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Air pollution and environmental justice: A systematic literature review on methodological approaches
Full text linkAir pollution is the greatest environmental risk to human health, according to the WHO and other international entities like the UN Human Rights Council and EEA. However, not everyone is equally affected by air pollution, depending on exposure and vulnerability. The objective of this systematic literature review is to investigate whether and how concepts related to environmental inequalities or justice have been considered when assessing health impacts of air pollution, identify possible gaps in knowledge, and offer suggestions for future research. A total of 99 articles are assessed considering framework, study region, time scale, data and indicators used and finally, the method applied (statistical, numerical or survey). Results show that EJ studies took place in 21 different countries, led by the United States of America (53%), followed by Canada (6%) and China (5%). In terms of temporal coverage, more than 50% of the studies were published in the last 5 years and are mainly focused on long-term studies. As regards proxy data, most of the studies focused on PM2.5, but only 50% explicitly include health or exposure data. All studies evaluated EJ questions related to socio-economic status (SES) or race/ethnicity. The socio-economic indicators mostly used are associated with income (99%), followed by population characterization and housing. The most common method used was statistical analysis (71%), with 14% applying surveys and 15% using modelling for scenario approaches. These results point out that there is space for other case studies in Europe among other regions of the world, with more robust statistical models based on advanced mixed methods to deal with such multivariable research. At small geographic units, studies supported by survey information would be recommended to include both individual and contextual socio-economic indicators. A limited number of studies deal with social perceptions and citizen engagement. Future research is suggested. It should be noticed that this literature review only looks for occurrences of "environmental justice" related to air pollution/quality
Processes of sharing and relating of women with Multiple Sclerosis through a group psychological intervention: A longitudinal qualitative study
No full textPurpose: Relationships are important for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Social support contributes to well-being, and psychological group interventions show positive findings on quality of life, coping, and self-efficacy. The current article aims to report sharing and relating processes in an online group integrative psychological intervention named MyMS-Ally that contributed to positive change in five women with MS who participated in the study.Methods: This study followed the principles of Longitudinal Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (LIPA). Five women living with MS participated in an 8-week online integrative psychological intervention group. Qualitative data were collected at three different time points: before the start of the intervention, post-intervention and at the 3-months follow-up. The findings presented here are part of a mixed-method feasibility and acceptability study for MyMS-Ally intervention.Results: The longitudinal group experiential theme ‘transitioning from concealing MS to embracing its relational effect’ was developed to capture the changes participants experienced in their relationships with people with and without MS following their engagement with the MyMS-Ally intervention. From the point of hiding their symptoms and needs, they became more open to communication in their relationships. The temporal changes of the five participants were grouped under the three time points.Discussion: The findings demonstrate the pathways participants went through towards sharing and relating with their MS and the group processes they found most impactful. Processes were deemed more important than the psychological techniques employed during the intervention. Implications for the development of group psychological interventions for people living with MS and their evaluations are also discussed
The roles and experiences of informal caregivers in non-malignant respiratory disease at the end of life: A thematic synthesis of qualitative studies
No full textObjectives The aim of this review was to identify, review and synthesise primary qualitative literature to answer the question ‘what are the roles and experiences of informal caregivers providing care to a person with non-malignant respiratory disease at end of life from the perspectives of the caregiver and recipient of care?’ Methods This qualitative systematic review was undertaken using thematic synthesis (Thomas and Harden 2008). Electronic databases (British Nursing Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature Plus, Medline, PsycInfo, ProQuest Sociology, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED)) covering nursing, medicine and social sciences were systematically searched from inception to October 2024. Studies were included if they reported data on the experiences and roles of caregivers in non-malignant respiratory disease at end of life, from the perspective of the caregiver or the person with non-malignant respiratory disease. Twenty-two papers met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Quality assessment was undertaken using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. Results Thematic synthesis of the data generated five analytical themes: Caregivers experience shifting identity and new roles; Adaptation is necessary to cope with loss and change; Caregivers need more information and co-ordinated care services; Emotional effects of caregiving; and Future uncertainty and facing death. The findings illustrated the complexity of the caregiving role and highlight unmet needs during the end of life stage. Significance of Results This evidence synthesis highlights the significant contribution caregivers make in the lives and deaths of those with non-malignant respiratory disease. Challenges of caregiving in this context increase the stress of caregivers, including unpredictable disease progression and difficult symptoms such as breathlessness. There are persistent inequalities between malignant and non-malignant care pathways. Caregivers would welcome more recognition and information from healthcare professionals to support their role.
