bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sustainable development goals in public administrations: Enabling conditions in local governments
Authors: Bisogno Marco , Cuadrado-Ballesteros Beatriz , Rossi Francesca Manes , Peña-Miguel Noemi 
Published: January 2023

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a challenge that many public administrations face in promoting sustainable growth. Local governments, as the governmental tier closest to citizens, should deliberate upon strategies and actions attuned to achieving SDGs for the benefit of their communities. Through a comparative analysis of Italian and Spanish local governments, this research investigates the conditions that can support the achievement of SDGs. The results depict the political and financial levers that can stimulate politicians and policymakers in designing appropriate strategies and action plans towards the achievement of SDGs, while opening the path for further research that can support public administrations in their efforts at achieving sustainable growth. Points for practitioners Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are believed to play a vital role in our society. They represent the background of strategies and policies implemented at a local government level; accordingly, politicians and public managers are key actors in achieving SDGs. Our study shows that local governments tend to implement sustainable policies despite the political ideology; results also illustrate that governing in large coalitions could be a hindrance to implementing sustainable policies. Furthermore, favourable financial conditions support the achievement of SDGs.
Among psychedelic-experienced users, only past use of psilocybin reliably predicts nature relatedness
Authors: Forstmann Matthias , Kettner Hannes S , Sagioglou Christina , Irvine Alexander , Gandy Sam , Carhart-Harris Robin L , Luke David 
Published: January 2023

Background: Past research reports a positive relationship between experience with classic serotonergic psychedelics and nature relatedness (NR). However, these studies typically do not distinguish between different psychedelic compounds, which have a unique psychopharmacology and may be used in specific contexts and with different intentions. Likewise, it is not clear whether these findings can be attributed to substance use per se or unrelated variables that differentiate psychedelic users from nonusers. Aims: The present study was designed to determine the relative degree to which lifetime experience with different psychedelic substances is predictive of self-reported NR among psychedelic-experienced users. Methods: We conducted a combined reanalysis of five independent datasets ( N = 3817). Using standard and regularized regression analyses, we tested the relationship between degree of experience with various psychedelic substances (binary and continuous) and NR, both within a subsample of psychedelic-experienced participants as well as the complete sample including psychedelic-naïve participants. Results/Outcomes: Among people experienced with psychedelics, only past use of psilocybin (versus LSD, mescaline, Salvia divinorum, ketamine, and ibogaine) was a reliable predictor of NR and its subdimensions. Weaker, less reliable results were obtained for the pharmacologically similar N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Results replicate when including psychedelic-naïve participants. In addition, among people exclusively experience with psilocybin, use frequency positively predicted NR. Conclusions/Interpretation: Results suggest that experience with psilocybin is the only reliable (and strongest) predictor of NR. Future research should focus on psilocybin when investigating effects of psychedelic on NR and determine whether pharmacological attributes or differences in user expectations/use settings are responsible for this observation.
Coordinating, Integrating, and Synchronizing Disaster Response: Use of an Emergency Response Synchronization Matrix in Emergency Planning, Exercises, and Operations
Authors: Hewett Paul L. , Mitrani Jacques E. , Metz William C. , Vercellone James J. 
Published: January 2023

A graphical depiction of the entire emergency response process via a synchronization matrix is an effective management too for optimizing the design, exercise, and real-life implementation of emergency plans. This system-based approach to emergency planning depicts how a community organizes its response tasks across space and time. It gives responders the opportunity to make real-time adjustments to maximizing the often limited resources in protecting area residents. An effective response to any natural or technological hazard must involve the entire community and must not be limited by individual jurisdictions and organizations acting on their own without coordination, integration, and synchronization. An emergency response to an accidental release of chemical warfare agents from one of this nation's eight chemical weapons stockpile sites, like any other disaster response, is complex. It requires the rapid coordination, integration, and synchronization of multiple levels of governmental and nongovernmental organizations from numerous jurisdictions, each with varying response capabilities, into a unified community response. The community response actions occur in an area extending from an on-site storage location to points 25 or more miles away. Actions are directed and controlled by responding local governments and agencies situated within the response area, as well as by state and federal operations centers quite removed from the area of impact. Time is critical and the protective action decision-making process is greatly compressed. To ensure an effective response with minimal confusion, given the potential catastrophic nature of such releases, the response community must carefully synchronize response operations.
Does a Rights Based Approach Make a Difference? The Role of Public Law in Vulnerability Reduction
Authors: Handmer John , Monson Rebecca 
Published: January 2023

Reducing the impact of climate-related disasters can be conceptualized as being about reducing or managing ‘vulnerability’. ‘Vulnerability’ is a multi-faceted concept incorporating issues of livelihood, housing, security and gender among many others. For example, groups of people may be more or less vulnerable to climate-related disasters due to the security of their livelihoods or the quality of their housing. International and national law may regulate some of these constituents of vulnerability. In some jurisdictions, such as countries in the European Union and the Council of Europe, and countries with new constitutions, there is a range of specific rights that may be mobilized to reduce vulnerability. Much of the work on the link between vulnerability reduction and human rights focuses on international law. However, national law is generally more accessible and enforceable than international law. We draw on three recent South African cases to illustrate the potential for citizens to mobilize public law to reduce their own vulnerability, and raise the question of whether a legal rights based approach might be useful elsewhere in the world.
Operational Ethics for Disaster Research
Authors: Kelman Ilan 
Published: January 2023

Operational ethics for disaster research is suggested as an important area for further investigation. The main questions are suggested as: 1. Could carrying out disaster research interfere with disaster and risk management activities? 2. Could publishing disaster research interfere with disaster and risk management activities? 3. Should researchers take responsibility for the operational outcomes of their research? The example of technical rescue illustrates how these questions might be addressed in order to better understand operational ethics for disaster research. Experiences from field work on active volcanoes are presented as a research area where operational ethics have been applied, although improvements are needed. Researcher good governance is an approach which consolidates many of the issues discussed. Although disaster researchers might feel that no further governance steps are necessary, these questions should be openly debated.
Bridging the Divide from Theory to Practice
Authors: Stuart-Black Jim , Coles Eve , Norman Sarah 
Published: January 2023

Increasing exposure to hazards and their associated risks coupled with escalating political, economic, social and cultural dynamics has led to a growing demand on emergency planners across the world. Historically Emergency Planning in the United Kingdom (UK) was a second or third career option, characterized by individuals with a background based in the emergency services, military or logistics (Coles, 1998), with similar attributes seen in Emergency Planners in the New Zealand (NZ) context. The UK and NZ have similar emergency planning roles however they address training and professional development needs from differing perspectives. In light of this new environment, practitioners and academics alike are faced with the challenge of ensuring today's emergency planners are suitably educated, skilled and equipped to face the challenges of the new working environment. Since 1995 when the first United Kingdom undergraduate degree in Disaster Management came on stream at Coventry University, a number of academic undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Disaster and Emergency Management have become ever increasingly popular to both mature students and school leavers in the UK. Similarly, in New Zealand the historical approach to ‘training' has in recent years been adapted into a suite of professional development activities including access to tertiary level qualifications and diplomas. Is it still acceptable to consider professional development simply in terms of short course attendance or should we be focusing on more contemporary academic programs as delivered by a number of tertiary organizations? Is there a gap between the theoretical (academic) approach and that of the traditional practitioner and if there is, can we bridge the divide? The historical relationship between the researcher and the practitioner in the UK and NZ appears to have been ‘never the twain shall meet’ but is that still the case? The context for developing the emergency management profession is changing. The focus of job descriptions and person specifications has changed dramatically within the last five years begging the question, what cultural change has taken place between the practitioner and the researcher and what value is placed on evidence based practice? In answering these questions, this paper will examine the legislative frameworks in the United Kingdom and New Zealand before identifying the respective approaches to training and professional development.
Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness Activities of Canadian Universities
Authors: Friesen Kenton , Bell Doug 
Published: January 2023

Preparing for emergencies and disasters has become a necessary part of daily operations of businesses, municipalities, and institutions. Furthermore, educational institutions such as universities, colleges, and schools are not immune to the impacts of disasters (FEMA 443, 2003; Kuban and MacKenzie-Carey, 2001; Miller, 2002; U.S. Department of Education, 2003). Universities are realizing they are exposed to the impact of disasters and that emergency/disaster response requires careful coordination and communication with other organizations and entities that have the resources and skills necessary to manage and respond to particular emergencies (Auf der Heide, 1989; FEMA 443, 2003; Kuban et al., 2001; Mileti, 1999). In Canada, the primary responsibility for emergency preparedness and response is that of the municipality, or local authority, within which a university is located. What then is the role of a university in preparing for and responding to emergencies or disasters? In the absence of compulsory standards, regulations or legislation, universities, based on the survey of this project, are nevertheless reviewing risks and hazards, implementing long-term strategies, and developing relationships with the local municipality. All of these should consider the unique characteristics of the campus environment, which include an open and accessible environment, a functionally separate hierarchy of administrators and academics, a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary workforce, and a diverse student body, to name a few. After understanding the unique characteristics of the campus environment universities can address emergency preparedness and disaster management by building on the basics of existing and generally accepted standards, such as the NFPA 1600 (NFPA 2000). Additionally, many universities operate much like a municipality (i.e., infrastructure, constituents, and an incorporated government structure) making existing municipal emergency or disaster-related standards, regulations, and legislation also applicable. Further investigation into the application of these standards, regulations, and legislation to the university environment is required to validate the similarities.
Vandalism-Militancy Relationship: The Influence of Risk Perception and Moral Disengagement
Authors: Mafimisebi Oluwasoye P. , Thorne Sara 
Published: January 2023

Both risk perception and moral disengagement underpin crisis intensification, and influence risk behaviours. This research, examines whether risk perception and moral disengagement mechanisms influence vandalism and militancy (terrorism), and if these mechanisms can provide alternative strategies for managing unconventional mass emergencies and disasters. This paper will also clarify and discuss the relevance of the concepts: moral disengagement, moral evaluation, and social trust. The influence and implications of risk perception and moral disengagement on crisis management on a case study of the vandalism and militant incidents that have occurred Niger Delta region over the last decade are discussed. Specifically, this investigation demonstrates that there are potential gains in crisis management, when crisis dimensions, morality issues, and risk perception are used to help anchor strategic options during crises. The present study found that people are more likely to disengage from moral conducts when the mechanisms of moral evaluation and disengagement are routinely experienced. In doing so, people become skilled at neutralising morally questionable behaviours and activities such as vandalism. The findings also indicate that environmental risks are perceived to be more important than economic or biological risks during crises, and that individuals’ susceptible to moral disengagement are not predestined for delinquency. Therefore, environmental victimisation, moralistic punishment, and moral surveillance are all active factors necessary for risk and crisis leaders to address when trying to manage crises. This paper advances the crisis management literature through the analysis of moral disengagement and its implications for crises. This study also provides evidence that errors in risk perception evaluation can lead to ineffective crisis response, and ineffective strategic practices when managing crisis. The findings also challenge assumptions that vandals and militants are inhumane, and that capturing or alienating them will help prevent or reduce future crisis/disaster. Instead, it is argued that these perceptions and practices are ineffective and unsustainable. The implications and limitations of these findings are also discussed.
Human Response to Vertical Shelters “An Experimental Note”
Authors: Ruch Carlton 
Published: January 2023

As both coastal population and coastal evacuation times increase, there is a need to consider the vertical evacuation option. This research examines the changes a “vertical shelter” option might introduce in decisions to evacuate. It focuses on two possible human behavior problems associated with the use of “vertical shelters.” Problem one is whether the existence of a “vertical shelter” option will inhibit large numbers of people from evacuating horizontally. Problem two is whether the existence of a “vertical shelter” option will encourage people to delay their decisions to evacuate outside the threatened area. In order to address these problems two experiments were conducted in Galveston, Texas USA. In each experiment the sample was divided into a control and experimental group. All participants were shown videotapes of Hurricane Alicia. They were then requested to select response options based on written hurricane advisories. Only the experimental group had vertical evacuation as one of the response options. The second experiment also examined the effect of the Galveston Seawall on the responses. The results of these experiments provide no statistically significant evidence that for the participants the presence of a “vertical shelter” would delay or inhibit them from evacuating horizontally. However, because of the small sample, only large differences could have been detected.
Voluntary Labor, Utah, the L.D.S. Church, and the Floods of 1983: A Case Study
Authors: Fisher Albert L. 
Published: January 2023

National attention was focussed on Utah in the Spring of 1983 when an abnormally deep snowpack in the mountains combined with abrupt, very warm weather to cause sudden, severe flooding along the state's densely populated Wasatch Front. Public officials were not prepared for what happened and they could not control the crisis generated problems with their own resources. A large, efficient, volunteer labor force was needed immediately to prevent serious flooding from becoming a disaster. The extensive media attention given to Utah during this period looked mostly at the way public officials and the people responded to the crisis. This is a report of voluntary labor and the floods of 1983 in Utah, The only public, semipublic, or private organization that could provide the number of volunteer workers that were necessary during the crisis period and supervise the workers adequately was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (L.D.S.). The traditions, attitudes, and organization of the L.D.S. Church as they are important to the immediate delivery of large numbers of volunteer workers, equipment, and supervisors in an emergency period are investigated in this paper. The relationships between government in Utah and the Church are also examined to explain why the Church is relied on to supply the voluntary labor force for any mass emergency in Utah and how this is accomplished. The question is also addressed of whether or not the Utah experience would be either appropriate or transferable to any other area. There might he something to be learned from Utah that could aid disaster work elsewhere.
Integrating Disaster and Development Assistance after Natural Disasters: NGO Response in the Third World
Authors: Guarnizo Caroline Clarke 
Published: January 2023

This paper examines how one particular aid sector, the nongovernmental development organizations (NGOs), is tackling the institutional issues involved in integrating disaster and development assistance in the Third World. The paper presents where NGOs have encountered the need to integrate the two aid types, their institutional efforts to do so, and the challenges they face in the implementation process. Finally, it outlines important areas for further work to aid NGOs to develop viable mechanisms to manage overlapping responsibilities in disaster response and longer-term reduction efforts. Despite the new research understanding of disasters-development relationship and program directions, these efforts to integrate the two in practice have faltered. This paper argues that difficulties lie in the fact that the institutional mechanisms necessary for putting these goals into practice have not kept pace. The postwar foreign aid model which separates disaster and development aid into two institutional jurisdiction is still largely in place. This paper states that new ways for enhancing cooperation among the different actors in disaster reduction must take place. In particular, institutional jurisdictions must be transcended and new arrangements promoted that facilitate development planners/agencies to play their role in the disaster reduction process. Institutional mechanisms need to catch up with current thinking in disaster research in order to meet the emerging policy and program priorities.
Neighborhood Availability and Use of Food, Physical Activity, and Social Services Facilities in Relation to Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Rossi Camila Elizandra , Pinho Maria Gabriela M. , Corrêa Elizabeth Nappi , de Abreu Ângelo Horta , Rech Cassiano Ricardo , da Costa Ferreira Jorge Ricardo , Guedes de Vasconcelos Francisco de Assis 
Published: January 2023

Objective: To evaluate the association of a combined measure of availability and use of facilities from the food environment and overweight (including obesity) among schoolchildren, while taking into account the physical activity and social-assistance environments. Methods: Cross-sectional study with a probabilistic sample of schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years living in a southern Brazilian city (n = 2026). Multilevel analyses were performed with overweight as outcome and the food environment as main exposure. Models were adjusted for the physical activity and social-assistance environments, as well as individual and other residential neighborhood characteristics. Results: Greater availability of restaurants around the home was associated with higher odds of overweight (odds ratio [OR] = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.06-1.85). Stronger associations were found for schoolchildren reporting to use restaurants (OR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.15-1.90). This association remained significant after adjusting for the presence of other food retailers. Schoolchildren who had social-assistance facilities around their homes, but reported not to use them, showed consistently higher odds of being overweight (OR = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.01-1.78) as compared to schoolchildren who had these facilities near home and used them. The physical activity environment was not associated with the outcome. Conclusions: Availability and use of the food and social-assistance environments were significantly associated with overweight (including obesity) among the schoolchildren. Future research should consider the use of environmental facilities in combination to their geographical availability. Our results highlight the need for policies that limit the access to obesogenic food outlets by children and adolescents.