Impact of Plastic Waste on the Human Health in Low-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Background: Plastic pollution is the accumulation of waste composed of plastic and its derivatives all over the environment. Whether in the form of visible garbage or microparticles, as it slowly degrades, plastic pollution poses significant threats to terrestrial and aquatic habitats and the wildlife that call them home, whether through ingestion, entanglement or exposure to the chemicals contained in the material. Unfortunately, there is a lack of documentation on the impact of plastic waste on human health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: We searched five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL and Web of Science) and gray literature, following the preferred reporting elements for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA), for the impact of plastic waste on human health in developing countries. We included quantitative and qualitative studies written in English and French. We assessed the quality of the included articles using the Mixed Methods Appraisal tool (MMAT). Results: A total of 3779 articles were initially identified by searching electronic databases. After eliminating duplicates, 3167 articles were reviewed based on title and abstract, and 26 were selected for full-text review. Only three articles were retained. The three articles dealt with practices likely to lead to oral exposure to plastic chemicals in human health, as well as the level of awareness of participants concerning the possible impact of plastic on human health, namely, the use of plastic baby bottles, the use of microwaves to cook food and reheat precooked food, the use of plastic bottles to store water in the refrigerator, water purifier containers with plastic bodies and plastic lunch boxes, the reuse of plastic bags and the inadequacy of treatment facilities. Conclusion: Plastic waste poses different risks to human health at every stage of its life cycle. Hence, strategies must be adopted to raise public awareness of the dangers of plastic waste to their health. Trial registration: The review protocol is registered in the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (ID = CRD42023409087).

Implementing an Optimal Energy Management System for a Set of Microgrids Using the Harmony Search Algorithm

A microgrid(MG)refers to a set of loads,generation resources and energy storage systems acting as a controllable load or a generator to supply power and heating to a local area.The MG-generated power management is a central topic for MG design and operation.The existence of dispersed generation(DG)resources has faced MG management with new issues.Depending on the level of exchanges between an MG and the main grid,the MG operation states can be divided into independent or grid-connected ones.Energy management in MGs aims to supply power at the lowest cost for optimal load response.This study examines MG energy management in two operational modes of islanded and grid-connected,and proposes a structure with two control layers(primary and secondary)for energy management.At the principal level of control,the energy management system is determined individually for all MG by taking into consideration the probability constraints and RES uncertainty by the Weibull the probability density function(PDF),generation resources’power as well as the generation surplus and deficit of each MG.Then,the information of the power surplus and deficit of each MG must be sent to the central energy management system.To confirm the proposed structure,a case system with two MGs and a condensive load is simulated by using a multi-time harmony search algorithm.Several scenarios are applied to evaluate the performance of this algorithm.The findings clearly show the effectiveness of the proposed system in the energy management of several MGs,leading to the optimal performance of the resources per MG.Moreover,the proposed control scheme properly controls the MG and grid’s performance in their interactions and offers a high level of robustness,stable behavior under different conditions and high quality of power supply.

Development and Application of Integrated Indicators for Assessing Healthcare Waste Management Systems in Kenyan Hospitals

Healthcare waste management (HCWM) is an important aspect of healthcare delivery globally because of its hazardous and infectious components that have potential for adverse health and environmental impacts. The paper introduces a set of indicators for assessing HCWM systems in hospitals. These indicators are: HCWM policies and standard operating procedures, management and oversight, logistics and budget support, training and occupational health and safety, and treatment, disposal and waste treatment equipment housing. By plotting a mark on a continuum which is defined as good and poor on the extremes and is connected with all other marks in a spoke arrangement, it’s possible to describe a baseline for HCWM in any specific hospital. This baseline can be used to improve awareness of the actors and policy-makers, compare the same hospital at a different point in time, to compare observations by different evaluators and to track improvements. Results suggest that in Kenya, the application of such indicators is useful for evaluating which priorities should be addressed to improve outcomes in HCWM systems. Systematic sampling technique was used to identify and collect data by use of observational checklist, interviews, visual verification and review of documents and a HCWM assessment tool. The objective is to suggest an integrated management tool as a method to identify prevailing problems with a HCWM system. The method can be replicated in other contexts worldwide, with a focus on the developing world. The integrated indicators focus on management of HCW and not its potential impact on human health and environment, an area recognized to be critical for future research.

