Sustainability

Rapid urbanization has intensified ecological degradation and threatened ecosystem sustainability in the Yangtze River Basin. This study proposes a Function-Structure-Dynamic (FSD) framework integrating ecological protection importance assessment, ecological security pattern (ESP) construction, and future land-use simulation to identify ecological restoration priorities in the Anhui section of the Yangtze River Basin. Ecologically important areas were identified by coupling ecosystem services and ecological vulnerability. MSPA, landscape connectivity analysis, resistance surface modeling, and circuit theory were applied to construct the ESP, while the PLUS model simulated land-use change and ecological risks in 2032. Results identified 37 ecological sources covering 6,901.39 km{superscript 2} and 84 ecological corridors with a total length of 916.80 km. Ecological pinch points, barrier areas, and 17 ecological warning areas were further delineated. Based on these findings, four ecological restoration zones were proposed with differentiated management strategies. The FSD framework effectively integrates ecological functions, spatial structure, and future dynamics, providing scientific support for ecological restoration and sustainable territorial spatial planning in rapidly urbanizing regions.

OBJECTIVE To examine parents perceptions regarding the introduction of a social media ban for children and to identify factors associated with these attitudes. METHOD A cross-sectional study was carried out in Greece in April 2026. Potential predictors of parents views on a social media ban included (a) sociodemographic variables (such as gender, age, educational attainment, and financial status), (b) social media usage patterns (number of accounts, daily usage duration, and posting frequency), and (c) level of political engagement (how often participants follow political news and discuss political issues). Outcome variables comprised parents agreement with the ban, level of awareness about its implementation, perceived necessity for additional measures, confidence in the ban effectiveness, perceived effects on children lives, and parents familiarity with digital parental control tools. RESULTS Overall, 68.0% of parents supported implementing a social media ban for children under 15. A large majority (91.8%) expressed the need for more governmental information regarding the ban. Additionally, 89.3% believed that further measures beyond the ban are required to effectively address the issue. Suggested measures included digital literacy courses in schools (86.1%), active parental involvement in digital literacy (74.6%), prohibition of inappropriate content (77.9%), reasonable parental limits on social media use (73.8%), and restriction of addictive platform features (73.0%). Older parents demonstrated greater confidence in the effectiveness of the ban. Furthermore, age, financial status, number of social media accounts, and time spent online were positively associated with perceived impacts of the ban. Younger age was linked to greater parental familiarity with digital control tools, while having more social media accounts was also positively associated with such familiarity. CONCLUSIONS There is a clear need for comprehensive, evidence-based policy approaches that combine regulation, education, and shared responsibility among stakeholders. Policymakers should leverage existing public support for child protection while investing in digital literacy initiatives, empowering parents, and strengthening regulatory oversight of social media platforms to achieve long-term and equitable results.

Greenspace has been associated with a wide range of health outcomes and conditions related to functional limitation and disability. Yet less is known about how the spatial morphology of greenspace relates to disability prevalence across different stages of the life course. This study examines associations between greenspace morphology and disability prevalence among children, working-age adults, and older adults in urban census tracts across the contiguous United States. Using national land-cover data, we quantified morphological metrics at the census-tract level, including greenspace percentage, density, mean size, connectedness, shape complexity, inter-greenspace distance, and diversity. These indicators were linked with age-specific disability prevalence obtained from the American Community Survey. Spatial lag regression models were used to account for spatial dependence while adjusting for socio-demographic and contextual characteristics. Across age groups, higher greenspace percentage was consistently associated with lower disability prevalence (children: {beta} = -0.081, 95% CI: -0.096 to -0.066; adults: {beta} = -0.804, -0.858 to -0.750; older adults: {beta} = -1.132, -1.250 to -1.013). Among children, patch density ({beta} = -0.045, -0.061 to -0.029), mean patch area ({beta} = -0.029, -0.040 to -0.018), connectedness ({beta} = -0.051, -0.069 to -0.032), diversity ({beta} = -0.036, -0.051 to -0.020), and inter-greenspace distance ({beta} = 0.056, 0.039 to 0.073) were all associated with disability prevalence, whereas shape complexity was not ({beta} = 0.004, -0.010 to 0.018). Among working-age adults, associations were observed for mean area ({beta} = -0.023, -0.090 to -0.002), connectedness ({beta} = -0.127, -0.243 to -0.011), shape complexity ({beta} = -0.123, -0.174 to -0.072), diversity ({beta} = -0.146, -0.201 to -0.091), and inter-greenspace distance ({beta} = 0.151, 0.059 to 0.242), whereas patch density was not significantly associated with disability prevalence ({beta} = -0.013, -0.048 to 0.022). In older adults, all examined greenspace morphology metrics showed significant associations with disability prevalence, including patch density ({beta} = -0.445, -0.842 to -0.049), diversity ({beta} = -0.126, -0.188 to -0.065), and inter-greenspace distance ({beta} = 0.455, 0.409 to 0.501). Overall, the findings suggest that higher greenspace percentage, larger patch size, greater connectedness, greater diversity, and more spatially clustered greenspace distributions are associated with lower disability prevalence across the life course, although the strength and consistency of these associations varied across age groups. The study provides national-scale evidence for incorporating greenspace morphology into urban planning and public health strategies to support more inclusive and health-supportive urban environments.

