City, University of London

ABSTRACT This study develops a novel multivariate stochastic framework for assessing systemic risks, such as climate and nature‐related shocks, within production or financial networks. By embedding a linear stochastic fluid network, interpretable as a generalized vector Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process, into the production network of interdependent industries, the model captures how physical shocks (e.g., extreme climate events or geopolitical disruptions) propagate through input–output (IO) linkages and affect sectoral price dynamics. The framework extends traditional IO models with advanced stochastic and dynamic features, enabling a quantification of both direct and indirect transmission channels of supply‐cost shocks to production prices. Contributing to the literature on stochastic IO and Markovian networks, the model introduces the concept of divisible shocks, allowing for finer‐grained simulation of adaptation responses and resilience across sectors. Empirical calibration leverages real‐world economic data, including IO tables and historical industrial price indices. Sensitivity analyses are conducted using distributional risk measures, offering new tools for climate stress testing and medium to long‐term risk assessment. Our findings support the optimal design of supply risk management strategies, including policy interventions and decentralized adaptation incentives for systemic stability under environmental stress.

Firms can govern their alliances through contractual agreements or equity joint ventures, the latter involving the shared ownership of a newly formed legal entity. This paper argues that the governance choice in a new alliance can be a lever for a firm to manage interdependencies in its alliance portfolio. We examine two related ideas. The first is that the choice of governance structure for a new alliance depends on the composition of a firm's alliance portfolio. The second is that this governance choice has implications for the nature of the firm's innovation outputs. Using data on U.S.-listed dedicated biotechnology firms, we find that firms are more likely to govern a new alliance through a contractual agreement when the accessed resources are similar to the resources available in their existing alliance portfolio. This choice also increases innovation in these similar resource domains. In contrast, firms are more likely to choose an equity joint venture when the accessed resources are complementary to their existing alliance portfolio, a choice that increases innovation in these complementary resource domains. Our findings extend the alliance-portfolio perspective by linking portfolio interdependencies to the governance choices in new alliances and their implications for innovation. • Firms use governance choice in new alliances to manage alliance portfolio interdependencies. • Contracts are preferred when accessing resources similar as in existing alliances. • Joint ventures are preferred when accessing resources complementary to existing alliances. • Governance choice influences the types of innovation outputs the firm achieves. • Contracts foster innovation in similar domains and JVs in complementary domains.

Socio-economic status is a known predictor of childhood obesity. Improvements to school meals have been promoted as a method of combating rising childhood obesity rates, especially in low-income populations. However, little is known about how school food offerings differ across areas of low and high socio-economic status. This study aims to examine differences in school lunch nutrition across socioeconomic strata and compare these differences to small-scale regional childhood obesity prevalence. This was a cross-sectional study of electronically published school lunch menus and a longitudinal analysis of UK National Child Measurement Programme data. Participants were a randomly selected sample of free, state-funded primary schools with 200–399 pupils within the two highest and two lowest child-poverty boroughs of Inner London, UK (n = 20), along with borough-level data on child BMI in reception and year 6 (n = 4). School meals were evaluated for nutrient content using Nutritics and for objective healthiness using the Nutrient Profiling Model. Lunches in high-poverty boroughs were significantly lower in total energy, carbohydrates, fat, and sugars (p < 0.001), but lower in iron, zinc, and Vitamin A (p < 0.01) compared with the most affluent areas. Using the nutrient profiling model, meals in high-poverty boroughs scored significantly better in both main courses (mean difference = -0.53, p = 0.016) and desserts (mean difference = 5.50, p < 0.001). Overall, meals in high-poverty boroughs were more nutritious than those in the most affluent areas, though they were lower in some key micronutrients. Despite this, rates of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity are higher in these boroughs, indicating that factors other than school food nutrition may play more crucial roles in the relationship between socio-economic status and childhood obesity.