Modeling the Proposal of the Simultaneous Purchases and Sales of Electricity and Gas for the Energy Market in a Microgrid Using the Harmony Search Algorithm

The use of different energy carriers together,known as an energy hub,has been a hot topic of research in recent years amongst scientists and researchers.The term energy hub refers to the simultaneous operation of various infrastructures for energy generation and transfer,which has gained momentum in the form of microgrids(MGs).This paper introduces a new strategy for the optimal performance of an MG consisting of different energy carriers for each day.In a smart distribution network(DN),MGs can reduce their own costs in the previous-day market by bidding on sales and purchases.The sales and purchases bidding problem is challenging due to different uncertainties,however.This paper proposes a two-stage strategy for making an optimal bid on electricity sales and purchases with electricity and gas price dependency in the previous-day and real-time markets for an energy hub.In this model,the MG behavior regarding the electricity and gas energy sales/purchase,the simultaneous effects of electricity and gas prices,as well as the energy carriers’dependence on one another are all examined.Due to the inherent uncertainty in the sources of clean energy production,the probabilistic model and the production and reduction scenario have been used in the paper to cover this issue.In the proposed grid,energy sales/purchases are presented in a multi-carrier MG in a two-stage model.This model is solved by using the harmony search algorithm in MATLAB.Numeric results demonstrate the benefits of this model in reducing energy hub costs of operation.

Caustic injury of the upper gastrointestinal tract: A comprehensive review

Prevention has a paramount role in reducing the incidence of corrosive ingestion especially in children, yet this goal is far from being reached in developing countries, where such injuries are largely unreported and their true prevalence simply cannot be extrapolated from random articles or personal experience. The specific pathophysiologic mechanisms are becoming better understood and may have a role in the future management and prevention of long-term consequences, such as esophageal strictures. Whereas the mainstay of diagnosis is considered upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, computed tomography and ultrasound are gaining a more significant role, especially in addressing the need for emergency surgery, whose morbidity and mortality remains high even in the best hands. The need to perform emergency surgery has a persistent long-term negative impact both on survival and functional outcome. Medical or endoscopic prevention of stricture is debatable, yet esophageal stents, absorbable or not, show promising data. Dilatation is the first therapeutic option for strictures and bougies should be considered especially for long, multiple and tortuous narrowing. It is crucial to avoid malnutrition, especially in developingcountries where management strategies are influenced by malnutrition and poor clinical conditions. Late reconstructive surgery, mainly using colon transposition, offers the best results in referral centers, either in children or adults, but such a difficult surgical procedure is often unavailable in developing countries. Possible late development of esophageal cancer, though probably overemphasized, entails careful and long-term endoscopic screening.

Anesthetic management for small bowel enteroscopy in a World Gastroenterology Organization Endoscopy Training Center

AIM:To study the anesthetic management of patients undergoing small bowel enteroscopy in the World Gastroenterology Organization(WGO) Endoscopy Training Center in Thailand.METHODS:Patients who underwent small bowel enteroscopy during the period of March 2005 to March 2011 in Siriraj Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center were retrospectively analyzed.The patients' characteristics,pre-anesthetic problems,anesthetic techniques,anesthetic agents,anesthetic time,type and route of procedure and anesthesia-related complications were assessed.RESULTS:One hundred and forty-four patients underwent this procedure during the study period.The mean age of the patients was 57.6 ± 17.2 years,andmost were American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA) class Ⅱ(53.2%).Indications for this procedure were gastrointestinal bleeding(59.7%),chronic diarrhea(14.3%),protein losing enteropathy(2.6%) and others(23.4%).Hematologic disease,hypertension,heart disease and electrolyte imbalance were the most common pre-anesthetic problems.General anesthesia with endotracheal tube was the anesthetic technique mainly employed(50.6%).The main anesthetic agents administered were fentanyl,propofol and midazolam.The mean anesthetic time was 94.0 ± 50.5 min.Single balloon and oral(antegrade) intubation was the most common type and route of enteroscopy.The anesthesia-related complication rate was relatively high.The overall and cardiovascular-related complication rates including hypotension in the older patient group(aged ≥ 60 years old) were significantly higher than those in the younger group.CONCLUSION:During anesthetic management for small bowel enteroscopy,special techniques and drugs are not routinely required.However,for safety reasons anesthetic personnel need to optimize the patient's condition.

