How does small-scale mining stabilize rural livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa? the case of Mozambique

This paper examines the linkages between subsistence farming and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) – lowtech, labor-intensive mineral extraction and processing – in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the case of Mozambique. While the body of literature on this subject is burgeoning, it is comprised mostly of conceptual pieces and country case studies that rely heavily on qualitative data. Focusing on Manica Province, long an epicentre of small-scale gold mining activity in Mozambique, the paper showcases the value of including complementary quantitative data in analyses of ASM-farming linkages in rural sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, quantitative data that provide detail on the demographical composition of communities engaged in both ASM and agriculture, and which shed light on the spending patterns of households involved, could go a long way toward enriching dialogues on this subject, and, in the process, yield more effective (and, indeed, representative) rural development and poverty alleviation strategies in the region. The data gathered in Manica Province provide a more nuanced picture of how the ages and educational levels of household heads, and the sizes of their families, shape views on ASM and agriculture in gold-rich sections of Mozambique. Studies exploring the linkages between ASM and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa that feature both qualitative and quantitative data provide greater clarity on the role each activity could play in tackling some of the region’s broader development challenges, including food insecurity and (building) community resilience

Meaning in life mediates the effects of sense of self and prosocial behaviours on anhedonia: a path analysis

Background Anhedonia, the loss of interest and pleasure, is a core symptom of depression that is resistant to treatment. Anhedonic young people describe a weakened sense of self and reduced meaning in life. Knowing if these experiences predict anhedonia could reveal novel targets for intervention development. Methods We recruited young people (N = 429, mean age: 20 years) with a range of depression scores. Using path analysis, we examined anhedonia, sense of self, meaning in life, and prosocial behaviours cross-sectionally and longitudinally at ~5-month follow-up (N = 160). Results Cross-sectionally, sense of self (β =. 81, p < .001) and prosocial behaviours (β = 0.37, p < .001) had direct effects on meaning in life, and meaning in life had a direct effect on anhedonia (β = −0.11, p < .001). Sense of self (β = −0.09, p < .001) and prosocial behaviours (β = −0.04, p < .001) had indirect effects on anhedonia, mediated by meaning in life. In the longitudinal analysis, sense of self at T1 had a direct effect on meaning in life at T2 (β = 0.36, p < .01) and an indirect effect on anhedonia at T2 (β = −0.05, p < .01), mediated by meaning in life. Limitations Approximately 70 % of the participants were female. Future studies should include equal numbers of males and females. Conclusion We provide novel evidence that targeting meaning in life, sense of self, or prosocial behaviours in psychotherapeutic interventions could be effective in alleviating anhedonia

Diesel exhaust and ozone adversely affect pollinators and parasitoids within flying insect communities

The effects of air pollution on human and animal health and on the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems are wide-ranging. This potentially includes the disruption of valuable services provided by flying insects (e.g. pollination and biological control). However, quantifying the extent of this disruption requires a clearer understanding of insect community responses at field-scale. By elevating diesel exhaust and ozone (O3) pollutants, individually and interactively, over two summers, we investigated the field-scale effects of air pollution on the abundance and diversity of flying insects from pan traps. We quantified which groups of insects were more at risk of air pollution-mediated decline and whether responses to air pollution were influenced by the presence of flowering plants. In addition, a common pest of Brassicaceae, the large cabbage white butterfly (Pieris brassicae L.) was used to investigate the effects on oviposition success of the two interacting air pollutants. Air pollution had the most detrimental effects on pollinators and parasitoids, compared with other insect groups, lowering their abundance by up to 48% and 32%, respectively. The adverse effects of O3 and diesel exhaust on pollinators occurred only when flowers were available, indicating the relative importance of floral odours compared with visual cues. Air pollutants resulted in either increased insect herbivore abundance or had no effect, potentially increasing the threat air pollution poses to food security. However, both pollutants resulted in decreased oviposition by cabbage white butterflies, which, if demonstrated to be a more ubiquitous phenomenon, may result in reduced larval pest damage. Quantifying the relative changes in composition and abundance among feeding guilds is valuable for predicting the effects of air pollution on insect communities. Of the groups identified, pollinators are likely to be at the greatest risk of air pollution-mediated decline due to their use of floral odour cues for foraging

Evaluation of easterly wave disturbances over the tropical South Atlantic in CMIP6 models

