Articles tagged with Sociopolitical Systems
Researchers found that societies without written languages could still be large and complex, but those with elaborate writing systems tended to have less shared power. Writing was often used to convey messages between high-status individuals rather than facilitating communication across vast distances.
A new study by the University of Southampton finds that skilled overseas workers with families face a higher risk of poverty than UK workers and their net incomes are lower under the UK's points-based immigration system. The researchers warn that this could make the UK less attractive for overseas workers who could fill skills gaps.
A national study found that states with higher labor underutilization, non-Hispanic white populations, and opioid prescriptions had higher SIM rates. States with centralized medicolegal death investigation systems detected more SIM cases due to toxicologic testing.
A new report identifies ten key facts about global land use and details opportunities for a more sustainable and equitable approach. The study emphasizes the importance of considering trade-offs and acknowledging the rights of marginalized groups in policymaking.
A new study published in PNAS reveals that border walls damage a country's international image, with real implications for soft power. The study found that participants had negative perceptions of countries with border walls, regardless of their political views or distance from the border.
The University of West Virginia leads a global initiative to integrate behavioral and social sciences into oral health promotion, aiming to reduce dental disparities and inequities. The effort involves innovative technologies like apps and smartphones to increase access to dental care.
A UCLA-led study found that Americans' use of common outpatient health services dipped during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for those with Medicaid or Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility insurance. The study suggests that patients may be missing treatments for acute illnesses and delaying preventive care.
Research led by Binghamton University faculty suggests that party polarization precedes voter polarization in countries outside the US. The study of 19 democracies from 1971 to 2019 found that more engaged and informed citizens follow parties' lead on political issues.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the criminal justice system, highlighting issues with family and domestic violence, gang activity, and police-community interactions. Scholars from the American Society of Criminology investigate these concerns in a special issue, exploring lessons learned and policy implications.
Researchers at Lancaster University examine the use of AI in the food sector, highlighting the need for trusted data collaboration to reduce waste and increase sustainability. They also warn about potential ethical issues and unexpected consequences of new technology.
A study of four US states finds that Black people are more likely to be nonfatally shot and injured by police, with disparities greater than seen for fatal shootings. The research highlights the need for comprehensive data on police shootings to draw reliable conclusions about racial disparities.
A study from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business found that conservatives with low conscientiousness are more likely to share misleading information. Conscientiousness plays a significant role in determining whether people share misinformation, regardless of political beliefs or social media usage.
A recent study in Indonesia found that full subsidies increased enrollment by 18.6 percentage points, while registration assistance alone boosted signups by 3.5 percent. The experiment also highlighted the importance of infrastructure and administrative capacity in addressing the challenges of universal health insurance.
Researchers found that conservative tweets are more effective at reaching moderates than liberal tweets, thanks to their network connections and linguistic similarities. The study suggests that liberals need to consciously connect with moderates to compete on Twitter.
The Sustainable Agriculture Matrix provides a comprehensive assessment of agricultural sustainability at a national level, considering environmental, economic, and social impacts. The framework helps governments and organizations evaluate progress, identify priorities for improvement, and inform policies towards sustainable agriculture.
Researchers developed WebFRIS, a web-based platform to provide socio-economic vulnerability analysis and simplify flood risk information. The tool can help formulate targeted solutions and enhance social capacity and resilience in flood-prone regions.
New research from UMass Amherst found that enrolling academically struggling 9th graders in an ethnic studies course significantly increases their chances of graduating from high school and enrolling in college. The study, which analyzed nearly 1,400 students, also showed improvements in attendance and engagement.
A new study by MIT researchers found that crowdsourced accuracy judgments from groups of normal readers can be virtually as effective as the work of professional fact-checkers. The study deployed 1,128 U.S. residents who rated news stories and found that their average ratings correlated with those of professional fact-checkers.
A study reveals that European tax-and-benefit systems mainly target working-aged individuals, while the elderly and young benefit disproportionately. The lifecycle redistribution machine model highlights the significant role of age in shaping welfare state policies.
A new study reveals a deepening geographical fracture in European societies, with rural areas showing lower trust in politics but higher voting rates. The research suggests that mainstream politicians must address feelings of disconnection from politics and provide economic opportunities to re-engage residents of small towns and villages.