Strategic enablers of sustainability in the Indian medical device supply chain: An ISM-DEMATEL approach
No full textPurpose This research aims to identify enablers of sustainability in the medical device supply chain. Design/methodology/approach A medical device manufacturing firm located in western India was selected for the study. An analysis using ISM DEMATEl was condcted. Findings The paper identified 14 enablers in the implementation of a sustainable supply chain in medical device firms. Resource and capacity management, along with supplier relationship management, are the are the two most influential enablers that affect the long-term sustainability of the medical device supply chain. Practical implications To enhance supply chain sustainability, management needs to ensure higher funds and resources to adopt modern technologies, new machines, and equipment. Originality/value The findings provide a theoretical framework for sustainability strategies in the supply chain of medical device manufacturers
Large language models for sustainable water management: A review
Full text linkSustainable Water Management (SWM) balances environmental protection, social equity, economic efficiency, and governance transparency. Achieving this balance requires timely data, specialised expertise, and adaptive decision-making, yet current approaches often face challenges of fragmented information, limited expert capacity, and costly decision-support tools. Large language models (LLMs) offer a promising alternative as general-purpose artificial intelligence (AI) systems capable of summarising documents, generating analytical code, connecting to databases, and communicating insights in natural language (NL). By reusing a single pretrained model across multiple applications, LLMs can lower analytical costs, expand access to expertise, and enhance transparency through grounded and auditable outputs. This study presents one of the earliest systematic reviews of LLMs in SWM, synthesising evidence from 34 studies. The review analyses publication trends, thematic and conceptual landscapes, and global collaboration patterns, revealing a rapidly expanding yet methodologically fragmented field. Evidence grading and risk-of-bias assessments show that most studies remain conceptual or observational, emphasising the need for greater empirical rigor and reproducibility. Across environmental, social, economic, and governance (ESEG) dimensions, LLMs demonstrate potential to improve data integration, operational efficiency, and decision transparency, while challenges persist in bias propagation, data dependency, and model interpretability. Emerging design patterns, such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), human-in-the-loop frameworks, and explainable AI, are advancing safer and more accountable deployment. By consolidating fragmented literature, this review provides a foundation for responsible and sustainable AI in water management
Special section: Introducing deaf legal studies
Full text linkThis editorial introduces Deaf Legal Studies (DLS) as an emerging field that examines how law constructs, regulates, and often misrecognises deaf people. While legal systems have historically viewed deafness narrowly through a disability lens, DLS centres deaf epistemologies, sign languages, and lived experience to reveal how hearing‑centred assumptions shape participation, authority, and justice. The Special Section situates this work within current global and UK developments, including growing sign language legislation and shifts in deaf education. It traces key themes in over 140 years of deaf legal research—from legal status and procedural justice to interpreting, everyday encounters with law, sign language recognition, and comparative human rights analysis—highlighting the field’s increasing empirical and interdisciplinary character. The four contributions to the Special Section illustrate how formal legal recognition often fails without effective implementation and institutional change, and how law continues to govern deaf people’s lives through systems, practices, and access structures. The editorial positions DLS as a developmental, collaborative project and invites further scholarly engagement, supported by the newly established Deaf Legal Studies Association
Functional foods in health promotion and disease prevention: Innovations, evidence and challenges
Full text linkFunctional foods have attracted increasing scientific and commercial interest due to their potential roles in health promotion and the prevention of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we will critically examine the current evidence on functional foods by focusing on their classification, bioactive components, biological mechanisms, consumer acceptance and regulatory frameworks. Bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, dietary fibre and probiotics, from both plant- and animal-origin functional foods, have also been examined in this review. Despite substantial experimental and epidemiological evidence, the translation of functional foods into consistent health benefits remains challenged by variability in bioavailability, food matrix effects, processing conditions and interindividual differences in genetics and gut microbiota. Key mechanistic determinants of bioefficacy, including intestinal transport processes, molecular structure, stereochemistry, and food–drug interactions, are discussed. Consumers’ perception and purchasing behaviour are examined, identifying the influence of product format, socio-demographic characteristics, information sources, health motivation and price sensitivity. Our review also compares the regulatory approaches in the United States, European Union, Japan and China, highlighting the heterogeneity in definitions and health claim substantiation requirements. Finally, emerging opportunities such as metabolic profiling technologies and personalised nutrition are highlighted as future directions to support evidence-based, effective and equitable functional food development
Integrated logistics and election performance: A systematic literature review
Full text linkElections are typically seen through the lens of political frameworks, overlooking the profound impact of logistics on election performance. Through a systematic literature review, this study explores the integral role of logistics in election performance. It highlights the links between logistics functionality performance and perceptions of electoral integrity. The findings reveal that as prerequisites, elections require specialised logistics systems integrated with inclusive I.T. and the human side to ensure dependability, increased visibility and security during the transportation and warehousing of sensitive electoral materials throughout election cycles. The findings identify distinct challenges faced by developed and developing countries, particularly concerning reverse logistics, warehousing, transport networks, distribution planning and technological infrastructure, suggesting the need for tailored logistics strategies based on national development status. Finally, the study emphasises the imperative involvement of logistics experts to ensure the effective integration of logistics functions within elections, oversight and the strategic development of an election logistics field
Integrating British Sign Language into deaf education
No full textThis article argues for the integration of British Sign Language (BSL) into the core of deaf education in England. Despite progress in early identification and intervention, deaf pupils continue to experience educational disadvantage, with persistent attainment gaps compared to their hearing peers. Current policy remains rooted in a medicalised model of deafness, with BSL marginalised in favour of speech and audiological interventions. The authors identify five key challenges: the dominance of disability frameworks over language rights; the medicalisation of deaf education; the exclusion of BSL from the National Curriculum; the impact of socio-economic inequality; and weak assessment arrangements. The paper explores how meaningful integration of BSL would look, including the adoption of the BSL Curriculum, the rollout of the BSL GCSE, workforce development for BSL teachers, and reform of assessment practices. Drawing on policy reviews, attainment data, and practitioner insights, the authors show how a bilingual model, placing BSL on an equal footing with English, can support improved outcomes for deaf pupils and enrich learning for hearing peers
Learning to care in the food system: Education for sustainable development resources, food and farming
No full textDespite calls for curricula to be repurposed around environmental concerns, and the related significance of food-related emissions to global climate change, consideration of the wider impacts of the global food system (positive and negative) are frequently not well-integrated into education of 5–11-year-olds. This paper makes an important contribution to nascent research around the nature and role of learning resources for education for sustainable development, providing the first review of the place of animals in learning resources for food education. The 117 resources we drew on focused on those that were freely-available, directed at ages 5-11, and available to support those implementing the Curriculum for Wales. We reflect on the implications of these findings for the design of future learning resources, focusing specifically on how they could incorporate ideas from literature on more-than-human ethics of care and, through this, how they might prompt not only critical reflection but meaningful actions and engagement amongst learners