Diagnosis and Management of Obesity: A Joint Statement by Practicing Endocrinologists

Obesity is not always recognized as a primary disease, leading to shortage of insurance coverage, clear dispositions about therapeutic strategies, prevention programs and legislation. Worldwide, physicians face the challenge to design affordable and effective treatments against obesity, to improve patient health and wellbeing and reduce the burden on healthcare systems. While international guidelines for obesity management are available, straightforward recommendations applicable in developing countries are needed. In order to develop local consensus recommendations, a panel of endocrinologists with experience in overweight and obesity convened and provided opinions about obesity aetiology, diagnosis, and management, in a structured discussion. Opinions were then developed into recommendations. There was unanimous agreement on recognizing obesity as a disease, which could be diagnosed by any trained physician and best managed by endocrinologists or obesity-trained physicians. The panel reiterated that lifestyle and behaviour changes remain the cornerstone of treatment;underscoring, however, the need for pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery in some cases. They also identified stakeholders in the fight against obesity (ministries, third-party payers, healthcare providers and others). The establishment of an obesity registry was encouraged, which will pave the way for enhanced obesity research and prevention programs. These recommendations, endorsed by the World Obesity Federation, would be of interest to clinicians worldwide. .

Investigating Road Safety Management Systems in the European Countries: Patterns and Particularities

A road safety management (RSM) system can be defined as “a complex institutional structure that involves cooperating and interacting bodies which support the tasks and processes necessary for the prevention and reduction of road traffic injuries”. RSM should promote the road safety progress of the country. However, the details of this relationship are generally lacking. This study explored the RSM systems in European countries based on the information collected through interviews with experts and officials, in each country, and using a “good practice” criteria questionnaire. The dataset included 14 countries with fifty items related to five RSM areas: institutional organization;policy formulation and adoption;policy implementation and funding;monitoring and evaluation;scientific support, information and capacity building. Cluster analyses and correlations were used to identify country groups with similar RSM components, to recognize typical RSM structures if available and to examine the relationship between RSM and road safety performance of the countries. The findings showed that all the countries are different when RSM systems are considered as a whole, making it impossible to identify typical RSM structures or a single best working model at a national level. However, it is possible to compare countries when the RSM areas are considered separately, where the clusters of countries recognized by the study present the patterns common for those European countries. Across the analyses, a number of countries with a consistently higher and lower availability of the RSM components were identified, enabling a final countries’ ranking into a number of groups. The latter actually reflects the level of RSM in the country, in terms of its correspondence to the “good practice” criteria. A further analysis indicated a positive correlation between the higher level of the RSM system and better safety performance of the countries.

Influence of the Gender of Business Managers on Corporate Corruption in Emerging Countries

The influence of the gender of business managers in emerging countries on the corruption behaviors of a firm is studied on the basis of firm-level data from World Bank.It is discovered that women’s participation in management is directly proportional to the possibility of corporate corruption.In view of the Theoretical Analysis system,due to the poorly standardized market systems and policy environments in emerging countries,the corruption level of firms in emerging countries is higher.Meanwhile,due to the vulnerability of female-managed firms in emerging countries,female managers are more likely to make corrupt decisions and the corruption level of such firms is higher.

Brief Effects of Western Hotel Management on Chinese Hotel

This paper is writing about the influences of western hotel management on Chinese hotel,for many years,hotel management becomes a "hot dog" for modern management organization,and how to introduce good and suitable management skills is a tough task. The first part is introduction,second is invite God form west,and the third,forth and fifth part comes to be in line with God,experience and results and the great achievements of introducing and absorbing.

