Search Results (20)

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of individuals’ climate change risk perceptions on artificial meat and edible insect diffusion optimism and the mediating role of food neophobia in these effects. The findings of this study are important because of the contribution that the preference behavior of innovative foods for mitigating the impact of climate change and managing climate change-induced food shortages can make within the framework of the Protection Motivation Theory. Türkiye was selected as the research region. The data obtained using quantitative analysis methods were transformed into findings through statistical analysis (such as structural equation modeling). This study revealed that individuals with high climate change risk perception evaluate alternative protein sources such as artificial meat and edible insects more positively. Food neophobia does not play an important role in these trends. This study emphasizes the importance of sustainable food consumption in combating climate change. To promote the spread of alternative protein sources, such as artificial meat and edible insects, individuals’ risk perceptions need to be increased, and food neophobia needs to be reduced. In this context, it is recommended to increase public awareness of climate change and develop educational programs. This study has the potential to contribute to the development of strategies to promote sustainable food consumption behaviors. Full article

Chronic liver disease poses significant challenges to healthcare systems, which frequently struggle to meet the needs of end-stage liver disease patients. Early detection and management are essential because liver damage and fibrosis are potentially reversible. However, the implementation of population-wide screenings is hindered by the asymptomatic nature of early chronic liver disease, along with the risks and costs associated with traditional diagnostics, such as liver biopsies. This study pioneers the development of innovative, minimally invasive methods capable of improving the outcomes of liver disease patients by identifying liver disease biomarkers using quantification methods with translational potential. A targeted mass spectrometry assay based on stable isotope standard protein epitope signature tags (SIS-PrESTs) was employed for the absolute quantification of 108 proteins in just two microliters of plasma. The plasma profiles were derived from patients of various liver disease stages and etiologies, including healthy controls. A set of potential biomarkers for stratifying liver fibrosis was identified through differential expression analysis and supervised machine learning. These findings offer promising alternatives for improved diagnostics and personalized treatment strategies in liver disease management. Moreover, our approach is fully compatible with existing technologies that facilitate the robust quantification of clinically relevant protein targets via minimally disruptive sampling methods. Full article

Recent trends in portfolio management emphasize the importance of reducing carbon footprints and aligning investments with sustainable practices. This paper introduces Sensitivity Value-at-Risk (SensitivityVaR), an advanced distortion risk measure that combines Value-at-Risk (VaR) and Expected Shortfall (ES) with the Cornish–Fisher expansion. SensitivityVaR provides a more robust framework for managing risk, particularly under extreme market conditions. By incorporating first- and second-order distorted stochastic dominance criteria, we enhance portfolio decarbonization strategies, aligning financial objectives with environmental targets such as the Paris Agreement’s goal of a 7% annual reduction in carbon intensity from 2019 to 2050. Our empirical analysis evaluates the impact of integrating carbon intensity data—including Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions—on portfolio optimization, focusing on key sectors like technology, energy, and consumer goods. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of SensitivityVaR in managing both risk and environmental impact. The methodology led to significant reductions in carbon intensity across different portfolio configurations, while preserving competitive risk-adjusted returns. By optimizing tail risks and limiting exposure to carbon-intensive assets, this approach produced more balanced and efficient portfolios that aligned with both financial and sustainability goals. These findings offer valuable insights for institutional investors and asset managers aiming to integrate climate considerations into their investment strategies without compromising financial performance. Full article

Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world, with 17,000 islands of varying sizes and elevations, from lowlands to very high mountains, stretching more than 5000 km eastward from Sabang in Aceh to Merauke in Papua. Although occupying only 1.3% of the world’s land area, Indonesia possesses the third-largest rainforest and the second-highest level of biodiversity, with very high species diversity and endemism. However, during the last two decades, Indonesia has been known as a country with a high level of deforestation, a producer of smoke from burning forests and land, and a producer of carbon emissions. The aim of this paper is to review the environmental history and the long process of Indonesian forest management towards achieving environmental sustainability and community welfare. To do this, we analyze the milestones of Indonesian forest management history, present and future challenges, and provide strategic recommendations toward a viable Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) system. Our review showed that the history of forestry management in Indonesia has evolved through a long process, especially related to contestation over the control of natural resources and supporting policies and regulations. During the process, many efforts have been applied to reduce the deforestation rate, such as a moratorium on permitting primary natural forest and peat land, land rehabilitation and soil conservation, environmental protection, and other significant regulations. Therefore, these efforts should be maintained and improved continuously in the future due to their significant positive impacts on a variety of forest areas toward the achievement of viable SFM. Finally, we conclude that the Indonesian government has struggled to formulate sustainable forest management policies that balance economic, ecological, and social needs, among others, through developing and implementing social forestry instruments, developing and implementing human resource capacity, increasing community literacy, strengthening forest governance by eliminating ambiguity and overlapping regulations, simplification of bureaucracy, revitalization of traditional wisdom, and fair law enforcement. Full article

