Strengthening Active Aging through Older People’s Association and Economic Activity of the Older People in Nepal

Aging is a natural lifelong process ending in death. Many older people are living in poverty. Older people are generally considered dependent on others as they grow older. The purpose of this article is to explore the entrepreneurship activities of Nepalese older adults. Data for this study were collected from the project Help Age International (HAI) implemented in Nepal. Qualitative data observations and interviews were used to collect data. The findings of this study show the formation of the Older People’s Association (OPA) has supported many older people to participate outside the home in various social activities. Moreover, regular deposits through OPAs offer little help. OPAs support older people in their need of financial support to implement minor entrepreneurship. Older people who received support were pleased and were actively involved in their activities and also regularly deposited money in them. Subsequently, older people’s participation in social activities has increased and also helped to lower elderly abuse, loneliness, and depression. Local governments should promote such activities which will help with healthy aging.

Alcohol and illicit drugs:prevalence of alcohol and illicit drug use and their predictors in young people from Argentina,Bulgaria,Chile and Romania

Background:Alcohol and illicit drugs(AID)continue to be a major global health concern.Although preventable,AID is linked to millions of deaths annually worldwide.The situation is particularly grave for young people,with AID being a major direct risk factor for disability-adjusted youth life-years lost and death.It further contributes to assaults,road crashes,accidental poisoning,and suicide,leading to long-term issues and public health concerns.Objective:This study aimed at disclosing current AID prevalence data for Argentinian,Bulgarian,Chilean and Romanian youth.It shed light on the predictors of AID in young people from those countries.Method:The study used an online survey to gather data from people aged 18 to 25(n=1,297).The survey was underpinned by the theory of planned behaviour(TPB).Predictors were investigated separately for drinking alcohol and using illicit drugs.Results:Our data revealed that across the four target countries,49%to 90%of the participants drank alcohol,and 8%to 35%used illicit drugs in the past three months.Between 20%and 91%of them intended to drink,and between 8%and 31%intended to use illicit drugs in the following three months.Our TPB model predicted statistically significant(P<0.001)amounts of variance in drinking alcohol(between 61%and 72%)and using illicit drugs(between 20.3%and 74.4%).Intention was consistent in significantly predicting both behaviours.Evidence around the predictive validity of self-efficacy,age and gender was mixed across the investigated countries.Conclusion:This research provided an update on the scarce AID epidemiological data.It also supplied evidence about what theoretically-informed measures might be useful targets of interventions in the case of Argentina,Bulgaria,Chile and Romania.This new knowledge of understanding substance abuse determinants and prevalence may help researchers and practitioners better meet young people's health prevention needs.

Making the World a Better Place for All

In bidding farewell to 2023,Chinese President Xi Jinping’s New Year message,with its commitment to advance Chinese modernization,deliver a better life for the people,and build a community with a shared future for mankind,effectively ushered in a new year brimming with hope.

Analysis of the Appealing Structure in Hemingway’s“A Clean,Well-lighted Place”

In the novel“A Clean,Well-lighted Place”,Hemingway tells the story of two waiters in a Spanish caféjust before closing time,talking about an old man who drank heavily in the caféevery night and lived a wealthy life but still wants to commit suicide.Using the iceberg principle,Hemingway purposely omits the plot,characterization of the story,and uses symbolism and repetition to describe people’s different attitudes facing the spiritual emptiness after the war,breaking the readers’expectations,and inspiring them to explore the meaning of individual life.Therefore,based on Wolfgang Iser and Zhu Liyuan’s appealing structure theory,this paper will analyze the appealing structure in“A Clean,Well-lighted Place”at three levels:meaning construction,rhetorical techniques,and thoughts and themes.It is hoped that readers can find a new way to interpret the short story,better understand the author’s creative ideas and dig deeper into the connotation of the work.