Solid Waste Management Challenges in Urban Areas of Ghana: A Case Study of Bawku Municipality

This study was conducted in the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East, Ghana, with the view to assessing the factors that impede the management of solid waste. Questionnaires were submitted to 150 randomly selected households, while face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with the municipal Waste Management Department and a private waste management company, Zoomlion Ghana Ltd. Data collected included components of solid waste generated, waste collection, transportation and final disposal methods, the challenges confronting waste management institutions, and respondents' knowledge and perceptions of the waste management system and their attitudes towards it. Components of wastes generated were organic waste, paper waste and plastics. Factors that adversely affected waste collection and transportation systems were the inadequate supply of waste collection containers, the existence of a weak waste transportation system and a low patronage of the door-to-door collection method. The study showed that the municipal landfill did not meet the required standard. The results also revealed the lack of public awareness on issues regarding waste and lack of a participatory approach that makes the people an active stakeholder in the waste management system. This situation accounted for indiscriminate disposals of waste by most respondents who viewed the issue of waste management as the exclusive responsibility of the local government. The study further showed that the waste management institutions were faced with financial difficulties, understaffing and poor logistics and nature of roads, and social constraints. The study therefore suggests the development of a strategic plan for efficient waste management which revolves around these findings.

A pattern for partnership between LMDH and Perhutani to enhance local community prosperity and preserve the forest:a case study at RPH Besowo,Kediri Regency,Indonesia

The deforestation in Indonesia is already alarming.One of the strategies used by the government to overcome forest deforestation is social forestry.This program is called PHBM(Pengelolaan Hutan Bersama Masyarakat/Joint Forest Management) which is basically a partnership program.This study aims at describing the partnership program between a local organization(i.e.LMDH) and a government unit(i.e.RPH of Perhutani) within the PHBM program.The objectives of this study are to(a) describe the model of partnerships between LMDH and RPH Besowo for sustainable forest management and local community empowerment;(b) determine the contribution of the forest to the national economy and rural household income;and(c) determine the obstacles commonly found in Besowo forest that have to be faced during the implementation of the partnerships.The study shows that with good partnership between these two units,the prosperity of the local community can be enhanced and the forest preservation can be maintained.The model of the partnerships in this particular area in Indonesia is expected to be applicable as well in other rural areas in Indonesia,as well as in other developing countries.

Management of neuroblastoma in limited-resource settings

BACKGROUND Neuroblastoma(NB)is a heterogeneous disease with variable outcomes among countries.Little is known about NB in low-and middle-income countries(LMICs).AIM The aim of this review was to evaluate regional management protocols and challenges in treating NB in paediatric oncology units in LMICs compared to high-income countries(HICs).METHODS PubMed,Global Health,Embase,SciELO,African Index Medicus and Google Scholar were searched for publications with keywords pertaining to NB,LMICs and outcomes.Only English language manuscripts and abstracts were included.A descriptive review was done,and tables illustrating the findings were constructed.RESULTS Limited information beyond single-institution experiences regarding NB outcomes in LMICs was available.The disease characteristics varied among countries for the following variables:sex,age at presentation,MYCN amplification,stage and outcome.LMICs were found to be burdened with a higher percentage of stage 4 and high-risk NB compared to HICs.Implementation of evidence-based treatment protocols was still a barrier to care.Many socioeconomic variables also influenced the diagnosis,management and followup of patients with NB.CONCLUSION Patients presented at a later age with more advanced disease in LMICs.Management was limited by the lack of resources and genetic studies for improved NB classification.Further research is needed to develop modified diagnostic and treatment protocols for LMICs in the face of limited resources.

Optimal Operation of Electric Vehicles and Distributed Generation Resources in Smart Grid Considering Load Management

Technology advancement and the global tendency to use renewable energy in distributed generation units in the distribution network have been proposed as sources of energy supply.Despite the complexity of their protection,as well as the operation of distributed generation resources in the distribution network,factors such as improving reliability,increasing production capacity of the distribution network,stabilizing the voltage of the distribution network,reducing peak clipping losses,as well as economic and environmental considerations,have expanded the influence of distributed generation(DG)resources in the distribution network.The location of DG sources and their capacity are the key factors in the effectiveness of distributed generation in the voltage stability of distribution systems.Nowadays,along with the scattered production sources of electric vehicles with the ability to connect to the network,due to having an energy storage system,they are known as valuable resources that can provide various services to the power system.These vehicles can empower the grid or be used as a storage supply source when parked and connected to the grid.This paper introduces and studies a two-stage planning framework for the concurrent management of many electric vehicles and distributed generation resources with private ownership.In the first stage,the aim is to increase the profit of electric vehicles and distributed generation sources;finally,the purpose is to reduce operating costs.The proposed scheduling framework is tested on a distribution network connected to bus 5 of the RBTS sample network.Besides distributed generation sources and electric vehicles,we integrate time-consistent load management into the system.Due to distributed generation sources such as photovoltaic systems and wind turbines and the studied design in the modeling,we use the Taguchi TOAT algorithm to generate and reduce the scenario to ensure the uncertainty in renewable energy.MATLAB software is used to solve the problem and select the optimal answer.

