Research advances on the multiple uses of Moringa oleifera: a sustainable alternative for socially neglected population

Moringa oleifera Lam(Moringaceae) is a plant with high nutritional and medicinal value. Native to India, it is now widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Its different parts are sources of proteins, vitamins and minerals and present different pharmacological and biotechnological potential. Moreover, M. oleifera seeds are widely used in water and effluent treatment, for their coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation properties, their ability of improving water quality, by reducing organic matter and microbial load, with special applicability in intensive animal production systems, such as aquaculture. In addition, due to its high nutritional value and several medicinal properties, this tree may act as a nutritional and medical alternative for socially neglected populations. In this context, this review gathers information on M. oleifera, emphasizing its chemical constituents, nutritional, pharmacological and antimicrobial properties, applications in the treatment of water effluents, and ecological and social aspects.

Public Understanding of and Attitudes towards Science & Technology in China

China Association for Science and Technology （CAST） began the research and survey of the Chinese Public Understanding of Science and Technology at the beginning of the 1990s with the help of Prof. Jon D. Miller, then Director of US National Public Opinion Research Center and Longitudinal Studies of the Youth at the Illinois University.

Exploring factors of disaster preparedness in UNESCO-designated heritage sites

Increased hazards threatening the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO)-designated sites and endangering cultural heritage and community well-being require attention and action.Con-sidering the pivotal role of UNESCO sites in conservation and development,this study assessed their levels of disaster preparedness.The absence of studies assessing disaster awareness,risk perception,and preparedness among UNESCO site actors,as well as the pivotal place of preparedness within the Disaster Risk Management(DRM)cycle justifies this research.Applying the tenets of the Person-Relative-to-Event framework,we hypothe-sized that a strong positive correlation exists between perceived risks,resources,and disaster preparedness.To collect pertinent data,we employed an embedded mixed-method design and conducted an online questionnaire survey yielding 141 responses from 59 countries.From the results of relevant analyses,wildfires,floods,and droughts are top hazards occurring frequently in UNESCO sites,with significant concerns about pollution and habitat loss during future events.Smartphones emerged as the most available crucial DRM resource,with higher availability of DRM resources correlating positively and significantly with sites’preparedness.Our findings con-tribute valuable insights to address missing links for disaster-ready and resilient UNESCO sites,promoting their preservation for future generations.

Perspectives and Challenges of Family Members in Providing Mental Support to Cancer Patients:A Qualitative Study in Beijing,China

This study explores the perspectives and challenges faced by family members providing mental support to cancer patients in Beijing,China.The primary objective is to understand the emotional and practical roles family members undertake and the difficulties they encounter.Utilizing a qualitative research design,data were collected through semi-structured interviews with family caregivers of cancer patients.Thematic analysis revealed several key themes:the dual burden of emotional support and caregiving responsibilities,the impact on daily life and personal well-being,the role and effectiveness of external support systems,perceptions of medical staff support,and the common challenges and conflicts faced in caregiving.The findings highlight the critical need for comprehensive support systems that address both the emotional and practical needs of family caregivers.Recommendations for enhancing family-centered support programs in oncology settings are discussed.

Chinese public understanding of the use of agricultural biotechnology—A case study from Zhejiang Province of China

This study explores the Chinese public’s perceptions of, and attitudes to, agriculture and food applications of bio-technology; and investigates the effect of socio-demographic factors on attitudes. A questionnaire survey and interviews were used in an attempt to combine quantitative analysis with qualitative review. The main finding of this study is that the Chinese population has a superficial, optimistic attitude to agricultural biotechnology; and that, in accordance with public attitudes, a cautious policy, with obligatory labelling, should be adopted. The study reveals that education is the factor among socio-demographic variables with the strongest impact on public attitudes. Higher education leads to a more positive evaluation of GM (genetically modified) foods and applications of biotechnology with respect to usefulness, moral acceptability, and suitability for encouragement. In addition, public attitudinal differences depend significantly on area of residence. Compared with their more urban compatriots, members of the public in less developed areas of China have more optimistic attitudes, perceive more benefits, and are more risk tolerant in relation to GM foods and agricultural biotechnology. Finally we obtained a very high rate of “don’t know” answers to our survey questions. This suggests that many people do not have settled attitudes, and correspondingly, that the overall public attitude to agricultural biotechnology and GM foods in China is at present somewhat unstable.