Narrative Empathy and Patriotism--An Analysis of the Chinese“Main-Melody”Film My People,My Country

Narrative empathy is a relatively new theory and it can guide researchers in the studies of main-melody films so as to promote the communication of the core values of the society.The rhetorical mechanism of narrative empathy can be illustrated from five rhetorical elements,including rhetor,rhetorical goal,rhetorical situation,rhetorical strategy and audience.The theory of narrative empathy can be applied to the case study of the film My People,My Country.In the production of this film,the directors are the rhetors.The rhetors uphold the tenet of closeness,choose the right rhetorical situation as the 70th birthday of the People’s Republic of China,and use appropriate rhetorical strategies in order to realize the rhetorical goals of evoking empathy and inspiring patriotic feelings in the audience’s minds.An exploration and application of narrative empathy can be conducive to the empathic communication of Chinese main-melody films in order to achieve better communication effect.

The Value and Realization Strategy of Teacher Ethics Construction in Colleges and Universities under the Perspective of“Cultivating People by Virtue”

“Cultivating people by virtue”has become the foundation of China’s education,and is the top priority of college education.“Only the learned can become teachers,and only those who behave properly can become role models”.The construction of teachers’ethics in colleges and universities is the premise of realizing the fundamental task of moral education,the need of teachers,the key to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,and it is also the way to correct the bad atmosphere in colleges and universities.In the construction of teachers’ethics,teachers should understand their roles and improve their professional ethics,schools should improve the guarantee system of teachers’ethics construction,meanwhile,improve the status of teachers and create a social environment of respecting teachers and valuing teachers.

Application of horticulture therapy as a health intervention for elderly people in nursing homes:a scoping review

Objective:To review the scope of interventional studies on horticultural therapy(HT)applied to elderly people in nursing institutions to support the efficient implementation of HT among this target group.Methods:In accordance with the scoping review framework proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute(JBI),the Pub Med,JSTOR,Web of Science,CNKI,and Wanfang databases were searched.Data from the retrieved literature were summarized and analyzed.Results:In all,18 studies were included in this review.The target population groups of interventions included self-supporting elderly people,cognitively impaired elderly people,elderly people with negative emotions,and elderly people with frailty living in nursing institutions.HT interventions,including planting,craft activities,derivative activities,and outdoor viewing activities,are implemented indoors,outdoors,or in mixed settings.The most common duration of the intervention was 8 weeks,the most common frequency was once per week,and the most common session duration was 60 min.Conclusions:The measurements used in HT interventions included assessments of physical,psycho-mental,and social health;quality of life;and activity effects.Future studies should include partially dependent groups and completely dependent groups of elderly individuals,interventions that last at least 6 months,scientifically designed activity intensity and safety-guarantee plans,and outcomeevaluation indicators such as compliance and intervention benefits.

The Relationship Between Social Isolation, Psychological Resilience, and Psychological Well- Being Among Older People in the Community

Objective:To explore the relationship between social isolation,psychological resilience,and psychological well-being in community-dwelling older adults.Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted with 265 community-dwelling older adults using the Social Isolation Scale for the Elderly(C-SIS),the 10-item Brief Psychological Resilience Scale,and the Comprehensive Happiness Questionnaire(MHQ).The results were statistically analyzed using SPSS 27.0.Results:The highest score on the Social Isolation Scale for Community Elderly was 23,with a mean entry score of 2.36±0.62.A score of 14 was the cut-off point,with scores of≤14 classified as social isolation.There were 136 cases with scores below 14,resulting in a social isolation incidence rate of 51.3%.The median(P50)psychological resilience score was 27,indicating a higher level of resilience.The total score on the Psychological Well-being Scale was 161,suggesting a moderate to slightly higher level of well-being.Social isolation had a direct negative effect on psychological well-being,while psychological resilience had a positive effect.Conclusion:Older adults should be supported in reducing the incidence of social isolation and increasing psychological resilience to enhance psychological well-being and promote successful aging.

Historical review and reflections on the participation of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of epidemics in the People’s Republic of China (from 1950 until now)

Since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, both the Communist Party and the government have placed great emphasis on the advancement of traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture and moxibustion have been actively involved in combating major epidemics such as malaria, schistosomiasis, and COVID-19. This article conducts a historical review of these three significant cases to elucidate how the acupuncture community has effectively utilized its unique advantages and characteristics through theoretical discussions, clinical practices, experimental research, as well as receiving administrative leadership and political support from the Communist Party of China and government. We provide an objective evaluation of their effectiveness while summarizing historical experiences to serve as a reference for future utilization of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy in epidemic relief efforts. Additionally, propose four suggestions: strengthening Party leadership and enhancing political support;timely summarization of experiences to establish programs and systems;deepening scientific research by integrating experimental findings with clinical practice;focusing on public awareness campaigns and education to solidify grassroots foundations.

