Ten considerations for conservation policy makers for the post-COVID-19 transition

Getting serious about the dirty little secrets of health care reform to guarantee true Universal Health Care for all Filipinos

Background and aims:Evidence-based policy documents that are well developed by senior civil servants and are timely available can reduce the barriers to evidence utilization by health policy makers. This study...

This special issue of Development Policy Review reflects on European Union (EU) efforts to build a more effective global development policy amid a rapidly changing international context. As 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals have made clear, global development challenges require collective action if they are to be resolved. Contributions to the special issue explore the ways in which theEUapproaches collective action challenges in different development cooperation frameworks and policy settings. Themes explored include strategies for overcoming collective action problems, the impacts of these interactions onEUand member state aid policies, coherence between development and other policy fields, relations between European and other development actors, and the reception of theEU's efforts in developing countries.

In low-income and middle-income countries, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, the COVID-19 pandemic has had substantial implications for women's wellbeing. Policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the gendered aspect of pandemics; however, addressing the gendered implications of the COVID-19 pandemic comprehensively and effectively requires a planetary health perspective that embraces systems thinking to inequalities. This Viewpoint is based on collective reflections from research done by the authors on COVID-19 responses by international and regional organisations, and national governments, in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa between June, 2020, and June, 2021. A range of international and regional actors have made important policy recommendations to address the gendered implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's health and wellbeing since the start of the pandemic. However, national-level policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have been partial and inconsistent with regards to gender in both sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, largely failing to recognise the multiple drivers of gendered health inequalities. This Viewpoint proposes that addressing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women in low-income and middle-income countries should adopt a systems thinking approach and be informed by the question of who is affected as opposed to who is infected. In adopting the systems thinking approach, responses will be more able to recognise and address the direct gendered effects of the pandemic and those that emerge indirectly through a combination of long-standing structural inequalities and gendered responses to the pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic determines public health, presenting the biggest threat since the Second World War. All continents, except for Antarctica, are active in battling the pandemic. As other socio-economic and political problems are arising from this crisis, the pandemic cannot only be attributed to health issues. Every nation affected by this pandemic may witness a destructive or ravaging social, economic, political and psychological backlash that may leave long lasting scars. The World Bank has projected a decline in remittances of $110 billion and 800 million people will not be able to meet basic needs this year, with the International Labour Organization (ILO) forecasting that over 195 million people will lose their jobs. In managing this pandemic, there is a need for strategic planning by a government organization through the development of long-lasting policies that will help minimize the impact on individuals and nations. Previous experiences of epidemics such as Ebola, HIV, SARs, TB and Malaria will therefore be valuable in the development of policies that can help to mitigate the socio-economic and political impact. The solution may lie in contacting the most vulnerable through crowd sourcing to provide them with food, in particular life necessities. Expanded social security may also be an important step in that direction for the disadvantaged and the disabled.

As the U.S. and the world struggle through the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for science and technology (S&T) expertise in governance has become even more stark. But in the U.S., the vast majority of legislators and their staffs is generalist, and they have limited resources for engaging with S&T. This can be a barrier to both legislative branch oversight of S&T-related issues and the development of evidence-based public policies, two functions that are especially critical in times of crisis. The obstacles to addressing these gaps have, however, created opportunities for innovations in how lawmakers connect with S&T resources, resulting in new models for scientist-policymaker engagement. Our program, the Congressional Science Policy Initiative , experiments with models for connecting crowdsourced S&T expertise with policymakers, namely, by enriching key congressional hearings with contributions gathered from the science community, organizing advisory councils of scientists and engineers that brief lawmakers, and crowdsourcing technical assistance from the S&T community for legislative initiatives. These activities, which rely on the collective intelligence of the S&T community and have been readily applied to supporting lawmakers’ decision-making processes during the pandemic, have bolstered legislative branch oversight of the executive branch, fact-finding into corporate practices, and evidence-based policymaking.

Sudden Death and Catastrophic Injury Reporting: A Call to Action for Athletic Trainers.