Efficacy of a combination of dutasteride, tadalafil, and solifenacin in the treatment of previously unsuccessful patients

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of simultaneous administration of dutasteride,tadalafil and solifenacin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)with overactive bladder symptoms and lower urinary tract obstruction in previously unsuccessfully treated men.Methods Patients in Group A(n=97)received dutasteride 0.5 mg/day,tadalafil 2.5 mg/day,and solifenacin 2.5 mg/day;Group B(n=95)received dutasteride 0.5 mg/day,tadalafil 5 mg/day,and solifenacin 5 mg/day;Group C(n=103)received dutasteride 0.5 mg/day,tadalafil 20 mg/day,and solifenacin 10 mg/day.The functional status of the lower urinary tract was assessed using the International Prostate Symptom Score(I-PSS),Overactive Bladder Questionnaire(OABq),International Index of Erectile Function(IIEF),and Male Sexual Health Questionnaire Ejaculatory Dysfunction(MSHQ-EjD)as well as uroflowmetry.Results The total score of the sexual function remained unchanged in Group B of patients 81.3 points vs.80.2 points(p>0.05)according to MSHQ-EjD,61.4 points vs.51.2 points(p>0.05)according to IIEF data.The total assessment of symptoms of hyperactivity significantly decreased in Group C according to OABq data after the 4th week of the study(17.5 points vs.26.1 points,p<0.05)and remained below the baseline until the end of the study(15.2 points).Conclusions The simultaneous administration of standard doses of dutasteride,solifenacin,and tadalafil for 3 months is safe,effective,and can be recommended for patients with BPH to reduce symptoms of obstruction and hyperactivity of the bladder and maintain sexual function.

ON SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL CHANGES OF PRESENT URBAN POPULATION IN CHINA

Since 1949, great changes have taken place in the amount and distribution of China’s urban population. From the analysis on the change in total urban population, it can be learnt that urbanization progress can be controlled mainly by social-economic development and government policy through influencing the migratory growth of urban population and the number of organic cities. In the period 1949-1990, the states of megalopolises had gone up; medium-sized cities had decreased. It is estimated that the total urban population of China will still increase at a rapid speed in the coming 10 years; there will not be great changes in grade system of urban scale; and urban population may shows a tendency to move to coastal area.

Mental accounting and consumption of self-produced food

This is an exploratory study on mental accounting and food budgeting of agricultural households,in which we assumed that agricultural households may have a mental account for consumption of their self-produced food.Accordingly,they may reserve a certain quantity of self-produced food as a set budget for own consumption,implying that they may keep on consuming their own produce until they have consumed the quantity set for the mental budget.By making the mental accounting assumption,we hypothesized that the consumption of self-produced food is independent of market price.Also,we hypothesized that the consumption of self-produced food is increasing in the quantity of production if production is lower than the set budget,and independent of the quantity of production if production exceeds the set budget.By applying a double-log demand model and using survey data from six poor rural counties in China,we tested these hypotheses for five food items,which are rice,flour,potatoes,pork,and eggs.We found that the hypothesis of no significant effect of price holds for flour,potatoes,and pork if production is lower than the set budget,and for rice,pork,and eggs if production is higher than the set budget.Production has a significant positive effect on consumption of selfproduced food but with a much greater influence when production is lower than the set budget for all five food items.These findings partly support our assumption of mental accounting of self-produced food.Limitations,policy implications,and possible future studies are discussed.

Investigating the causes of Lake Urmia shrinkage:climate change or anthropogenic factors?

In the current scenario,Lake Urmia,one of the vastest hyper saline lakes on the Earth,has been affected by serious environmental degradation.Using different satellite images and observational data,this study investigated the changes in the lake for the period 1970–2020 based on the effects of climate change and several human-induced processes on Lake Urmia,such as population growth,excessive dam construction,low irrigation water use efficiency,poor water resources management,increased sediment flow into the lake,and lack of political and legal frameworks.The results indicated that between 1970 and 1997,the process of change in Lake Urmia was slow;however;the shrinkage was faster between 1998 and 2018,with about 30.00%of the lake area disappearing.As per the findings,anthropogenic factors had a much greater impact on Lake Urmia than climate change and prolonged drought;the mismanagement of water consumption in the agricultural sector and surface and underground water withdrawals in the basin have resulted in a sharp decrease in the lake's surface.These challenges have serious implications for water resources management in Lake Urmia Basin.Therefore,we provided a comprehensive overview of anthropogenic factors on the changes in Lake Urmia along with existing opportunities for better water resources management in Lake Urmia Basin.This study serves as a guideline framework for climate scientists and hydrologists in order to assess the effects of different factors on lake water resources and for decision-makers to formulate strategies and plans according to the management task.

On the Distributive Justice of Land Added Value in the Process of Urban Expansion

It is an unarguable fact that the urban-rural dual structure led to two different results. On the one hand,it had been playing a great role in the city development and prosperity,and on the other hand,it had led the slow development of rural economy and the income gap between rural and urban areas. The government makes efforts to promote the process of urbanization to maintain the sustained development of China's economy and economic transformation which are the two needs of the Chinese reality. But in the top-level design of the policy,the government did not give a fair profits distribution to all social groups. On the contrary,the result of urban development is based on the expense of a part of the people's interests in exchange for the interests of another parts of the people,and especially on the government expropriation in the process of urban expansion. Under Land Administration Law of the People's Republic of China,the government monopolized the expropriation right of the rural land,and the rural collectives and farmers as the land owner and constructors respectively have no rights to decide the land use purposes. In fact,they are forced to accept the land compensation,and because of the little bargaining rights,they gain little from the land value increment. Comparatively,the governments became the biggest beneficiary who made use of the land as a source and capital to earn the achievement in their official career and more money required by the urban development. The paper mainly analyzes the current situation of the distribution of the land added value,elaborates the reasons why the government strives for the land interests,and discusses what farmers lose in the government expropriation. Last but not lest,the author reflects on the land reform and gives a proposal on distribution of land added value.

An implementation study of barriers to universal cervical length screening for preterm birth prevention at tertiary hospitals in Thailand:Healthcare managers’perspectives

Objective:To identify healthcare managers’perspectives on the barriers to implementing cervical length screening to prevent preterm births.Methods:In PhaseⅠ,10 healthcare managers were interviewed.PhaseⅡcomprised questionnaire development and data validation.In PhaseⅢ,the questionnaire was administered to 40 participants,and responses were analyzed.Results:Their average related work experience was(21.0±7.2)years;39(97.5%)respondents also had healthcare management responsibilities at their respective hospitals.Most hospitals were reported to have enough obstetricians(31 cases,77.5%)and to be able to accurately perform cervical length measurements(22 cases,55.0%).However,no funding was allocated to universal cervical length screening(39 cases,97.5%).Most respondents believed that implementing universal screening,as per Ministry of Public Health policies,would prevent preterm births(28 cases,70.0%).Moreover,they suggested that hospital fees for cervical length measurements should be waived(34 cases,85.0%).Three main perceived barriers to universal screening at tertiary hospitals were identified.They were heavy obstetrician workloads(20 cases,50.0%);inadequate numbers of medical personnel(24 cases,60.0%);not believing that the screening test could prevent preterm birth(8 cases,20%)and lack of free drug support for preterm birth prevention in high-risk cases(29 cases,72.5%).Conclusions:The main obstacles to universal cervical length screening are heavy staff workloads and inadequate government funding for ultrasound scanning and hormone therapy.The healthcare managers do not believe that the universal cervical length screening can help to reduce preterm birth.

Derivation of Urban Heat Island for Landsat-8 TIRS Riyadh City (KSA)

This paper offers a Derivation of Urban Heat Island (UHI) for Landsat-8 TIR on the application of urban climatology in Riyadh city. GIS and remote sensing are provided to determine the possibility of consolidation across the heat island in Riyadh. The primary aim of this work is deviation in temperature and makes up an urban heat island (UHI). To create the database required for the study, using satellite images in monitoring thermal emission peaks for the surface of the earth (UHI), we used band ten and band eleven that represented the thermal band, which depended to extract the temperature of the surface (TOAr). The first step was Conversion DN to Radiance;the second was Radiance into degrees Kelvin and the third was Convert degrees Kelvin into degrees Celsius. In the final Produced Urban Heat Island (UHI), maps help to find out the thermal peaks clearly that affect urban climatology by elevating the temperature of the (UHI) and (UHI) peaks of the surrounding regions and the extent of its impact on the occupants of nearby countries. The paper concluded by the study area contains 10 Urban Heat Islands (UHI). Its presence has been associated with the types of land-utilization and requires intervention by the municipality of the city to hold the (UHI) and dilute the impact and types of land usage. Most impact is negative including increased energy consumption, elevated emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases compromised to human health and impaired water quality.

Relationship between Students’ Personality and Mental Health at University of Guilan (Faculty of Humanities)

The main goal of this research was the scrutiny of relationship between students’ personality characteristics and mental health at the University of Guilan. The population was the students of the Faculty of Humanities in 2009 with 3000 which 196 were selected using Kerjeci & Morgan table and stratified sampling method. They answered to the NEO and GHQ questionnaires. Results showed that there was relationship between personality characteristic of neurotic, openness, extraversion and being conscionable with mental health. Meanwhile, openness had the highest and extraversion with the lowest correlation scale and most of students (65%) had low mental health. Also, there were no significant differences among students with respect to different courses but significant difference with respect to gender and age.

Role of Media in Provoking Cigarette Smoking among Adolescents in Urban Nepal

At current era of globalization, media is the double edged sword that is important both for health education as well as the stimulation of unhealthy behaviour. In Nepal, though there is ban on most forms of advertising, it is not clear about placement of tobacco advertisement in TV, films and other forms of media. Studies about cigarette smoking and its association with media are inadequate in Nepal. The objective of this study was to explore the role of media in cigarette smoking habit of adolescents in Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 394 adolescent students by using questionnaire method in 3 randomly selected colleges of Kathmandu district, Nepal. Data were analysed by using bivariate and multinomial logistic regression analysis. Statistically significant relationship at 95% CI was found between cigarette smoking status and media related variables like: seeing cigarette advertisement, reading fashion magazine, attending musical program sponsored by cigarette companies, watching movies in cinema hall, liking heavy metal/hard rock music, television watching time and desire to smoke if favourite artist smokes. Multinomial logistic regression showed that those with high receptivity to cigarette advertisement were likely to be current smokers (OR = 71.416, CI: 8.796 - 579.823) and ever smokers (OR = 9.582, CI: 2.201 - 41.714) compared to never smokers. About 79% of respondents agreed that media teaches different ways of smoking to its audiences. Different forms of media including cinema, music, magazines, television, games and music sponsorship are found to be important predictors for smoking status of college students in urban Nepal. Thus smoking prevention activities should consider role of media in smoking provocation among adolescents.

Peer Influence of Non-Industrial Private Forest Owners in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Understanding how non-industrial private forest (NIPF) owners gain and share information regarding the management of their property is very important to policy makers, yet our knowledge regarding how and to what degree this information flows over privately owned landscapes is limited. The work described here seeks to address this shortfall. Widely administered surveys with close-ended questions may not adequately capture this information flow within NIPF owner communities. This study used open-ended questions in interviews of clusters of NIPF owners to determine whether and to what extent owners in-fluence each other directly (through conversations or referrals to sources of advice) or indirectly (through observation of management). We obtained data from thirty-four telephone interviews with owners of NIPF properties in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and analyzed the data using open coding. Roughly half of the forest owners we interviewed were influenced either directly or indirectly by other members of their NIPF communities. Reasons for owning forests (such as privacy, hunting and nature recreation, and economics) also influenced owners’ management behaviors and goals. This peer-to-peer flow of information (whether direct or indirect) has significant implications for how to distribute management and programmatic information throughout NIPF owner communities, and how amenable these communities may be to cooperative or cross-boundary programs to achieve ecosystem and landscapescale goals.

Mental health implications of suicide rates in South Africa

Mental health challenges are a severe issue that could lead to suicide if not properly addressed.South Africa has a significant burden of mental health issues,which contributes to the soaring rate of suicide.Adequate mental health-care provision could reduce the high suicide rate in South Africa.Since the apartheid regime,the country has made a series of efforts to improve mental health.This study aimed to review and examine available literature on mental health and suicide issues in South Africa and demonstrate the policy implications.This study adopted a narrative review approach.Electronic databases(PubMed,Scilit,Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar)were used to identify published articles in the English language with crucial search terms that included mental health,South African mental health policy,South Africa,suicide and policy.Literature suggests that at the provincial level,there are no adequate mental health policies,and the implementation of the country’s mental health policy is faced with many challenges,such as a shortage of professionals and finances.The review also showed that task sharing and counselling have been pilot-tested and shown to be effective methods for the prevention of mental illness and promotion of positive mental health.This study concludes that the mental health treatment gap still exists in South Africa,and this needs to be tackled using effective,multi-level counselling interventions and policy initiatives.Adequate mental health-care provision and effective implementation of mental health policy could reduce the high rate of suicide in South Africa.

Isolation, Partial Purification and Characterization of Texas Live Oak (<i>Quercus fusiformis</i>) Lectin

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins with agglutination properties. There is a continuous interest in lectins due to their biological properties that can be exploited for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize lectin activity in Texas Live Oak (Quercus fusiformis). More specifically, the study aimed to determine the lectin’s blood group specificity and pH stability, determine effects of seasonal variation, soil moisture and soil pH on lectin activity. The study also aimed to determine the presence of antifungal activity in Q. fusiformis extracts. Lectin activity was detected and compared via agglutination and protein assays. Protein partial purification was accomplished using diethylaminoethyl ion-exchange chromatography matrix. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to assess purity of the lectin. Results showed that Q. fusiformis extracts’ lectin activities are stable at a pH range of 5.2 - 9.2 but with a significant decrease in activity above pH 9.2. The lectin activity was significantly higher when assayed against sheep red blood cells as compared to other blood groups tested. Quercus fusiformis extract is devoid of antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer. The effects of seasonal variation, soil moisture and soil pH do not significantly correlate with lectin activity. Results from HPLC showed presence of three peaks indicating a partial purification of the Q. fusiformis lectin.

Corrigendum to"Efficacy of a combination of dutasteride,tadalafil,and solifenacin in the treatment of previously unsuccessful patients"[Asian J Urol 9(2022)42-50]

For the article entitled"Efficacy of a combination of dutasteride,tadalafil,and solifenacin in the treatment of previously unsuccessful patients"[Asian J Urol 9(2022)42-50,D0l:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajur.2021.04.002],the authors would like to correct some imprecise descriptions.The authors would like to sincerely apologize for these mistakes.

Developing Better Services for Intimate Partner Violence： Hearing the Voice of Disabled People

This article deals with collaborative development work between the public sector and the third sectorin an area of Southern Savo, Finland, from the perspective of disabled victims. The purpose was to create structures for IPV （intimate partner violence） work, developing professionals＇ skills in both tackling IPV and service-user involvement. Five NGOs （non-goverumental organizations） for disabled people were involved. Professionals were trained to ask about IPV and to gainamore in-depth understanding of the issue （including thespecial features relating to disabled people） andof how to intervene. Care pathways, linking both basic and special services, were also modeled. A permanent and regional NEIPV （Network of Excellence in IPV） was established and is coordinated by both the public and third sectors, including Experts by Experience. Strong basic structures and care pathways are needed so that the special needs of disabled people can be recognized. Raising awareness of violence, routine enquiries modified according to the needs of organizations, and simple care pathways are needed--both in the public sector and for NGOs representing the disabled. Information gained through training will not necessarily be transferred into direct practice without a strong commitment from the managerial level. Establishing organizational guidelines is necessary. This will also promote professionals＇ openness toward user knowledge.