slow fibers atrophy after 21-day DI is accompanied by a mitochondrial apparatus structural markers decrease; 4) The soleus fibers signaling pathways restructuring process during 21-day DI is carried out in a complex manner.

Factors influencing the acceptance of alternative protein sources.

Factors influencing the acceptance of alternative protein sources.

A critical review of the ecotoxic effects of microplastics on aquatic, soil and atmospheric ecosystems and current research challenges.

A critical review of the ecotoxic effects of microplastics on aquatic, soil and atmospheric ecosystems and current research challenges.

The critical role of the Hippo signaling pathway in renal fibrosis.

The critical role of the Hippo signaling pathway in renal fibrosis.

Chinese private enterprises and human capital development in Nigeria: Assessing the educational and skill transfer dimensions

Chinese private enterprises and human capital development in Nigeria: Assessing the educational and skill transfer dimensions

Evaluation Of Total Quality Management (TQM) In Improving The Quality Of Graduates

Graduates of Vocational High Schools (SMK) play a crucial role in fulfilling the workforce requirements of the industrial sector. This condition represents a strategic opportunity for SMK to provide students with technical skills and moral fortitude, preparing them to become competent employees. This study seeks to assess the application of Total Quality Management (TQM) in enhancing the quality of graduates, particularly within the Motorcycle Engineering and Business Study Programme at a vocational school in Bandung. The study concentrates on the strategy for implementing Total Quality Management (TQM), the evaluation procedures for TQM, the factors that facilitate or impede TQM implementation, and the ways to address these challenges. This study employs a qualitative methodology utilizing a case study approach, with data gathering conducted via in-depth interviews, direct observation, and pertinent document analysis. The study's findings suggest that the Total Quality Management implementation strategy commences with a comprehensive understanding of the organization's vision and mission, which guide its objectives. This is reinforced by human resource development, the provision of sufficient facilities and infrastructure, the enhancement of a curriculum aligned with industry requirements, the cultivation of positive attitudes, and the establishment of a supportive learning environment. The processes for evaluating TQM involve establishing a collective commitment to enforce discipline, cultivating accountability, and sustaining concentration on attaining primary objectives. Factors that facilitate TQM implementation include skilled human resources, comprehensive facilities, a flexible curriculum, and a conducive learning environment. Concurrently, impediments consist of restricted human resources, inadequate facilities, and a deficiency in comprehensive comprehension of the TQM concept among all stakeholders within the school. The adopted method to address these challenges is to align all organizational components, including leaders, educators, and students, with the school's vision and goal, fostering a robust quality culture within the educational environment. This study concludes that a robust integration of human resources, facilities, curriculum, and an effective learning environment can attain the caliber of vocational high school graduates. Consequently, vocational high school graduates possess standardized abilities that align with the requirements and expectations of the business and industrial sectors (DUDI), rendering them a workforce prepared to participate effectively.

The developing visual system: A building block on the path to autism.

Longitudinal neuroimaging studies conducted over the past decade provide evidence of atypical visual system development in the first years of life in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Findings from genomic analyses, family studies, and postmortem investigations suggest that changes in the visual system in ASD are linked to genetic factors, making the visual system an important neural phenotype along the path from genes to behavior that deserves further study. This article reviews what is known about the developing visual system in ASD in the first years of life; it also explores the potential canalizing role that atypical visual system maturation may have in the emergence of ASD by placing findings in the context of developmental cascades involving brain development, attention, and social and cognitive development. Critical gaps in our understanding of human visual system development are discussed, and future research directions are proposed to improve our understanding of ASD as a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with origins in early brain development.

Recent progress in the identification and invitro culture of skin organoids.

Recent progress in the identification and invitro culture of skin organoids.

The role of energy vulnerability in shaping human development outcomes: A multidimensional analysis

The role of energy vulnerability in shaping human development outcomes: A multidimensional analysis

Together, We SOAR: A curriculum on compassion, community, and human development for K-12 teachers

Together, We SOAR: A curriculum on compassion, community, and human development for K-12 teachers

Determinants of Economic Growth: A Review of Local Governments in Sumatera Island

This study seeks to analyze the impact of health expenditure, education expenditure, capital expenditure, the Human Development Index, and the unemployment rate on economic growth in the local governments of regencies and cities on the island of Sumatera. Economic growth serves as a significant metric for assessing the economic vitality of a nation or region. Factors impacting this may encompass health expenditure, education expenditure, capital expenditure, the Human Development Index, and the unemployment rate. This study's population comprises 154 local governments from regencies and cities on the island of Sumatra. It utilized a saturated sampling strategy and a panel data approach during a four-year observation period, yielding 616 research samples from 2020 to 2023. The employed data analysis technique is panel data regression, with a significance threshold of 5%. The study's findings reveal that health expenditure does not significantly influence economic growth, indicating that health spending has not effectively enhanced labor productivity through improvements in public health. Moreover, educational expenditure positively impacts economic growth, suggesting that education can improve skills and labor productivity, thus augmenting economic production. The study concludes that capital expenditure adversely impacts economic growth, suggesting that it diminishes economic growth despite proper allocation, demonstrating inefficiency and lack of productivity in its execution. The Human Development Index (HDI) does not influence economic growth, indicating that the HDI, which includes factors like education, health, and living standards, has not evolved adequately to impact economic growth. The unemployment rate does not affect economic growth, indicating that labor market conditions and structural variables, such as the alignment of skills and knowledge, may impede economic growth in a region. Not all governmental expenditure or socio-economic metrics yield the anticipated effect on economic growth. The effectiveness of resource distribution, policy emphasis, and the overarching economic environment significantly influence the effects of these diverse elements. Additional investigation may be necessary to comprehend the dynamics behind these findings.

Socioeconomic factors explaining municipal solid waste generation in Galicia. Similarities and differences between aggregate magnitudes and fractions.

Socioeconomic factors explaining municipal solid waste generation in Galicia. Similarities and differences between aggregate magnitudes and fractions.

Sewer-associated rodents in countries with lower human development, a time-bomb for zoonoses?

Sewer-associated rodents in countries with lower human development, a time-bomb for zoonoses?

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in Latin America: Public policies, healthcare systems and human rights.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in Latin America: Public policies, healthcare systems and human rights.

The hygiene hypothesis of crime: Examining the link between disgust-related diseases and crime incidence.

The hygiene hypothesis of crime: Examining the link between disgust-related diseases and crime incidence.

Future climate change increase species vulnerability and present new opportunities for biodiversity conservation in China.

Future climate change increase species vulnerability and present new opportunities for biodiversity conservation in China.