This study examined recent trends in the prevalence, incidence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with acute glomerulonephritis, a global health challenge, using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database. We analysed age-standardised prevalence rate (ASPR), age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR), and age-standardised DALY rate at global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2021. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) in age-standardised rate (ASR) was calculated to assess the epidemiological trends. Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) models were utilised to forecast future trends for 2021-2050. Age-period-cohort method was employed to analyse the temporal trends of AGN. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between socio-demographic index (SDI) and ASR indicators across different GBD regions. Decomposition analysis was used to evaluate the drivers of changes in disease burden. The global prevalence, incidence, mortality, and DALYs of AGN showed an overall decline from 1990 to 2021. The greatest reductions in ASPR and ASIR occurred in high-middle SDI regions. The ASMR and the age-standardised DALY rate were increased only in high SDI regions. The prevalence and incidence of AGN peaked in the 10-14 years age group for both sexes. Males had a higher burden of AGN DALYs, particularly in the 65-69 group. Geographically, Brazil experienced the greatest increases in ASPR and ASIR. Mexico saw the highest rises in ASMR and age-standardised DALY rate. ASMR and age-standardised DALY rates were expected to decline for both sexes. Net drift results revealed an overall decline trend for AGN-related burden over time. The ASMR and age-standardised DALY rate across different GBD regions showed a negative correlation with SDI. Decomposition analysis indicated that the AGN burden in global and the low SDI regions was primarily driven by population growth. The development and implementation of evidence-based and effective public health policies are essential to mitigate the global disease burden of AGN and ensure equitable health outcomes.

The burden of esophageal cancer varies across different regions of the world. The aim of this study is to analyze the current burden of esophageal cancer in 185 countries in 2022 and to project the trends up to the year 2050. We extracted data on primary esophageal cancer cases and deaths from the GLOBOCAN 2022database, which includes data from 185 countries. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) and mortality rates (ASMR) per 100,000 person-years were calculated by stratifying by Human Development Index (HDI) levels and regions. Considering changes in population size and age structure, we assumed that the risks of incidence and mortality remain constant at the levels of 2022 to forecast the number of new cases and deaths from esophageal cancer globally by 2050. In 2022, an estimated 511,054 people were diagnosed with esophageal cancer globally, and 445,391died from the disease. The global ASIR and ASMR for esophageal cancer were 5.00 and 4.30 per 100,000, respectively. The highest rates were observed in East Africa (7.60 for incidence, 7.20 for mortality per 100,000), East Asia (7.60 for incidence, 5.90 for mortality per 100,000), Southern Africa (6.30 for incidence, 5.90 for mortality per 100,000), and South Central Asia (5.80 for incidence, 5.50 for mortality per 100,000). Among the 185 countries worldwide, esophageal cancer was among the top five causes of cancer incidence in 18 countries and among the top five causes of cancer mortality in 25 countries. In 2022, China had 224,012 new cases and 187,467deaths from esophageal cancer, accounting for approximately 43.8% and 42.1% of the global total, respectively, which is higher than the proportion of China's population to the global population (17.9%). ASIR was 8.30 per 100,000, and ASMR was 6.70 per 100,000. The highest burden of esophageal cancer was in high HDI countries, with new cases and deaths accounting for 51.3% and 50.0% of the global total, respectively. The ASIR and ASMR were highest in the high HDI group (6.10 and 5.10 per 100,000, respectively), also exceeding the global averages. There was a trend of decreasing mortality to incidence ratio with increasing HDI, but no correlation was observed between HDI and ASIR or ASMR. In all regions worldwide, the incidence and mortality rates were higher in males than in females (with a male-to-female ASR ratio ranging from 1.10 to 28.7). Compared to 2022, it is projected that by 2050, the number of new esophageal cancer cases will increase by approximately 80.5%, and deaths will increase by 85.4% due to population growth and aging. The burden of esophageal cancer remains heavy. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including reducing tobacco and alcohol intake, avoiding moldy foods, and increasing intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, can help reduce the risk of stomach and esophageal cancer. In addition, the development and implementation of evidence-based and effective public health policies are critical to reducing the global disease burden of esophageal cancer.

PurposeGrounded in social cognitive career theory (SCCT), this study aims to examine the influence of contextual factors on the relationship between career satisfaction and organizational commitment, within the banking sector in Kuwait.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a cross-sectional design analyzing a self-report questionnaire (N = 278).FindingsThis study investigates affective, normative and continuance commitment in relation to career satisfaction, within the banking sector in Kuwait. Findings indicate a positive relationship between career satisfaction and all of affective, normative and continuance commitment; although the relationship that appears to be the strongest is between career satisfaction and normative commitment.Research limitations/implicationsThe single site, cross-sectional approach is a limitation. The data were collected before the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research into career satisfaction and organizational commitment in different sectors is necessary and a replication of this study in a post-COVID context would also be valuable.Practical implicationsHuman resource development (HRD) policies in contexts such as Kuwait should prioritize career progression initiatives to enhance career satisfaction and contribute to increased organizational commitment. More attention is necessary to organizational HRD career planning and development policies and processes. Effective line manager development programs to equip managers to provide feedback and constructive performance management are recommended, as is the organizational provision of career counseling and guidance to support career development policies and processes.Originality/valueThis study combines the use of established constructs with an SCCT theoretical lends to contribute new theorization of the relationship between career satisfaction and organizational commitment in non-Western cultural contexts. It challenges assumptions in current theorization of the relationship between career satisfaction and commitment that privilege affective commitment over other dimensions.

