Integrative approaches to urban resilience: Evaluating the efficacy of resilience strategies in mitigating climate change vulnerabilities.

The successful implementation of urban resilience strategies is of utmost importance in order to reduce susceptibility and bolster resilience in the face of climate change consequences. The current understanding of the efficacy of different resilience strategies in mitigating vulnerability and bolstering urban resilience is lacking, despite its significance. This study assesses the efficacy of resilience strategies in mitigating vulnerability and enhancing urban resilience. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of scholarly literature published in English following PRISMA criteria from January 2001 to July 2023. Finally, 116 articles met the inclusion criteria and were selected for in-depth analysis. Results indicate that while resilience strategies have the potential to reduce susceptibility and enhance urban resilience, the effectiveness of resilience techniques is contingent upon various factors, such as the type of hazard, urban setting, and implementation process. The study also highlights the significance of stakeholder involvement, community participation, and adaptive management as essential components for effectively implementing resilience measures. Integrating physical, social, and institutional components in resilience practices demonstrated notable effectiveness. This study also reveals that improving the physical resilience of urban areas and strengthening their social and institutional capabilities to address and learn from disruptive events and pressures can decrease their vulnerability. The research also exposes those strategies focusing solely on mitigating a single issue, such as physical infrastructure, while neglecting social or institutional elements, which prove less effective. A comprehensive approach, incorporating institutional, social, and physical measures, should be designed to achieve maximal efficacy in mitigating vulnerability and strengthening urban resilience.

A model for evaluating the performance of compulsory education inputs in ethnic areas in China.

A scientific performance evaluation model is necessary to establish a performance evaluation index system for compulsory education in ethnic areas and to conduct objective and impartial evaluations. After conducting theoretical analysis and reviewing literature, it was determined that existing educational input performance evaluation models are general and fail to reflect the unique characteristics of compulsory education development in ethnic areas of China. Therefore, this study intends to improve their self-adaptability and degree of fit. Based on the features of China's ethnic areas and the current situation of compulsory education development, a trinity evaluation model of compulsory education input performance in ethnic regions was constructed using the classical performance evaluation theoretical framework. This model includes the "implementation topic - target concept - performance dimension." The government is the main organization responsible for organizing and implementing the entire performance evaluation, with publicness and responsiveness as the value idea of evaluation. The "4E″ of enough, equity, efficiency, and effectiveness are the evaluation objectives, and input, allocation, output, and effect are the dimensions of the building of the performance evaluation index system. The "4E″ evaluation objectives are integrated into the performance evaluation dimensions and index system. The reconstructed theoretical model of performance evaluation combines universality and specificity, highlights the dual attributes of "tool-value," realizes the organic combination of internal and external performance evaluation, illustrates the overall performance evaluation process and ensures objective, fair, and accurate performance evaluation results. It provides useful guidelines for further optimizing compulsory education investment policies and promoting high-quality and well-balanced compulsory education in China's ethnic areas.

Impact of industry-university-research collaboration and convergence on economic development: Evidence from chengdu-chongqing economic circle in China.

Collaboration among industry, universities, and research is crucial for building an innovative nation. Although industry-university-research collaborative innovation (IURCI) and time-space convergence can drive innovation, increase productivity, and spur economic development, their effects on the regional economy have not been thoroughly examined in existing literature. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of industry-university-research collaborative innovation (IURCI) and time-space convergence on economic development in China. Specifically, we focus on local-level cities in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle (CCEC) and construct an evaluation index system and time-space convergence model to measure the effects of IURCI and time-space convergence on economic development from 2007 to 2021. Our findings indicate that the efficacy of IURCI on economic development in China follows an inverted U-shaped curve, meaning that the marginal impact of IURC may decrease as more creative funds are deployed. Furthermore, the positive marginal effect of inventive talent input may decrease when it surpasses a certain value in an open innovation environment. The spatiotemporal convergence of collaborative innovation and development levels of IURCI in the CCEC shows significant differences. Regionally, the development level of IURCI in different regions exhibits significant differences in state and speed of convergence. In the southern Sichuan urban agglomeration, the collaborative innovation level of industry, education, and research follows an evolutionary process from convergence to divergence and then to convergence. Policymakers should pay close attention to the spatial effect of high-level development of regional IURCI and promote regions with higher development to drive regions with relatively weak development levels.

Big data-driven public health policy making: Potential for the healthcare industry.