Effective group work is central to Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in higher education, yet the optimal strategy for forming student groups remains unclear. This study compared MBTI based grouping, informed by personality types and Keirsey temperaments, with Learning Style Based (LSB) grouping, grounded in Kolbs Experiential Learning Theory, to assess their impact on group functioning and role performance. Participants were undergraduate students enrolled in Cell Biology (Fall 2022 and Fall 2023) and Introduction to Biology Laboratory (Fall 2023) courses. Students completed MBTI and Kolb Learning Style assessments, and groups and roles (Leader, Communicator, Organizer) were assigned accordingly. Results indicated that LSB-based groups consistently outperformed MBTI-based groups across multiple performance metrics, including productivity, listening, sense of safety, belonging, and overall satisfaction. All metrics showed statistically significant decreases in MBTI based groups except contribution, which did not differ significantly between grouping strategies. Role performance ratings were significantly higher for Leaders and Communicators in LSB groups, while no significant differences were observed for the Organizer role. Correlation analyses revealed that satisfaction was strongly associated with perceived productivity in MBTI based groups, whereas in LSB based groups, satisfaction was more strongly correlated with psychological safety. These findings suggest that learning style alignment may better support effective collaboration and group climate in PBL settings than personality based grouping.

Governments, civil society organizations and businesses often lack the biodiversity data they need for decision-making and adaptive management, impacting their planning, reporting and performance. We explored the biodiversity data needs of such actors in Colombia, Ghana and Switzerland to identify factors affecting data availability and use. Responses to questionnaire surveys showed that the data types with the biggest gaps between user needs and access were progress on conservation or sustainability actions, species populations, habitat state and ecological risk. The most frequent data blockages related to inadequate resources and organizational capacity. Obstacles significantly associated with a lack of primary data included an absence of organizational biodiversity goals and monitoring systems. Problems accessing habitat quality and species abundance data were associated with data collection methods being unknown or unavailable. Businesses were more likely than other groups to need data on threats, perhaps reflecting the increasing importance of environmental risk to the corporate sector. Businesses are less likely to collect primary data or use secondary data and are significantly more likely to be unclear on what biodiversity indicators to use. Non-business organizations are significantly more likely to be unable to access data because of a lack of funding for data collection, analysis, and use. Our results highlight the need for stakeholders across sectors to work together to find common solutions to build and invest in monitoring capacity that unblocks the flow of biodiversity data.

The focus was on leadership, mentoring and promotion. Using short, structured activities alongside small-group discussion, the participants were encouraged to reflect on leadership, mentoring and the perceived gap between being ready and being recognised for promotion. Descriptive survey findings and free-text reflections highlight the demand for structured peer support, reciprocal mentoring opportunities, and clearer, more transparent promotion processes. Following the event, we performed a structured review of the impact. This highlighted that the workshop participants reported that the event allowed for greater self-awareness into their own leadership approaches, a stronger commitment to purposeful mentoring, and greater confidence and renewed motivation to take concrete steps towards promotion.

This study investigated how different forms of task influence the oral performance of Chinese second-language learners and native speakers. By analyzing data from 40 Chinese second-language learners and 40 native speakers through picture description tasks, formal and informal questions, and questions with different emotions (happy and unhappy), it was found that different task characteristics significantly affected language performance. Short picture tasks led to higher communication efficiency and noun rates but more errors, while long story tasks showed higher verb rates, function word rates, etc. Formal questions had more characters and nouns but lower communication efficiency compared to informal ones. Also, happy emotion questions resulted in fewer characters, sentences, and errors than unhappy emotion questions. These findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of task-based language performance in Chinese as a second language and offer practical implications for teaching, textbook compilation, and student evaluation.

Urban green spaces are increasingly recognised as important refuges for biodiversity, yet their ecological value depends strongly on design and management. Here, we investigate how fine-scale structural and microhabitat components shape urban ant assemblages, using ants as indicators of broader arthropod responses to urbanisation. Ant communities were sampled in twelve urban green spaces in Cordoba (southern Spain) over a ten-year period (2004 to 2013) using pitfall traps, alongside detailed characterisation of vegetation structure and ground-layer microhabitats. In total, 38 species and 25,578 individuals were recorded. Microhabitat variables explained 58% of the variation in species occurrence. Community differences among microhabitats were driven primarily by nestedness, with dense herbaceous cover acting as a core habitat and edge-related components contributing disproportionately to beta diversity. Tree abundance showed a unimodal relationship with species richness, with maximum diversity at intermediate densities, while shrub and lawn cover had weak or inconsistent effects. Fine-scale elements such as leaf litter, stones, woody debris, and small bare-ground patches strongly influenced species occurrence by providing thermal refugia, nesting substrates, and foraging opportunities. The invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) exhibited strong but spatially restricted dominance and species-specific negative effects on native ants, emphasising the role of habitat context in mediating invasion impacts. Our results demonstrate that urban biodiversity is maximised by enhancing fine-scale habitat heterogeneity rather than increasing green cover alone. We highlight practical design principles for urban green infrastructure that prioritise structural diversity and ground-layer complexity to support resilient arthropod communities.

Racial equity remains a critical challenge in postsecondary science education, as Black students experience higher attrition rates and diminished well-being compared to their White peers. While active learning has been shown to reduce failure rates and narrow achievement gaps, the interpersonal affordances and constraints of peer discussions within these settings remain underexplored for Black students. Grounded in Critical Race Theory and utilizing the analytical lenses of racial microaggressions, microaffirmations, and Community Cultural Wealth, this study addresses this issue by investigating the racialized interpersonal experiences of Black students in active learning college science classrooms. Through semi-structured interviews, this study explores the nature of both exclusionary and affirming peer interactions and how students navigate these dynamics. Findings reveal that Black students frequently encounter racialized microaggressions--manifestations of macro-level anti-Blackness-- in the classroom which contribute to isolation and racial battle fatigue. Conversely, students describe instances of microaffirmations, predominantly through small counterspaces created by and for other students of color, which validate their intellectual contributions and foster a sense of belonging. Despite facing these tensions, participants advocate for active learning as a beneficial practice, provided that instructors implement explicit, equitable structures and facilitate culturally responsive classroom climates. These findings offer actionable implications for researchers and practitioners to design more inclusive active learning environments by explicitly addressing interpersonal dynamics, promoting cultural competence, and co-constructing humanizing science classroom climates.

Undergraduate research experiences offer important paths into scientific research careers, yet students do not experience them uniformly. For Black women, these experiences occur within racialized and gendered environments that may shape whether they perceive research careers as attainable. Yet little is known about these influences, including how mentors, role models, and institutional contexts, could support or limit Black womens beliefs about research career attainability. To advance our understanding of these influences, we conducted interviews with 23 Black women who participated in undergraduate research at 18 institutions in the United States, including historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and predominantly White institutions (PWIs). We conducted qualitative content analysis to understand Black women undergraduate researchers perceptions of the attainability of a scientific research career, including the influences of their mentors, role models, and institutional context. Three main themes emerged. First, Black women undergraduates varied in the importance they placed on sharing racial and gender identities with mentors and role models; some viewed such similarities as highly meaningful while others described them as less influential. Second, Black women undergraduates described that mentors and role models who shared similar life experiences, values, attitudes, or beliefs contributed to perceptions that scientific research careers were attainable, regardless of gender or racial similarity. Third, institutional context (HBCU, PWI) shaped how mentoring and role modeling influenced Black women undergraduates perceptions of research career attainability. We conclude by offering recommendations for individuals seeking to support Black women in undergraduate research and in their pursuit of research careers.

Background: Returnee migrants in Nigeria often face significant psychosocial and economic challenges during reintegration, necessitating resilience to adapt and recover. This study examined factors influencing resilience among returnee migrants in Nigeria. Methodology: A mixed methods design was employed, involving 1316 returnees selected through multistage sampling across Nigeria six geopolitical zones. Quantitative data were collected using the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale and analyzed using SPSS version 28. Qualitative data was obtained through eight focus group discussions and analyzed thematically. Result: Social support from family and friends was inconsistent (70.8% reported occasional support), while community support was largely absent (85.9%). Financial insecurity was widespread (gt 90%). Male gender (AOR = 6.092, plt 0.001), ethnicity, and higher education were significant predictors of resilience. Qualitative findings highlighted the role of family support, faith, adaptive coping, and skill acquisition in strengthening resilience. Conclusion: Resilience among returnee migrants in Nigeria is limited by weak structural and economic support, despite moderate personal coping capacity. Strengthening economic opportunities, community integration, and access to mental health services is essential for sustainable reintegration. Keywords: Returnee migrants, resilience, Reintegration, and psychosocial factors.

Background: Obesity is a major global public health challenge, and teachers play a critical role in school-based health promotion. This study examined the perceived impact of a web-based educational program on metabolism and obesity delivered to Brazilian school teachers. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 217 teachers who responded to the evaluation questionnaire after attending the course between 2017 and 2022. Statistical analyses included logistic regression and chi-square tests. Findings: Course completion rate was 81.98%, substantially exceeding the 5-15% typical of global MOOCs. However, ethnic disparities were observed: White respondents were 4.95 times more likely to complete the course than Black respondents (p=0.00097) and Brown respondents were 3.05 times more likely (p=0.0268) than Black respondents. Among non-completers, lack of time (64.7%) was the primary barrier. Participation was concentrated in Sao Paulo (77%), with no respondents from three northern states. Perceived difficulty showed a non-significant trend (p=0.0893) where by Black respondents had the lowest predicted difficulty; the most challenging course material was Scientific Content/Reading papers (50%). Completion was strongly associated with applying learned activities in teaching (p<2.2x10-16); 57.1% of completers implemented health-promoting activities, most commonly games, healthy eating, and combined diet-physical activity habits. Completers also reported significant improvements in lifestyle decisions (p=1.76x10-21) and healthy habits (p=9.35x10-77), including better diet and increased physical activity. Conclusion and interpretation: Course completion was associated with reported improvements in diet, physical activity, nutrition knowledge, and teaching practices among Brazilian teachers. However, marked ethnic and regional disparities were observed. White teachers were nearly five times more likely to complete the course than Black teachers. The absence of respondents from northern states reveals that scalability without equity widens existing gaps. Online access to free courses alone does not democratize education; mitigating ethnic and regional disparities must be a priority for digital health interventions.

Nepal's rangelands provide multiple benefits, including support for pastoral livelihoods and alpine biodiversity, regulation of water and soil nutrients, and sequestering carbon. Climate change and anthropogenic pressures are altering these rangelands, leading to vegetation and biodiversity change. However, national-scale assessments of rangeland change are limited in Nepal. This study quantified rangeland changes at multiple spatial scales and assessed the climatic and non-climatic drivers of rangeland change. About 80.7% of Nepal's high-altitude rangeland (> 2,000m) outside protected areas showed no significant change. Among areas exhibiting significant annual maximum NDVI trends, 383,281 ha (18.6%) showed positive and 14,702 ha (0.7%) showed negative trends, corresponding the ratio of increase in vegetation greenness and decline in vegetation greenness to 26:1. Climate predicted positive trends covered 627,184 ha (30.5%), whereas residual trends caused by non-climatic drivers covered 94,656 ha (4.6%). Climate induced negative trends covered 47,609 ha (2.3%) while residual trends were observed in 6,260 ha (0.3%). Negative trend pixels were concentrated mainly within the 3,000 to 5,000 m elevation band, with Karnali Province recording the highest proportional climate predicted decline in vegetation greenness (3.4%). At the municipality scale, rangeland change showed no significant relationship with grazing pressure derived from gridded livestock data, suggesting that grazing pressure alone did not explain the non-climatic vegetation signal. These spatially explicit, nationally consistent results identify where rangeland change is occurring and help distinguish climatic and non-climatic drivers of rangeland vegetation change, providing evidence to support targeted rangeland management under Nepal's federal governance structure.

Concerns raised by ubiquitate plastic contamination are urging to develop alternative materials. In the recent years, bio-sourced polymers also coined as "bioplastics" have been proposed to mitigate plastic pollution while meeting industrial and commercial expectations. Like petro-sourced plastics, they are expected to break-down in the environment into fragments down to sub-micron size. However, only scarce data are available on the impacts of such biosourced nanoplastics once released into the environment. This study examines the effects on aquatic species of model nanoplastics made from several bio-sourced polymers (Bio-NPs) that are either already on market (PHA, PLA, PA11) or still under development (NIPU, PCAR). We exposed three species of micro-algae (at 10, 100, and 1000 {micro}g/L, for 24 and 48 hours, and one week) to test the effects of Bio-NPs on algal growth. We also exposed freshwater bivalves C. fluminea (at 1, 10 and 100 {micro}g/L, for one week) to test the filtration activity and gene expressions in response to Bio-NPs exposure. All five Bio-NPs tested generated growth inhibitions in at least one of the three algae tested. PLA and PA11 were the most deleterious ones for algal growth among the five tested Bio-NPs. The highest growth inhibitions were observed on the fresh water species D. subspicatus. Each Bio-NP tested resulted in significant decreases of the filtration rates of C. fluminea. PHA impaired filtration at the lowest concentrations tested (1 {micro}g/L), whereas PCAR, PA11 and NIPU led to significant effects only at higher concentrations (10 and 100 {micro}g/L). The results from gene expressions in C. fluminea showed strong inductions of all gene functions tested for all the five bio-NPs tested. These Bio-NPs triggered endocytosis and detoxification mechanisms. They impaired the mitochondrial metabolism and triggered oxidative stress and immune responses. PA11, NIPU and PHA exposures resulted in the strongest gene regulations. The present study brings brand new findings about a kind of nanoplastics that may be released into the environment in a near future as the use of bioplastics is growing fast. It will help better understanding the impacts of such fragmented bioplastic NPs on aquatic species.

BackgroundMangrove forests are crucial ecosystems which support biodiversity, protect coastlines and store vast amounts of carbon. Mangrove conservation and protection rely on accurate carbon accounting to unlock investment. However, the allometric equations underpinning these carbon estimates remain poorly constrained, particularly for the large trees. MethodsWe used terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to estimate the biomass of 187 mangrove stems across Suriname, Panama, Colombia and Jamaica, including 84 stems >20 cm DBH. TLS-derived biomass estimates were used to evaluate local, regional and pantropical allometric equations. ResultsMost diameter-based allometric equations underestimated biomass by 8-65%. Equations additionally incorporating tree height performed better, but still underestimated biomass by 12-16% on average. Applying alternative allometries to a representative mangrove inventory from Panama produced biomass estimates ranging from 80 to 200 Mg ha-{superscript 1}, demonstrating that allometric uncertainty alone can generate more than a two-fold difference in estimated carbon stocks. ConclusionsCurrent allometric equations systematically underestimate the biomass of large mangrove trees and are therefore likely to underestimate mangrove carbon stocks. TLS provides a practical, non-destructive approach for expanding biomass datasets and improving allometric equations. Reducing allometric uncertainty should be a priority for strengthening blue carbon accounting and mangrove conservation.

Abstract Background: Stunting at birth reflects impaired fetal growth and increases the risk of adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. Evidence on regional variations in determinants of stunting at birth in Indonesia remains limited. This study identified sociodemographic, and household environmental determinants of stunting at birth at both the national and regional levels. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2024 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI), including 28,982 children aged 0-23 months. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted nationally and across seven regions: Sumatra, Java-Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Results: The prevalence of stunting at birth was 5.53%, with the highest prevalence in Sulawesi (8.02%). Nationally, household crowding was the only factor significantly associated with stunting at birth after adjustment. Regional analyses revealed considerable variation in associated factors. In Sumatra, urban residence was associated with lower odds of stunting at birth (aOR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.55-0.97), while children from the lowest wealth quintile had higher odds (aOR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.03-3.06). In Java-Bali, low maternal nutritional knowledge was associated with increased odds of stunting at birth (aOR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.02-2.66). In Nusa Tenggara, limited drinking water services (aOR: 2.35; 95% CI: 1.09-5.07) and limited sanitation services (aOR: 2.34; 95% CI: 1.28-4.26) were associated with higher odds of stunting at birth. Conclusions: Determinants of stunting at birth differed across Indonesian regions. While household crowding emerged as a national determinant, socioeconomic factors were more important in Sumatra, maternal nutritional knowledge in Java-Bali, and environmental conditions in Nusa Tenggara. These findings highlight the need for region-specific strategies to prevent stunting from the prenatal period.

Although a strand of scholarship on pandemic prevention flourished in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a theoretically informed empirical analysis of global governance entrepreneurs and practitioner perspectives is lacking. This gap is salient given the need to consider the nuances, political realities, and feasibility of real-world governance practice, particularly with the recent adoption of the Pandemic Agreement under the World Health Organisation. In this paper, nexus governance and regime complex theory guides an analysis of recommendations for potential real-world governance responses for pandemic prevention from wildlife trade for human consumption elicited from global governance entrepreneurs and practitioners through semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Recommendations on future governance practice largely focused on strengthening coordination across various policy sectors to improve use of existing institutional arrangements, with particular emphasis on better integration of the biodiversity conservation policy sector within global pandemic prevention governance, as well as reform of the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora. With governance deficits for prevention of pandemics emerging from the wildlife trade left by the now largely concluded Pandemic Agreement, a renewed research agenda on shared governance pathways becomes paramount.

This brief work discusses potential superspreading events that may occur during the World Cup in Mexico. The study is particularly focused on the city of Guadalajara due to a large recent outbreak in January and February and insufficient vaccine coverage prior to 2026. Keywords: Superspreading; measles outbreak; branching process; individual reproduction number; World Cup

Introduction: Waste pickers face chemical exposures. We evaluated whether chemical exposure is associated with psychological distress and depression. Methods: A 2017 cross-sectional survey included 1,141 waste pickers working in the Estrutural open dump in Brasilia, Brazil. Participants self-reported occupational exposure to 11 chemical categories, 17 psychological distress symptoms, and depression diagnoses. Associations of chemical exposure with mean psychological distress scores and depression prevalence were assessed, adjusted for age, sex, marital status, and income. Results: Mean psychological distress score was higher among those exposed to any chemical (mean of 8.1 vs 6.1; adjusted mean difference [aMD]: 1.8 [0.9, 2.7]) and higher among those exposed to each of 11 chemical categories, for example, smoke (aMD: 1.2 [0.6, 1.7]), batteries (aMD: 1.5 [1.0, 1.9], and oils (aMD: 1.3 [0.9, 1.8]). Depression was more prevalent among those exposed to oils (16.6% vs 10.6%; adjusted prevalence difference [aPD]: 6.3% [95% CI: 2.3, 10.2]), cleaning products (aPD: 5.4% [1.2, 9.5]), medications (aPD: 4.7% [0.6, 8.8]), and aerosols (aPD: 5.3% [1.3, 9.3]) but, not smoke, batteries, greases, insecticides, solvents, paints, chemical containers, or any chemical. Conclusion: These associations highlight the need to consider policy level protections for waste pickers to reduce chemical exposure and guard against psychological distress. Further research is necessary to explore which specific chemicals, within broad chemical categories, are associated with psychological distress and depression.

This scientific study aims to assess the level of awareness, nutritional knowledge, and actual behavioral practices among pregnant women in the Capital District of Sanaa, Republic of Yemen, and to determine their impact on the health and clinical indicators of the mother and fetus under complex conflict conditions. The study employed a descriptive-analytical approach based on a simple random sample of 200 pregnant women attending government-run hospitals and specialized medical centers in the Capital District. Field data were collected during December 2025 using a structured and validated questionnaire consisting of 42 items measuring demographic variables, awareness, practices, barriers, and health outcomes. The results of the statistical analysis using SPSS software showed a high level of nutritional awareness (87%) and healthy dietary practices (80%) among the sample participants. Simple and multiple linear regression tests revealed a statistically significant effect of awareness and practices in explaining 20.2% of the variance in the health status of the mother and fetus (R{superscript 2}= 0.204, p < 0.001). The study demonstrated that actual behavioral practices have greater predictive power ({beta}=0.316, p=0.001) compared to theoretical cognitive awareness ({beta}=0.232, p=0.005) in determining clinical outcomes for the mother and fetus, highlighting the widening gap between knowledge and behavior under structural pressures. "Morning sickness" (80%) and the deterioration of "family economic status" (71%) emerged as the greatest physiological and material barriers to proper nutrition. With their inferential impact established as an extension of the maternal-fetal resource allocation conflict in a physiologically and economically challenging environment, the study also identified significant differences in nutritional behavior and health outcomes in favor of housewives and mothers who are more educated and have higher incomes, while no significant differences were recorded attributable to obstetric variables such as stage or order of pregnancy. The study offers a unique theoretical and practical contribution by formulating an integrated causal model that demonstrates that the fetus acts as a biological drain on the mothers cellular and mineral reserves in a war environment, which necessitates directing antenatal care and support programs toward effective behavioral empowerment and nutritional support to overcome the structural and material barriers faced by pregnant women.