Diverse foraging strategies of breeding Swinhoe's Storm-petrel in the productive marginal sea of the Northwest Pacific

Understanding the foraging behavior is essential for investigating seabird ecology and conservation,as well as monitoring the well-being of the marine environment.Breeding seabirds adopt diverse foraging strategies to maximize energy gains and cope with the intensified challenges of parenting and self-maintenance.Such tradeoff may stem from the heterogeneity of food resources and the constraints of central place foraging.Nevertheless,abundant marine productivity could alleviate the energy limitation for seabirds,resulting in a consistent foraging approach.Here,we investigated the foraging strategy during the breeding season of a cryptic small-sized seabird,Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel(Hydrobates monorhis),in the Yellow Sea,a productive marginal sea of the Northwest Pacific.Using GPS tracking,we evaluated habitat preference,quantified the foraging strategy,and tested if environmental conditions and individual traits influence foraging trips.We found that Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels preferred nearshore areas with shallow water and engaged in primarily short foraging trips.Distinctive southeastward and southwestward strategies emerged when combining trip metrics,including foraging direction,duration,and maximum distance.The bathymetry,proximity to the coastline,and sea surface temperature differed in two foraging strategies.Foraging strategies exhibited flexibility between individuals,potentially explained by wing morphology,in which longer-winged birds are more likely to embark on longer-distance foraging trips.These findings highlight the impact of environmental factors and individual traits on seabirds’foraging decisions in productive marginal sea ecosystems.Our study also provides valuable insights into the foraging ecology of this Asian endemic storm-petrel.

Correlation between psychological traits and the use of smart medical services in young and middle-aged adults: An observational study

BACKGROUND Psychological problems affect economic development.However,there is a huge gap between mental health service resources and mental health service needs.Existing mental health service technology and platforms cannot meet all the diverse mental health needs of people.Smart medicine is a new medical system based online that can effectively improve the quality and efficiency of medical services and make mental health services accessible.AIM To explore the level of intelligent medical use among young and middle-aged people and its correlation with psychological factors.METHODS Convenience sampling was used to select 200 young and middle-aged patients with medical experience at the Third People's Hospital of Chengdu between January 2022 and January 2023 as the research subjects.The general condition Questionnaire,Eysenck Personality Questionnaire,Symptom Checklist-90,General Health Questionnaire,and Smart Medical Service Use Intention Questionnaire were used to collect data.Pearson’s correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the participants’willingness to use smart medical services and their personality characteristics,psychological symptoms,and mental health.RESULTS The results revealed that the mental health of young and middle-aged people was poor,and some had psycho-logical problems such as anxiety,depression,and physical discomfort.Familiarity,acceptance,and usage of smart healthcare in this population are at a medium level,and these levels correlate with psychological characteristics.Acceptance was positively correlated with E,and negatively correlated with P,anxiety,fear,anxiety/insomnia,and social dysfunction.The degree of use was negatively correlated with P,obsessive-compulsive symptoms,depression,anxiety,hostility,paranoia,and somatic symptoms.CONCLUSION The familiarity,acceptance,and usage of smart medical services among the middle-aged and young groups are related to various psychological characteristics.

Assessing the relationship between health literacy intervention and hypertension self-management:A 7-year systematic review from January 2016 to December 2022

Hypertension(HTN)is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting over 30%of the adult population globally,with a growing incidence rate.This review assesses the relationship between health literacy(HL)intervention and hypertension(HTN)self-management among people with HTN.The study design was a systematic review of empirical research articles using a well-defined strategy.Online journals were accessed through databases such as PubMed,CINAHL,Google Scholar,ProQuest,Global Health,WHOLIS,Embase,and EbscoHost,spanning from January 2016 to December 2022 as the scope of the study.Articles selected for inclusion were those published in English during the specified time frame and adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and Sample,Phenomenon of Interest,Design,Evaluation,Research Type framework for systematic review,focusing on criteria related to the sample,the phenomenon of interest,study design,evaluation,and research type.Out of 180 studies initially identified in the database search,20 studies were ultimately included in the review.The findings were reported based on these five emerging themes:Relationship between HL and HTN self-management;Effect of HL intervention on HTN self-management;Factors predicting self-care behaviors among HTN patients with low HL;Effect of HL and self-management efficacy on health-related quality of life(HRQoL);and level of self-care practices.This review highlights a relationship between HL,self-efficacy,self-care,and HRQoL,underscoring the necessity for further well-designed intervention studies focused on enhancing HL in individuals with HTN in Nigeria to enhance their quality of life.

