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Ten principles for transforming economics in a time of global crises
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The dataset generated by the survey research is available via figshare at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.28615724 (ref. 67).Supplementary information is available online at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-025-01562-4#Sec12 .Transformation of economic systems is widely regarded as essential for tackling interacting global crises. Unconventional economic approaches seeking holistic human and planetary well-being have transformative potential, but mainstreaming them is hampered by vested interests and intellectual lock-ins. They are also diffuse and struggle to develop sufficient discursive power to gain more widespread traction in policy. To bring coherence, we undertake a qualitative content analysis of 238 document sources from science and practice. We identify ten ecological, social, political economy and holistic principles cutting across 38 economic approaches. They include: (1) social–ecological embeddedness and holistic well-being; (2) interdisciplinarity and complexity thinking; (3) limits to growth; (4) limited substitutability of natural capital; (5) regenerative design; (6) holistic perspectives of people and values; (7) equity, equality and justice; (8) relationality and social enfranchisement; (9) participation, deliberation and cooperation and (10) post-capitalism and decolonization. We also consider opportunities and barriers to applying these principles in the context of global crises. Our results can help consolidate transformative economic approaches and support future efforts to synthesize conceptual models, methodologies and policy solutions and to validate the identified principles more explicitly within global south contexts.This research was supported by the Leverhulme Trust-funded Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity (RC-2018-021), the University of York (United Kingdom), Ecologos Research Ltd (United Kingdom) and the United Kingdom Natural Environment Research Council (NE/X002276/1)
Strategic flexibility: How rent-seeking behavior enables firms to adapt to uncertainty
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Data will be made available on request.This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.An important aspect of the conduct of business in China is the need to develop relationships and make facilitation payments in the form of entertainment and gift giving. We use three different methods to extract firms' relationship spending from their reported entertainment and travel costs, and evaluate whether this spending enhances their ability to respond and adapt to changes in the business environment – their strategic flexibility. We employ a real options approach that identifies strategic flexibility as the firm's ability to take advantage of increased uncertainty, measured as its value gain associated with increased asset volatility. We document that relationship spending is positively associated with strategic flexibility in a way that is both significant and economically meaningful, consistent with rent-seeking behavior under institutional voids. This relation is both independent of, and supplemented by, firms' political connections, and is unaffected by the important anti-corruption campaigns implemented in 2013. The relation is nonlinear, strategic flexibility declining at very high levels of spending, implying firms become over-embedded in their relationships consistent with path dependence theory. Our findings are supported by detailed robustness testing, including quasi-exogenous variation, an instrumental variable approach, a decomposition of political connectedness and the estimation of alternative specifications. Thus, we identify a new source of firms' strategic flexibility and, relatedly, an important benefit that firms derive from the associated spending. This might explain why such spending is resilient, persisting despite ongoing attempts by the government to restrict it
Outcomes of selective dorsal rhizotomy in ambulatory children and young people with cerebral palsy: A scoping review
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The data that supports the findings of this study are available in the supplementary material of this article.Supporting Information is available online at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dmcn.16496#support-information-section .Aim:
To identify outcomes reported after selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) in ambulant children and young people with cerebral palsy in different domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).
Method:
A scoping review using the JBI Scoping Review methodology was conducted. Six databases were searched for literature published between 1993 and 2024.
Results:
A total of 214 published papers met the inclusion criteria. Outcomes under the body function and structure domain were most frequently investigated (n = 199, 93%), followed by activity (n = 123, 58%) and participation (n = 33, 15%) across all studies. Quality of life was reported in 16 (8%) studies, and four (2%) studies mentioned individualized goals for SDR surgery. A combination of validated measures and subjective outcomes was used, with 119 (56%) studies reporting outcomes in two or more domains.
