Compared with their fellow citizens in the city, rural residents are more likely to be affected by ecological restoration programs and policies. Yet no one has conducted a large-scale study of how ecological conservation impacts rural livelihoods and the economic status of rural households, especially in China. To fill that knowledge gap, I collected and analyzed relevant data from 2007 to 2018 for western and eastern China. I found that the relationship between western China’s green coverage rate and rural income followed an inverted U curve whereas that between its green coverage rate and urban-rural income gap was instead U-shaped, suggesting that ecological restoration has come to eventually negatively impact the economic welfare of rural residents in western China; however, the complete opposite was found in eastern China. Greater urbanization, financial support, and infrastructure such as education, medical, and Internet services would help to improve the current situation in western China. This suggests the government should take actions—such as improving the quality of farmer training to the rural residents and improving infrastructure construction—to help farmers acquire a new source of income and narrow the urban-rural income gap in parallel to implementing ecological restoration projects.

In this time of ambiguity, change, and conflict, integrating teacher leadership into initial teacher education (ITE) programs is crucial. However, complexities exist regarding ITE quality globally and in Vietnam specifically. This study explores the perceptions of different ITE stakeholders in Vietnam towards teacher leadership and factors that impact prospective teachers’ preparedness for teacher leadership based on the Teacher Leadership Model Standards. Using mixed methods, data were collected from surveys with pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, and teacher educators in various universities that offer ITE programs in Vietnam. Statistical analysis was deployed to identify similarities and differences in the perceptions of the three groups of participants, highlighting that while pre-service and in-service teachers share similar viewpoints toward teacher leadership, those of teacher educators are significantly different in some key areas. Furthermore, thematic analysis of qualitative responses from in-service and pre-service teachers was employed to shed light on their beliefs about the importance of teacher leadership and explore how the ITE programs support or hinder pre-service teachers’ preparedness in developing and validating their leadership skills. The findings of this study will have ramifications for the potential to restructure the ITE programs in Vietnam to better prepare the nation’s future leaders for the education system and society as a whole.

This study explores the determinants of control loss in eating behaviors, employing decision tree regression analysis on a sample of 558 participants. Guided by Self-Determination Theory, the findings highlight amotivation (β = 0.48, p < 0.001) and external regulation (β = 0.36, p < 0.01) as primary predictors of control loss, with introjected regulation also playing a significant role (β = 0.24, p < 0.05). Consistent with Self-Determination Theory, the results emphasize the critical role of autonomous motivation and its deficits in shaping self-regulation. Physical characteristics, such as age and weight, exhibited limited predictive power (β = 0.12, p = 0.08). The decision tree model demonstrated reliability in explaining eating behavior patterns, achieving an R² value of 0.39, with a standard deviation of 0.11. These results underline the importance of addressing motivational deficits in designing interventions aimed at improving self-regulation and promoting healthier eating behaviors.

While extensive research has explored interconnectedness, volatility spillovers, and risk transmission across financial systems, the comparative dynamics between Islamic and conventional banks during crises, particularly in specific regions such as Saudi Arabia, are underexplored. This study investigates risk transmissions and contagion among banks operating in Islamic and conventional modes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Daily banking stock data spanning November 2018 to November 2023, encompassing two major crises—COVID-19 and the Russian-Ukraine war—were analyzed. Using the frequency TVP-VAR approach, the study reveals that average total connectedness for both banking groups exceeds 50%, with short-run risk transmission dominating over long-term effects. Graphical visualizations highlight time-varying connectedness, driven predominantly by short-run spillovers, with similar patterns observed in both Islamic and conventional banking networks. The main contribution of this paper is the insight that long-term investment strategies are crucial for mitigating potential risks in the Saudi banking system, given its limited diversification opportunities.

The relationship between new-quality productivity and educational equity is characterized by close mutual influence and co-evolution. Driven by technological innovation, new-quality productivity is profoundly transforming the economic and social landscape. Educational equity, a crucial component of social justice, is vital for ensuring equal development opportunities for all individuals. The robust growth of new-quality productivity not only optimizes the distribution of educational resources and enhances educational quality but also poses new challenges and demands for equity in education. In turn, the continuous advancement of educational equity provides a solid talent foundation and a conducive environment for innovation to new-quality productivity. These two aspects intertwine and progress together in various domains, including policy systems, cultural values, and educational practices. This interplay highlights the central role of new-quality productivity and educational equity in societal development, while also demonstrating their dynamic and complementary relationship.