The Effectiveness of Partnership in Talent Training Between Industry and Higher Vocational Colleges in China

This paper is based on the partnership between China’s higher vocational colleges and industry, and obtains a large number of data on industry-college partnerships through case analysis, interviews and questionnaires. This paper analyzes the main factors that affect industry-college partnerships and the current problems and challenges, then puts forward the solutions.

Exploring the meaning of care among lived experiences of patients with blindness:an interpretive phenomenological study

Objective:To explore the meaning of care experienced by people with blindness in hospitals.Methods:Interpretive phenomenology along with the 6-step method of van Manen was used to conduct the study.Using purposeful sampling,15 people with legal blindness were interviewed.Thematic analysis was used to isolate the meaning of care.Results:Five themes emerged:(a)nurses in the eyes of patients with blindness;(b)negligence in the caring moments;(c)being cared for in ambiguity;(d)Uncoordinated care;and(e)Psychological discomfor t.These sub-themes were condensed into an overarching theme titled as“marginalized patients inside the stereotypical healthcare system.”Conclusions:Lived experiences of patients with blindness revealed that hospitals provide stereotypic or inappropriate care for this minority group in society.Health professionals par ticularly nurses should be skilled to provide person-centered and coordinated care for patients with blindness.

The Psychosomatic Traits of“People with the Five Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine”:A Qualitative Study

Objective To identify the representative attributes of the five elements of a person with a qualitative methodology and provide the basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of“people with the five elements in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).”Methods Data collected from the literature review,two sessions of brainstorming of experts with related experience in“people with the five elements in TCM”from October 2020 to December 2020,and six rounds of in-depth interviews with 30 participants who had various attributes of the five elements from March 2021 to October 2021 were analyzed.Triangulation was used in this study,and theming and synthesizing were used to analyze the data.Results A total of 31 experts and 30 interviewees participated in this study.The median age of the experts and interviewees were 48.0 and 38.5 years,respectively;51.66%and 54.8%of experts and interviewees,respectively,were men.The descriptors of facial diagrams of“people with the five elements in TCM”were complexion,shape,distribution state of facial bones,convergence trend of facial muscles,and facial expression.A theoretical model of“people with the five elements in TCM”was shaped based on these findings.Conclusion The study suggests a possibility for bridging the gap between personality and bodily state,identifying an avenue for personality research from the perspective of TCM.

Endoscopy demand among county people in southeast China:A cross-sectional study

Objective The popularization of gastroenteroscopy and the introduction of comfortable medical care have further promoted the growth of people's demand,especially the demand for painless endoscopy.This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the current situation and change in county people's demand for endoscopy to promote the development of endoscopy centers in county hospitals in southeast China.Methods From October to December 2021,patients and their family members who came to the Gastroenterology Department in Suichang County People's Hospital of Zhejiang Province were randomly selected to complete the questionnaire.A total of 838 valid questionnaires were collected.Additionally,the original software data of the Endoscopy Center were sampled and retrieved(from October to December every year from 2018 to 2021)for statistical analysis of real-world data.Those who would choose painless endoscopy the next time in the valid questionnaires were included in the painless endoscopy group,while those who would choose ordinary endoscopy the next time were included in the ordinary endoscopy group.Results The stepwise forward binary logistic regression model analysis showed that,patients with“secondhand smoke exposure”were more willing to choose painless endoscopy(OR=1.459,95%CI:1.050-2.028,p=0.025).However,patients with an education level of“primary and below”and“junior high school”,and patients who are suffering from“currently experiencing abdominal distension”,were more willing to choose ordinary endoscopy(OR=0.270,95%CI:0.149-0.488,p<0.001;OR=0.528,95%CI:0.330-0.845,p=0.008;OR=0.536,95%CI:0.334-0.861,p=0.010).Patients with previous experience in painless endoscopy tended to choose painless endoscopy the next time,while patients with previous experience in ordinary endoscopy tended to choose ordinary endoscopy the next time(χ^(2)=140.97,p<0.001).From 2018 to 2021,the proportion of painless endoscopy has increased yearly(p<0.001).Most patients indicated that they would“regularly review gastroenteroscopy”(477/838,56.9%).Conclusions With Suichang County of Zhejiang Province as the representative,the demand for painless endoscopy for people's gastrointestinal cancer detection in southeast China has been increasing yearly.The development of endoscopy centers in county-level hospitals can basically meet the demand growth.Meanwhile,advanced concepts such as comfortable medical care and regular follow-up are gradually popularized at the grassroots level in southeast China.

