Search

Abstract Children’s access to and usage of the Internet has numerous benefits. However, their Internet access and use may pose risks to them, including cyberbullying, grooming, sexting, and exposure to dangerous materials. These risks may be exacerbated by inadequate supervision of children’s online activities. Therefore, this study examined the prevalence of Internet use, Internet access, and Internet use supervision among children aged 8–17 in Ghana. This study used secondary quantitative and qualitative data from the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used to analyze the quantitative data. In contrast, the qualitative data was analyzed using the constant comparison method with the aid of NVivo software version 10. The results showed that 90.5% of children had ever used the Internet. Smartphones (45.7), café facilities (21.7), and laptops/computers (21.6) were the most popular sources of Internet access. More than half of children (56.7) indicated they received little or no supervision when using their smartphones to access the Internet, which could lead to engagement in fraudulent activities, exposure to violent scenes online, and Internet addiction. The study found that most children had never used the Internet and received little or no supervision when accessing the Internet. It is, therefore, recommended that children need to be educated on the benefits and potential risks of excessive Internet use. Also, parents need to supervise and monitor their children’s Internet usage at home.

Abstract The study examined the factors contributing to children’s conflicts with their parents, the causes of parental punishment, and the underlying reasons for such punishment during the three-week lockdown enforced in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional mixed-methods approach was used to obtain data from a sample of 385 children aged 10–17 in the Ghanaian cities of Accra and Tema. Approximately 58% of the participants reported experiencing parental conflict during the three-week lockdown period. Also, parent-child conflicts were more prevalent among older children than younger children, as well as among female children than male children. According to the findings, parental punishment was administered to two out of every ten children for misbehaviour that occurred during the lockdown. The pandemic increased financial hardships, placing many parents under pressure, and driving them to subject their children to many forms of punishment at home. It is recommended that extensive family support and psychosocial measures be put in place in the case of a pandemic lockdown to prevent excessive punishment that can lead to the abuse of children. The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP), which oversees child-related matters in the country must lead this.

The food waste (FW) campaign has always been a great concern for nations before COVID-19. The menace has been a world problem and studies into the area to curb it is imperative. Many studies relating to COVID-19 and FW were conducted in the real-time pandemic era. A few years after the pandemic, it is relevant to do the aftermath of COVID-19's influence on current food waste behavior. As the world recovers from the impacts of COVID-19, the study assesses how the crisis has impacted current food waste behavior. To achieve this, the theory of planned behavior is extended with perceived future uncertainties and changes in eating habits to examine food waste behavior. A total of 407 responses were sampled from the Jiangsu Province in China and evaluated using the partial least square structural equation model. Results from the study indicate that attitude and perceived behavioral control influence residents' intention to reduce food waste. Change in eating habits is triggered by perceived future uncertainties which eventually affected their FW reduction intention and behavior positively. Also, perceived future uncertainties positively influenced food waste reduction intention. Residents' intentions to reduce food waste positively translated to the behavior to do so. The study's results present useful understandings of the relevance of changing habits and reducing FW in the face of future uncertainties. It provides a unique viewpoint on FW in residents' behavioral context during pandemics and possible future economic recessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perturbations in extreme precipitation characteristics are investigated over the Volta Basin (VB) and its three subdomains (Sahel, Soudano-Sahel and Guinea Coast) for the early-21st (2030–2053) and mid-twenty-first centuries (2057–2080) under representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5. Seven climate indices from the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices were selected to examine future extreme precipitation features. Owing to its performance over the West African sub region, CanESM2 model results were used with Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC v7) dataset serving as reference data. Results generally show lowering trends in extreme precipitation events over the VB. The declines in extremes were dominant in the Sahel and Soudano-Sahel zones with some degree of upsurges observed in the Guinea Coast. Spatially over the basin, wet spells (CWD) were projected to shorten under RCP 8.5 (~ 7–27 days/year) relative to RCP 4.5 (~ 8–30 days/year). Similar pattern was observed for dry spells (CDD) with ranges of ~ 64–198 days/year and ~ 61–186 days/year respectively for RCPs 4.5 and 8.5. As revealed, future alterations in precipitation events have the propensity to cause alternating drought or flood events. In this line, sustainable adaptation measures and coping strategies need to be devised in time to minimize the consequences of these events, particularly those on water resources availability and ecosystem functions and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the environmental sustainability effectiveness of various political systems is taken into consideration, it is doubtful as to whether the presumption of the overall efficiency of democracy can be sustained in global governance architecture. The effectiveness of autocracies and democracies (i.e., governance indicators are compared in the present study) with reference to strengths and weaknesses in environmental objectives. This analysis explores the effect of autocracy, democracy, as well as the trend of globalization on CO2 emissions for open and closed economies from 1990 to 2020. Crucial indicators such as economic growth, renewable energy and non-renewable energy are controlled for while examining the roles of economic expansion on the disaggregated energy consumption portfolios for both open and closed economies. The empirical analysis revealed some insightful results. First, for the open economies, with the exception of non-renewable energy which shows a positive significant impact on emissions, all variables show a negative effect on emissions. Furthermore, the closed economies result indicate that, apart from renewable energy which has a negative relationship with emissions, all the variables including the interaction terms have a positive relation with emissions. However, an inverted U-shaped environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis was validated for both economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children’s access to and usage of the Internet has numerous benefits. However, their Internet access and use may pose risks to them, including cyberbullying, grooming, sexting, and exposure to dangerous materials. These risks may be exacerbated by inadequate supervision of children’s online activities. Therefore, this study examined the prevalence of Internet use, Internet access, and Internet use supervision among children aged 8–17 in Ghana. This study used secondary quantitative and qualitative data from the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used to analyze the quantitative data. In contrast, the qualitative data was analyzed using the constant comparison method with the aid of NVivo software version 10. The results showed that 90.5% of children had ever used the Internet. Smartphones (45.7), café facilities (21.7), and laptops/computers (21.6) were the most popular sources of Internet access. More than half of children (56.7) indicated they received little or no supervision when using their smartphones to access the Internet, which could lead to engagement in fraudulent activities, exposure to violent scenes online, and Internet addiction. The study found that most children had never used the Internet and received little or no supervision when accessing the Internet. It is, therefore, recommended that children need to be educated on the benefits and potential risks of excessive Internet use. Also, parents need to supervise and monitor their children’s Internet usage at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the provision of peer feedback has been widely recommended to enhance learning, many students are inexperienced in this area and would benefit from guidance. This study therefore examines the impact of instructions and examples on the quality of feedback provided by students on peer-developed learning resources produced via an online system, RiPPLE. A randomised controlled experiment with 195 students was conducted to investigate the efficacy of the approach. While the treatment group had access to instructions and examples to support their provision of feedback, the control group had no such assistance. Students' feedback comments were coded using an adaptation of the S.P.A.R.K. (Specific, Prescriptive, Actionable, Referenced, Kind) model. The results indicate that the instructional guide and examples led to students writing more comprehensive comments. The intervention notably enhanced the presence of feedback traits matching the S.P.A.R.K. model and increased instances where multiple traits of quality were observed in a single comment. However, despite the guide's impact, the students' ability to provide actionable feedback was limited. These findings demonstrate the potential of developing and integrating structured guidance and examples into online peer feedback platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Portugal, the present study explores the nexus between fiscal policies advancement and environmental emissions through the channel of carbon-income function framework. We used recent second-generational time series econometrics tests that comprise bounds testing in conjunction with multiple break structural break test of Maki co-integration and gradual shift causality test and wavelet coherence method for soundness of analysis. Furthermore, to circumvent omitted variable bias issues, energy consumption was disaggregated into non-renewable energy and renewable consumption, with GDP growth incorporated as additional variables. Empirical evidence for the Portuguese economy shows that economic growth, non-renewable energy intake, and fiscal policy all dampen the quality of the environment in Portugal. These findings have environmental implications for sustainability targets in Portugal which is currently on the trajectory for healthy and sustainable energy intake. Additionally, renewable energy consumption shows statistically significant strength to improve environmental quality as it reduces CO2 emission, as reported by our study regression. On the direction of causality analysis, we observed that non-renewable energy and fiscal policy drive pollution emission one-way as reported by the gradual shift causality analysis. From a policy lens, there is need for more strides in action plans on fiscal policy development to achieve environmental sustainability in Portugal. Further insights are elucidated in the concluding remarks section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the factors contributing to children's conflicts with their parents, the causes of parental punishment, and the underlying reasons for such punishment during the three-week lockdown enforced in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional mixed-methods approach was used to obtain data from a sample of 385 children aged 10–17 in the Ghanaian cities of Accra and Tema. Approximately 58% of the participants reported experiencing parental conflict during the three-week lockdown period. Also, parent-child conflicts were more prevalent among older children than younger children, as well as among female children than male children. According to the findings, parental punishment was administered to two out of every ten children for misbehaviour that occurred during the lockdown. The pandemic increased financial hardships, placing many parents under pressure, and driving them to subject their children to many forms of punishment at home. It is recommended that extensive family support and psychosocial measures be put in place in the case of a pandemic lockdown to prevent excessive punishment that can lead to the abuse of children. The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP), which oversees child-related matters in the country must lead this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of information and communication technology (ICT) and human capital development on environmental degradation (CO2) using the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework in line with the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP21). Five South Asian countries namely: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were considered in the context of the present study between the annual time period of 1990 to 2016. Pedroni cointegration test and Kao's residual cointegration test are used to assess long term relationship while Dumitrescu and Harlin (Econ Model 29:1450–1460, 2012) is used to test causality relationship between the variables. Empirical findings from the study showed significant effects of ICT import, renewable energy usage and human development decrease CO2 levels while ICT export and urbanization increase carbon emission levels in the long run. Furthermore, a significantly positive association is observed between economic growth and CO2 emission while the square of national income exerts a significantly negative effect on environmental degradation, which supports the EKC for the South Asian states. From a practical implication context, policymakers should not only concentrate on their economic growth trajectory improvement but also enhance the improvement of their ICT infrastructure, invest more in renewable energy sources, follow policies that would help the countries to raise human development standards, as well as consciousness for environmental sustainability should be pursued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The few works on COVID-19 in Ghana have a strong emphasis on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adults regarding the disease. As a supplement to the inadequate knowledge, this study examined children's knowledge and sources of information regarding COVID-19. It was a cross-sectional study that employed mixed research methods for data collection and analysis. The study utilized remote research methods, including a web survey and phone interviews, for data collection from a sample of 385 children in two COVID-19 hotspot cities, Accra and Tema, in Ghana. The results show that almost all children sampled were aware of COVID-19. The qualitative aspects, however, reveal that some children do not have accurate knowledge about the causes and prevention of the virus and disease. This is evident from some children's claims that bacteria, mosquitoes, and insect bites are the causes of the transmission of the virus and disease. The study reveals the internet, social media, and television are the most common methods for children to learn about COVID-19. The findings also show differences in the information sources across the major subgroups of sex, age, and educational attainment. The study further concludes that precautions should be taken by parents and carers regarding information consumed by children on social media. Hence, there is a need for the government and its partners to increase educational drives aimed at strengthening children's knowledge about the transmission and prevention of the virus in educational institutions and in settings where children and young people are the dominant groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing rate of food waste is becoming a threat to realizing Sustainable Development goal 2 by 2030. A significant portion of food is wasted along the entire food supply chain, resulting in adverse economic, ecological and social consequences. Inferring from the norm activation model (NAM), the study investigates the influence of benefits awareness, lack of concern and personal norm on households' food waste reduction intention. Gathering research data via an online survey in Jiangsu province in China, a total sample of 408 responses were analyzed using structural equation model. It was found that the extended NAM model developed is more appropriate for assessing food waste reduction intention with a significant improved explanatory potential from 32.0 to 52.0%. Households' awareness of consequences was established to have a positive effect on ascription of responsibility, and they both impact personal norm positively. Personal norm influences food waste reduction intention positively. Again, the awareness of the benefits for reducing food waste affects households' intention to reduce food waste positively. Lack of concern for food waste negatively affects their personal norm and food waste reduction intentions. These findings furnish valuable insights for future campaigns to educate people and influence their moral norms toward the importance and involvement in achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to food waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular economy (CE) has attracted considerable attention from governments, policymakers, and societies due to its potential to promote sustainable development goals while shifting away from linear economy models. Despite a growing body of research conducted in the CE, the barriers to its successful implementation for solid waste management (SWM) remain less explored especially in context of municipal solid wastes, and commercial and industrial wastes. The purpose of this current study is to identify the critical barriers to circular economy implementation in SWM. The scientometric analysis of literature is the research methodology in this study. A total of 1709 journal articles were searched and retrieved from Scopus database for the data analysis. The results show that circular economy has not gained much root in solid waste management in the global south. Countries such as China, United States, Australia, Italy, and United Kingdom (UK) are the topmost countries to fund research in this research area. The commonly used keywords in scholarly literature on this topic include sustainability, reuse, waste management and recycle. Further, the major findings of the study were grouped into clusters relating to challenges on macroeconomic policies, recycling and reuse of waste, stakeholder management, operation, and legal regulations, generated solid wastewater treatment, and construction and demolition waste. The contributions of this research are twofold: a comprehensive list of relevant gaps for further studies are provided for the scientific community to delve into this matter and proffer solutions. The findings could serve as a guide to understand and develop best practice framework on circular economy and its implementation in the SWM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The placenta serves as an essential organ for fetal growth throughout pregnancy. Histone modification is a crucial regulatory mechanism involved in numerous biological processes and development. Nevertheless, there remains a significant gap in our understanding regarding the epigenetic regulations that influence trophoblast lineage differentiation, a fundamental aspect of placental development. Here, through comprehensive mapping of H3K4me3, H3K27me3, H3K9me3, and H3K27ac loci during the differentiation of trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) into syncytiotrophoblasts (STs) and extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs), we reveal dynamic reconfiguration in H3K4me3 and H3K27ac patterns that establish an epigenetic landscape conducive to proper trophoblast lineage differentiation. We observe that broad H3K4me3 domains are associated with trophoblast lineage-specific gene expression. Unlike embryonic stem cells, TSCs lack robust bivalent domains. Notably, the repression of ST- and EVT-active genes in TSCs is primarily attributed to the weak H3K4me3 signal rather than bivalent domains. We also unveil the inactivation of TSC enhancers precedes the activation of ST enhancers during ST formation. Our results provide a comprehensive global map of diverse histone modifications, elucidating the dynamic histone modifications during trophoblast lineage differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change presents challenges for both industrialized and developing nations, primarily due to insufficient pollution control. Increased fossil fuel usage escalates pollution levels, emphasizing the need to integrate more renewable energy into the energy mix, particularly to reduce carbon emissions. Consequently, public investment in renewable energy becomes pivotal to enhance the necessary technology for green energy production. Human development and technological progress play a crucial role in advancing green energy and ensuring environmental sustainability. This study addresses whether clean energy and technology can foster ecological sustainability in the G7 while considering human development. Findings emphasize the significance of public investments in renewable energy projects, technical innovation, and human development. Such investments are essential for augmenting renewable energy shares and lowering carbon emissions in the long run. The study proposes relevant policies to help G7 nations achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to green energy transition (SDG-7), environmental sustainability (SDG-13), and innovation (SDG-9). In essence, prioritizing renewable energy investment and innovation is imperative for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are being unveiled as crucial regulators of several biological processes and pathways. Among the lncRNAs is metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), which is also known as nuclear enriched abundant transcript 2 (NEAT2). MALAT1 is highly conserved in mammals, and controls cellular processes such as proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and apoptosis in both physiological and pathological conditions. Roles of MALAT1 in the female reproductive system are gradually getting explored. Within the ovarian micro-environment, the physiological expression of MALAT1 potentially modulates folliculogenesis while its upregulation promotes the metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancers. Interestingly, women with polycystic ovary syndrome have been shown to exhibit aberrant ovarian expression of MALAT1 and this is believed to contribute to the development of the disease. At the feto-maternal interface, MALAT1 potentially promotes trophoblast development. While its placental downregulation is linked to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, its placental upregulation is associated with placenta increta and placenta percreta. Hence, abnormal expression of MALAT1 is a candidate molecular biomarker and therapeutic target for the treatment of these obstetric and gynecologic anomalies. To enhance a quick uncovering and detailed characterization of the mechanistic actions of MALAT1 in the female reproductive system, we have highlighted some knowledge deficits and have recommended ideal experimental models to be employed in prospective investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic waste management is needed to prevent environmental damage. Recycling plastic waste is encouraged to continue using plastics while reducing environmental impact. These include the vast volume of plastic waste (p-waste) generated and discarded, the non-biodegradability of most plastic waste, the persistence of plastic waste in health, and the environmental risks of micro- and nano-plastics. Therefore, this study extended the valence theory (VT) model with openness to change, environmental concerns, and the convenience of accessible recycling infrastructure to examine residents' p-waste recycling intentions and behavior in Ghana. The main aim of this research is to assess the moderating role of age, gender, and education level in detecting Ghanaians' p-waste recycling intention-behaviors. Based on 390 survey responses, hypothetical claims were examined utilizing partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings are: (1) Perceived benefit, openness to change, environmental concerns, and convenience positively influence residents' p-waste recycling behavior through recycling intention in Ghana. (2) The study found that gender moderates the link between openness to change (OTC) and plastic waste recycling intention, while educational level moderates the link between OTC and recycling behavior. (3) Perceived benefit, openness to change, environmental concerns, perceived risk, and convenience positively affect residents' p-waste recycling intention. (4) Openness to change and convenience of accessible recycling infrastructure positively influence residents' p-waste recycling behavior. To reduce p-waste recycling complexity and maintain consistent practices, identical recycling systems and facilities must be installed in all waste generation scenarios. Waste planners and policymakers could use the results of this research to develop effective waste management structures that are helpful to circular economy projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the trend of circular economy innovation (CEI) drive SMEs to initiate more sustainable practices to attain market competitiveness but rare attention has been paid in emerging economies. Hence, this study plans to explore the impacts of CEI on the triple bottom lines (TBL) efficiencies in the light of market competitiveness among the production SMEs in emerging economies. The study complied data by using a survey-based technique in Pakistan, Malaysia, and China. With a sample of 306 for each segment, data were evaluated with PLS-SEM to clarify results. The findings reveal that CEI has positive significant effects on the market competitiveness and TBL efficiencies among the production SMEs in emerging economies. The findings also clarify that market competitiveness mediates the relationship between CEI and the TBL efficiencies. The findings elaborate the theoretical foundations for environmental-based production SMEs to formulate more sustainable strategies in the light of CEI to gain market competitiveness. It also clarifies the understandings of policy makers and environmental regulators by providing a novel precursor to frame the environment-based TBL guidelines for SMEs. It adds to the UN sustainability agenda by elevating the role of CEI as a novel domain among emerging economies grounded on the resource-based view theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal pollution in industrial and residential areas in cities has become a salient environmental issue in Ghana. However, high-quality and environmental investigations of stream sediments are essential for the evaluation of contamination and subsequent decision-making processes. The study was undertaken to identify possible heavy metals and their concentrations in stream sediments from Suame Magazine and its environs in Kumasi, Ghana. Soil samples were analysed for vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), strontium (Sr), zirconium (Zr), barium (Ba), gallium (Ga), yttrium (Y), titanium (Ti), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) using a polarized energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (PED-XRF) stream sampling, elemental analyses of heavy metals and state of pollution evaluation using contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF) and geo-accumulation index (Igeo), while pollution load index (PLI) for the north and south sides of the cluster and source provenance of the trace elements were undertaken. The results showed that elements such as Cr, Zn, As, Pb, Sn and Zr were enriched by anthropogenic activities and exceeded the maximum allowable limits, while V, Ni, Cu, Ba, Y, Mn, Sr, Ti, Co, Fe and Ga were not. The results also showed that the north side of the study area was relatively more polluted in trace elements than the south indicative of contaminated stream sediments. The likely pathways from the Suame Magazine and the contaminated stream sediments to sensitive receptors like humans, plants, animals and the environment need to be sequestered and isolated. In addition, government like the Municipal Health Directorate must be informed of this study so that it will affect public and epidemiological studies, interventions and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, researchers and politicians have become concerned about the ever-increasing energy consumption of ICT gadgets. Any effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should take the ICT industry's carbon emissions into account, given the widespread usage of ICT products across all economic sectors. Employing Driscoll-Kraay Panel Corrected Estimators for E7 economies from 2000 to 2020, we examine the direct impacts of ICT on ecology as well as the indirect implications through connections with the availability of clean fuel and technology for cooking and trade while also adjusting for population and renewable energy. From the empirical findings, it was observed that the two proxies of ICT services (i.e., internet-penetration and mobile-subscriptions) were negatively significantly connected with E7's (Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, and Turkey) carbon emissions. Similarly, access to clean fuel and technologies for cooking and renewable energy decreases emission levels within the E7 economies, while trade openness and population growth increase emission levels within the said economies. Moreover, the method of moment quantile regression used as a robustness check affirms the baseline technique. According to the findings, the E7 economies can safely boost internet usage and associated technologies to lower emissions. They may lessen their negative impact on the ecosystem by increasing the utilization of renewable energy and expanding access to clean fuel and cooking technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global SARS-CoV-2 burden and testing frequency have decreased, wastewater surveillance has emerged as a key tool to support clinical surveillance efforts. The aims of this study were to identify and characterize SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater samples collected from urban centers across South Africa. Here we show that wastewater sequencing analyses are temporally concordant with clinical genomic surveillance and reveal the presence of multiple lineages not detected by clinical surveillance. We show that wastewater genomics can support SARS-CoV-2 epidemiological investigations by reliably recovering the prevalence of local circulating variants, even when clinical samples are not available. Further, we find that analysis of mutations observed in wastewater can provide a signal of upcoming lineage transitions. Our study demonstrates the utility of wastewater genomics to monitor evolution and spread of endemic viruses. SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance could provide an important means of monitoring population trends as clinical testing decreases. Here, the authors demonstrate the use of wastewater to track variants of concern through a sentinel wastewater surveillance system in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving environmental sustainability has become a global concern amidst increasing climate change threat. Using quarterly frequency data for the case of Russia from 1992 to 2018, the present study explores the interaction between disaggregated energy consumption (renewable energy and non-renewable energy), trade flow and economic growth on a broader measure for environmental degradation (ecological footprint). The choice of the variables draws strength from initiative of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG, 7, 8 11 and 13) for responsible energy consumption and clean energy consumption while mitigating climate change issues. The study applied the quantile-on-quantile regression (QQR) and nonparametric causality-in-quantiles to capture these associations. The outcomes from the QQR disclosed that in the majority of the quantiles, trade openness and renewable energy use contribute to environmental sustainability, while nonrenewable energy amplifies ecological footprint. Furthermore, growth in Russia escalates its ecological footprint. Moreover, in the majority of the quantiles, all the exogenous variables can predict ecological footprint. Given the outcomes of this study, it outlines the need for a paradigm shift for alternative and clean energy consumption in Russian energy mix amidst its economic growth trajectory while accounting for green-development approaches. Pathways to fully achieve the sustainability targets are carefully outlined in the concluding section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentially toxic constituents in traditional medicines remain a concern due to health risks posed to consumers. Thirty-six traditional medicines (TM) consisting of 14 Indian Ayurvedic Medicines, 11 Chinese Traditional Medicines and eleven Ghanaian Traditional Medicines were evaluated using Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (T-XRF) after microwave assisted acid digestion. Physiologically Based Extraction Test (PBET) was used to obtain bioaccessible elemental concentrations. Merck XVI multi-element standard were used to evaluate the accuracy of the analytical method. The concentrations of the elements were quantified in (mg kg−1): Cr (0.01–698), Mn (0.01–1140), Fe (15–73300), Ni (1–1340), Cu (3–8160), Zn (0.01–224). The greatest bioaccessible concentrations of arsenic was 0.80 mg kg−1 and 0.44 mg kg−1 in the gastric and intestinal phases respectively. In order to evaluate the human health risks from ingesting these TM, the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) was calculated for each medicine based on element-specific bioaccessibility-adjusted concentrations and results compared with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Reference Dose (RfD) limits. The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) values for risks were within the USEPA RfD. Hazard quotients (HQ) of TM were < 1, meaning elemental concentrations do not pose non-carcinogenic risks to adult consumers. In summary the methods applied in the study gives a new insight on human health risks of potentially toxic and essential micronutrients elements in TM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of climate change-induced drought stress on global food security and environmental sustainability is a serious concern. While previous research has highlighted the potential benefits of drought hardening in improving plants' ability to withstand drought, the exact underlying physiological mechanisms in millet plants (Setaria italica L.) have not been explored. This study aimed to investigate the impact of drought hardening on antioxidant defense and polyphenol accumulation in different millet genotypes ('PI 689680' and 'PI 662292') subjected to different treatments: control (unstressed), drought acclimation (two stress episodes with recovery), and non-acclimation (single stress episode with no recovery). The results showed that drought stress led to higher levels of polyphenols and oxidative damage, as indicated by increased phenolic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin levels. Non-acclimated (NA) plants experienced more severe oxidative damage and inhibition of enzymes associated with the ascorbate glutathione cycle compared to drought-acclimated plants. NA plants also exhibited a significant reduction in photosynthesis and tissue water content. The expression of genes related to antioxidants and polyphenol synthesis was more pronounced in non-acclimated plants. The study demonstrated that drought hardening not only prepared plants for subsequent drought stress but also mitigated damage caused by oxidative stress in plant physiology. Drought-acclimated (DA) plants displayed improved drought tolerance, as evidenced by better growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant defense, polyphenol accumulation, and gene expression related to antioxidants and polyphenol synthesis. In conclusion, the research advocates for the use of drought hardening as an effective strategy to alleviate the negative impacts of drought-induced metabolic disturbances in millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the light of China's carbon-neutral goal, this study examines how food production, forest cover, trade openness, and rural population contribute to the quest of addressing China's agricultural nitrous oxide emissions. Time series data ranging from 1971 to 2018 was used for analysis in this study. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) technique was employed to evaluate potential cointegration as well as to ascertain the long and short-run effects of food production, forest cover, income, trade openness, and rural population on agricultural nitrous oxide emission. The Toda-Yamomoto causality analysis was also used to identify the causal relations between covariates (food production, forest cover, income, trade openness, and rural population) and the outcome variable (agricultural nitrous oxide emission). The long-run evidence is that rural population in itself tends to increase agricultural nitrous oxide emissions likewise food production. There is also validation of the existence of environmental Kuznets curve for agricultural nitrous oxide emissions. Moreover, income interacts with rural population to reduce agricultural nitrous oxide emissions in the long-run. Causality analysis indicated rural population affects the level of forest cover; forest cover is found to cause agricultural nitrous oxide emissions but the converse is not established, and income as well as the interaction between income and rural population determines agricultural nitrous oxide emissions. The short-run dynamics results establish an oscillatory equilibrium convergence for agricultural nitrous oxide emissions in event of structural disturbances. From the findings, the EKC hypothesis is relevant by offering avenue to reduce emission. Thus, income growth remains helpful in addressing nitrous oxide emission from the agricultural sector. However, research is needed to unravel why nitrous oxide tends to increase in many forest areas. Since food production cannot be halted, policy makers need to enhance the uptake of efficient food production technologies including developing and using more renewable energy for food production. It is important for authorities to attend to rural development in order to mitigate agricultural nitrous oxide emissions in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wake of various catastrophic consequences of climate change, Malaysia, a rapidly developing economy, is also inevitably experiencing environmental degradation that merits prompt and serious attention from policymakers and its government. Hence, this study simultaneously highlights the short and long-run dynamic connections between carbon emission in Malaysia and the trio of corruption levels, foreign investment inflow, and trade liberalization. The study also controls for a combination of other factors including energy use, GDP, and urbanization. A robust empirical analysis was conducted on time series observations for the country based on the recent Dynamic ARDL simulation. It was observed that Malaysia's per capita pollution levels significantly reduces based on the corruption perception levels during the sampling period while the economic expansion's effect on emission levels is positive. Additionally, urbanization, trade levels and energy use all aggravate the emission levels. On the other hand, although FDI poses an insignificant environmental damage in the short run, its environmental sustainability enhancement roles were supported by its long-run negative impacts on carbon emission. Lastly, the EKC was established and as such, essential policy directions were provided for stakeholders in the rapidly emerging Malaysian economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrate (NO3−) contamination threatens the quality of groundwater in many agricultural areas, and excessive NO3− consumption may cause adverse human health implications. Determination of NO3− occurrence and its source of contamination is essential for the effective management of groundwater quality. The characteristics of NO3− in groundwater from the Anayari Catchment were analysed using hydrogeochemical and stable isotope data. Concentrations of major ions and the isotopic values of δ2H, δ18O, δ15N–NO3− and δ18O–NO3− of groundwater and δ15N–NO3− and δ18O–NO3− of potential NO3− source materials (precipitation (P), chemical fertilisers (CF), soil nitrogen (SN), and sewage or manure (S/M)) in the area were determined and used to identify groundwater NO3− sources. The Bayesian mixing model was applied to estimate the proportional contributions of NO3− load in boreholes (BH) and hand–dug wells (HDW) in the Catchment. The NO3− levels were mostly lower than the WHO guideline limit. Correlation analyses indicate that the source of NO3− was mostly livestock and septic waste. The results from δ15N–NO3− and δ18O–NO3− showed that the contribution of NO3− from potential sources is in the order of S/M > SN > CF > P, with denitrification influencing the NO3− concentration in some of the groundwater sources. The Bayesian mixing model demonstrated that by proportion, SN and S/M were the major NO3− contributors to BH and HDW, respectively. There is a need to institute and enforce proper manure application management strategies to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination from manure nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing countries are noted for higher interest margins, and banking in Africa has recently witnessed the rise of African regional banks with a Pan-African ambition and the quest to modify the banking landscape. So far, the banking literature has received little attention regarding the determinants of net interest margin (NIM) of commercial banks in Africa, and the empirics across domestic, regional African, and non-African banks has not been studied either. Thus, we fill this lacuna by analyzing the intermediation margins of commercial banks across Africa while detailing the determinants for the three banking groups. We employ annual data of 552 commercial banks for eight years (2011 to 2018) across fifty-two African countries. The results of the study indicate that bank intermediation margin in Africa is a function of pure spread variables (bank concentration, credit risk, risk aversion, interest rate volatility), income from non-traditional banking activities, specialization, other bank-specific (transaction size, operating cost) and macro-economic variables (financial innovation and GDP). The results also suggest that there are some similarities and nuances for the determinants of bank intermediation margins across the domestic, regional African, and non-African banks. The results obtained have significant policy implications for bank regulation and financial sector development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a spike in publications on business strategies focused on environmental awareness subjects in recent years, business-environment nexus research has recently been criticized for failing to address urgent issues like climate change. Therefore, we endeavored to do a trend analysis to find knowledge gaps in business studies related to the interaction between businesses, the environment, and society using bibliometric. Our study reveals that the area of business sustainability has evolved over the past decade from an internal conquest to include external indices like the environment, such as the debate over the relative merits of social and economic performance and the greening of management. Our findings point to three (3) main conclusions. (1) Many corporations see the urgency of green practices and have distinctive organizational sustainability and business strategies for environmental crises. (2) Business strategy and environment research are concentrated within developed countries to the neglect of developing countries. (3).The literature on business sustainability has not yet given much attention to the managerial implications and effects of climate change. Therefore, scholars must test and develop business-environmental nexuses to aid in sustainable production and consumption improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lot of attention has been paid to environmental pollution worldwide, due to the increase in anthropogenic activities. Massive investment in non-renewable energy options raises questions regarding environmental sustainability and how to maximize food and non-food output while still preserving a healthy ecosystem. To this end, the present study explores the three-way nexus between economic growth, CO2 emission, and agriculture-value added will accounting for other control variables across a balanced panel of selected African economies from 1997 to 2020. Panel econometrics method of the generalized method of moments (two-step difference GMM) is used to obtain a robust result. From the present study, the environmental pollution model shows that economic growth significantly contributes to environmental pollution in Africa. Additionally, the food price index, capital, and FDI promote pollution, while agricultural production and labor decrease pollution. In the case of the economic growth model, the findings reveal that environmental pollution supports the growth-led pollution hypothesis. Also, the food price index and capital ameliorate economic growth, while foreign direct investments decrease economic growth. Finally, the agricultural production model indicates that economic growth increases agricultural production when the interaction term between GDPC and FDI is included in the model. In summary, the combination of explanatory variables, environmental pollution, capital, and foreign direct investment decreases agricultural production. On the contrary, the food price index and labor promote agricultural production in Africa. Furthermore, the study provides a lot of policies for authorities and stakeholders in Sub-Saharan African countries and other developing economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing and releasing cocoa varieties take several years of testing bi-parental crosses within the cocoa production belt. A critical phase in these testing schemes is multi-location evaluation under farmers' production conditions to elucidate the adaptation of promising varieties. The genotype and genotype- by- environment interaction (GEI) of 25 recently developed cocoa hybrids were assessed for establishment and precocity traits including stem diameter (SD) growth, percentage survival (%S), and number of pods per tree (NP). A randomized complete block design with four replications across five contrasting environments was used to evaluate the 25 hybrids together with two standard varieties. Variations due to genotype, environment, and GEI were highly significant (p < 0.001) for all the traits, with mean square of environment being the largest followed by the main effects and the GEI had the least. The mean performance of the hybrids ranged from 72.25% in PA7 × GEBP 303/B-M to 88% in PA7 × CRG 0543 for % S, 31.93 in T79/501 × CRG 0543 to 40.87 mm in GU 144/C × EQX 78 for SD and 2.41 in T79/501 × CRG 0543 to 4.14 in GU 144/C × EQX 78 for NP. The genotype main effects plus genotype × environment interaction (GGE) biplot analysis revealed that hybrid 2 (GU 144 × EQX 78) performed best for SD growth and NP, and 12 (T63/967 × CRG 0314) for %S in most of the locations including Akomadan that had more intense dry seasons over the period. They could be used in cocoa breeding programs that seek to improve production under marginal conditions. Tafo for NP and SD growth, and Akomadan for % S were identified as the most discriminating and representative locations and considered the ideal testing locations for establishment and precocity traits. For stability, hybrids 3 (GU 144 × MAN 15–2), 7 (PA7 × EQX 78) and 17 (T63/967 × T65/238) were the best for NP, % S and SD growth, respectively. They were significantly not different from the highest performing hybrids for all the traits and could be further monitored for yield production before recommended as planting materials in Ghana and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dramatic upsurge of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) activities in Ghana has resulted in environmental degradation, water pollution and human exposure to mercury—the main hazardous element used in gold extraction. This study evaluated the degree of human exposure to mercury based on the concentrations found in the air and soil samples taken at a resolution of 1 km2 across Konongo, a historic mining town in Ghana's Ashanti Region. The highest atmospheric mercury concentration was 193 ng/m3, which is much higher than the levels the European Union and Japan allowed, which are 10 ng/m3 and 40 ng/m3, respectively. The concentration in the soil was 3.6 mg Hg/kg, which is around ten times higher than the background concentration in nature. Additionally, the soil concentrations were higher above the worrisome levels of soil contamination in agricultural land (4 mg/kg) and industrial areas (16 mg/kg), respectively. Soils are extremely contaminated with mercury at sites artisanal mining activities take place. The concentrations of mercury in the air and soils were significantly higher (p < 0.5) at locations of prominent mining activities compared to areas not close to mining sites. The inhabitants of the Konongo community are therefore exposed to mercury, most likely emitted from artisanal mining activities. A non-carcinogenic risk is posed to the people by inhaling mercury vapour through the air and vapourisation from the soil. Children are exposed to a higher risk than adults as they receive higher daily doses of mercury than adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes patients are at risk of developing mental health comorbidities such as depression and poor quality of sleep. These conditions can affect diabetic management, including glycemic and plasma lipid control to optimal levels. We investigated the association between diabetic control and the presence of depression and poor sleep quality in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients at Sunyani Government hospital in Ghana. Using a case–control design, we recruited 200 T2DM patients and compared them to 160 non-diabetic controls. The presence of depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Instrument (PSQI). Blood samples were collected to measure glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and plasma lipid profiles. Poor glycemic control was defined as HbA1c > 7%, depression as PHQ-9 score > 9 and poor sleep quality as PSQI score ≥ 5. Results: T2DM patients had a higher prevalence of depression (31.5% vs 10.6%, p < 0.001) and poor sleep quality (64% vs 40%, p < 0.001) compared to non-diabetic controls. Glycemic control was not associated with depression and poor sleep quality in T2DM patients. Depression was associated with increased odds of hypercholesteremia [OR (95% CI) = 10.71 (2.64–43.41), p < 0.001] in non-diabetic controls and poor sleep quality was associated with increased odds of low HDL cholesterol in T2DM patients [3.2 (1.38–7.48), p = 0.007] and hypertriglyceridemia in non-diabetic controls [2.54 (1.15–8.51), p < 0.001]. Conclusion: In our study population, depression and poor sleep quality were common in T2DM patients compared to non-diabetic controls. Depression and poor sleep quality were associated with abnormalities in serum lipid levels, but not glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of financial development, economic growth, and foreign direct investment on enhancing industrial growth for a panel of selected Sub-Sahara African (SSA) countries from 1990—2017. However, the present study enriches our understanding of financial development by employing a new comprehensive index focused on the accessibility, scope, and productivity of capital systems and banking institutions and incorporated foreign direct investment and economic growth as significant industrial growth drivers in the selected countries. A more robust technique Augmented Mean Group (AMG) and Common Correlated Effect Mean Group (CCEMG), were employed to access the long-run relationship among the understudy variables. Further empirical results shows that financial development and economic growth enhance industrial development with finance exhibiting signifcance while foreign direct investment is seen as adverse. Moreover, a two-way causality was obtained between industrialization and financial development while both foreign direct investment and economic growth had a one-way causality relationship with industrialization. Thus, our study implies that the government officials within these countries must provide a suitable environment for the public, private partnerships, i.e. private sector, which is the backbone for industrial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main cause of environmental degradation is carbon emissions, which puts environmental sustainability in jeopardy. This ecological worry, the obligation for which falls on all economic actors, has not gone undetected, and so in 2021, the Glasgow Climate Pact (COP: 26) was organized, with the primary aim of decreasing global carbon emissions. Because the Post-Glasgow Agreement goals represent a significant challenge to achieving ecological responsibility, pressure is applied to the participating nations. However, earlier literature lacked sufficient investigation of factors useful for the mitigation of carbon emissions in E7 (China, Turkey, India, Russia, Brazil, Indonesia, and Mexico) economies. Hence, we aim to fill this research vacuum by predicting the impact of clean fuels and cooking technology availability, renewable energy, and environmental taxes on E7 economies' carbon emissions from 2000 to 2020, while taking urbanization and population expansion into account. Evaluation is done using four different cross-sectional dependence (CSD) methods, as well as unit root tests (CIPS and CADF), cointegration analysis (Westerlund and Kao), and the Driscoll-Kraay and quantile-on-quantile long-run factor estimate methods. The long-run analysis revealed from our findings that environmental tax, renewable energy, and access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking decrease carbon emission for the E7 economies. On the other hand, urbanization and population growth enhance emissions for the E7 economies. Finally, our results hold up under a variety of policy interpretations that would aid in reducing carbon emissions and their negative effects on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysing and understanding the occurrence and development of droughts is of great significance in mitigating drought impacts. This study assessed the possible changes in the joint distribution of drought duration and severity in two major cities of Ghana, Accra and Yendi. The duration and severity of droughts, estimated using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), were determined based on run theory. The best-fitted Copula models were used to combine the drought duration and severity to analyse the drought return period. The gamma, lognormal and Weibull distributions were considered to select the marginal distributions for the duration and severity, while the normal, t, Gumbel, Joe, Clayton and Frank copulas to select the best-fit Copula model. Bias corrected climate simulations of six Global Climate Models (GCMs) of the CMIP6 were used to project drought characteristics for the near and far futures. The results showed the Clayton and Frank copulas as the most suitable for fitting the joint distribution of drought duration and severity at Accra and Yendi, respectively. Lognormal and Weibull distributions were the most suitable for the marginal distributions of severity and duration, respectively. The joint return periods of droughts showed almost no change in the future compared to the historical period in Accra with a historical mean of 11.36 and a near and far future mean of 12.26 and 10.30 respectively but significantly reduced return periods in the future in Yendi with a near and far future means of 1.47 and 2.13 respectively compared to a historical mean of 17.40. The drought risks estimated for different future periods can provide useful information in planning, management, and assessing the adequacy of the water structures in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In compliance with the global climate goal, the European Cement Association adopted the 5C (clinker, cement, concrete, construction, and (re)carbonation) approach as its central roadmap to a carbon neutral 2050. Following the climate ambition at the center of Europe's cement production, this study examines a suitable strategy for achieving environmental quality from the perspective of natural resources rent, energy utilization, trade, and income level in the panel of European Union member states over the period 1990–2016. The present study employed empirical method that demonstrated robustness to cross-sectional dependence and found statistically significant evidence of cointegration among the examined factors. Importantly, both the augmented mean group and method of moments quantile regression approaches found that carbon-related cement production emission could be mitigated by more drastic strategy toward energy transition, trade openness among in the region, and the sustainable natural resource rent policy. Although the carbon cement emission mitigations are all desirably inelastic with trade openness (~ 0.17), renewable energy utilization (~ 0.32), and natural resources rent (~ 0.12), these impacts become weaker in the upper quantile for renewable energy utilization and natural resource rent while becoming stronger in the upper quantile for trade openness. Additionally, the result from both estimations affirmed the environmental Kuznets curve for the carbon emission and income nexus scenario for the European Union countries. Moreover, the Granger causality evidence reveals two-way causation from carbon cement emission to trade openness, natural resource rent, and income per person. In general, the policy dimension from this study further re-engineers the 2050 carbon neutrality goal among the member states of European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the resource-based view theory, this paper explores the association between green human resource management and green supply chain management. Moreover, the collective impact of green human resource management and green supply chain management on the triple bottom lines (social, environmental, and economic performance) was tested. The current study employed a random sampling technique in evaluating data from 212 firms from the chemical, pharmaceutical, automotive, textile, and food industries. Our main findings include the following. First, green human resource management positively influenced the triple bottom lines. Second, green supply chain management mediates green human resource management and triple bottom lines. Specifically, internal green supply chain management mediates green human resource management practices and sustainable performance. In contrast, external green supply chain management practices only mediate the relationship between green human resource management practices and the environmental and social perspective of sustainable performance. The study provides managerial implications and future recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agronomic performance of Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) is affected by genotype by environment interaction, which demands multi-environment testing of genotypes to identify superior genotypes. The objectives of this study were to (1) estimate genetic parameters and analyze the effects of genotype (G), environment (E), and genotype by environment (G × E) interaction on growth and yield traits of C. canephora genotypes, (2) identify superior genotypes that exhibit high stability by combining high growth and yield with broad or specific environmental adaptation, and (3) identify environments that best represent the target environment for high trait expression. Thirty-nine C. canephora hybrids were evaluated using a randomized-complete-block design with three replications at New Tafo-Akim and Bechem in the Eastern and Ahafo regions of Ghana, respectively. Additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis of variance revealed highly significant (p < 0.001) differences among G, E, and G × E interaction effects for all traits. AMMI2 biplot analysis revealed the presence of 3, 2, 3, 2, and 3 mega environments for trunk cross-sectional area, height, span, number of laterals, and yield, respectively. Identifying mega environments for these traits will help expedite Robusta coffee breeding through the reduction of the number of test environments needed for phenotype evaluations. The AMMI analyses indicated genotypes G17 (E138 × C180), G35 (PA193 × C180), G4 (197 × PA413), G1 (149 × C193) and G30 (E152 × 149) have high and stable yields across all test environments. The promising candidate genotypes are recommended for further stability tests and release in Ghana or comparable environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economies of the emerging seven (E7) are not insulated from the climate change challenges, which is a key concern for most countries. The E7 nations have undertaken part in initiatives to combat climate change, particularly in terms of reducing CO2 emissions from the trajectory of productivity expansion in their countries. It is for this reason that this study examines the impact of resource volatility, renewable energy, and fossil fuel on both economic performance and CO2 emission from 1990 to 2018. The present study used panel quantile regression and Driscoll-Kraay fixed effect-OLS estimators to examine these associations. From model I, the outcome shows that economic performance, natural gas rent, coal rent, and fossil fuel impact CO2 emission positively. Moreover, oil rent, renewable energy, investment in energy, and the interaction between investment in energy and renewable energy also negatively and significantly impact CO2 emission. On the other hand, model II which has economic performance as a dependent variable shows that all the understudy variables have significant positive relations with economic performance. Based on the empirical outcome, policy ramifications are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important steps in HIV prevention is the provision of education to raise awareness to ensure individuals have a sufficient understanding of HIV and AIDS and encourage them to apply that knowledge. The study is based on an earlier descriptive cross-sectional study that sought a link between fishers' mobility and their risk of HIV exposure in the Elmina fishing community in Ghana. The current paper focuses on initiatives taken within the study area to inform fishers about HIV and AIDS. Additionally, it analyzes the successes and challenges of these programs and offers suggestions for improvement. Public and community durbars, town hall meetings, radio and television transmission, film creation, and the distribution of IE&C materials are the main strategies utilized to carry out HIV and AIDS education. The results suggest that few fishers in the study area take part in programs, whiles projects on HIV and AIDS cannot be implemented consistently and effectively due to a lack of funding and delays in the delivery of government funds. To enable organizations whose mandates, relate to HIV and AIDS interventions to carry out the programs timely and fully, it is advised that government enhances its financing and ensures the timely and full release of program funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deterioration of environmental quality spurred on by rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is the main threat to reducing carbon footprint. Africa has recently been identified as having experienced excessive temperatures above pre-industrial standards. Despite its lower GHG emissions, Africa continues to be among the most impacted areas of the world by global warming. However, this research scrutinizes the effect of human capital and trade openness on the ecological footprint (ECF) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions using data from West Africa from 1995 to 2016. The research used dynamic ordinary least squares, fully modified ordinary least squares, and paired Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality tests for its assessment. The study's findings are as follows: (1) The study found that human capital and trade openness decrease the ecological footprint in West Africa; (2) globalization reduces CO2 emissions while also increasing the ecological footprint; (3) the analysis reveals that natural resources and the population improve environmental quality in West Africa, while biocapacity reduces the ecological footprint and improves CO2 emissions in the region; and (4) the study revealed the bidirectional causality between biocapacity, the population, and ECF. The study also revealed the bidirectional causality between biocapacity, population, human capital, natural resources, and CO2 emissions, while ecological footprint is unidirectionally causally related to globalization, human capital, and trade capital. Unidirectional causality runs from the ecological footprint, globalization, and trade openness to CO2 emissions. To ensure their countries have a long-term future, policymakers in West Africa should take action to limit overexploitation of natural resources and encourage people to live more sustainably. The study suggested that West African countries adopt "green growth" policies and improve technology to help their economies and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most emerging economies and the South American Countries are no exception to the negative consequences of trade-off between economic growth and environmental sustainability decisions. This study draws strength from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs-7, 11, 12, and 13). Therefore, this study examines the environmental nexus between economic growth, globalization, renewable, and non-renewable energy, in South America from 1995 to 2020. We deployed the pooled mean group (PMG), mean group (MG), and dynamic fixed effects (DFE). Cross-sectional dependence, panel unit root, and cointegration tests were performed. Finally, we used the Dumitrescu and Hurlin test of causality to determine the long-run association between variables. The finding indicates that while environmental pollution increases with increasing economic growth, it decreases with increasing renewable energy both in the short and long term. Whereas economic globalization positively affects environmental pollution in the long term, social globalization and the moderation effect between political globalization and renewable energy improves environmental quality in the long run. Finally, a bidirectional causality was found between economic growth and environmental pollution, with a unidirectional causality running from economic, political, and social globalization, renewable, and non-renewable energy to environmental pollution. Given these findings, we discussed potential policy measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common female endocrinopathy associated with both reproductive and metabolic disorders, has an unclear etiology and unsatisfactory management methods. Carboxypeptidase X, M14 family member 1 (CPXM1) is a protein involved in follicular atresia, insulin production, and adipose tissue production, though its role in PCOS is not fully understood. We used a 60% high-fat diet (HFD) plus dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced PCOS mouse model to determine the role of CPXM1 in abnormal glucose metabolism and ovarian dysfunction in PCOS. We found that serum CPXM1 concentrations were higher in PCOS mice and positively correlated with increased levels of serum testosterone and insulin. In both ovarian and adipose tissues of PCOS mice, CPXM1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased but GLUT4 levels were significantly decreased. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of the ovary showed increased CPXM1 expression in PCOS. In addition, the protein expression of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt) was also significantly decreased in PCOS mice. Furthermore, mRNA levels of inflammatory markers such as TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-α, and IFN-γ were increased in ovarian and adipose tissues of PCOS mice. However, IRS-1, IRS-2, and INSR levels were significantly decreased. Our results indicated for the first time that abnormally high expression of CPXM1, increased adiposity, impaired glucose tolerance, and chronic low-grade inflammation may act together in a vicious cycle in the pathophysiology of PCOS. Our research suggests the possibility of CPXM1 as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major health problem, with a global prevalence of 9.3%, 4.7% in Africa, and 2.5% in Ghana. Despite the availability of the classic anti-diabetic medications, many patients have not benefited from them due to their poor glycemic controls, high costs, inability to halt disease progression, and untoward side effects. Some patients thus resort to plant-based medicines such as those obtained from L. taraxacifolia etc., which have little empirical evidence of efficacy. Therefore, this study investigated the possible antidiabetic effects of the leaf extracts of L. taraxacifolia and some potential mechanistic targets involved. Methodology: Ethanolic extract of L. taraxacifolia leaves (LTE) was screened for phytoconstituents and tested for blood glucose-lowering properties in both non-diabetic and streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced (STZ-NAD) type-2 model diabetic rats for 4 weeks at doses of 500 mg/kg, 750 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg. Metformin (200 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) were used as positive controls. Effects of LTE on blood glucose, serum lipids, hepatic gluconeogenesis, intestinal glucose absorption, liver enzymes, oral glucose tolerance, and rat organ weights were all studied. Pancreatic Islet histology was also conducted. Results: The ethanolic extract of L. taraxacifolia leaves reduced fasting blood glucose levels and suppressed hyperglycemia during the oral glucose tolerance test. In addition, hepatic gluconeogenesis and intestinal glucose absorption were inhibited. The extract lowered levels of liver enzymes, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL cholesterol levels. Again, it reversed STZ-induced weight changes to the liver, kidneys, and pancreas as well as restored the morphology of the pancreatic Islet of Langerhans. Conclusion: Launaea taraxacifolia leaves extract (LTE) possesses anti-diabetic constituents and has the potential to repair diabetes-induced damages to the liver, kidney, and pancreatic Islets in SD rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is the most frequent valve disease with relevant prognostic impact. Experimental model systems for AS are scarce and comprehensive imaging techniques to simultaneously quantify function and morphology in disease progression are lacking. Therefore, we refined an acute murine AS model to closely mimic human disease characteristics and developed a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach for simultaneous in-depth analysis of valvular, myocardial as well as aortic morphology/pathophysiology to identify early changes in tissue texture and critical transition points in the adaptive process to AS. AS was induced by wire injury of the aortic valve. Four weeks after surgery, cine loops, velocity, and relaxometry maps were acquired at 9.4 T to monitor structural/functional alterations in valve, aorta, and left ventricle (LV). In vivo MRI data were subsequently validated by histology and compared to echocardiography. AS mice exhibited impaired valve opening accompanied by significant valve thickening due to fibrotic remodelling. While control mice showed bell-shaped flow profiles, AS resulted not only in higher peak flow velocities, but also in fragmented turbulent flow patterns associated with enhanced circumferential strain and an increase in wall thickness of the aortic root. AS mice presented with a mild hypertrophy but unaffected global LV function. Cardiac MR relaxometry revealed reduced values for both T1 and T2 in AS reflecting subtle myocardial tissue remodelling with early alterations in mitochondrial function in response to the enhanced afterload. Concomitantly, incipient impairments of coronary flow reserve and myocardial tissue integrity get apparent accompanied by early troponin release. With this, we identified a premature transition point with still compensated cardiac function but beginning textural changes. This will allow interventional studies to explore early disease pathophysiology and novel therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: To identify intervention strategies that were effective in promoting medication adherence and HTN control among racial/ethnic minority groups in the US. Recent Findings: Twelve articles were included in this review and 4 categories of intervention strategies were identified as counseling by trained personnel, mHealth tools, mHealth tools in combination with counseling by trained personnel, and quality improvement. The findings show that interventions delivered by trained personnel are effective in lowering BP and improving medication adherence, particularly for those delivered by health educators, CHWs, medical assistants, and pharmacists. Additionally, the combination of mHealth tools with counseling by trained personnel has the potential to be more effective than either mHealth or counseling alone and report beneficial effects on medication adherence and BP control. Summary: This review provides potential next steps for future research to examine the effectiveness of mHealth interventions in combination with support from trained health personnel and its effects on racial disparities in HTN outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]