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Abstract Background Worldwide, Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) issues comprise a third of health problems for women aged 15–44. SRH education equips people with knowledge of concepts around sexuality and reproduction, and the skills help to make informed decisions to prevent sexual and reproductive ill-health, including unplanned pregnancy and HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of late adolescents relating to SRH, examining their attitudes toward sex and contraception, and to identify the gaps in knowledge pertiaing to decision-making around risk-taking behaviour. Methods A qualitative phenomenological study was undertaken with 30 adolescents aged 18–19, purposively and snowball sampled from a university in Northern Thailand. Data collaction took place from July 2020 to January 2021. In-depth individual interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached. Data were recorded, transcribed, and analysed in ATLAS.ti version 9, using Modified Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to identify pertinent themes. Results Participants revealed five key experiences of SRH related to sex and contraception: Keeping a secret; Seeking Freedom and Love; Having SRH education; Self-protection; Parental acceptance. All findings reflected the value and impact of SRH on the experiences of late adolescents. Conclusions This study provides detailed knowledge about adolescents’ perspectives of SRH and rights in terms of accessing sexual and reproductive health care and information as well as autonomy in sexual and reproductive decision-making. Gaining SRH education can assist decision-making concerning contraceptive methods for family planning and STI prevention. The study recommends that SRH and rights-based education should be designed responsively and appropriately for female and male adolescents, their families, and society. The content of SRH should be informed and advocated by healthcare providers, educators, policy makers, and systems to empower adolescents in order to achieve effective SRH education.

This action research aimed to study the processes of public health policy toward salt reduction in food consumption. The processes were divided into 3 cycles as follows: 1) Public health policy formation; 2) Development of the policy to reduce dietary salt; and 3) Evaluation of the efficiency of the policy. Participants from the first group involved in policy formation; and a total number of 320 participants were recruited in the study with the criteria of a) age 18 years and above, b) having hypertension or at risk of having high blood pressure; c) overweight; and d) having underlying diseases such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The second group was government officials involved in policy development to reduce salt consumption, including the head of the village, assistants of the village head, community leaders, public health personnel, village health volunteers, and a group of housewives. In total, 50 participants were recruited to the study. The results showed that people with hypertension could better control blood pressure which increased from 36.02, 25.6, and 39.06% (in 2018-2020) to 47.32%; and community people could manage their health prevention and control toward non-communicable diseases. Analyzing a return on investment (ROI) found that the ROI was 49.7%; and a social return on investment (SROI) was found that every $1 invested could generate a return of $3.45.

Research purpose. This study aims to compare anthropometric characteristics between elite and novice bodybuilders. Materials and methods. Twenty bodybuilders consisted of 10 elites and 10 novices were recruited. Percent body fat, segmental lean mass, and segmental fat mass were measured by a bioelectrical impedance analysis device. Other measure includes the circumference of body segment and body height. Results. Results of the study indicated that significant differences were found in terms of upper arm (flexed) circumference, upper arm circumference, and chest circumference, with the elite, were bigger than the novice. Elite bodybuilders also had significantly lower body fat percentage, with a better segmental lean mass of the right arm, left arm, and trunk. Interestingly neck, arm, waist, hip, thigh, and calf circumferences were not significantly different between groups. Similar insignificant differences were also found in body mass index, a segmental lean mass of right leg and left leg, a segmental fat mass of left and right arm, trunk, and left and right leg. With regards specifically to the group of bodybuilders that participated in this study, the non-significant differences variables may indicate areas that can be improved in terms of training in both elite and novice. The variables with significant differences may indicate the area that may have been over-emphasized by the elite group, which may also contribute to their better (winning) performance. Conclusions. In a conclusion, the results also correspond well with bodybuilding judging criteria, where one of them such as size (circumference) may be similar, but bodybuilders with lean and well-defined bodies will be in the winning group.

Background. Bodybuilding is a sport where a person should do a lot of weight training while in the same time having a strict diet control. Due to this, they are believed to have higher chances of getting injured. However, lack of research has been conducted on the incidence of injuries and the treatment history among bodybuilders in Thailand. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the incidence of injuries and treatment experience between elite and beginner Thailand bodybuilders. Material and methods. 157 bodybuilders who were registered as members of the Thailand Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Association (since 2020-2021) were recruited as participants in this study. They were divided in to two groups, namely elite (more than 5 years of sports training) and beginner (less than 5 years of sports training). A valid and reliable questionnaire was used to collect the data from the participants. Results. There was no significant difference in the most common period of injury between the beginner and elite groups. The most common period of injury for both groups was found to be during diet period (beginner 55.43%; elite 55.38%) followed by bulk period, off season and competition period, respectively. For the injury area, there was no difference between the groups, with the lower back (beginner 63.04%; elite 52.31%) being the most common area of injury, followed by shoulder, chest, finger and wrist. There was also no significant difference in treatment between the groups in the first 48 hours after injury. Most of the athletes in both groups had rest (beginner 80.43%; elite 81.53%) and applied cold (beginner 61.96%; elite 73.85%) to their injury area. Additionally, the beginner group of Thai bodybuilders visited the physical therapist more often than the elite group did (p < 0.01). At the same time, there was no significant difference in medical doctor, sports scientist, coach and self-treatment and rehabilitation between both groups. However, most of athletes from both groups mainly resorted to self-treatment. Conclusions. The study findings are expected to be valuable for the bodybuilding association, coaches and athletes to take extra precautions regarding injury in the future.

Although food waste reduction has been recognized as an important method for managing the environment in the past, it has not received much attention from the hotel business sector. This article reveals that food waste hierarchy is an important strategy for hotels, as it helps them to reduce food waste at the generation point, while reducing food costs and protecting the environment. The process of food waste reduction can be holistically integrated with the distribution process. The study found that there were significant differences related with hotel size in the 7-step food distribution process. The mean distribution process of large hotels is higher than the one of medium and small hotels. The results also show that the hierarchy of food waste management motivates the hotel business sector to implement food waste reduction by ensuring that hotel operations achieve Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals in the form of Creating Shared Value (CSV). The primary goal of CSR is to align corporate and social values.

Gaps in understanding, a lack of awareness of contraceptive use and a lack of control, related to gender dynamics, may influence the demand for contraception among adolescents and their decision-making around pregnancy prevention. This study explored the experiences of pregnant adolescents at the time of pregnancy and prior to becoming pregnant, examining attitudes toward sex and contraception. An interpretive phenomenological study guided by Heideggerian philosophy, analysed data from 30 in-depth interviews conducted with purposively selected consenting pregnant adolescents aged 15–19. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and were analysed using a modified interpretative phenomenological approach. Participants exposed 5 key findings or experiences associated with sex and contraception: ‘ Premarital cohabitation and sex ’, ‘ Staying in the relationship ’, ‘ Unforeseen future ’, ‘ Parental conformity ’, and ‘ Male command ’. These findings can have far-reaching implications for the holistic understanding of the needs of adolescents in Thailand. They can be used to inform the development of appropriate and responsive interventions to support female and male adolescents, their families, and society. This includes interventions around reproductive health rights and sex education from health care providers, educators providing counselling to facilitate adolescents’ decision-making in order to reduce unintended adolescent pregnancy.

Abstract This article studies the blow-up phenomenon for a degenerate and singular parabolic problem. Conditions for the local and global existence of solutions for the problem are given. In the case that blow-up occurs, the blow-up set for the problem is investigated. Finally, the asymptotic behaviour of the solution when time converges to the blow-up time is studied.

Although food waste reduction has been recognized as an important method for managing the environment in the past, it has not received much attention from the hotel business sector. This article reveals that food waste hierarchy is an important strategy for hotels, as it helps them to reduce food waste at the generation point, while reducing food costs and protecting the environment. The process of food waste reduction can be holistically integrated with the distribution process. The study found that there were significant differences related with hotel size in the 7-step food distribution process. The mean distribution process of large hotels is higher than the one of medium and small hotels. The results also show that the hierarchy of food waste management motivates the hotel business sector to implement food waste reduction by ensuring that hotel operations achieve Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals in the form of Creating Shared Value (CSV). The primary goal of CSR is to align corporate and social values., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Gaps in understanding, a lack of awareness of contraceptive use and a lack of control, related to gender dynamics, may influence the demand for contraception among adolescents and their decision-making around pregnancy prevention. This study explored the experiences of pregnant adolescents at the time of pregnancy and prior to becoming pregnant, examining attitudes toward sex and contraception. An interpretive phenomenological study guided by Heideggerian philosophy, analysed data from 30 in-depth interviews conducted with purposively selected consenting pregnant adolescents aged 15-19. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and were analysed using a modified interpretative phenomenological approach. Participants exposed 5 key findings or experiences associated with sex and contraception: ' Premarital cohabitation and sex ', ' Staying in the relationship ', ' Unforeseen future ', ' Parental conformity ', and ' Male command '. These findings can have far-reaching implications for the holistic understanding of the needs of adolescents in Thailand. They can be used to inform the development of appropriate and responsive interventions to support female and male adolescents, their families, and society. This includes interventions around reproductive health rights and sex education from health care providers, educators providing counselling to facilitate adolescents' decision-making in order to reduce unintended adolescent pregnancy.

Ethanol ferrmentation of Kappaphycus alvarezii hydrolysates was performed using wild-type (WT) Saccharomyces cerevisiae CEN.PK2-1, hexokinase 2 deleted (Δhxk2) and adapted strain on high galactose concentrations. The WT and Δhxk2 strains produced 8.9 and 14.67 g/L of ethanol with yield coefficient (Y EtOH ) of 0.20 and 0.33 (g/g), respectively. However, neither the WT nor Δhxk2strain could utilize all of the galactose, leaving 16.4 and 6.2 g/L of galactose in the fermentation broth, respectively. Therefore, fermentation with S. cerevisiae CEN.PK2-1 adapted to galactose was carried out to increase the ethanol yield coefficient (Y EtOH ), producing a maximum ethanol concentration of 20.0 g/L with a Y EtOH of 0.44 (g/g). Ethanol concentration of adapted strain was 1.36-2.25 times higher than WT and Δhxk2 strains. The adapted yeast exhibited the highest transcript levels of GAL genes. The yeast strain via adaptive yeast strain produced ethanol with a higher titer and yield due to a modular activation of GAL genes than WT or the hxk2 deleted strains., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Optimal conditions of hyper thermal (HT) acid hydrolysis of the Saccharina japonica was determined to a seaweed slurry content of 12% (w/v) and 144 mM H 2 SO 4 at 160 °C for 10 min. Enzymatic saccharification was carried out at 50 °C and 150 rpm for 48 h using the three enzymes at concentrations of 16 U/mL. Celluclast 1.5 L showed the lowest half-velocity constant (K m ) of 0.168 g/L, indicating a higher affinity for S. japonica hydrolysate. Pretreatment yielded a maximum monosaccharide concentration of 36.2 g/L and 45.7% conversion from total fermentable monosaccharides of 79.2 g/L with 120 g dry weight/L S. japonica slurry. High cell densities of Clostridium acetobutylicum and Clostridium tyrobutyricum were obtained using the retarding agents KH 2 PO 4 (50 mM) and NaHCO 3 (200 mM). Adaptive evolution facilitated the efficient use of mixed monosaccharides. Therefore, adaptive evolution and retarding agents can enhance the overall butanol and butyric acid yields from S. japonica.

The waste seaweed from Gwangalli beach, Busan, Korea was utilized as biomass for ethanol production. Sagassum fulvellum (brown seaweed, Mojaban in Korean name) comprised 72% of the biomass. The optimal hyper thermal acid hydrolysis conditions were obtained as 8% slurry contents, 138 mM sulfuric acid, and 160°C of treatment temperature for 10 min with a low content of inhibitory compounds. To obtain more monosaccharides, enzymatic saccharification was carried out with Viscozyme L for 48 h. After pretreatment, 34 g/l of monosaccharides were obtained. Pichia stipitis and Pichia angophorae were selected as optimal co-fermentation yeasts to convert all of the monosaccharides in the hydrolysate to ethanol. Co-fermentation was carried out with various inoculum ratios of P. stipitis and P. angophorae . The maximum ethanol concentration of 16.0 g/l was produced using P. stipitis and P. angophorae in a 3:1 inoculum ratio, with an ethanol yield of 0.47 in 72 h. Ethanol fermentation using yeast co-culture may offer an efficient disposal method for waste seaweed while enhancing the utilization of monosaccharides and production of ethanol.

Bioethanol was produced using polysaccharide from soybean residue as biomass by separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF). This study focused on pretreatment, enzyme saccharification, and fermentation. Pretreatment to obtain monosaccharide was carried out with 20% (w/v) soybean residue slurry and 270 mmol/L H 2 SO 4 at 121 °C for 60 min. More monosaccharide was obtained from enzymatic hydrolysis with a 16 U/mL mixture of commercial enzymes C-Tec 2 and Viscozyme L at 45 °C for 48 h. Ethanol fermentation with 20% (w/v) soybean residue hydrolysate was performed using wild-type and Saccharomyces cerevisiae KCCM 1129 adapted to high concentrations of galactose, using a flask and 5-L fermenter. When the wild type of S. cerevisiae was used, an ethanol production of 20.8 g/L with an ethanol yield of 0.31 g/g consumed glucose was obtained. Ethanol productions of 33.9 and 31.6 g/L with ethanol yield of 0.49 g/g consumed glucose and 0.47 g/g consumed glucose were obtained in a flask and a 5-L fermenter, respectively, using S. cerevisiae adapted to a high concentration of galactose. Therefore, adapted S. cerevisiae to galactose could enhance the overall ethanol fermentation yields compared to the wild-type one.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 -NPs) have been widely used in many applications. Owing to their nanoscale size, interactions between cells and NPs have been expansively investigated. With the health concerns raised regarding the adverse effects of these interactions, closer examination of whether TiO2 -NPs can induce toxicity towards human cells is greatly needed. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of TiO2 -NPs towards human blood cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs]) in serum-free medium, for which there is little information regarding the cytotoxic effects of TiO2 -NPs. Our results provide evidence that PBMCs treated with TiO2 -NPs (at concentrations ≥25 μg ml(-1) ) for 24 h significantly reduced cell viability and significantly increased production of toxic mediators such as reactive oxygen species and inflammatory response cytokines such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (P < 0.05). Cell apoptosis induction also occurred at these concentrations. Significant expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and interleukin-1β were also observed in PBMCs treated with TiO2 -NPs at concentrations ≥125 μg ml(-1) . Our data presented here clearly indicate that the concentration of TiO2 -NPs (at size ~26.4 ± 1.2 nm) applied to human blood cells has a strong impact on cytotoxic induction. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., (Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)