This paper introduces the Special Issue of the Proceedings of the Geologists' Association on ‘Valuing the Quaternary – Nature Conservation and Geoheritage’, arising from the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA) Congress in Dublin, in July 2019. It presents an overview of the values of Quaternary geoheritage, which merit recognition as an integral part of nature conservation, to protect priority sites and features for scientific research and education, and to deliver wider ecological, cultural and aesthetic benefits. The paper highlights the benefits of incorporating knowledge and understanding of Quaternary geoheritage for nature conservation and society. Palaeoenvironmental, palaeoecological and palaeobiological archives are a key source of ecological and environmental data that allow learning from the past to help address contemporary conservation challenges such as biodiversity loss, anthropogenic pressures and climate change. Quaternary science plays a vital part in supporting the wider nature conservation agenda, including strengthening the role of protected and conserved areas in the sustainable management of natural capital and ecosystem services, climate change adaptation, marine conservation, nature restoration and recovery, connecting people and nature and informing nature-based solutions to threats faced by society. However, challenges remain to achieve protection of key geoheritage sites and landscapes globally, and to integrate better understanding of geodiversity in nature conservation research, policy development and practice to help address the twin crises facing nature conservation – biodiversity loss and climate change. Quaternary studies provide temporal and spatial perspectives to inform forward-looking nature conservation that is dynamic rather than static in outlook.

The 2006 Coordinated Prostitution Strategy set out the aim of the then New Labour government to eradicate sex work from the streets of England and Wales. Towards achieving this Utopia, localized consultation with the community was demanded to ascertain community need to facilitate the development of evidence-based policies that would reside within existing local community safety frameworks. This article draws on an empirical study that considered “community perspectives” of street sex work in the Capital of Wales, Cardiff, in 2010. Adopting a mixed methodology, the study engaged with community members most affected by street sex work to develop realistic evidence-based policy. Our findings deconstruct central perceptions regarding the “inevitability” of sex work and offer potential solutions from the community perspective. This raises questions about how community opinion is incorporated within local policy-making processes, where that opinion differs substantially from central policy. We argue that community consultation must be ethical in the sense that consultation findings must be capable of having some impact on policy decision making/development. In conclusion, we urge local partnerships and central governments to listen to the views from the “shop floor” and consider carefully the strategies suggested by communities—however bold they might be.

To identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health and to explore the contribution of these to the evaluation of public health issues. Hand searching of the journal by both authors with independent assessment of topics of the reports and of their relevance to the Cochrane Collaboration. Agreement was assessed using kappa scores. All papers and letters published in the journal from the first issue to the end of 1994. Reports that might be RCTs were collected and classified into seven categories: definitely/probably/possibly RCTs or quasi-RCTs; or none of these. Eighty two definite RCTs were identified and a further 23 were probably/possibly RCTs or quasi-RCTs. Most reports dealt with health education, drug treatments, or "other" health service interventions. Both authors failed to identify a number of trials on hand searching. The journal has published many trials of importance to the development of evidence-based public health policy. Hand searching may need to be done independently by more than one person.

Predicting energy consumption and savings in the housing stock: A performance gap analysis in the Netherlands

In this paper, the authors discuss the ways in which national governments, firms, and individuals respond to policy related to food safety, environmental protection, and trade. These responses must be considered in the development of policy to ensure the best possible outcomes. It accounts for uncertainty about policy impacts and scientific knowledge and incorporates stochastic environmental factors. The authors argue use of such a model in the development of health and environmental policy can overcome capture by domestic forces opposed to trade liberalization. The effectiveness of policy, of course, is dependent upon firm and consumer response to policy. Section one describes the impacts of international transfer of species and genetic material, paying particular attention to the introduction of alien invasive species. Section two discusses issues surrounding trade in environmental amenities. Food safety and environmental regulations are reviewed in section three, along with mechanisms by which such policy can serve as a proxy for protectionists. Section four develops a risk assessment model that can be used in policy design. Section five considers the role of institutional, firm and individual behavior in the development and effectiveness of policy. Section six summarizes our analysis in offering an agenda for trade talks.