Interpretation:
Impairment-based outcomes remain the primary focus in SDR research. A small shift in emphasis towards participant-reported outcome measures has been seen in recent years. Few studies reported on the impact of personal and environmental factors. Future SDR studies need to incorporate all domains of the ICF to enhance understanding and capture holistic, meaningful changes in the lives of children and young people with cerebral palsy and their families.National Institute for Health and Care Research. Grant Numbers: NIHR 303636, NIHR302916
Motivation is key: exploring the role of motivation on learning approaches
Get PDFThis study explored the relationship between motivation and learning approaches among university students. A total of 182 students participated in an online survey, which included the Revised Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F), the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS), and the Assessment Preference Inventory (API). Multiple regression analysis revealed that intrinsic motivation factors (motivation to know, accomplish, and experience stimulation) were significant predictors of a deep approach to learning. Identified regulation also positively influenced this approach, while extrinsic motivation had no significant effect on deep learning strategies. High extrinsically motivated individuals were more likely to use a surface learning approach. Pearson’s r correlations showed that deep learners preferred assessments involving critical thinking, while surface learners favored assessments requiring recall. Limitations included a gender imbalance and potential social desirability bias. Future research should explore the influence of ethnicity and environmental factors on motivation and learning approaches
Ordinary Portland cement composites modified with recycled liquid expanded polystyrene: Mechanical, thermal and water resistance properties
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Data will be made available on request.This study explores the incorporation of Liquid Expanded Polystyrene (L-EPS) into ordinary Portland cement (OPC) composites as a sustainable route to enhance thermal and durability performance. L-EPS was synthesized using an acetone–toluene solvent system and introduced at 10–20 wt% replacement. The modified composites exhibited marked functional improvements: thermal conductivity (K) decreased by 20–30 % compared with control specimens, while the water permeability coefficient (k) was reduced by up to 87 %. Importantly, compressive strength after 28 days remained above 25 MPa, confirming their suitability for non-load-bearing structural applications. These enhancements are attributed to the void-filling and film-forming effects of L-EPS within the cement matrix. However, the incorporation of L-EPS also led to a consistent reduction in compressive and flexural strengths relative to the control mix, indicating a trade-off between functional gains and structural capacity. The findings demonstrate that L-EPS–modified OPC composites combine adequate strength with improved insulation and water resistance, making them promising candidates for partition walls, ceiling boards, renders, and façade elements, particularly in hot–humid climates where energy efficiency and moisture protection are critical.This research was partially supported by Chiang Mai University
Numerical Study of the Mechanical Properties and Failure Mechanisms of Shale Under Different Loading Conditions
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The data underpinning this publication can be accessed from Brunel University of London’s data repository (Brunelfigshare) under a CCBY license with the DOI of https://doi.org/10.17633/rd.brunel.25291315.v3.The fracturing performance of shale directly influences the effectiveness of shale gas development. To investigate the impact of bedding on the anisotropic mechanical properties and failure modes of shale under different stress paths, a shale model with randomly generated bedding planes was established using RFPA3D. Uniaxial compression, direct tension, and triaxial compression numerical simulations were conducted. The results reveal the following key findings: (1) With an increase in the bedding angle, the uniaxial compressive strength of shale shows a U-shaped change trend, while the tensile strength gradually decreases. Under the two loading conditions, the failure mechanism of the samples is significantly different, and the influence of the bedding distribution position on the direct tensile failure mode is more significant. (2) The confining pressure reduces the brittleness and anisotropy of shale by altering the internal stress distribution and inhibiting the propagation of microcracks. When the confining pressure increases from 0 MPa to 22.5 MPa, the strength increases by about 41% when the bedding angle is 30°, while the strength of 0° bedding only increases by 29%. (3) The frictional constraint effect plays a significant role in shale strength. Frictional stresses influence the strength near the interface between the bedding and the matrix, while the regions outside this interface maintain the original stress state. In shale with inclined bedding, shear stress promotes slip along the bedding planes, which further reduces the overall strength. The research findings hold significant guiding value for optimizing fracturing designs and enhancing the efficiency of shale gas development.This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation for Young Scientists of China (Grant No. 52104084), the Science and Technology Tackling Project of Henan Province (Grant No. 252102321155), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2024M760807), the Postdoctoral Program of Henan Polytechnic University (Grant No. 712108/429) and the Doctoral Funding Project of Henan Polytechnic University (Grant No. B2021-45)
BLAs in domestic work
Get PDFBilateral Labour Agreement must penalise exploiters of Nepali domestic workers abroad
Conceptual Design of a Hybrid Composite to Metal Joint for Naval Vessels Applications
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The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author due to legal reasons.This paper describes the development of a new hybrid composite for the metal joints of aluminium and glass fibre composite adherents. The aluminium adherend is manufactured using friction stir-formed studs that are inserted into the composite adherend in the through-thickness direction during the composite manufacturing process, where the dry fibres are displaced to accommodate the studs before the resin infusion process. The materials used were AA6082-T6 aluminium and plain-woven E-glass fabric reinforced epoxy, with primary applications in naval vessels. This joining approach offers a cost-effective solution that does not require complicated onsite welding. The joint design was developed based on a simulation test program with finite element analysis, followed by experimental characterisation and validation. The design solution was analysed in terms of the force displacement response, sequence of load transfer, and characterisation of the joint failure modes.This publication was made possible by the sponsorship and support of TWI’s Core Research Programme (CRP). This work was enabled through and undertaken at the National Structural Integrity Research Centre (NSIRC), a postgraduate engineering facility for industry-led research into structural integrity established and managed by TWI through a network of both national and international universities
Enhancing Collaborative Machine Learning in Resource-Limited Networks through Knowledge Distillation and Over-the-Air Computation
Get PDFPostgraduate Research and Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (Grant Number: KYCX25_2894);
10.13039/501100012226-Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant Number: 2025-00063);
Graduate Innovation Program of China University of Mining and Technology (Grant Number: 2025WLKXJ208);
Jiangsu Major Project on Basic Researches (Grant Number: BK20243059);
Gusu Innovation Project for People (Grant Number: ZXL2024360);
10.13039/501100001809-National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Number: 62132004)
A narrative review of nursing in Saudi Arabia: prospects for improving social determinants of health for the female workforce
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A narrative review of nursing in Saudi Arabia: prospects for improving social determinants of health for the female workforce
by Davies, J., and Yarrow, E. (2025). Front. Public Health. 13:1569440. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1569440
Author Steven Callaghan was erroneously included as an author in the published article. The correct author list reads:
Julie Davies and Emily Yarrow
The Author Contributions Statement has been corrected to read:
JD: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. EY: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.
The original version of this article has been updated.Introduction: Nurses represent the backbone of global healthcare systems where women typically deliver care and men lead. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) highly relies on foreign female nurses despite Saudisation policies designed to localize its workforce. Yet, in the context of an ambitious 2016–30 national health transformation program to modernize public health in a high-income and rapidly developing country, intersectional inequalities persist for migrant and local nurses in KSA. There are challenges in the specialisms of palliative and end-of-life care where there is a weak public and professional understanding of caring for people with life-limiting diseases and a lack of public discourse about death and dying. In this context, we ask which social determinants of health (SDOH) might be improved for female nurses in KSA to support SDOH improvements in the general population.
Methods: Based on a narrative literature review of 36 studies using Cochrane, EBSCO, PubMed, and Web of Science databases, we highlight the social determinants of health and wellbeing for both migrant nurses in PC and general population health.
Findings: Four key themes emerged from the literature review related to equity, ability, compassionate support, and meaning in the workplace. We illustrate that key SDOH for female nurses in KSA include inadequate housing, labor market fragmentation; gender, pay, religious, language and racial discrimination against nurses from low and middle-income countries with a general lack of understanding about PC. In turn, we explore these factors within four main themes: equity; ability; compassionate support; and meaningful work. Workforce shortages can result in working shifts and overtime with a lack of flexible working, which in turn cause stress, burnout, precarity, low job satisfaction and high turnover. We identify gaps between national policy ambitions for modernization and everyday practices caring for the Saudi nursing workforce.
Discussion: Our review is novel in exploring the social determinants of health in the healthcare workforce linked to social determinants such as housing, income, job insecurity and working life conditions, living conditions, social inclusion and norms and socioeconomic position. It contributes to our understanding of how patriarchal cultures shape institutional and subjective forms of inequality in stark contrast to the national rhetoric of female empowerment. We propose three policy recommendations to improve PC nurses’ SDOH and, in turn SDOH for the general population: (i) gender and race pay equity, (ii) human resource for workforce health and education policies using telehealth, and (iii) professional and public communication campaigns to increase respect for nurses and understanding the benefits of PC nursing as a career and as a service.The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article
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