The use of healthcare data analytics is anticipated to play a significant role in future public health policy formulation. Therefore, this study examines how big data analytics (BDA) may be methodically incorporated into various phases of the health policy cycle for fact-based and precise health policy decision-making. So, this study explores the potential of BDA for accurate and rapid policy-making processes in the healthcare industry. A systematic review of literature spanning 22 years (from January 2001 to January 2023) has been conducted using the PRISMA approach to develop a conceptual framework. The study introduces the emerging topic of BDA in healthcare policy, goes over the advantages, presents a framework, advances instances from the literature, reveals difficulties and provides recommendations. This study argues that BDA has the ability to transform the conventional policy-making process into data-driven process, which helps to make accurate health policy decision. In addition, this study contends that BDA is applicable to the different stages of health policy cycle, namely policy identification, agenda setting as well as policy formulation, implementation and evaluation. Currently, descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics are used for public health policy decisions on data obtained from several common health-related big data sources like electronic health reports, public health records, patient and clinical data, and government and social networking sites. To effectively utilize all of the data, it is necessary to overcome the computational, algorithmic and technological obstacles that define today's extremely heterogeneous data landscape, as well as a variety of legal, normative, governance and policy limitations. Big data can only fulfill its full potential if data are made available and shared. This enables public health institutions and policymakers to evaluate the impact and risk of policy changes at the population level.

Understanding rural local government response during COVID-19-induced lockdown: perspective from Bangladesh.

This study intends to explore the responses of local government during the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the rural areas, with particular emphasis on Bangladesh. By adopting a qualitative phenomenological research approach and employing multi-method data collection techniques (for instance, Key Informant Interview (KII), Focus Group Discussion (FGD), participant observation, and content analysis), this study found that the local governments managed the crisis of the pandemic relatively well with its limited manpower and funding through adequate preparedness and prevention strategies; effective emergency responses; and consolidated post-lockdown measures. The study revealed that the Bangladesh local government promptly took some essential actions, such as preparedness and prevention, arrangement of home quarantine and isolation, the training program for readiness, and disseminated crucial information to the local people during the pandemic, such as using masks, hand washing and sanitizing, and social distancing. Besides, the local government delivered relief, such as food and non-food items and financial support. Furthermore, the rural local government took post-lockdown responses to tackle pandemic in rural Bangladesh. Nevertheless, the service delivery individuals from local governance encountered numerous challenges, like scarcity of manpower, less support, and superstition, while providing services during the pandemic.

Climate change induced human displacement in Bangladesh: Implications on the livelihood of displaced riverine island dwellers and their adaptation strategies.

In Bangladesh, many people are being displaced in riverine island (char) areas every year due to climate change and its associated natural catastrophes. This study intends to investigate the impact of climate change on internally displaced char people's lives and livelihoods along with local adaptation strategies and hindrances to the coping mechanism. Data have been collected from 280 internally displaced households in two sub-districts. A mixed-method approach has been considered combined with qualitative and quantitative methods. The results disclose that frequent flooding, riverbank erosion, and crop loss are the leading causes for relocation, and social relations are impeded in the new place of residence. Increasing summer and winter temperatures, recurrent flooding, severity of riverbank erosion, and expanding disease outbreaks are also important indicators of climate change identified by displaced people, which are consistent with observed data. This study also reveals that almost all households come across severe livelihood issues like food shortage, unemployment and income loss, and housing and sanitation problems due to the changing climate associated with disasters in the former and present places. In response to this, the displaced people acclimatize applying numerous adaptation strategies in order to boost the livelihood resilience against climate change. However, fragile housing, financial conditions, and lack of own land are still the highest impediments to the sustainability of adaptation. Therefore, along with the government, several organizations should implement a dynamic resettlement project through appropriate scrutiny to eradicate the livelihood complications of internally displaced people.

Assessment of multiple subjects' synergetic governance in vocational education.

Synergetic governance is a practical approach to ensure quality in the teaching-learning process at multi-dimensional perspectives. This study intends to explore the potential of a synergetic governance approach in the vocational education system. A systematic literature review has been done by applying the PRISMA approach. The last 21 years' literature has been analyzed, and a synergetic governance model has been developed. This study reveals that the synergetic governance of education deals with integrating all available resources to enhance development by meeting the demands of market, society, and nation as a new paradigm. An effective vocational education system requires the participation of all related stakeholders in the governance system. This study has developed an "intervention-approach-synergy-integration" mechanism to show how the education elements are connected to each other. The study reveals that the major synergetic elements are openness, equilibrium, dynamism and cooperation. To ensure synergetic governance, these elements should be integrated with an educational institution, market, public, society, state and private organization. It argues that the synergetic governance of these related components can reduce the demand and supply gap of quality vocational graduates in the industry - academy sectors. This study recommends incorporating multi-subjects' synergetic governance to expedite the marketable quality of vocational education.

