IMPACT This article is essential reading for audit practitioners, policy advisors, and public financial management specialists working in Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs), government ministries, and international development organizations. By comparing research-based audit (RBA) practices in China and Indonesia, it offers actionable insights into how evidence-driven methodologies can transform audit quality and governance outcomes. The authors present a practical framework to assess and strengthen institutional capacity in audit planning, data use, and policy integration. For practitioners, the findings demonstrate how context-specific adaptations can increase audit relevance, improve SDG monitoring, and support strategic reform. The article bridges theory and practice, offering a roadmap for SAIs to evolve from compliance checkers to strategic knowledge partners in public governance.

The realization of smart governance highly relies on the effective integration and collaborative utilization of cross-departmental government data, yet data silos that have formed over time and the privacy compliance risks faced by traditional centralized sharing models severely constrain the improvement of collaboration effectiveness. Addressing this challenge, this study proposes the FedGov privacy-preserving federated learning framework for smart governance scenarios, designing a three-layer system architecture comprising data, computation, and coordination layers to support multi-departmental heterogeneous data collaboration, and developing the FedGov-DP algorithm integrating dual mechanisms of differential privacy and secure aggregation to realize the "data usable but invisible" cross-departmental collaboration paradigm. Systematic experiments simulating government scenarios based on public datasets demonstrate that the proposed framework effectively breaks down data silos and achieves significant collaboration gains, the differential privacy mechanism effectively defends against membership inference attacks, and the method exhibits good adaptability to moderate data heterogeneity common in government scenarios. This study extends the application boundaries of federated learning in the public governance domain, provides a new technical pathway for addressing the government data silo dilemma, and the constructed framework with parameter configuration guidelines offers technical support and practical reference for smart governance digital transformation.

Asbestos-cement (AC) roofing remains a critical concern for urban environmental health, particularly in cities where asbestos bans were implemented late and legacy materials persist. Reliable identification of AC roofs is essential for risk assessment, remediation planning, and policy enforcement. This study introduces a computationally efficient framework for AC roof detection using eight visible- and near-infrared (VNIR) bands from WorldView-3 imagery, reducing reliance on hyperspectral or SWIR data in existing approaches. Thirty-two supervised classifiers spanning eight methodological families were evaluated under both a five-class urban material scheme and a binary AC versus non-AC scenario. Nearest-neighbour and kernel-based approaches consistently outperformed alternative strategies. Fine K-Nearest Neighbours achieved the highest performance in the multiclass setting, reaching a Macro F1-Score of 97.6% on independent test data, while Subspace KNN proved robust for binary AC detection, attaining near-perfect discrimination with test accuracies approaching 99-100%. Feature attribution analysis confirmed that classification decisions are driven by reflectance contrasts in the red-edge and near-infrared regions, reinforcing the reliability of the results. The study provides one of the first comparative assessments of computational efficiency across classifiers for urban material mapping, showing that reducing class complexity improves processing speed without compromising detection reliability. The findings establish that VNIR-only satellite imagery with lightweight machine-learning models constitutes a viable solution for mapping asbestos-cement roofs, with direct relevance for urban planners, environmental agencies, and public health authorities seeking cost-effective tools for large-area asbestos monitoring.

Research methodology This case study is developed using secondary data from publicly available sources, including news articles, reports and government publications about the cancellation of the New Mexico City International Airport (NAIM). This approach is useful to understand individual, group, organisational, social, political and related phenomena involving a contemporary set of events to explore the complexity and richness of the phenomenon of study, namely, the termination of infrastructure megaprojects. While the details about Rodrigo Montes de la Vega and his role in Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de México are fictional, the scenario is inspired by real-world challenges and decision-making processes faced by leaders during the termination of large-scale infrastructure projects. By combining factual context with a fictional character, the case provides a realistic but imaginative framework for analysing leadership dilemmas, organisational resistance to change and the broader implications of political decisions on public projects. Case overview/synopsis The cancellation of the NAIM by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador represents one of the most controversial decisions in recent Mexican history. Initially conceived as a state-of-the-art infrastructure project to alleviate congestion at the existing airport, the NAIM was well underway, with billions of pesos already invested. However, upon taking office, Lopez Obrador cancelled the project, citing financial concerns, environmental issues and a public consultation that favoured an alternative plan: converting the Santa Lucía military base into a commercial airport. Rodrigo Montes de la Vega, a young and ambitious Chair of the Board of Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de México (GACM), found himself at the centre of this controversy. As a key figure responsible for NAIM’s development, Rodrigo faced a profound dilemma. Should he support the government’s decision, preserving his career prospects but compromising his professional ethics and vision for the project? Or should he resist publicly, defending the NAIM’s merits but risking professional isolation and losing his ability to influence future decisions? This case examines Rodrigo’s tension-filled decision-making process, offering students an opportunity to explore how leaders navigate high-stakes choices involving conflicting interests, uncertain outcomes and organisational resistance to change. Complexity academic level This case is designed for students and professionals in engineering, business management and public policy who are interested in project management, organisational change and leadership decision-making. The case is particularly suitable for courses focused on project governance, decision-making under uncertainty and managing stakeholder resistance. It is versatile enough to be used at various academic and professional levels, including: The case encourages multidisciplinary thinking and fosters engagement among students from diverse academic backgrounds, making it a valuable teaching tool for institutions worldwide.

Abstract The rapid proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across healthcare, finance, e-commerce, and public governance has introduced unprecedented challenges to data privacy. AI systems rely on vast quantities of personal and sensitive data to train, optimize, and deploy predictive models, creating complex tensions between utility and individual privacy rights. This comprehensive review explores the intersection of AI capabilities and data privacy obligations, examining the technical mechanisms through which privacy can be compromised, the regulatory frameworks that govern data handling, and the emerging technologies designed to reconcile AI performance with privacy preservation. The paper surveys Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) such as federated learning, differential privacy, homomorphic encryption, and secure multi-party computation. It further examines the adequacy of global regulatory regimes including GDPR, CCPA, and India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, and critically evaluates their enforcement in AI-driven environments. The findings highlight persistent trade-offs between model accuracy and privacy guarantees, scalability barriers in cryptographic approaches, and the need for standardized privacy metrics. Future directions include privacy-aware AI architectures, explainable privacy controls, and unified international governance frameworks. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy, Federated Learning, Differential Privacy, GDPR, Privacy-Enhancing Technologies, Homomorphic Encryption, Trustworthy AI

The article examines the transformation of the organizational and economic mechanism of state influence on the economy in conditions of war and post-war recovery. The relevance of the research is determined by the need to develop an effective system of public governance capable of ensuring the resilience of the economic system under large-scale external shocks and structural transformations. Theoretical approaches to the concept of economic resilience and adaptability of socio-economic systems are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to modern interpretations of resilience in economic science, which emphasize the ability of economic systems not only to recover from shocks but also to transform their structure and development trajectory. It is substantiated that the integration of adaptability and resilience principles provides a methodological basis for improving the mechanism of state influence in crisis conditions. The study proposes the concept of an adaptive-resilient mechanism of state influence, which is interpreted as a dynamic system of institutional, economic, social, and security instruments of public policy. The functioning of the mechanism is based on several key principles, including phase transformation, structural flexibility, resource mobility, institutional continuity, social justice, and digital governance. A structural-functional model of the adaptive-resilient mechanism of state influence is developed. The model includes four interacting functional blocks: security, economic, social, and institutional. Their interaction determines the level of economic resilience and effectiveness of public policy implementation. The study emphasizes that the dominance of particular blocks changes depending on the phase of economic development. To ensure methodological consistency, the study introduces a mathematical formalization of the integral efficiency of the mechanism of state influence. The proposed approach considers the variable weights of functional blocks depending on the phase of economic development. This allows the mechanism to adapt to changes in the external environment and ensures structural flexibility in public policy. In addition, a transformation matrix of the mechanism of state influence is developed. The matrix reflects the relationship between phases of economic development, dominant policy instruments, budget priorities, and expected outcomes of state management. The phases include mobilization, stabilization, reconstruction, and strategic development. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the conceptualization of the adaptive-resilient mechanism of state influence and the development of a dynamic structural-functional model that allows adjusting public policy priorities depending on the phase of economic development. The practical significance of the research results lies in the possibility of applying the proposed approach for improving the effectiveness of economic policy in wartime conditions and during post-war recovery.

This quantitative study examines the factors predicting changes in trust in governments (federal and provincial/territorial), public health authorities, health scientists, and medical care providers from before the COVID-19 pandemic to May 2024. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Canadian adults in May 2024. Trust levels before and during the pandemic were assessed using tested and validated items across five domains-provincial and federal governments, public health authorities, health scientists, and medical care providers using Likert scales. A weighted multinomial logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with changes in trust (trust increased, trust decreased). Models were evaluated for goodness-of-fit of predicted versus observed estimates. Adults aged 34-54 were less likely to increase trust in provincial government (RRR = 0.78), and older adults (≥ 55years) were less likely to increase trust in medical care providers (RRR = 0.36) and more likely to decrease trust in health scientists (RRR = 1.44). Respondents who declared their gender as non-binary or chose not to disclose were less likely to increase trust in provincial governments (RRR = 0.24). However, individuals with a strong interest in science were more likely to report increased trust in public health authorities (RRR = 1.39) and inhealth scientists (RRR = 1.69). Vaccine-trusting individuals were more likely to report increased trust across all trustdomains. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted public trust in health institutions, with disparities across sociodemographic groups and regions. Trust levels were closely tied to vaccination-attitudes, underscoring the need for transparent, science-based communication and targeted interventions to rebuild trust, particularly among vaccine-hesitant populations.

This research evaluated walkability conditions on the central stretch of Avenida Floriano Peixoto, the main avenue in the city of Campina Grande, from the pedestrian's perspective. In-person and online survey questionnaires were administered to 405 pedestrians. The study identified the dimensions of urban function and comfort as the most critical points. Parking, the presence of weather protection elements, dimensions, connectivity, and route attributes received positive evaluations, primarily due to accessibility to support points and the presence of pedestrians in the morning and afternoon. Overall, some variables were positive while others require attention from public authorities.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is increasingly recognized as a strategic instrument for strengthening public governance and advancing sustainable development, particularly in emerging economies such as Vietnam. In the construction sector, which is characterized by high environmental and social risks, the integration of CSR remains largely voluntary, with limited regulatory enforcement and weak monitoring systems. This institutional gap creates urgency to investigate how CSR contributes to local governance effectiveness, especially within the context of ongoing digital transformation. This study examines the impact of CSR dimensions on local governance effectiveness in Vietnam’s construction sector using 110 survey based observations from firms, government officials, and experts collected between 2022 and 2024. A quantitative approach was applied, including Cronbach’s Alpha, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression using SPSS 26.0. The results indicate that all CSR components significantly enhance governance effectiveness, with legal and ethical responsibilities exerting a stronger influence than economic and philanthropic dimensions. The novelty of this research lies in positioning CSR as a complementary governance mechanism rather than merely a corporate obligation. The study contributes empirical evidence to the limited literature on CSR and public governance in developing contexts and offers policy relevant insights to strengthen legal frameworks, improve multi stakeholder coordination, and promote ethical business practices for sustainable governance outcomes.

Abstract This narrative review examines how regulatory authorities across Arab countries are adopting novel regulatory tools to streamline review and approval pathways, including expedited review mechanisms, reliance on assessments conducted by stringent regulatory authorities, conditional approvals, priority designations, emergency use authorizations, and digital submission systems such as the electronic Common Technical Document. A structured search of publicly available regulatory guidance, peer-reviewed literature, government publications, and regional policy documents from 2017 to December 2025 was conducted to compare the evolution and implementation of these frameworks across the region. The findings indicate that Saudi Arabia has integrated a comprehensive suite of regulatory tools—such as verification and abridged review pathways, priority review, conditional approval routes, and breakthrough designations—into a cohesive system that formally aims to shorten assessment timelines. Comparable reliance-based and accelerated pathways have been introduced in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman, with the Gulf Cooperation Council–centralized procedure providing an additional mechanism for regional work-sharing. Despite these developments, regulatory heterogeneity, limited capacity, restrictive pricing and reimbursement structures, insufficient real-world evidence (RWE) guidance, and evolving intellectual property considerations continue to present operational challenges. Potential solutions include harmonizing regulatory standards, strengthening institutional capacity, developing clear RWE frameworks, expanding digitalization efforts, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools where appropriate, and aligning pricing policies with accelerated approval objectives. Early AI initiatives in several Gulf countries—such as national AI authorities and automated dossier-screening technologies—suggest further opportunities to enhance regulatory efficiency. Continued cooperation among regulatory agencies, supported by the principles of the World Health Organization Good Regulatory Practices and Good Reliance Practices, will be essential to sustaining progress and improving timely, equitable access to medicines across the region.

This study aimed to evaluate the evolution of the overall nutritional quality of prepackaged foods sold in Québec (Canada) regularly consumed at breakfast or as snacks. A repeated cross-sectional analysis was conducted for Breakfast cereals (n2016 306, n2021 310), Sliced breads (n2017 262, n2021 261), Granola bars (n2018 240, n2023 234), and Yogurts and dairy desserts (n2018-2019 468, n2023 279), all sourced from the Food Quality Observatory's databases. Overall nutritional quality was assessed using the score generated by the Nutri-Score updated algorithm (2023). Data were sales-weighted using NielsenIQ data to better represent foods purchased. Overall nutritional quality remained stable over time in all four main food categories (all p ≥ 0.11). Only Yogurts and dairy desserts that specifically underwent reformulation between both data collections showed an improved overall nutritional quality (i.e. lower score; 3.95±3.84 vs. 2.80±2.13, p = 0.03). Moreover, the overall nutritional quality of new products in the Sliced breads, Granola bars, and Yogurts and dairy desserts categories was similar to that of discontinued products (all p ≥ 0.06), while new Breakfast cereals had a lower overall nutritional quality than discontinued cereals (13.45±5.60 vs. 9.75±4.92, respectively, p < 0.001). This study showed that opportunities for product improvement, such as reformulation and the introduction of new products, have not been well integrated yet by food manufacturers in the most commonly purchased products. It highlights the importance for public health authorities to continue to actively develop, implement, evaluate, and support initiatives aimed at improving the overall nutritional quality of prepackaged foods.

Background: Cutaneous diphtheria has re-emerged in Europe, often presenting as skin-limited disease. Uncertainty around diagnosis, infection control, and toxigenicity testing can delay appropriate management. Case Presentation: A 62-year-old woman experiencing homelessness presented with a two-week history of a painful lower-leg eruption. This evolved from vesicles to bullae and shallow ulcers with a characteristic green–grey pseudomembrane, unresponsive to oral flucloxacillin. Swabs of the ulcer grew Corynebacterium diphtheriae and concurrent group A β-haemolytic streptococci; throat swabs were negative. The national reference laboratory confirmed a non-toxigenic, tox-gene–bearing (NTTB) strain by tox polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a negative Elek test. After failing to respond to intravenous flucloxacillin, the patient was treated empirically with intravenous ceftriaxone, followed by oral azithromycin 500 mg once daily for 10 days, which led to complete clinical resolution. Conclusions: This case highlights that skin-limited C. diphtheriae can mimic common skin infections and coexist with other pathogens. Key management priorities include: 1) early lesion culture with specific request for C. diphtheriae and tox-gene testing; 2) prompt notification to public health authorities; and 3) implementation of appropriate infection-control precautions. For non-toxigenic cutaneous disease, a macrolide or penicillin-based antibiotic course is typically sufficient, and diphtheria antitoxin is generally not required.

This article explores the role of risk management practices in enhancing organisational performance within the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) in the Western Cape Province (WC), South Africa. Grounded in the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework, the study examines how risk management practices are implemented, integrated into decision-making processes, and how they influence service delivery outcomes in a public sector context. A qualitative research design was adopted, utilizing semi-structured interviews to collect data from officials within the department. The data were analysed using thematic analysis, leading to the identification of key themes related to the integration of risk management into decision-making, its impact on operational efficiency, governance and compliance effectiveness, and implementation constraints. The findings reveal that while risk management systems are formally established in line with regulatory frameworks, their application remains largely compliance driven, limiting their strategic value. Effective risk management practices were found to contribute to improved operational efficiency and service delivery performance when properly integrated into organisational processes. However, several challenges, including limited resources, inadequate skills, and fragmented implementation, hinder their effectiveness. The article concludes that risk management can significantly enhance organisational performance if it is implemented as a strategic tool supported by strong leadership and organisational capacity. The article contributes to public sector governance literature by providing empirical insights into the practical application of risk management in a provincial government context and offers recommendations to strengthen its strategic effectiveness.

ABSTRACT The phenomenon of price increases undermines the purchasing power of Nigerian citizens and creates significant hurdles for wage earners. This study investigates the intersection of Nigeria’s new minimum wage policy and the Public servant situation in the global market. It employed a qualitative ethnographic approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews and document analysis (government publications, Nigeria’s minimum wage policy publications, wage-related documents, macroeconomic indicators and inflation/exchange-rate reports), to investigate the Public servant’s experiences with the new minimum wage policy, which constitute the study’s main objective. Participants includes thirty-six Public servants from various sectors, including education, health, and security. Thematic analysis identifies patterns and insights from the data, while document analysis provides contextual understanding of the socio-economic landscape affecting Public servants. The findings reveal a disconnect between nominal wage adjustments and the rising cost of living, highlighting the challenges faced by Public servants. The study aligns with broader discourses on labour economics and social justice in Africa, offering insights into how historical context can inform contemporary wage policy debates.

Intersex persons are born with variations in sex characteristics, including chromosomal, gonadal, hormonal, anatomical, or reproductive traits that do not fit conventional binary definitions of male and female bodies. Although Kenya has become one of the most visible African jurisdictions in the formal recognition of intersex persons through litigation, the 2019 national census, statutory recognition of intersex children, and draft legislative reform, legal visibility has not yet guaranteed substantive health equity. This article examines the gap between formal recognition and lived access to dignity, healthcare, documentation, and bodily autonomy. Methodologically, the study is designed as a conceptual and documentary policy analysis. It draws on Kenyan legal and policy documents, the 2018 Taskforce report, census data, human-rights standards, and comparative legal developments from selected jurisdictions. This article argues that effective governance of intersex policy should be grounded in biological diversity, bodily autonomy, and basic human rights. A rights-based governance framework should recognize biological diversity, protect informed consent, and align clinical practice, documentation systems, health surveillance, and community participation. The analysis shows that Kenya has created important recognition infrastructure, but implementation remains uneven, especially in relation to specialized clinical guidance, county-level service delivery, provider education, privacy safeguards, and enforcement against non-consensual medical interventions. We therefore propose a policy-parity framework that links legal recognition with operational health-system reform. It recommends standardized clinical guidelines, intersex-inclusive documentation pathways, provider training, protected health data systems, and community-led oversight. The central contribution is to show that recognition becomes meaningful only when it is translated from a normalization medical model into enforceable, measurable, and participatory mechanisms of public health governance.

The aim of the article is to identify global scientific trends and the evolution of approaches to monitoring and evaluating the activities of non-governmental organizations in the field of public administration based on a comprehensive bibliometric analysis. A data amount of publications indexed in the Scopus database for 1993–2025 was analyzed. The dynamics of publication activity, geographical and sectoral distribution, institutional structure, and sources of research funding were examined. Using bibliometric mapping (VOSviewer), a co-occurrence analysis of keywords was carried out, which made it possible to identify six thematic clusters. A gradual shift in the scientific discourse from the analysis of hierarchical administrative models to flexible, digitalized, and human-centered approaches capable of responding to social, environmental, and epidemiological challenges has been determined. The necessity of a conceptual rethinking of the assessment of non-governmental organizations’ activities in Ukraine under conditions of European integration and postwar recovery has been substantiated. Based on global trends (increased attention to impact indicators, transparency, and digital monitoring), the feasibility of transitioning from procedural control to a «democratic audit» model has been demonstrated, which allows measuring not only the volume of services but also social capital and the contribution of civil society to national resilience. The integration of the evaluation of public organizations into the fundamental cluster of State reforms as an indicator of inclusiveness and readiness for EU membership has been proposed. The vision of the role of public organizations as subjects of digital monitoring of reconstruction and public oversight of international aid usage has been expanded. A Ukraine-specific «sustainability paradox» has been identified, combining high advocacy effectiveness with low financial sustainability. The necessity of shifting the focus from financial autonomy to actual impact and representativeness has been substantiated. It is concluded that modern evaluation evolves from a control tool to a strategic mechanism of public governance.

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the administrative and legal status of military administrations as subjects of public authority operating under martial law in Ukraine. It examines the constitutional and legal foundations of their functioning, legal nature, key features, competence, procedure of establishment, and organizational structure. Particular attention is paid to the interaction of military administrations with other public authorities, including executive bodies, local self-government bodies, law enforcement agencies, and military command. The study analyzes the scope of competence of military administrations, which covers maintaining public order and security, restoring critical infrastructure, organizing social services, coordinating humanitarian assistance, managing communal property, and regulating certain economic activities. Problematic issues of legal regulation are identified, including the insufficient definition of specific powers, the lack of clear mechanisms for interaction with local self-government bodies after the restoration of their activities, issues of accountability and control, as well as challenges related to transparency and staffing. The article outlines prospects for the development of the institution of military administrations in the context of Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, emphasizing the need to improve the legislative framework, develop unified standards of activity, establish an effective personnel training system, and create clear mechanisms for transferring powers to restored local self-government bodies. The role of military administrations in ensuring a gradual transition from military to civilian governance, restoring democratic institutions, and supporting the development of civil society is substantiated. It is concluded that military administrations represent a special, temporary, hybrid civil-military form of public authority with specific competence and a distinct procedure of formation and subordination, making them a crucial instrument of public administration under martial law and during post-war recovery. Keywords: military administrations, martial law, public authority, administrative and legal status, competence, interaction of authorities, post-war reconstruction, Ukraine.

Abstract Thermal remote sensing is a valuable tool for assessing Surface Urban Heat Islands (SUHI). To quantify the SUHI intensity, the Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI) is increasingly used as a proxy for urban heat distribution, e.g., by public authorities in Germany. The UTFVI is an ordinal-scaled metric that shows the spatial variability of LST in relation to the average LST of an area of interest. Numerous scientific studies utilize the UTFVI for detecting spatiotemporal increases in SUHI intensities attributed to Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) changes, such as rapid urbanization. However, UTFVI analyses often rely on only a few time steps over extended periods, ignoring the effects of weather patterns on actual UTFVI distributions. To address this research gap, this study investigates the influence of weather conditions of varying durations (up to 21 days) on seasonal UTFVI distributions in four Hessian municipalities (Germany) with less than 300,000 inhabitants and only minor LULC changes in the urban area over time. The analysis is based on more than 100 Landsat 4–9 Level‑2 datasets spanning a 40-year period. To reduce rural influences, only urban areas are considered. Results reveal high seasonal and intra-seasonal variability in UTFVI. Statistical tests (Friedman and Wilcoxon) show significant differences of UTFVI distributions even within one summer (2023). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients indicate that spatial patterns of the UTFVI are influenced by the temperature intensity of preceding weather phases: short-term warming leads to an increase of the UTFVI categories indicating high LST levels, while they are less frequent during prolonged warmth. The presented study provides for the first time a comprehensive analysis of long-term UTFVI developments that focusses on factors altering the UTFVI which have not been investigated so far. These new insights support a better understanding and a more distinct interpretation of the UTFVI for potential users.

Coastal erosion poses a growing threat to natural systems and critical infrastructures, particularly in touristic coastal areas where beaches represent both ecological assets and economic resources. Beyond shoreline retreat, erosion processes progressively reduce emerged beach surfaces and increase the exposure and vulnerability of coastal roads, railways, and urban settlements, with cascading socio-economic consequences. This study presents an integrated geomorphological and economic assessment of coastal erosion impacts. The Coastal Degradation Calculator (CoDeC) is applied along the Tyrrhenian coast of southern Italy, focusing on the municipality of San Lucido. Shoreline variations are quantified to reconstruct long-term changes in the Surface of the Emerged Beach (SEB) before and after major coastal defense interventions using multi-temporal remote sensing data (1954–2018). Simple, science-based box models are implemented to estimate sediment deficits, restoration needs, and associated economic damages, expressed in both €/m2 and €/year. Results highlight a reduction in SEB area exceeding 60%, significant downdrift erosion linked to hard defenses and additional losses caused by coastal urbanization. The methodology proved effective in supporting damage quantification and informed the resolution of a long-standing legal dispute between public authorities. Owing to its transparency and reproducibility, the proposed framework offers a transferable tool for coastal risk assessment and management under increasing climate-driven pressures.

SUMMARYThe emerging fungal pathogen Candidozyma auris (syn. Candida auris; C. auris) has attracted considerable attention from the scientific, clinical, and public health communities due to its multidrug resistance, environmental persistence, and high transmissibility. Since its first description in Japan in 2009, C. auris has spread rapidly worldwide, with a marked acceleration following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As of December 2025, 84,941 colonization or infection cases have been reported across 82 countries spanning 6 continents. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the biology and global epidemiology of C. auris. We first examine its taxonomy, proposed origins, and key biological, genetic, and phenotypic characteristics, with particular emphasis on factors underlying environmental persistence, transmission dynamics, antifungal resistance, and virulence. Drawing on published literature and publicly available surveillance data from national public health authorities worldwide, we provide an updated overview of the global epidemiological landscape and evolving transmission patterns of C. auris. Finally, we discuss potential strategies to mitigate the continued and escalating global spread of this emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen.