The potential of entrepreneurship to reduce poverty is closely tied to critical factors such as access to finance, training and education, networks and social capital, and supportive regulatory environments. Understanding and addressing these underlying issues through the lens of the Social Capital theory can help foster an entrepreneurial spirit in cities and mitigate poverty through business and community development. This paper explores the insights and standpoints of key stakeholders about poverty in Saint John and its impact on entrepreneurship. The study uses a quantitative method and analyzes data from surveys with stakeholders. The results show that social isolation, system inflexibility, individual issues, housing, and financial support programs are significant poverty challenges in Saint John, and these issues have implications for entrepreneurship. By integrating Social Capital Theory into policy initiatives, policymakers can enhance community resilience and empower vulnerable individuals. This application of social capital principles provides a holistic framework for designing effective poverty-reduction measures, offering transformative insights applicable not only to Saint John but also to diverse small cities. The study contributes a nuanced understanding of poverty’s impact on entrepreneurship, advocating for inclusive strategies that resonate with the social fabric of communities.

Horticulture is a widespread activity in family farming in the Transamazonian region—Pará, with emphasis on production aimed at the family’s own consumption. The lettuce cultivar Vanda (Lactuca sativa L.) represents a significant part of this production, which prioritizes the use of internal labor. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the development of lettuce CV Vanda grown in beds using organic compost and chemical fertilization (NPK). The criteria considered to evaluate this performance were: Root system development, plant height and total fresh mass production. The best averages in relation to root development occurred in the plots cultivated with organic compost in the proportion of 5 kg/m², due to its characteristics as a fertilizer and soil conditioner. The cultivation with the use of NPK provided the best averages in relation to the production of total fresh mass and plant height, results that were mainly attributed to the extra supply of nitrogen in the covering fertilization, which consisted in the addition of 10 g urea per square meter via soil. Statistical analysis showed no statistically significant difference regarding plant height for both treatments. And in relation to root development, the difference was statistically significant.

The Western capitalist system is an important part of the economy and society of the contemporary world, and it has played a huge role in the past few centuries. Nonetheless, with the continuous development of globalization, technological revolution and social change, the Western capitalist system is also facing a series of difficulties and new changes. This paper aims to explore the dilemma facing the Western capitalist system today, and to analyze and discuss the new changes.

This study employs logistic regression to investigate determinants influencing active living among elderly individuals, with “Active Living” (1 = Active, 0 = Inactive) as the dependent variable. Analysing data from 500 participants, findings reveal significant associations between active living and variables such as chronic conditions (OR = 0.29, p < 0.001), mental well-being (OR = 1.57, p < 0.001), social support (OR = 5.75, p < 0.001), access to parks/recreational facilities (OR = 2.59, p < 0.001), income levels (OR = 1.82, p = 0.003), cultural attitudes (OR = 2.72, p < 0.001), and self-efficacy (OR = 2.01, p < 0.001). These findings highlight the complex interplay of factors influencing active living among elderly populations. Recommendations include implementing targeted interventions to manage chronic conditions, enhance mental well-being, strengthen social networks, improve access to recreational spaces, provide economic support for fitness activities, promote positive cultural attitudes towards aging, and empower older adults through self-efficacy programs. Such interventions are crucial for promoting healthier aging and fostering sustained engagement in physical activity among older adults.

The performance of five cauliflower cultivars in conventional and alternative phytosanitary management—without the use of synthetic pesticides—was evaluated. Two experiments were conducted at Epagri, Ituporanga Experimental Station in February 2018 and 2019. A randomized block design with four repetitions was adopted, with twenty plants of each cultivar as plots. The seedlings were transplanted on millet and mucuna straw at a spacing of 0.5 m × 0.8 m. We evaluated agronomic yield, inflorescence quality, pest damage and plant diseases, especially bacterial and fungal rots. The cauliflower hybrids Vera, Verona and Serena stood out in productivity and quality, being the most indicated for sowing in off-season crops, in the Alto Vale do Itajaí region. The most productive cultivars were less damaged by bacterial diseases and defoliating caterpillars and without interference of whitefly infestation on yield. The results also reveal that it is possible to control pests and diseases with phytosanitary products of lower toxicity, i.e., with lower residues of synthetic pesticides.

Nanoporous nickel has been prepared by electrodeposition using non-ionic surfactant based liquid crystalline template under optimized processing conditions. Physicochemical properties of nanoporous nickel are systematically characterized through XRD, SEM and AFM analyses. Comparison of electrocatalytic activity of nanoporous nickel with smooth nickel was interrogated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses. Distinctly enhanced electrocatalytic activity with improved surface poisoning resistance related to nanoporous nickel electrode towards methanol oxidation stems from unique nanoporous morphology. This nanoporous morphology with high surface to volume ratio is highly beneficial to promote active catalytic centers to offer readily accessible Pt catalytic sites for MOR, through facilitating mass and electron transports.