Tourism Competitiveness Evaluation: Evidence From Mountain Tourism in China.

The evaluation of tourism competitiveness is an important tool for analyzing the potential of tourism in a specific context. Enshi Autonomous Prefecture (EAP) in China is selected as a case through which to explore the potential of mountain tourism and its competitiveness in the tourism industry. This study develops EAP's mountain tourism competitiveness model focusing on three criteria: core competitiveness of mountain tourism, the economic environment's competitiveness, and infrastructure competitiveness. Context-specific customized evaluation index has been applied to data collected from EAP Statistical Yearbook for 2005-2014. The study reveals that the value of EAP's mountain tourism core competitiveness, economic and environmental competitiveness, and infrastructure competitiveness are 84.292, 13.4, and 2.308%, respectively. When tourism core competitiveness is increased by one unit, EAP's mountain tourism competitiveness will increase by 0.84292 units. Similarly, when economic environment competitiveness is increased by one unit, EAP's mountain tourism competitiveness will increase by 0.134 units. EAP's mountain tourism competitiveness increases by 0.02308 units when infrastructure competitiveness increases by one unit. The major reasons for low levels of competitiveness were lack of awareness of the county authority, a low level of cooperation, and weak infrastructure. The recommendations from the study's findings are as follows. Firstly, the county authority should appropriately improve the relationship between competition and cooperation, maintaining cooperation in competition, and competition in cooperation. Secondly, the county authority should strengthen communication by establishing an effective coordinated mechanism. Thirdly, the county authority should improve the sense of cooperation and jointly develop the mountain tourism market. Fourthly, the county authority should improve the construction of tourism infrastructure and break down the barriers to tourism cooperation. The study's findings help develop a "win-win" cooperation mechanism within the competition and support the sustainable development of the mountain tourism industry while reducing poverty and promoting the revitalization of the mountains of China.

Blockchain and Fog Computing in IoT-Driven Healthcare Services for Smart Cities.

Nowadays, technology has been evolving rapidly. Due to the consequent impact of smart technologies, it becomes a ubiquitous part of life. These technologies have led to the emergence of smart cities that are geographic areas driven by advanced information and communication technologies. In the context of smart cities, IoT, blockchain, and fog computing have been found as the significant drivers of smart initiates. In this recognition, the present study is focused on delineating the impact and potential of blockchain, IoT, and fog computing on healthcare services in the context of smart cities. In pursuit of this objective, the study has conducted a systematic review of literature that is most relevant to the topic of the paper. In order to select the most relevant and credible articles, the researcher has used PRISMA and AMSTAR that have culminated in the 10 most relevant articles for the present study. The findings revealed that IoT, blockchain, and fog computing had become drivers of efficiency in the healthcare services in smart cities. Among the three technologies, IoT has been found to be widely incorporated. However, it is found to be lacking in terms of cost efficiency, data privacy, and interoperability of data. In this recognition, blockchain technology and fog computing have been found to be more relevant to the healthcare sector in smart cities. Blockchain has been presented as a promising technology for ensuring the protection of private data, creating a decentralized database, and improving the interoperability of data while fog computing has been presented as the promising technology for low-cost remote monitoring, reducing latency and increasing efficiency.

Impact of climate change on human health: evidence from riverine island dwellers of Bangladesh.

This study aims to explore the impact of climate change on health, including local adaptation strategies. A mixed-method approach has been used in this study. The results reveal that increasing the frequency of flooding, severity of riverbank erosion and drought, and rising disease outbreak are the highest indicators of climate change perceived by riverine island (char) dwellers, which is similar to the observed data. It also uncovers, approximately all respondents encounter several health-related issues during different seasons where prevailing cold and cough with fever, skin diseases, and diarrhoea are the leading ailments. Several adaptation strategies are accommodated by char inhabitants in order to enhance resilience against the climate change health impacts, but the paucity of money, disrupted communication, lack of formal health-care centre are the most obstacles to the sustainability of adaptation. This research recommends that healthcare-associated project should be performed through proper monitoring for exterminating char dwellers' health issues.