A new study reveals COVID-19 worsens financial, food, and housing insecurity in ethnocultural communities, while also highlighting the resilience of families and communities.
New research reveals Bronze Age farmers in China prioritized cattle for their diets, utilizing byproducts like millet stalks for feed. This approach differs from other regions, where cows were raised closer to human settlements.
Research found that members of low-status groups endorse hierarchy-enhancing ideologies as an in-group status-enhancement strategy. This challenges previous assumptions on the motivations of disadvantaged groups.
A team of researchers found that wild birds can learn to avoid distasteful prey by observing what others eat, resolving a long-standing evolutionary problem. This breakthrough highlights the critical role of social information transmission in predator-prey dynamics and eco-evo processes.
The study highlights the alarming loss of Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' knowledge systems, with dramatic social and ecological impacts. The authors emphasize the need for support to sustain these knowledge systems and practices, essential for safeguarding biological and cultural diversity.
Research reveals that parrots rely on eavesdropping on vocal interactions to assess unfamiliar individuals. In flock encounters, flocks primarily choose to follow a leader's contact call, indicating the importance of vocal imitation in social interactions.
A study analyzing California data from 2004-2013 reveals that heat events and ozone have substantial spatial variation in their impact on respiratory hospitalizations, with stronger joint effects in lower-income areas. The results suggest establishing local temperature and ozone thresholds to protect population health.
A survey of over 13,000 adolescents in Europe found that students who are older relative to their peers are more likely to be popular. The study also showed strong associations between relative age and popularity in the Netherlands and England.
A study by Michigan State University found that excessive social media use can lead to poor mental health due to limited real-life social support. The research suggests that people who engage in too much social media use often receive less social support in their daily lives, which can negatively impact their mental well-being.
COVID-19 technology responses face challenges of personal safety, privacy, and control. Experts like Katina Michael emphasize the importance of sociotechnical systems that engage users in their design. Implementing these systems correctly requires coordination, listening, and public involvement.
Researchers have discovered a highly developed social system in the sugarcane shot-hole borer beetle, where females can reproduce and help with caring for fungal cultures. The beetles' cooperative brood care is rare in nature and may provide insights into the evolution of sociality.
A new study by Staffordshire University found that the Pastoral da Pessoa Idosa (PPI) programme in Brazil supported 164,000 older people during the pandemic. Volunteers provided home visits and practical help, helping to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
A team of researchers from the University of Southern California discovered a highly fragmented network pattern within the Panama Papers, which makes it challenging to infiltrate or take down. The study revealed that this system is robust due to its disconnectedness, making it difficult for national or international bodies to intervene.
A new study suggests that companies should adapt to external disruptions, such as the corona pandemic, by recognizing and leveraging these changes. This can lead to innovative business strategies, as seen in past crises like the global financial crisis of 2008 and the temperance movement in the USA in the 1920s.
Researchers developed a machine learning system that can detect social media posts involved in coordinated political influence campaigns based on their content features. The system uses word count, webpage links, and posting time as digital fingerprints to identify suspicious activity.
A new influenza-monitoring system reveals critical biases in US disease surveillance, particularly among lower socioeconomic neighborhoods. The study suggests that these disparities are linked to reduced access to healthcare and increase the risk of hospitalization for flu-related complications.
A new study highlights the importance of access to nature in addressing community health needs, citing benefits to physical, mental, and social health. Researchers recommend incorporating assessments of nature access into patient encounters and refer patients to community groups increasing green areas.
The increasing use of machine learning systems in public policy raises concerns about accountability, bias, and transparency. Explaining complex algorithms can reveal conflicting aims and implicit trade-offs in policy decisions.
Hemant Purohit is working on a project that examines the use of big data analytics in disaster response, particularly for social media monitoring. The goal is to understand how humans and AI systems collaborate and improve information processing.
In western chimpanzees, females play a crucial role in territorial behavior, cooperating with males to maintain borders and engage in conflicts. Larger groups gain advantages over smaller communities through access to larger territories and reduced neighbor pressure.
New research from the University at Buffalo suggests that non-traditional social strategies, such as 'guilty pleasures,' can fulfill critical social needs just like traditional ones. Studies show that feeling connected through various means, including music, TV shows, or pets, predicts positive outcomes and is essential for well-being.
New insights into drought's impacts on social, ecological and agricultural systems are highlighted in this special issue. Research identifies vulnerabilities in water management policy and the importance of soil microbiota in crop resilience.
A study found that uninsured older adults in China are 35% less likely to receive needed inpatient care due to financial barriers. They also experience poorer health outcomes, including higher rates of perceived illness and mental distress.
A recent CMAJ editorial emphasizes the importance of investing in social equity to address health disparities among low-income individuals. The authors highlight the persistent gaps in healthcare access and outcomes according to income, which result from poverty's association with various social determinants of health.
A study reveals that pair living played a key role in the evolution of social systems in primates, serving as a stepping stone for group living. The research analyzed genetic data and behavioral observations of 362 primate species, finding that pair living was crucial for transitions among different forms of social complexity.
A study by University of Chicago Medicine found that hospitals caring for patients in disadvantaged areas may garner lower quality scores due to social risk factors. Hospitals' ability to improve certain quality outcomes is hindered by these factors, such as income and education levels in the community.
Researchers investigated primate societies' evolutionary paths and found pair living played a crucial role in transitioning from solitary life to complex societies. The study suggests that paternal care increased offspring survival, reinforcing pair living and paving the way for group living.
A new EU project, HUBCAP, aims to enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt computer-based models for cyber-physical systems. The project provides a cloud-based platform for testing and implementing modern computer models, as well as funding opportunities for SMEs to work on specific projects.
Researchers studied ambulatory care teams caring for socially complex patients in an A-ICU setting, finding that team cohesion and flexibility are key to successful care. Participants prioritized improving patient engagement over reducing utilization or cost.
A new report outlines social determinants' critical role in population health, highlighting systemic inequalities that cut across multiple factors. The report recommends policy actions to address socioeconomic disparities in cancer incidence, including addressing income inequality and supporting targeted provisions.
The study highlights seven key areas for further research, including integrating indigenous knowledge into research, understanding consumption patterns, and developing effective governance systems. The researchers emphasize the need for management and policy strategies that prioritize human well-being and biodiversity protection.
A team of scholars finds that existing environmental and natural resources management statutes have sufficient flexibility to cope with changing conditions, allowing for adaptation and transformation within a legislative framework. By leveraging agency discretion and flexibility in the laws themselves, governments can respond to comple...
A study involving over 6,900 people reveals that autism spectrum traits are associated with improved social judgment skills, especially in detecting general patterns and rules. The findings suggest that individuals with autism may excel at perceiving social phenomena due to their unique cognitive abilities.
Growing measles outbreaks require strong regional public health systems and sustained immunization coverage to prevent disease spread. Public health experts emphasize the need for coordination at the local level to overcome challenges posed by anti-vaccination proponents.
Researchers propose introducing strategic interventions to address climate change by identifying sensitive intervention points in socio-economic systems. Such interventions could amplify into radical change, potentially averting a climate catastrophe.
A survey of US adults found a positive correlation between systems thinking and climate change beliefs, suggesting that a systemic mindset promotes environmentally conscious attitudes. The study suggests that systems thinking can help both conservatives and liberals address climate change, regardless of their political views.
Researchers discovered that current health care proposals have been circulating in various forms since the 1940s. Key findings include the roots of Medicare for All dating back to the 1948 Wagner-Murray-Dingell national health insurance bill and the 1971 single-payer plan proposed by Sen. Ted Kennedy.
Researchers found the temporoparietal junction significantly activated during cooperative tasks, indicating its role in facilitating cooperation. The anterior part of this region fires off information to the mentalizing system, controlling the flow of information.
Researchers developed a method to visualize climate risks and their cause-effect relationships across seven sectors, including water, food, energy, and more. The study identified 253 causal relationships between climate drivers and risk factors, highlighting the interconnectedness of climate impacts on human security and health.
A new dynamic dependency framework, developed by Bar-Ilan University researchers, can capture interdependent and competitive interactions between dynamic systems. This framework provides a powerful tool for studying synchronization and spreading processes in multilayer networks with interacting layers.