Introduction: Breastfeeding is the best way to provide ideal nutrition for optimal infant growth and development. Objectives: The aim of our work was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers of chil...Introduction: Breastfeeding is the best way to provide ideal nutrition for optimal infant growth and development. Objectives: The aim of our work was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers of children aged 0 - 24 months on exclusive breastfeeding in the Central African Republic. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study conducted from September 15 to October 15, 2024 among mothers of infants aged 0 to 24 months. Sociodemographic, obstetric and breastfeeding-related data were collected through individual interviews conducted during sensitizations on good feeding practices organized by the Tina Touadera Foundation. The chi2 test was used to test for relationships between variables, and the p significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The average age of the mothers surveyed was 27.67 years. 65.69% (n = 247) of mothers lived in urban areas and 55.85% (n = 210) were Muslim. 56.38% (n = 212) were living common-law and 34.04% (n = 128) were poor. Secondary-school mothers (44.42%, n = 167) and housewives (53.72%, n = 202) were in the majority. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) was correctly defined by 79.26% (n = 298) of mothers and actually practised in 24.20% (n = 91) of cases. The main source of information was a health professional in 75.36% (n = 304) of cases. Among the 285 mothers who practised mixed breastfeeding, lack of time (33.33%) was the main reason. They acknowledged having given water (100%), corn porridge (75.09%) and/or artificial milk (24.91%) before the first 6 months of life. The average time for introducing water was 2.2 months, and for porridge/formula 2.79 months. More than half the mothers (55.05%) said they did not know their infants’ weaning age. Factors positively influencing the use of EBF were age under 29, residence in an urban area, primiparity, having been informed about AME by a health professional, and being a housewife or shopkeeper (p Conclusion: Mothers’ level of knowledge was heterogeneous but insufficient overall. An effective system of information and education from pregnancy to the first six months of life is needed to promote breastfeeding.展开更多
1 The Inuit's remarkable ability to thrive(蓬勃发展)in one of Earth's toughest environments hasn't happened by chance.Their complex system of traditions,passed down through countless generations,represents...1 The Inuit's remarkable ability to thrive(蓬勃发展)in one of Earth's toughest environments hasn't happened by chance.Their complex system of traditions,passed down through countless generations,represents far more than mere survival strategies-it's a highly developed blueprint for living in harmony with the Arctic's unforgiving landscape.展开更多
Infertility has been regarded as a global public health concern,affecting both men and women irrespective of geographical region,race,ethnicity,and socioeconomic class[1].The available global estimates suggest that al...Infertility has been regarded as a global public health concern,affecting both men and women irrespective of geographical region,race,ethnicity,and socioeconomic class[1].The available global estimates suggest that almost 17%of people of reproductive age experience infertility during their lives[1],with 55 million men and 110 million women living with infertility worldwide and varying estimates across different global regions[2].The consequences of infertility go beyond just medical suffering,and result in huge social and psychological consequences,including marital strains,stigma,and mental health problems[1].The current paper explores infertility in cultural context,enlists herbal remedies and traditional healers for infertility,and proposes targeted public health interventions to minimize the utilization of herbal treatment in dealing with cases of infertility.展开更多
Côte d’Ivoire has been the world’s leading producer of cocoa beans for several decades. Apart from this production performance, the quality of the beans, which are mainly exported to the major chocolate-making ...Côte d’Ivoire has been the world’s leading producer of cocoa beans for several decades. Apart from this production performance, the quality of the beans, which are mainly exported to the major chocolate-making countries, presents a quality problem to the point of suffering a discount on the international market. One of these quality problems is the content of ochratoxin A, a mycotoxin produced by fungi. Finally, to verify the level of contamination in beans produced in Côte d’Ivoire, a study was carried out. It consisted of collecting information on fermentation and drying times (The two major post-harvest operations) and collecting beans, which were analyzed by electrophoresis using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method. The results obtained show ochratoxin A contents of between 0.05 µg/kg and 0.17 µg/kg. The general level of contamination is therefore very low and below the tolerable limit which is 2 µg/kg. In addition, the correlative study between the fermentation and drying times of the beans revealed no significant influence (p < 0.01) of the duration of these operations on the level of ochratoxin A contamination. Major contamination can occur after post-harvest activities carried out by producers. This is certainly due to the development of fungi responsible for the production of ochratoxin A during the period of storage and marketing of cocoa beans in conditions of high humidity in storage enclosures. Producers need to be made more aware of the need to ensure that cocoa beans are properly dried and stored in dry areas to avoid moisture build-up, which is a source of mould growth and ochratoxin A production.展开更多
This manuscript critically evaluates the randomized controlled trial(RCT)conducted by Phiri et al,which assessed the effectiveness of virtual reality(VR)training for psychiatric staff in reducing restrictive practices...This manuscript critically evaluates the randomized controlled trial(RCT)conducted by Phiri et al,which assessed the effectiveness of virtual reality(VR)training for psychiatric staff in reducing restrictive practices(RPs).Specifically,this RCT investigated the impact of VR on the handling of aggressive patients by psychiatric staff compared to traditional training methods.Despite significant reductions in perceived discrimination in the VR group,there were no major improvements in self-efficacy or anxiety levels.The system usability scale rated the VR platform highly,but it did not consistently outperform traditional training methods.Indeed,the study shows the potential for VR to reduce RPs,although fluctuations in RP rates suggest that external factors,such as staff turnover,influenced the outcomes.This manuscript evaluates the study’s methodology,results,and broader implications for mental health training.Additionally,it highlights the need for more comprehensive research to establish VR as a standard tool for psychiatric staff education,focusing on patient care outcomes and real-world applicability.Finally,this study explores future research di-rections,technological improvements,and the potential impact of policies that could enhance the integration of VR in clinical training.展开更多
Objective:This article employs a scoping review methodology,integrates knowledge and information about current pediatric nurses'practices and perceptions regarding family-centered care in pediatric settings.Method...Objective:This article employs a scoping review methodology,integrates knowledge and information about current pediatric nurses'practices and perceptions regarding family-centered care in pediatric settings.Methods:Published articles were retrieved from databases including EBSCO host,PubMed,Springer,Science Direct,Ovid,and CINAHL between 2013 and 2023.Results:The finding shows a better understanding of pediatric nurses'perceptions of family-centered care in association with their clinical settings.However,the evidence indicates that integrating family-centered care components into health care services is difficult and confusing to nurses and is often not implemented in a clinical setting.As evidenced by this review,studies have consistently reported similar results;family-centered care was a good perception and understood by pediatric nurses as a concept but inconsistently used in a daily practice setting.Conclusions:This scoping review is the first phase in promoting a strategic plan to provide educational interventions for pediatric nurses to implement family-centered care in their daily practice settings.It's necessary to recognize pediatric nurses'perceptions and practices concerning family-centered care to provide optimal healthcare services in pediatric settings.展开更多
With the rapid development of software engineering,traditional teaching methods are confronted with the challenges of short knowledge update cycles and the rapid emergence of new technologies.By analyzing the current ...With the rapid development of software engineering,traditional teaching methods are confronted with the challenges of short knowledge update cycles and the rapid emergence of new technologies.By analyzing the current situation of the mismatch between educational practices and industrial change,this study proposes an innovative teaching model—“Micro-practices”.This model integrates new knowledge and new technologies into the teaching process quickly and flexibly through practical teaching projects with“short class time,small capacity,and cloud environment”to meet the different educational needs of students,teachers,and enterprises.The aim is to train innovative software engineering talents who can meet the challenges of the future.展开更多
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide,presenting an increasing public health challenge,particularly in lowincome and middle-income countries.However,data on ...BACKGROUND Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide,presenting an increasing public health challenge,particularly in lowincome and middle-income countries.However,data on the knowledge,attitudes,and preventive practices regarding breast cancer and the associated factors among females in Wollo,Ethiopia,remain limited.AIM To assess the impact of family history(FH)of breast disease on knowledge,attitudes,and breast cancer preventive practices among reproductive-age females.METHODS A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in May and June 2022 in Northeast Ethiopia and involved 143 reproductive-age females with FH of breast diseases and 209 without such a history.We selected participants using the systematic random sampling technique.We analyzed the data using Statistical Package for Social Science version 25 software,and logistic regression analysis was employed to determine odds ratios for variable associations,with statistical significance set at P<0.05.RESULTS Among participants with FH of breast diseases,the levels of knowledge,attitudes,and preventive practices were found to be 83.9%[95%confidence interval(CI):77.9-89.9],49.0%(95%CI:40.8-57.1),and 74.1%(95%CI:66.9-81.3),respectively.In contrast,among those without FH of breast diseases,these levels were significantly decreased to 10.5%(95%CI:6.4-14.7),32.1%(95%CI:25.7-38.4),and 16.7%(95%CI:11.7-21.8),respectively.This study also indicated that knowledge,attitudes,and preventive practices related to breast cancer are significantly higher among participants with FH of breast diseases compared to those without HF breast diseases.CONCLUSION Educational status,monthly income,and community health insurance were identified as significant factors associated with the levels of knowledge,attitudes,and preventive practices regarding breast cancer among reproductive-age females.展开更多
Objective: The importance of culture in nursing lies in its influence on patients’ health perceptions, behaviors, and responses to care. Despite the challenges posed by the complexity of studying culture, there remai...Objective: The importance of culture in nursing lies in its influence on patients’ health perceptions, behaviors, and responses to care. Despite the challenges posed by the complexity of studying culture, there remains a critical need to develop cultural competence in nursing. This study investigated how nursing students in rural Indonesia enhance their cultural competence through education and practice. Methods: This study employed a qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach. It conducted face-to-face interviews with 32 students across 6 regions, selected purposively. Thematic analysis was employed to evaluate the results. Results: Five themes emerge in this research: perceptions of cultural competence, learning cultural competence in the classroom, practical experience, learning expectations related to cultural competence, and cultural learning barriers. Conclusions: Enhancing cultural competence necessitates enriched curricula, adept clinical mentors, and continual student evaluation. This iterative assessment informs tailored strategies for nurturing cultural proficiency.展开更多
This paper considers the notions of common sense and interobjectivity to articulate an understanding of how different cultural realities give rise to different construals of scientific phenomena across distinct cultur...This paper considers the notions of common sense and interobjectivity to articulate an understanding of how different cultural realities give rise to different construals of scientific phenomena across distinct cultures. Our main focus in this paper is on the social sciences. We propose a quadrant of different cultural–scientific stances from which the study of social phenomena is possible, based on the emic–etic dimension pertaining to the study of culture from contrasting perspectives. Although the emic–etic distinction is normal y applied in fields within the science of culture, it is proposed here that the distinction is in some ways germane to scientific practice in general, making it amenable for use in a culture of science(CoS) programme. The four perspectives that emerge from the quadrant are illustrated using exemplars. Different aspects of CoS—that is, scientific practice, scientific conventions and representations of science—are then discussed in further detail, including in two tables illustrating points of convergence and divergence between the East and West when it comes to different aspects of CoS.展开更多
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and mostly affects school going children. Côte d’Ivoire is one of the most vulnerable countries to schistosomiasis, and its ...Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and mostly affects school going children. Côte d’Ivoire is one of the most vulnerable countries to schistosomiasis, and its prevalence varies by region. This cross-sectional survey was conducted in schools in the Upper Sassandra region to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of school children regarding schistosomiasis. In total, 354 students participated in the survey. Our results showed that, compared to the girls, the boys had a higher level of knowledge about schistosomiasis OR = 1.605 and p = 0.05. Regarding the signs, symptoms, and modes of transmission and prevention of schistosomiasis, the participants reported a low level of knowledge p > 0.05 and OR 1. In conclusion, it is important to target health messages in schools to reach the most vulnerable students effectively. This initiative aims to provide children with basic knowledge and skills in the transmission of schistosomiasis.展开更多
In the context of energy structure transformation,digital and intelligent technologies have been introduced into the field of hydropower,which has accelerated the technological and equipment innovation of hydropower p...In the context of energy structure transformation,digital and intelligent technologies have been introduced into the field of hydropower,which has accelerated the technological and equipment innovation of hydropower plants.However,it has also brought severe challenges to the operation and maintenance of hydropower plants.Traditional hydropower plant operation and maintenance suffer from problems such as low efficiency,equipment aging,and high labor costs,which seriously hinder the innovation and upgrading of hydropower plant operation and maintenance.Therefore,this article focuses on the operation and maintenance of hydropower plants,summarizes a series of innovative strategies,and applies them in practice to effectively improve the operation and maintenance level of hydropower plants.展开更多
Yam “Kponan” (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) is a popular staple food in Côte d’Ivoire. However, its rapid decay during conservation prevents regular supply of markets. The objective of this study was th...Yam “Kponan” (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) is a popular staple food in Côte d’Ivoire. However, its rapid decay during conservation prevents regular supply of markets. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the impact of field cultivation and conservation practices on some physical quality parameters of “Kponan”. To this end, “Kponan” yam from three production areas (Bondoukou, Bouna, Kouassi-Kouassikro) was cultivated in each area. At maturity, physical parameters of yams at harvest and after 3 months of storage in field were analyzed. The results showed that injury was the most significant deterioration in yam harvest. The rate of injured yams was highest for hoe-harvested in Kouassi-Kouassikro area (16.67% - 22.22%) regardless of the origin of the cuttings. The main damage observed after the 3 months of storage was rots (22.86% - 60.00%) and weight loss (8.57% - 42.86%). However, yams stored in pits in Bouna zone had less damage (40% - 48.87%) than those stored under straw huts in Bondoukou locality (100%) and at shade under a tree in Kouassi-Kouassikro area (100%). In conclusion, the physical quality of “Kponan” in field is most affected by abusive use of herbicides during weeding and clearing, hoe harvesting and storage in the shade under a tree.展开更多
Is the adoption of best practice in business associated with improved environmental performance？ And what methods can he used to assess and compare the environmental practices and performance of different companies？...Is the adoption of best practice in business associated with improved environmental performance？ And what methods can he used to assess and compare the environmental practices and performance of different companies？ In this paper, through case anatysis, the business environmental practices and performance of five companies in the manufacturing sector were examined and scored. Assessing these companies practices and performance according to “The best practice model” designed by Australian Manufacturing Council （AMC. 1994）. The finding shows that there is strong correlation between environmental practices and performance of companies （r=0.85, p〈0.05）, and indicates that corporate paying attention to environmental issue will improve its all performances in business.展开更多
A 15-year field experiment was carried out in Henan Province, China, to study the effects of different fertilization practices on yield of a wheat-maize rotation. Fertilizers tested contained N alone (N), N plus P (NP...A 15-year field experiment was carried out in Henan Province, China, to study the effects of different fertilization practices on yield of a wheat-maize rotation. Fertilizers tested contained N alone (N), N plus P (NP) or plus P and K (NPK), all with or without manure (M). Different long-term fertilization practices affected the yields under the rotation system of wheat and maize differently and the effects on yields was in a general trend of MNPK＞MNP＞MN＞NPK＞NP＞M＞N＞the control. The average contribution rate of soil fertility to the highest yield was 37.9%, and the rest 62.1% came from fertilizer applications. The yield effects of the chemical fertilizers were in the order of N＞P＞K and were increased by application of manure.Balanced fertilization with multielement chemical fertilizers and manure can be effective in maintaining growth in agricultural production. Combined application of chemical fertilizer and organic manure also increased the content of soil organic matter.展开更多