Impacts of COVID-19 induced food insecurity among informal migrants: Insight from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Food insecurity is one of the rising problems in Bangladesh, and it is severely prevalent among informal migrant workers. In this case, the COVID-19 pandemic has multiplied the food insecurity of informal migrant workers. This study explores and synthesizes the COVID-19 induced food insecurity impact among informal migrants and recommends policy actions to tackle the COVID-19 led food crisis in Bangladesh. A qualitative research approach, including in-depth interviews, four FGDs, and participant observation, has been applied to data collection from different parts of Dhaka city. A thematic approach to interpretive phenomenological analysis is followed in this study. The results show that COVID-19 induced lockdown significantly affects informal migrants' household food security. Most participants report severe complications due to food insecurity like consuming less food, price hiking, no fish or meat, potato, and vegetable. Food insecurity leads to migrant's chronic food shortage, starvation, malnutrition of mother and children, and unhealthy food. As a result, the way of life of informal migrants has been directed to more fragility and vulnerability during the pandemic; even they are not affordable to maintain a minimal level of family affairs and necessity. The findings of this study would be essential guidelines for the governmental and non-governmental organizations and development practitioners to address the food insecurity situations.

Do organic fertilizer impact on yield and efficiency of rice farms? Empirical evidence from Bangladesh.

Organic fertilizer is one of the critical elements of organic and sustainable agricultural development. This study analyzes the economic impact of organic fertilizer on rice farms' yield and technical efficiency (TE) in Bangladesh. The Stochastic Production Frontier (SPF) approach has been employed by using a sample of 2652 rice plots covering seven broad agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh. It also addresses self-selection into the organic fertilizer choice using propensity score matching (PSM) that corrects observed selection bias that potentially influences both decisions to choose and technical efficiency. After PSM, organic fertilizer users produce 16.67% higher yield by using 12.1%, 9.40%, and 42.1% less labor, other inputs, and farm capital for rice production. The organic fertilizer users are significantly 3.79% more efficient than non-user, suggesting organic fertilizer substantially contributes to enhancing the technical efficiency of rice in Bangladesh. Moreover, the average treatment effect on the treated (ATETs) in different matching is positively significant and confirms the positive impact of organic fertilizer on rice farming. Government and non-government organizations should encourage farmers to extensively use organic fertilizer for better production through soil health development and reduce the pressure of chemical fertilizer import and use.

Determination of antimicrobial and phytochemical compounds of Jatropha curcas plant.

The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of different parts of J. curcas plant against some selected human pathogens as antimicrobial agent which are known to cause diseases and to check antioxidant and phytochemicals from different plant sections of J. curcas. Plant extracts were analyzed by quantification of antimicrobial and phytochemical compounds. This study reveals that 20% ethanol stem extract of J. curcas showed maximum antibacterial activity (40 ± 0.0 mm) against Klebsiella pneumonia. Water extract of root of J. curcas also inhibited E. coli (35.25 ± 0.35 mm). The growth of K. pneumonia and Agrobacterium tumifaciens were also ceased when ethanol extract of J. curcas root applied to check their potential as antimicrobial agent. The results also revealed that fungal species, Aspergillus niger, and Pencillium notatum noted the maximum antifungal activity in ethanol extract of flower and methanol extract of root (38.5 ± 0.7 mm) and (27.25 ± 0.35 mm) respectively. Phytochemicals and many secondary metabolites were present in J. curcas extracts such as alkaloids, steroids, tannins, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, courmerin, and phenolic compounds. It also showed the highest density of color in the different parts of plant extract of J. curcas. Similarly, biochemical primary metabolites were observed at maximum amount of biochemical in different parts of J. curcas, and correlated with antimicrobial activity. The study concluded that J. curcas has great potential as antibacterial agent and cure various human pathogens.

Comprehensive evaluation of chemical properties and toxic metals in the surface water of Louhajang River, Bangladesh.

Louhajang River, Bangladesh, which crosses Tangail as a densely industrialized and urbanized city, supplies water for different purposes. This study reports the levels of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and some toxic heavy metals in 40 water samples collected during the summer and winter seasons from Louhajang River. The winter season reported higher levels of the examined parameters than the summer season with significant variation (p < 0.05) for all parameters, with the exception of Cd. The metal contents were assessed against local and international standards for drinking, irrigation, and aquatic life purposes where different trends were observed. The heavy metal evaluation index and the ecological risk index reported low to moderate risks. The spatial distribution of metal contents assigned hot spots in some sites along the riverbed. The health risk assessment for three population categories, i.e., adult male, adult female, and children, was examined. Cr and Cd recorded hazard index > 1 in all cases, indicating possible non-cancer risk. The total carcinogenic risk values during both seasons were > 1.0 × 10-6, indicating possible cancer risk. The adopted collection of different approaches (comparison against standard levels of toxicants, statistical analysis, spatial distribution, and health risk assessment) successfully demonstrates a whole picture of the environmental status of Louhajang River, Bangladesh.