The complexity of coordinating multiple actors and reconciling their divergent interests makes governance a critical concern when addressing grand challenges. The consensus is that Cross-Sectoral Partnerships (CSPs) provide the most suitable governance approach: governments “steer” by setting objectives and orchestrating, while the private sector and civil society “row” by delivering innovative services efficiently. We report on a discovery that challenges this consensus. Switzerland’s disaster insurance system relies on the government to do both the “steering” and the “rowing.” Public sector organizations in this context are exceptional in providing affordable disaster insurance coverage directly to property owners while also addressing the grand challenge of climate adaptation by integrating disaster prevention and mitigation at scale. We identify key mechanisms that enable this public sector solution and invite management scholars to investigate their application to other grand challenges.

Social support is known to influence pregnancy outcomes. We explored the sources of social support available to pregnant women in a rural setting in south India. We conducted 13 focus group discussions (FGDs) among women of child-bearing age, husbands, mothers/ mothers-in-law, community health workers, and community leaders. FGDs were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Support received during pregnancy were mainly in three domains; tangible, informational and emotional support. Tangible support refers to providing practical support such as cooking nutritious food for the pregnant women, helping them with household chores, and accompanying pregnant women for hospital visits. Informational support refers to measures aimed at improving awareness during pregnancy and promoting informed decision making such as advice on dietary practices and remedies for common ailments. Emotional support refers to the support provided by family members and CHWs in fulfilling women’s desires during pregnancy and allowing them a safe space to share their problems. Sources of support identified include husbands, elders in the family, friends, the local community, and health service providers. In general, perceptions were similar across participant groups, age and gender. While tribal participants sought elders’ advice and relied on traditional remedies compared to non-tribal participants, they were more likely to access nutritional aids offered by the government. CHWs provide additional support to tribal communities in identifying pregnant women, closely monitoring them and extending informal support during pregnancy and delivery by taking them to the hospital. Members of the joint family including mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law actively helped in chores, nutrition and newborn care compared to the nuclear family. In general, women felt that they received valuable support from family and community. Participants felt that support from husbands, families and neighbours had an influence on women’s health and behaviour during pregnancy. The findings were used to develop intervention modules to promote maternal health and the health of their offspring.

Advancements in biomaterials have transformed the field of endodontics, shifting treatment approaches from mechanical interventions to biologically driven regenerative therapies. This narrative review explores the evolving landscape of endodontic biomaterials, emphasizing their roles in disinfection, obturation, root repair, surgical procedures, and regenerative endodontics. Key materials such as mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Biodentine, and calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement demonstrate superior sealing, biocompatibility, and osteogenic potential compared to traditional materials. The integration of nanotechnology, bioactive components, and smart drug delivery systems has further enhanced antimicrobial properties and tissue interaction. Clinical applications, including regenerative procedures using platelet-rich fibrin and case-based biomaterial usage, are discussed to illustrate their relevance and effectiveness in real-world practice. Despite significant progress, challenges such as regulatory hurdles, economic limitations, and translational gaps persist. Emerging trends such as 3D printing, personalized medicine, and multifunctional scaffolds offer promising directions for future endodontic care. Continued interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to overcome current barriers and facilitate widespread adoption of next-generation biomaterials. Unlike prior reviews that categorize endodontic biomaterials descriptively by material class or technological advancement, this review introduces an indication-based comparative framework aligning biomaterial properties with specific clinical decision points and corresponding levels of evidence. By integrating biological mechanisms, translational considerations, and clinical application within a structured decision-oriented model, the manuscript offers analytical synthesis rather than a purely descriptive overview.