In this study, a new species of the genus Dila Fischer von Waldheim, 1844, D. ngaria Li and Ren sp. n., was described from the southwestern Himalayas. The adult and larva were associated using molecular phylogenetic analyses based on fragments of three mitochondrial and one nuclear gene fragment (COI, Cytb, 16S and 28S-D2). Additionally, a preliminary phylogenetic tree was reconstructed and discussed based on a molecular dataset with seven related genera and 24 species of the tribe Blaptini. Meanwhile, the monophyly of the subtribe Dilina and the taxonomic status of D. bomina Ren and Li, 2001 are discussed. This work provides new molecular data for phylogenetic studies on the tribe Blaptini in the future. Full article

Background and Objectives: Today, oral diseases are well-known for their effects, not only on daily life but also on quality of life (QoL). Dental caries, especially early childhood caries (ECC), are considered a public health concern as regards their impact on the life quality of children and parents from multiple aspects. The present research was conducted to assess the effect of anemia on oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in terms of children and parents. Materials and Methods: The current study was performed in two independent stages. In the first stage, the Turkish version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS), and in the second stage, the Turkish version of the Parental-Caregivers Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ) were used to measure the effect of anemia-related dental caries among children and parents. SPSS and Jamovi software were used for all calculations, graphs and comparisons. Results: A total of 204 participants (child–parent pairs) were incorporated in the present study. A considerable number of children (81.5%) reported occasional or more frequent oral/dental pain. Secondly, the subscale scores were determined for child symptoms (2.25 ± 0.067), child function (6.8 ± 0.22), child psychology (3.87 ± 0.128), self-image and social interaction (1.74 ± 0.063), parental distress (3.82 ± 0.143), and family function (3.5 ± 0.121). Additionally, more than half of the parents (56.3%) responded “fair” for the health of their children’s teeth, lips, jaws and mouth. Similarly, the child’s overall well-being was stated as being affected “a lot” by the condition of their child’s teeth, lips, jaws or mouth by half of the parents (49.5%). Conclusions: Anemia-related dental caries has a highly negative impact on the quality of life of children and parents according to both of the questionnaires. Therefore, children with high scores should be prioritized for preventive procedures and timely dental treatments. Full article

Regular physical activity (PA) is protective and reduces disease burden but remains a challenge for pregnant women (PW). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, PW without contraindications should practice 150 min of moderate PA per week. Nonetheless, PA levels are concerningly low among PW. The aim of this study was to investigate PW’s and midwives’ perceptions regarding PA and recommended guidelines, and use this information to inform future health promotion strategies. We recruited 10 PW and 10 midwives to participate in online focus groups conducted between July 2020 and April 2021. Focus group probes and data analysis were guided by the COM–B (capability, opportunity, motivation–behaviour) framework. The majority of the sample had already practised PA, recognized the importance of PA during pregnancy, and considered the WHO guidelines reasonable. Notwithstanding, PW wanted more specific instruction on PA and desired opportunities to practice. Additional barriers reported by PW included low self-efficacy and lack of motivation. Midwives considered the lack of specific knowledge and confidence in managing PA as the main obstacles. The current findings suggest that PW and midwives need specific training in PA to overcome both psychological and physical barriers. Midwives play a vital role in educating and encouraging PA among PW. Full article

Introduction: The Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) guideline was issued and applied in 2013 by the Japanese Medical Association. Since being issued, the NIPT practice in Japan still has some problems related to indication, access, cost coverage and uniformity. Therefore, our study aimed to identify the Japanese challenges of adopting NIPT into prenatal diagnosis by comparing the system and process with other countries. Method: The United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Taiwan were purposefully selected for comparison. All the countries, including Japan, introduced NIPT. The literature and information searches were conducted using PubMed, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, CiNii and Google searching engine. Results: The process of NIPT in Japan was very different from the other countries. Japan is the only country that indicated NIPT for only pregnant women over 35 years old in certificated facilities and did not have a policy regarding providing information on prenatal screening and NIPT to all women. Japan also did not have a policy regarding abortion due to fetal abnormalities. The practice of NIPT guidelines is different between non-certified and certified facilities. NIPT fee was the highest in Japan and was not covered by insurance. Conclusion: Pregnant women in Japan suffered from disparities in information access, economic burden, geographic location, and practice of NIPT guidelines between the certified and the non-certified facilities. Pregnant women-centered prenatal diagnosis policy, including NIPT, should be established in Japan by learning cases from other countries. Full article

Limited agricultural land areas combined with increasing demands for food require breakthroughs in land use development using agroforestry systems. Intercropping root crops with trees could be an alternative for food production in forest areas. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott) farming on dry land within 12- and 42-year-old teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) forests to support local food security. The feasibility assessment took into account both productivity and socio-economic aspects. The agroforestry land productivity was measured using the land equivalent ratio (LER), and our analysis of the cocoyam farming within the teak stands was carried out using the revenue/cost ratio (R/C) at the demonstration plot scale. Furthermore, we also surveyed farmers’ perceptions of the production of cocoyam for food security. The results showed that the R/C values of cocoyam tuber production in agroforestry systems were lower than 1. However, the production rates of cocoyam tubers in the 12-year-old teak stand (48.3% light intensity) and the 42-year-old teak stand (62.5% light intensity) were 2.64 and 2.76 tons/ha, respectively. The overall yields from the teak and cocoyam agroforestry systems were more profitable than those of the monoculture system, as indicated by the LER values of 1.61 and 1.85. Cocoyam production was socially acceptable (77% of respondents) as a smallholder subsistence agroforestry practice to meet food demand. Increasing cocoyam productivity in teak forests requires the adoption of agroforestry silvicultural technology to achieve food security for rural communities. To increase their farming production and income, farmers could apply intensive silvicultural practices. Governmental support that could be provided includes encouraging product diversification and providing assistance for the processing and marketing of cocoyam products. Full article

Infantile hypercalcemia type 1 (HCINF1), previously known as idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia, is caused by mutations in the 25-hydroxyvitamin D 24-hydroxylase gene, CYP24A1. The R396W loss-of-function mutation in CYP24A1 is the second most frequent mutated allele observed in affected HCINF1 patients. We have introduced the site-specific R396W mutation within the murine Cyp24a1 gene in knock-in mice to generate a humanized model of HCINF1. On the C57Bl6 inbred background, homozygous mutant mice exhibited high perinatal lethality with 17% survival past weaning. This was corrected by crossbreeding to the CD1 outbred background. Mutant animals had hypercalcemia in the first week of life, developed nephrolithiasis, and had a very high 25(OH)D₃ to 24,25(OH)₂D₃ ratio which is a diagnostic hallmark of the HCINF1 condition. Expression of the mutant Cyp24a1 allele was highly elevated while Cyp27b1 expression was abrogated. Impaired bone fracture healing was detected in CD1-R396^w/w mutant animals. The augmented lethality of the C57Bl6-R396W strain suggests an influence of distinct genetic backgrounds. Our data point to the utility of unique knock-in mice to probe the physiological ramifications of CYP24A1 variants in isolation from other biological and environmental factors. Full article

Agroforestry has been practiced for decades and is undoubtedly an important source of income for Indonesian households living near forests. However, there are still many cases of poverty among farmers due to a lack of ability to adopt advanced technology. This literature review aims to identify the characteristics and factors causing the occurrence of agricultural subsistence and analyze its implications for the level of farmer welfare and the regional forestry industry. The literature analysis conducted reveals that small land tenure, low literacy rates, and lack of forest maintenance are the main causes of the subsistence of small agroforestry farmers. Another reason is that subsistence-oriented agroforestry practices are considered a strong form of smallholder resilience. All of these limitations have implications for low land productivity and high-sawn timber waste from community forests. To reduce the subsistence level of farmers, government intervention is needed, especially in providing managerial assistance packages, capital assistance, and the marketing of forest products. Various agroforestry technologies are available but have not been implemented consistently by farmers. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an integrated collaboration between researchers, farmers, and regionally owned enterprises (BUMD) to increase access to technology and markets. Although it is still difficult to realize, forest services, such as upstream–downstream compensation and carbon capture, have the potential to increase farmer income. Full article

The adoption of agroforestry system aims to combine food production enhancement to compensate population growth with the improvement of agricultural marketable products to increase household income. The diversification of food crop products requires more effective land use. In Gunungkidul, high-density teak (Tectona grandis) plantation has dominated many private forests. The area under the tree crown has received low light intensity, where only shade-resistant plants can survive. Tuber crops, i.e., arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea), canna (Canna edulis) and yam (Dioscorea esculenta) are shade-tolerant crops, which were planted in tree understory for supplementary food production and income generation. The cultivation under teak stand has been overlooked due to uncertainty in tuber productivity. To address this knowledge gap, the effect of teak shade (5- and 7-year teak) on the growth and yield of the three tuber crops was examined. The results indicated that both teak trial areas (with RLI 45.13% and 38.76%) were suitable for canna production (LER > 1), while management options were recommended for enhancing arrowroot and yam production. The LER of intercropped three-tuber crops under 5 years’ teak were >1, while of those under 7 years’ teak, only canna reached >1. Canna is the preferred option to be mixed in teak agroforestry systems with low light intensity due to its consistent yields, whether planted in open area or under teak shade. Silvicultural management, pruning and thinning are recommended to increase the growing space and resource sharing for intercropped plants. Land optimization in private forest understory using shade-resistant tubers will offer medium-term benefits, provided that proper silvicultural procedures are applied. Full article

Community forest management for timber production requires short- and long-rotation companion species to fulfill the demands of the timber industry, improve farmer welfare and maintain environmental sustainability. Four species (Falcataria moluccana, Neolamarckia cadamba, Acacia mangium and Gmelina arborea) were tested as short-rotation timber crop companion species for teak (Tectona grandis) on dry-rocky soil in the Gunungkidul community forest. The selection of short-rotation timber species was based on growth performance and survival rate at the teak site. Two years after planting, the viability of G. arborea (87.3%) and A. mangium (78.2%) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of N. cadamba (40.6%) and F. moluccana (18.0%). G. arborea and N. cadamba achieved the best growth in terms of height, diameter, basal area, and volume, with the growth of A. mangium and F. moluccana being significantly inferior. Gmelina arborea has the ability to adapt to teak sites, grow well, and accompany teak. Neolamarckia cadamba demonstrated good growth with potential as a teak companion, and it demonstrated limited drought tolerance on the dry-rocky soils of the study sites. Acacia mangium had a high survival but produced slow growth, indicating that it required an advance evaluation in future years. Falcataria moluccana has different growing site requirements to teak so the performance was relatively poor at the study site. This mixed pattern provides benefits to farmers through commercial thinning of short rotations species, 5–8 years post establishment. Thinning operations will also increase the productivity of residual teak stands. The diversification of timber species in community forests can provide earlier returns, enabling the adoption of silviculture management by smallholders and communities. Full article

Hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 3 (HCA₃) was recently identified in the genomes of humans and other hominids but not in other mammals. We examined the production of HCA₃ ligands by Bifidobacterium spp. In addition to 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid, phenyllactic acid (PLA), and indole-3-lactic acid (ILA), we found that LeuA was produced by Bifidobacterium as an HCA₃ ligand. The four ligands produced were the mixtures of enantiomers, and D-ILA, D-PLA, and D-LeuA showed stronger activity of the HCA₃ ligand than their respective L-isomers. However, there was no difference in AhR activity between the two ILA enantiomers. These results provide new insights into the HCA₃ ligands produced by Bifidobacterium and suggest the importance of investigating the absolute stereo structures of these metabolites. Full article

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) practice during pregnancy offers health and fitness benefits for both mother and baby. Therefore, healthy pregnant women with no contraindications to exercise should be encouraged to perform PA. Nevertheless, their levels of PA are generally low. The aim of the WELL-DONE! Study is to co-design an adapted physical activity intervention (APAI) for pregnant women to include in childbirth preparation classes (CPCs) evaluating its feasibility and efficacy on quality of life (QoL), PA levels and other outcomes. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was divided in two progressive stages. First, APAI was developed in collaboration with pregnant women and midwives using focus groups; second, APAI’s efficacy was evaluated comparing two groups: the experimental group engaged in the CPCs integrated with 1 h/week of the APAI administered by midwives and the control group participating in the standard CPCs. Pre-post evaluation was carried out in three stages through questionnaires and tests. Data analysis involved the combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Discussion: Findings from the WELL-DONE! Study will help to assess the feasibility, sustainability, and efficacy of incorporating APAI inside CPCs as a new public health strategy oriented to QoL, well-being, and PA level improvements. Full article