This study aims to evaluate the ability of the new phase Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) models to estimate the characteristics of Easterly Waves Disturbances (EWD) over the Tropical South Atlantic (TSA) that reach Northeast Brazil (NEB). Initially, the precipitation variable output of CMIP, AMIP, hist-1950 and highresSST-present models skill was evaluated using the Global Precipitation Climatology Center (GPCC) dataset to define the best models that reproduce the spatial and temporal precipitation patterns over the study regions. In total, 17 historical CMIP, 16 AMIP, 7 do hist-1950 and 10 do highresSST-present models were assessed. The ensemble's spatial analysis showed the ability of the models in reproducing annual and seasonal climatological precipitation patterns but with CMIP exhibiting the highest variability. Models underestimated the precipitation intensity on NEB's coast and overestimated on TSA and NEB's north. Larger (smaller) uncertainties among models were observed at higher (lower) latitudes. Regarding the annual precipitation cycle analysis, 8 subareas were selected and investigated within the total study area. Models were capable of representing the annual cycle in all subareas, particularly between July and October. However, greater spread was observed in the first half of the year, especially in the north of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and in CMIP models. Based on those analyses, 3 best models from each ensemble were selected to evaluate the model's ability to represent EWD over the study area: CMIP (AS-RCEC.TaiESM1, CAS.FGOALS-f3-L, and NCC.NorESM2-MM), AMIP (CAS.FGOALS-f3-L, AS-RCEC.TaiESM1, and CMCC.CMCC-CM2-SR5), hist-1950 (HadGEM3-GC31-HH, CMCC-CM2-VHR4 e ECMWF.ECMWF-IFS-HR) and highresSST (MRI.MRI-AGCM3-2-H, CMCC-CM2-VHR4 e ECMWF.ECMWF-IFS-HR). An objective automatic tracking algorithm was utilized in each model. It was observed that the models were able to represent mean values of lifetime (~6 days) and phase speed (~7 m.s-1) close to climatological values and those of ERA5. However, most models failed to capture the EWD's interannual variability or climatological mean frequency. All models successfully identified the two preferential genesis regions of this system, one over the TSA and another near the West African coast. Thus, despite many improvements still being necessary in CMIP6 models, precipitation climatological patterns and EWD's characteristics over NEB and adjacent TSA were represented by the models, especially in atmospheric and high-resolution models (HighResMIP)

The spirit of the times: historical conditions and market-seeking FDI strategies by U.S. alcohol firms

Market-seeking foreign direct investment (FDI) remains central for firms to expand their global presence and seize opportunities abroad. However, existing research often focuses on immediate or near-term drivers related to firms’ market-seeking FDI strategies, and thus neglects the valuable insights a historical perspective can provide. To address this gap, we draw insights from imprinting theory and propose a framework theorizing the dual-layered imprinting of historical conditions stemming from both extreme historical experiences and founding conditions. Using the U.S. alcohol industry as a research context, we employ a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative techniques. Our findings reveal that firms’ experiences during extreme anti-alcohol conditions, such as Prohibition, positively correlate with regulation-driven market-seeking FDI, while firms founded in more pro-alcohol periods prioritize speed-driven market-seeking FDI. Moreover, we identify how unrelated diversification, a strategy consistent with the anti-alcohol imprint but inconsistent with the pro-alcohol imprint, affects the relationship between historical imprints and FDI strategies through imprint amplification or decay. Our qualitative analyses elucidate the role of founders’ and leaders’ strategic decision-making in reinforcing the mechanisms through which historical conditions shape FDI strategy. This longitudinal framework provides insights into imprint formation, transmission, and manifestation, accounting for contextual variations and implications for FDI strategy

Shuffling the deck? Multiple transitions and the new spatiality of places and workspaces in the polycrisis post-COVID economy

This research engages in a critical discussion of regional policies in the context of fundamental shifts in the spatial relationships between places and workplaces following the COVID-19 crisis. Focusing on the case of major advanced economies to illustrate its arguments, the analysis starts from a review of the heterogeneous dynamics defined by multiple regional transitions in a context of polycrisis. Then, it assesses opportunities and challenges for tackling regional imbalances and re-building resiliently and sustainably by combining insights on the shifting nature in the spatiality of workplaces with a holistic perspective on cross-domain policy intervention(s) bridging regional industrial, skills, and social policies