Soil tillage and straw retention in dryland areas may affect the soil aggregates and the distribution of total organic carbon. The aims of this study were to establish how different tillage and straw retention practic...Soil tillage and straw retention in dryland areas may affect the soil aggregates and the distribution of total organic carbon. The aims of this study were to establish how different tillage and straw retention practices affect the soil aggregates and soil organic carbon(SOC) and total nitrogen(TN) contents in the aggregate fractions based on a long-term(approximately 15 years) field experiment in the semi-arid western Loess Plateau, northwestern China. The experiment included four soil treatments, i.e., conventional tillage with straw removed(T), conventional tillage with straw incorporated(TS), no tillage with straw removed(NT) and no tillage with straw retention(NTS), which were arranged in a complete randomized block design. The wet-sieving method was used to separate four size fractions of aggregates, namely, large macroaggregates(LA, >2000 μm), small macroaggregates(SA, 250–2000 μm), microaggregates(MA, 53–250 μm), and silt and clay(SC, <53 μm). Compared to the conventional tillage practices(including T and TS treatments), the percentages of the macroaggregate fractions(LA and SA) under the conservation tillage practices(including NT and NTS treatments) were increased by 41.2%–56.6%, with the NTS treatment having the greatest effect. For soil layers of 0–5, 5–10 and 10–30 cm, values of the mean weight diameter(MWD) under the TS and NTS treatments were 10.68%, 13.83% and 17.65%, respectively. They were 18.45%, 19.15% and 14.12% higher than those under the T treatment, respectively. The maximum contents of the aggregate-associated SOC and TN were detected in the SA fraction, with the greatest effect being observed for the NTS treatment. The SOC and TN contents were significantly higher under the NTS and TS treatments than under the T treatment. Also, the increases in SOC and TN levels were much higher in the straw-retention plots than in the straw-removed plots. The macroaggregates(including LA and SA fractions) were the major pools for SOC and TN, regardless of tillage practices, storing 3.25–6.81 g C/kg soil and 0.34–0.62 g N/kg soil. Based on the above results, we recommend the NTS treatment as the best option to boost soil aggregates and to reinforce carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils in the semi-arid western Loess Plateau of northwestern China.展开更多
Changes in both soil organic C storage and soil respiration in farmland ecosystems may affect atmospheric CO2 concentration and global C cycle. The objective of this field experiment was to study the effects of three ...Changes in both soil organic C storage and soil respiration in farmland ecosystems may affect atmospheric CO2 concentration and global C cycle. The objective of this field experiment was to study the effects of three crop field management practices on soil CO2 emission and C balance in a cotton field in an arid region of Northwest China. The three management practices were irrigation methods（drip and flood）, stubble managements（stubble-incorporated and stubble-removed） and fertilizer amendments（no fertilizer（CK）, chicken manure（OM）, inorganic N, P and K fertilizer（NPK）, and inorganic fertilizer plus chicken manure（NPK＋OM））. The results showed that within the C pool range, soil CO2 emission during the whole growing season was higher in the drip irrigation treatment than in the corresponding flood irrigation treatment, while soil organic C concentration was larger in the flood irrigation treatment than in the corresponding drip irrigation treatment. Furthermore, soil CO2 emission and organic C concentration were all higher in the stubble-incorporated treatment than in the corresponding stubble-removed treatment, and larger in the NPK＋OM treatment than in the other three fertilizer amendments within the C pool range. The combination of flood irrigation, stubble incorporation and application of either NPK＋OM or OM increased soil organic C concentration in the 0-60 cm soil depth. Calculation of net ecosystem productivity（NEP） under different management practices indicated that the combination of drip irrigation, stubble incorporation and NPK＋OM increased the size of the C pool most, followed by the combination of drip irrigation, stubble incorporation and NPK. In conclusion, management practices have significant impacts on soil CO2 emission, organic C concentration and C balance in cotton fields. Consequently, appropriate management practices, such as the combination of drip irrigation, stubble incorporation, and either NPK＋OM or NPK could increase soil C storage in cotton fields of Northwest China.展开更多
Erratic rainfall and misalignment between the rainy season and the growing season of winter wheat greatly limit rainfed winter wheat yield in the Loess Plateau of China. To increase the grain yield of winter wheat in ...Erratic rainfall and misalignment between the rainy season and the growing season of winter wheat greatly limit rainfed winter wheat yield in the Loess Plateau of China. To increase the grain yield of winter wheat in this region, the effects of different agronomic practices, including adjusting planting pattern(NR, narrow row spacing), increasing seeding rate(high seeding rate, HS), decreasing basal nitrogen rate and increasing top-dressed nitrogen rate(DBN), and replacing an old cultivar with a new cultivar(NC) on wheat yield were investigated for two consecutive years. The results showed that the current grain yield of rainfed winter wheat in the Loess Plateau could be increased to 5879–7093 kg ha^(-1) by HS, DBN and NC practices relative to the practice of high-yielding farmers(PF). The increased yield due to HS, DBN and NC was attributed to the higher number of spikes ha^(-1), 1000-grain weight, and kernels spike^(-1). Before the flowering stage, HS increased soil water consumption(SWC) in 1–3 m subsoil due to the higher plant population compared with that of PF, whereas DBN decreased SWC in the 0–2 m soil layer compared with that of PF. After the flowering stage, HS, DBN, and NC increased SWC by 8–16 mm in 2–3 m subsoil compared to PF. The water use efficiency(WUE) was increased under DBN and NC in comparison with PF.However, the WUE did not increase under HS as it had the highest evapotranspiration among the five treatments. Increasing the use of subsoil water during the late growth stage by optimizing agronomic practices or applying new cultivars with expansive roots should be the primary approach to increase rainfed winter wheat yield in this region.展开更多
The soil and water conservation practices of ecological restoration(ER),fish scale pit(FP),furrow and ridge tillage across the slope(FR),shrub strips(SS),and vegetation-covered ridge(VR)are characteristic of the Jixin...The soil and water conservation practices of ecological restoration(ER),fish scale pit(FP),furrow and ridge tillage across the slope(FR),shrub strips(SS),and vegetation-covered ridge(VR)are characteristic of the Jixing small watershed of the low mountain and hilly region of Jilin Province,Northeast China.This study aims to elucidate the effects of soil and water conservation practices on soil conditions after the short-term implementation of practices.Soil samples were collected from five soil and water conservation sites(ER,FP,FR,SS,and VR)and two controls(BL and CT)to investigate their properties.To evaluate the influence of soil and water conservation practices on soil quality,an integrated quantitative index,soil quality index(QI),was developed to compare the soil quality under the different soil and water conservation practices.The results show that not all soil and water conservation practices can improve the soil conditions and not all soil properties,especially soil organic carbon(SOC),can be recovered under soil and water conservation practice in short-term.Moreover,the QI in the five soil and water conservation practices and two controls was in the following order:ER>VR>BL>FR>CT>SS>FP.ER exhibited a higher soil quality value on a slope scale.In the low mountain and hilly region of Northeast China,ER is a better choice than the conversion of farmlands to planted grasslands and woodlands early in the soil and water conservation program.展开更多
文摘Introduction: Breastfeeding is the best way to provide ideal nutrition for optimal infant growth and development. Objectives: The aim of our work was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers of children aged 0 - 24 months on exclusive breastfeeding in the Central African Republic. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study conducted from September 15 to October 15, 2024 among mothers of infants aged 0 to 24 months. Sociodemographic, obstetric and breastfeeding-related data were collected through individual interviews conducted during sensitizations on good feeding practices organized by the Tina Touadera Foundation. The chi2 test was used to test for relationships between variables, and the p significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The average age of the mothers surveyed was 27.67 years. 65.69% (n = 247) of mothers lived in urban areas and 55.85% (n = 210) were Muslim. 56.38% (n = 212) were living common-law and 34.04% (n = 128) were poor. Secondary-school mothers (44.42%, n = 167) and housewives (53.72%, n = 202) were in the majority. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) was correctly defined by 79.26% (n = 298) of mothers and actually practised in 24.20% (n = 91) of cases. The main source of information was a health professional in 75.36% (n = 304) of cases. Among the 285 mothers who practised mixed breastfeeding, lack of time (33.33%) was the main reason. They acknowledged having given water (100%), corn porridge (75.09%) and/or artificial milk (24.91%) before the first 6 months of life. The average time for introducing water was 2.2 months, and for porridge/formula 2.79 months. More than half the mothers (55.05%) said they did not know their infants’ weaning age. Factors positively influencing the use of EBF were age under 29, residence in an urban area, primiparity, having been informed about AME by a health professional, and being a housewife or shopkeeper (p Conclusion: Mothers’ level of knowledge was heterogeneous but insufficient overall. An effective system of information and education from pregnancy to the first six months of life is needed to promote breastfeeding.
文摘1 The Inuit's remarkable ability to thrive(蓬勃发展)in one of Earth's toughest environments hasn't happened by chance.Their complex system of traditions,passed down through countless generations,represents far more than mere survival strategies-it's a highly developed blueprint for living in harmony with the Arctic's unforgiving landscape.
文摘Infertility has been regarded as a global public health concern,affecting both men and women irrespective of geographical region,race,ethnicity,and socioeconomic class[1].The available global estimates suggest that almost 17%of people of reproductive age experience infertility during their lives[1],with 55 million men and 110 million women living with infertility worldwide and varying estimates across different global regions[2].The consequences of infertility go beyond just medical suffering,and result in huge social and psychological consequences,including marital strains,stigma,and mental health problems[1].The current paper explores infertility in cultural context,enlists herbal remedies and traditional healers for infertility,and proposes targeted public health interventions to minimize the utilization of herbal treatment in dealing with cases of infertility.
文摘Côte d’Ivoire has been the world’s leading producer of cocoa beans for several decades. Apart from this production performance, the quality of the beans, which are mainly exported to the major chocolate-making countries, presents a quality problem to the point of suffering a discount on the international market. One of these quality problems is the content of ochratoxin A, a mycotoxin produced by fungi. Finally, to verify the level of contamination in beans produced in Côte d’Ivoire, a study was carried out. It consisted of collecting information on fermentation and drying times (The two major post-harvest operations) and collecting beans, which were analyzed by electrophoresis using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method. The results obtained show ochratoxin A contents of between 0.05 µg/kg and 0.17 µg/kg. The general level of contamination is therefore very low and below the tolerable limit which is 2 µg/kg. In addition, the correlative study between the fermentation and drying times of the beans revealed no significant influence (p < 0.01) of the duration of these operations on the level of ochratoxin A contamination. Major contamination can occur after post-harvest activities carried out by producers. This is certainly due to the development of fungi responsible for the production of ochratoxin A during the period of storage and marketing of cocoa beans in conditions of high humidity in storage enclosures. Producers need to be made more aware of the need to ensure that cocoa beans are properly dried and stored in dry areas to avoid moisture build-up, which is a source of mould growth and ochratoxin A production.
基金Supported by Basic Science Research Program Through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)Funded by the Ministry of Education,No.NRF-RS-2023-00237287 and No.NRF-2021S1A5A8062526Local Government-University Cooperation-Based Regional Innovation Projects,No.2021RIS-003.
文摘This manuscript critically evaluates the randomized controlled trial(RCT)conducted by Phiri et al,which assessed the effectiveness of virtual reality(VR)training for psychiatric staff in reducing restrictive practices(RPs).Specifically,this RCT investigated the impact of VR on the handling of aggressive patients by psychiatric staff compared to traditional training methods.Despite significant reductions in perceived discrimination in the VR group,there were no major improvements in self-efficacy or anxiety levels.The system usability scale rated the VR platform highly,but it did not consistently outperform traditional training methods.Indeed,the study shows the potential for VR to reduce RPs,although fluctuations in RP rates suggest that external factors,such as staff turnover,influenced the outcomes.This manuscript evaluates the study’s methodology,results,and broader implications for mental health training.Additionally,it highlights the need for more comprehensive research to establish VR as a standard tool for psychiatric staff education,focusing on patient care outcomes and real-world applicability.Finally,this study explores future research di-rections,technological improvements,and the potential impact of policies that could enhance the integration of VR in clinical training.
文摘Objective:This article employs a scoping review methodology,integrates knowledge and information about current pediatric nurses'practices and perceptions regarding family-centered care in pediatric settings.Methods:Published articles were retrieved from databases including EBSCO host,PubMed,Springer,Science Direct,Ovid,and CINAHL between 2013 and 2023.Results:The finding shows a better understanding of pediatric nurses'perceptions of family-centered care in association with their clinical settings.However,the evidence indicates that integrating family-centered care components into health care services is difficult and confusing to nurses and is often not implemented in a clinical setting.As evidenced by this review,studies have consistently reported similar results;family-centered care was a good perception and understood by pediatric nurses as a concept but inconsistently used in a daily practice setting.Conclusions:This scoping review is the first phase in promoting a strategic plan to provide educational interventions for pediatric nurses to implement family-centered care in their daily practice settings.It's necessary to recognize pediatric nurses'perceptions and practices concerning family-centered care to provide optimal healthcare services in pediatric settings.
基金funded by Universityindustry Collaborative Education Program(No.220605181024725)the Undergraduate Education and Teaching Reform Research Project of Northwestern Polytechnical University(No.22GZ13083)。
文摘With the rapid development of software engineering,traditional teaching methods are confronted with the challenges of short knowledge update cycles and the rapid emergence of new technologies.By analyzing the current situation of the mismatch between educational practices and industrial change,this study proposes an innovative teaching model—“Micro-practices”.This model integrates new knowledge and new technologies into the teaching process quickly and flexibly through practical teaching projects with“short class time,small capacity,and cloud environment”to meet the different educational needs of students,teachers,and enterprises.The aim is to train innovative software engineering talents who can meet the challenges of the future.
文摘BACKGROUND Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide,presenting an increasing public health challenge,particularly in lowincome and middle-income countries.However,data on the knowledge,attitudes,and preventive practices regarding breast cancer and the associated factors among females in Wollo,Ethiopia,remain limited.AIM To assess the impact of family history(FH)of breast disease on knowledge,attitudes,and breast cancer preventive practices among reproductive-age females.METHODS A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in May and June 2022 in Northeast Ethiopia and involved 143 reproductive-age females with FH of breast diseases and 209 without such a history.We selected participants using the systematic random sampling technique.We analyzed the data using Statistical Package for Social Science version 25 software,and logistic regression analysis was employed to determine odds ratios for variable associations,with statistical significance set at P<0.05.RESULTS Among participants with FH of breast diseases,the levels of knowledge,attitudes,and preventive practices were found to be 83.9%[95%confidence interval(CI):77.9-89.9],49.0%(95%CI:40.8-57.1),and 74.1%(95%CI:66.9-81.3),respectively.In contrast,among those without FH of breast diseases,these levels were significantly decreased to 10.5%(95%CI:6.4-14.7),32.1%(95%CI:25.7-38.4),and 16.7%(95%CI:11.7-21.8),respectively.This study also indicated that knowledge,attitudes,and preventive practices related to breast cancer are significantly higher among participants with FH of breast diseases compared to those without HF breast diseases.CONCLUSION Educational status,monthly income,and community health insurance were identified as significant factors associated with the levels of knowledge,attitudes,and preventive practices regarding breast cancer among reproductive-age females.
基金supported by an internal grant from Universitas Citra Bangsa(Number 6/VI/LP3M/UCB/22).
文摘Objective: The importance of culture in nursing lies in its influence on patients’ health perceptions, behaviors, and responses to care. Despite the challenges posed by the complexity of studying culture, there remains a critical need to develop cultural competence in nursing. This study investigated how nursing students in rural Indonesia enhance their cultural competence through education and practice. Methods: This study employed a qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach. It conducted face-to-face interviews with 32 students across 6 regions, selected purposively. Thematic analysis was employed to evaluate the results. Results: Five themes emerge in this research: perceptions of cultural competence, learning cultural competence in the classroom, practical experience, learning expectations related to cultural competence, and cultural learning barriers. Conclusions: Enhancing cultural competence necessitates enriched curricula, adept clinical mentors, and continual student evaluation. This iterative assessment informs tailored strategies for nurturing cultural proficiency.
文摘This paper considers the notions of common sense and interobjectivity to articulate an understanding of how different cultural realities give rise to different construals of scientific phenomena across distinct cultures. Our main focus in this paper is on the social sciences. We propose a quadrant of different cultural–scientific stances from which the study of social phenomena is possible, based on the emic–etic dimension pertaining to the study of culture from contrasting perspectives. Although the emic–etic distinction is normal y applied in fields within the science of culture, it is proposed here that the distinction is in some ways germane to scientific practice in general, making it amenable for use in a culture of science(CoS) programme. The four perspectives that emerge from the quadrant are illustrated using exemplars. Different aspects of CoS—that is, scientific practice, scientific conventions and representations of science—are then discussed in further detail, including in two tables illustrating points of convergence and divergence between the East and West when it comes to different aspects of CoS.
文摘Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and mostly affects school going children. Côte d’Ivoire is one of the most vulnerable countries to schistosomiasis, and its prevalence varies by region. This cross-sectional survey was conducted in schools in the Upper Sassandra region to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of school children regarding schistosomiasis. In total, 354 students participated in the survey. Our results showed that, compared to the girls, the boys had a higher level of knowledge about schistosomiasis OR = 1.605 and p = 0.05. Regarding the signs, symptoms, and modes of transmission and prevention of schistosomiasis, the participants reported a low level of knowledge p > 0.05 and OR 1. In conclusion, it is important to target health messages in schools to reach the most vulnerable students effectively. This initiative aims to provide children with basic knowledge and skills in the transmission of schistosomiasis.
文摘In the context of energy structure transformation,digital and intelligent technologies have been introduced into the field of hydropower,which has accelerated the technological and equipment innovation of hydropower plants.However,it has also brought severe challenges to the operation and maintenance of hydropower plants.Traditional hydropower plant operation and maintenance suffer from problems such as low efficiency,equipment aging,and high labor costs,which seriously hinder the innovation and upgrading of hydropower plant operation and maintenance.Therefore,this article focuses on the operation and maintenance of hydropower plants,summarizes a series of innovative strategies,and applies them in practice to effectively improve the operation and maintenance level of hydropower plants.
文摘Yam “Kponan” (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) is a popular staple food in Côte d’Ivoire. However, its rapid decay during conservation prevents regular supply of markets. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the impact of field cultivation and conservation practices on some physical quality parameters of “Kponan”. To this end, “Kponan” yam from three production areas (Bondoukou, Bouna, Kouassi-Kouassikro) was cultivated in each area. At maturity, physical parameters of yams at harvest and after 3 months of storage in field were analyzed. The results showed that injury was the most significant deterioration in yam harvest. The rate of injured yams was highest for hoe-harvested in Kouassi-Kouassikro area (16.67% - 22.22%) regardless of the origin of the cuttings. The main damage observed after the 3 months of storage was rots (22.86% - 60.00%) and weight loss (8.57% - 42.86%). However, yams stored in pits in Bouna zone had less damage (40% - 48.87%) than those stored under straw huts in Bondoukou locality (100%) and at shade under a tree in Kouassi-Kouassikro area (100%). In conclusion, the physical quality of “Kponan” in field is most affected by abusive use of herbicides during weeding and clearing, hoe harvesting and storage in the shade under a tree.
基金Supported by the Soft Science of Shandong Province(No,A200418-3)and the Item"Eco-planning and Environmental Management in the Coastal Area of China"of the Environmental DevelopmentAgency of Canada(No.CIDA-Tier-1).
文摘Is the adoption of best practice in business associated with improved environmental performance？ And what methods can he used to assess and compare the environmental practices and performance of different companies？ In this paper, through case anatysis, the business environmental practices and performance of five companies in the manufacturing sector were examined and scored. Assessing these companies practices and performance according to “The best practice model” designed by Australian Manufacturing Council （AMC. 1994）. The finding shows that there is strong correlation between environmental practices and performance of companies （r=0.85, p〈0.05）, and indicates that corporate paying attention to environmental issue will improve its all performances in business.
文摘A 15-year field experiment was carried out in Henan Province, China, to study the effects of different fertilization practices on yield of a wheat-maize rotation. Fertilizers tested contained N alone (N), N plus P (NP) or plus P and K (NPK), all with or without manure (M). Different long-term fertilization practices affected the yields under the rotation system of wheat and maize differently and the effects on yields was in a general trend of MNPK＞MNP＞MN＞NPK＞NP＞M＞N＞the control. The average contribution rate of soil fertility to the highest yield was 37.9%, and the rest 62.1% came from fertilizer applications. The yield effects of the chemical fertilizers were in the order of N＞P＞K and were increased by application of manure.Balanced fertilization with multielement chemical fertilizers and manure can be effective in maintaining growth in agricultural production. Combined application of chemical fertilizer and organic manure also increased the content of soil organic matter.
基金financially supported by the Scientific Research Start-up Funds for Openly-Recruited Doctors (GAU-KYQD-2018-39)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31571594, 41661049)the National Science and Technology Supporting Program of China (2015BAD22B04-03)
文摘Soil tillage and straw retention in dryland areas may affect the soil aggregates and the distribution of total organic carbon. The aims of this study were to establish how different tillage and straw retention practices affect the soil aggregates and soil organic carbon(SOC) and total nitrogen(TN) contents in the aggregate fractions based on a long-term(approximately 15 years) field experiment in the semi-arid western Loess Plateau, northwestern China. The experiment included four soil treatments, i.e., conventional tillage with straw removed(T), conventional tillage with straw incorporated(TS), no tillage with straw removed(NT) and no tillage with straw retention(NTS), which were arranged in a complete randomized block design. The wet-sieving method was used to separate four size fractions of aggregates, namely, large macroaggregates(LA, >2000 μm), small macroaggregates(SA, 250–2000 μm), microaggregates(MA, 53–250 μm), and silt and clay(SC, <53 μm). Compared to the conventional tillage practices(including T and TS treatments), the percentages of the macroaggregate fractions(LA and SA) under the conservation tillage practices(including NT and NTS treatments) were increased by 41.2%–56.6%, with the NTS treatment having the greatest effect. For soil layers of 0–5, 5–10 and 10–30 cm, values of the mean weight diameter(MWD) under the TS and NTS treatments were 10.68%, 13.83% and 17.65%, respectively. They were 18.45%, 19.15% and 14.12% higher than those under the T treatment, respectively. The maximum contents of the aggregate-associated SOC and TN were detected in the SA fraction, with the greatest effect being observed for the NTS treatment. The SOC and TN contents were significantly higher under the NTS and TS treatments than under the T treatment. Also, the increases in SOC and TN levels were much higher in the straw-retention plots than in the straw-removed plots. The macroaggregates(including LA and SA fractions) were the major pools for SOC and TN, regardless of tillage practices, storing 3.25–6.81 g C/kg soil and 0.34–0.62 g N/kg soil. Based on the above results, we recommend the NTS treatment as the best option to boost soil aggregates and to reinforce carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils in the semi-arid western Loess Plateau of northwestern China.
基金jointly funded by the National Basic Research Program of China (2006CB708401)the Doctor Subject Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China (20116518110002)
文摘Changes in both soil organic C storage and soil respiration in farmland ecosystems may affect atmospheric CO2 concentration and global C cycle. The objective of this field experiment was to study the effects of three crop field management practices on soil CO2 emission and C balance in a cotton field in an arid region of Northwest China. The three management practices were irrigation methods（drip and flood）, stubble managements（stubble-incorporated and stubble-removed） and fertilizer amendments（no fertilizer（CK）, chicken manure（OM）, inorganic N, P and K fertilizer（NPK）, and inorganic fertilizer plus chicken manure（NPK＋OM））. The results showed that within the C pool range, soil CO2 emission during the whole growing season was higher in the drip irrigation treatment than in the corresponding flood irrigation treatment, while soil organic C concentration was larger in the flood irrigation treatment than in the corresponding drip irrigation treatment. Furthermore, soil CO2 emission and organic C concentration were all higher in the stubble-incorporated treatment than in the corresponding stubble-removed treatment, and larger in the NPK＋OM treatment than in the other three fertilizer amendments within the C pool range. The combination of flood irrigation, stubble incorporation and application of either NPK＋OM or OM increased soil organic C concentration in the 0-60 cm soil depth. Calculation of net ecosystem productivity（NEP） under different management practices indicated that the combination of drip irrigation, stubble incorporation and NPK＋OM increased the size of the C pool most, followed by the combination of drip irrigation, stubble incorporation and NPK. In conclusion, management practices have significant impacts on soil CO2 emission, organic C concentration and C balance in cotton fields. Consequently, appropriate management practices, such as the combination of drip irrigation, stubble incorporation, and either NPK＋OM or NPK could increase soil C storage in cotton fields of Northwest China.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(2015CB150402)the National Key Technology R&D Program(2015BAD22B01)111 project of Chinese Education Ministry(B12007)。
文摘Erratic rainfall and misalignment between the rainy season and the growing season of winter wheat greatly limit rainfed winter wheat yield in the Loess Plateau of China. To increase the grain yield of winter wheat in this region, the effects of different agronomic practices, including adjusting planting pattern(NR, narrow row spacing), increasing seeding rate(high seeding rate, HS), decreasing basal nitrogen rate and increasing top-dressed nitrogen rate(DBN), and replacing an old cultivar with a new cultivar(NC) on wheat yield were investigated for two consecutive years. The results showed that the current grain yield of rainfed winter wheat in the Loess Plateau could be increased to 5879–7093 kg ha^(-1) by HS, DBN and NC practices relative to the practice of high-yielding farmers(PF). The increased yield due to HS, DBN and NC was attributed to the higher number of spikes ha^(-1), 1000-grain weight, and kernels spike^(-1). Before the flowering stage, HS increased soil water consumption(SWC) in 1–3 m subsoil due to the higher plant population compared with that of PF, whereas DBN decreased SWC in the 0–2 m soil layer compared with that of PF. After the flowering stage, HS, DBN, and NC increased SWC by 8–16 mm in 2–3 m subsoil compared to PF. The water use efficiency(WUE) was increased under DBN and NC in comparison with PF.However, the WUE did not increase under HS as it had the highest evapotranspiration among the five treatments. Increasing the use of subsoil water during the late growth stage by optimizing agronomic practices or applying new cultivars with expansive roots should be the primary approach to increase rainfed winter wheat yield in this region.
基金Under the auspices of Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau(No.10501-1210)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31101606)+1 种基金Basic Scientific Research Operating Expenses of Jilin University(No.200903377)National Key Projects in National Science&Technology Program during the 12th Five-Year Plan Period of China(No.2011BAD16B10-3,2012BAD04B02-3)
文摘The soil and water conservation practices of ecological restoration(ER),fish scale pit(FP),furrow and ridge tillage across the slope(FR),shrub strips(SS),and vegetation-covered ridge(VR)are characteristic of the Jixing small watershed of the low mountain and hilly region of Jilin Province,Northeast China.This study aims to elucidate the effects of soil and water conservation practices on soil conditions after the short-term implementation of practices.Soil samples were collected from five soil and water conservation sites(ER,FP,FR,SS,and VR)and two controls(BL and CT)to investigate their properties.To evaluate the influence of soil and water conservation practices on soil quality,an integrated quantitative index,soil quality index(QI),was developed to compare the soil quality under the different soil and water conservation practices.The results show that not all soil and water conservation practices can improve the soil conditions and not all soil properties,especially soil organic carbon(SOC),can be recovered under soil and water conservation practice in short-term.Moreover,the QI in the five soil and water conservation practices and two controls was in the following order:ER>VR>BL>FR>CT>SS>FP.ER exhibited a higher soil quality value on a slope scale.In the low mountain and hilly region of Northeast China,ER is a better choice than the conversion of farmlands to planted grasslands and woodlands early in the soil and water conservation program.