Putting Places First in Competitive Urban Transformation European Urban Creativity Perspectives and the City of Sarajevo

The inter-urban competition seems to be of paramount importance for city-development today. The extensive reliance of competitiveness-oriented urban governance agendas on the knowledge-based, ＂new＂ economy, introduced the notion of ＂creativity＂ into discussion on the future of urban development. Though still on the margins of serious urban theory, the discourse on ＂creative cities＂ that emerged in the early 2000s, has already had massive influence on the ways in which cities are managed and transformed in Europe. After examination of how the competitiveness-oriented strategies based on creativity and related to the qualities of place increase cultural and social sustainability of urban transformation and development, this paper briefly rethinks the current urban development policy of the city of Sarajevo in relation to the notion of ＂place＂, by leaning on the contemporary European urban development paradigm. The conclusion points out that the sustainable increase of urban competitiveness in Sarajevo should be pursued by the development projects of urban transformation promoting creative knowledge sector, based on the inclusive cultural urban narratives related to places, thus assuring simultaneous growth of creative knowledge industries and preservation of diverse social geography.

Putting the People First

THE news of Malawi President Joyce Banda declaring her country would not be hosting the 19th AU Summit in July caused ripple effects in the African community.

Double Tragedy: Examining the Effects of Mental Health Stigma on Help Seeking Behaviour among Deaf People in Ghana

Background: Globally, mental health is recognized as one of the major public health issues, and mental health stigma is one of the main barriers to mental healthcare. While several studies have been conducted on the stigma associated with mental health, very little is known about the mental health stigma experienced by deaf persons with mental health conditions in Ghana. This study examines the experiences of double stigmatization by deaf people with mental health conditions in Ghana. Methodology: A descriptive, mixed method data collection was used for seventy-nine (79) participants. The paper presents findings from the only qualitative component of the study. Results: The findings from the study showed that deaf people with mental illness experienced double stigma, namely being stigmatized for being deaf and for having mental illness. This hindered access to mental health services for deaf people with mental health condition. Conclusion: Deaf people with mental health conditions experience double stigmatization which discourages them from seeking professional psychiatric care. This implies that efforts to reduce mental health stigma and create awareness on deafness should be improved upon. It is recommended that, in view of the impact of stigma on the provision and use of mental health care services, strategies to improve access to mental health care, should seriously consider concerns about stigma.

Smart Shoes Safety System for the Blind People Based on (IoT) Technology

People’s lives have become easier and simpler as technology has proliferated.This is especially true with the Internet of Things(IoT).The biggest problem for blind people is figuring out how to get where they want to go.People with good eyesight need to help these people.Smart shoes are a technique that helps blind people find their way when they walk.So,a special shoe has been made to help blind people walk safely without worrying about running into other people or solid objects.In this research,we are making a new safety system and a smart shoe for blind people.The system is based on Internet of Things(IoT)technology and uses three ultrasonic sensors to allow users to hear and react to barriers.It has ultrasonic sensors and a microprocessor that can tell how far away something is and if there are any obstacles.Water and flame sensors were used,and a sound was used to let the person know if an obstacle was near him.The sensors use Global Positioning System(GPS)technology to detect motion from almost every side to keep an eye on them and ensure they are safe.To test our proposal,we gave a questionnaire to 100 people.The questionnaire has eleven questions,and 99.1%of the people who filled it out said that the product meets their needs.