Following total laryngectomy, surgical voice restoration is considered the optimal modality for re-establishing communication via tracheoesophageal voice. Yet beyond the insertion of a voice prosthesis to elicit voice production, there is suboptimal clinical knowledge of how to rehabilitate the perceptual quality of tracheoesophageal voice. This systematic review will identify and critically evaluate the quality and effectiveness of therapeutic interventions for tracheoesophageal voice. The findings of this review will inform the development of a novel tracheoesophageal voice therapy intervention. Systematic literature review carried out in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO. Eight electronic databases were searched using a prespecified search strategy. Records were independently screened by two reviewers against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligible studies were assessed for quality using the PEDro, ROBIN-T, and NHLBI critical appraisal tools. Data was extracted pertaining to participant characteristics and the content, dosage, intensity and outcomes of interventions. 6344 records were identified, of which 38 were included for full-text review. Six studies met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. Voice rehabilitation was not the primary focus in the majority of studies, and the risk of bias was identified across studies. There was significant heterogeneity in the interventions and outcome measures used within studies with insufficient detail provided on intervention content for tracheoesophageal voice. Evidence for the effectiveness of interventions was limited and inconsistent across studies. This review found that tracheoesophageal voice therapy is an under-researched area of clinical practice. Evidence from the small body of existing studies was not sufficiently robust to inform clinical practice at this time. This review highlights the necessity to develop and test interventions aimed at improving the perceptual quality of tracheoesophageal voice.

Dumpster diving is the practice of sourcing discarded food from supermarket bins or ‘dumpsters’. The practice of dumpster diving to source food has emerged in a number of affluent countries reflecting systemic inefficiencies in food distribution and waste management that are common across high-income countries. Addressing these issues is critical for achieving global targets such as SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12.3 (halving food waste). This research aims to identify 1) which demographic characteristics are associated with dumpster diving practices, and 2) which attitudes and concerns are associated with dumpster diving practices. The current research analysed data of the Food and You 2 (2023-24), an Official Statistics survey. Using the data from respondents across the UK (n = 5861), a series of binary logistic regression models identified 1) the socio-demographic, socio-economic and geography related characteristics, and the 2) attitudes and concerns associated with dumpster diving practices. We demonstrate that those who have a long-term health condition, children in the household, use food banks or live in urban areas are more likely to have started sourcing food from supermarket bins. Conversely, those who are concerned about food poisoning and being able to eat healthily are less likely to have started dumpster diving. This research provides an evidence base for policy makers to take urgent action in providing increased support and an alternative food source for vulnerable groups. Although this study focuses on the UK, the findings have broader relevance for global food security. • Dumpster diving is a prevalent practice in the UK with 4.7% of adults having started sourcing food from bins or waste areas in the previous 12 months. • Those who have a long-term health condition, children in the household, or use food banks are more likely to have started dumpster diving. • Concern about food poisoning and being able to eat healthily are barriers to dumpster diving. • The prevalence of dumpster diving reflects systemic inefficiencies in food distribution and waste management across high-income countries.

India accounts for a substantial share of the global burden of vision impairment, with moderate to severe impairment especially common among adults over 50, women, and people without formal education. This study aims to identify modifiable barriers and enablers to accessing eye care services in India and to map these factors to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), providing a theory-based understanding of the behaviours influencing service uptake and guiding effective behaviour change interventions. A systematic review of MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL Complete, PsycINFO, and EMBASE identified studies reporting determinants of eye care-seeking in India. English-language studies published up to January 2025 were included. Data were analysed using a four-step approach: (1) data extraction, (2) deductive mapping to TDF domains, (3) inductive thematic synthesis and (4) identification of key domains based on frequency and elaboration. A total of 56 primary studies were included in the analysis. The six most important TDF domains were: Environmental Context and Resources, Social Influences, Beliefs about Capabilities, Knowledge, Emotion and Beliefs about Consequences. Commonly reported barriers included a 'lack of understanding about eye conditions', 'financial constraints', 'no one to accompany', 'family commitments', 'limited access to services' and 'able to manage with existing vision'. Enablers included 'free eye care services', 'positive experiences of others and 'perceived need for vision care. The most salient TDF domains were mapped onto the capability, opportunity, and motivation model of behaviour (COM-B) within the behaviour change wheel (BCW) to guide the design of interventions. This review identified six TDF domains influencing eye-care service uptake in India. By mapping these domains to appropriate intervention functions from the behaviour change wheel, the study offered a structured, evidence-based approach to designing behavioural interventions aimed at increasing the utilisation of eye care services.

In April 2025, the Joined Up Landscapes Project submitted a response to the Land Use Framework Consultation conducted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)