论乡村振兴中“道法自然”的中式智慧

中华文明的核心价值表现为“天人合一”,这也是传统农耕文明的智慧结晶,所遵循的原则是道法自然。以今日之表述,强调“生态-生物-生命”的“三生共同体”整体观。我国正在实施的乡村振兴战略,是在传统文明基础和基因上的守正创新。中华文明的这些博物精粹,尤其表现在“三农”之中,需要我们认真地加以辨析和传承。当今世界遇上了生态危机、生物多样性危机,乃至生命危机,即所谓“三生”危机。中华传统中生态文明与乡土社会相契合的智慧值得传承和发扬,能否做到这一点,是检验乡村振兴战略成功与否的重要依据。同时,学界也希望将这些中式生态智慧贡献给世界。

中外体育人文交流现状与运行机制研究

运用文献资料法和逻辑分析法,对中外体育人文交流的现状与运行机制进行研究。研究认为:中外体育人文交流的机制化水平不断提高,但缺乏宏观性战略引领;交流主体日益多元化,但非政府组织力量发挥不足;交流内容不断丰富,但创新性不够。笔者从动力机制、决策机制、执行机制和保障机制4个方面探究了中外体育人文交流的运行机制,并提出推进策略:宏观层面加强顶层设计,增强交流的驱动力;中观层面加强协同性,提升交流的决策力;微观层面强调多元化,形成交流的合力;注重交流质量,保障交流的有效供给。

强国建设两阶段农业劳动生产率目标预测与提升路径

提高农业劳动生产率是建设社会主义现代化强国和农业强国的关键任务。农业劳动生产率的增长来源于农业劳动力劳均经营土地面积的增加、土地产出率的提高与单位农产品价值的提升。改革开放以来,中国农业劳动生产率大幅提高,其中土地单产上升的贡献率持续下降,而劳均经营土地面积增加的贡献率不断上升。2010—2020年,中国农业劳动生产率的增长中19.9%来自土地单产上升,67.8%来自劳均经营土地面积增加。综合考虑按总增长率、按构成项的增长率和按与农业发达国家的相对水平进行预测,中国农业劳均增加值在2035年将超过19000美元(2015年不变价格),在2050年将超过50000美元,达到农业发达国家水平。未来较长一段时间,中国农业劳动生产率的增长将主要来自劳均经营土地面积的增加,在此过程中,要促进新型农业经营主体培育,促进劳动节约型技术进步,促进农地经营权流转并保障经营权稳定,促进以增值增效为导向的农业结构优化调整。

儒家思想对高校教育管理的启示

作为先秦诸子百家的代表学说之一,儒家学说体系中蕴含着“仁、义、礼、智、信、恕、忠、孝、悌”等全方位的内容,其不仅为当时社会道德规范教化标准建立奠定了理论基础,而且随着几千年历史的演变仍在教育管理工作中发挥着重要作用。现阶段高校教育管理存在诸多问题,表现为学生民族认同和爱国情怀仍需加强、学生诚实守信意识需要进一步提升、学生价值观易受不良思想浪潮影响,据此,文章从儒家思想出发探寻实践策略,具体包括以“仁爱”“舍生取义”思想涵养爱国情感,明确学生在高校教育管理中的主体性地位,教育管理者要不断提升自身的“君子”修为,注重因材施教、启发诱导管理方式的应用,构建以和为贵、和谐稳定的高校校园环境。

The Global Peace Depends on the Peace and Harmony of Every Country, Region, City, Village, Family

Honorable Wan Qishan,Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,It is my pleasure and honor to attend and to be given the privilege to speak at this prominent event on behalf of the Russian Committee of Solidarity and Cooperation with the Peoples of Africa and Asia and its President Mr. Umakhanov. We would like to thank the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament.