Gifts Of Nature Research Articles

Nature’s prescription: decoding the power of biopolymers in medical and pharmaceutical applications

Over the past few years, the utilization of several biopolymers of natural, synthetic or microbial origin has witnessed a peak in various medical and pharmaceutical applications, like drug delivery, drug formulation, tissue engineering scaffolds, medical implants (e.g., prosthetics, stents), wound healing and dressing materials, and biosensing. This is mainly attributed to their ease of processing, biodegradability, high bioactivity, and biocompatibility compared to synthetic polymers. Moreover, a surge in the development of bio-/nanocomposites has emerged, with an aim to enhance the inherent properties of raw biopolymers derived from natural/microbial sources. This review is mainly focused on the different types of biopolymers or their composites utilized in medicinal or pharmaceutical industries and sheds light on the key advantages and limitations associated with their synthesis or use. Furthermore, the article presents a list of commercialized biopolymer composites with a discussion on the future scope of using these “gifts of nature” in the medical field.

Eksplorasi Nilai-Nilai Edukasi Konservasi Mata Air pada Tradisi Ngalun Aik di Lombok Timur

The Ngalun Aik tradition has strong roots and has become an identity in the life of the people of Aik Dewa Village. On the other hand, the spring in Aik Dewa Village not only acts as a source of clean water for daily needs but also plays an important role in local rituals and beliefs related to survival. Therefore, the role of local traditions such as Ngalun Aik is becoming increasingly important to explore and understand in spring conservation efforts. This research uses a qualitative approach to gain an understanding of the educational value of spring conservation in the Ngalun Aik tradition. The respondents in this research involved six male and four female key persons, representing religious leaders, traditional leaders, community leaders, and groups of young men and women. Based on documentation, observation, and interview findings, it can be concluded that the Ngalun Aik tradition in Aik Dewa Village is not only a cultural ritual but also a strong educational platform about the importance of environmental conservation and natural resource management. Through ritual processions, people express their appreciation for water sources as sacred gifts of nature. This tradition teaches the educational values of maintaining water quality, sustainable water management, and environmental awareness to the younger generation. Ngalun Aik also strengthens cultural ties, spirituality, and ecological awareness in the community.

The Far Right and the ‘Gifts of Nature’ in Rural Spain

Vox, a rising far-right party, plays on concerns about the emptying Spanish countryside to promote its authoritarian version of traditional values. Lately it has developed an environmental narrative portraying rural life as under threat from progressive policies.

ИНТЕГРАЦИЯ СИСТЕМ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ КАЧЕСТВОМ УЧРЕЖДЕНИЙ ПРИ ОКАЗАНИИ МЕДИЦИНСКОЙ ПОМОЩИ – ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ

Significance. Development of integrated quality management systems is a key direction in the development of management activity, ensuring achievement of the organization goals. For the first time ever, analysis of the experience of a federal medical research institution and a state clinical cardiology dispensary in the integration of quality management systems using project management approach has been undertaken. The results show practicability of the integration approach and synergy effect in achieving common goals. The limitations of the project approach can be eliminated along with accumulation of experts' experience and monitoring over effectiveness of activities. The purpose of the study was to present the experience of integrating quality management systems of two institutions providing medical care to patients with cardiovascular diseases. Material and methods. The base of the present study was the Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases and Kuzbass Clinical Cardiology Dispensary named after Academician L.S. Barbarash. The objects of the study were the quality management systems of the two institutions. In order to achieve the intended goal, the project and system approaches were applied. Results. Cooperation between the two institutions made it possible to attain the target indicator of the regional program “Control over Cardiovascular Diseases” in terms of the number of coronary artery X-ray endovascular interventions (5,335 interventions in 2022 against the planed 5,721). An organizational and functional model has been developed to provide care to the most difficult category of patients requiring heart transplantation. Joint comprehensive audits have been organized in accordance with the requirements of international standards for quality management systems and internal quality and safety control of medical activities. The corporate culture of the institutions develops on the basis of common professional, social and cultural values through joint events (e.g. “Gifts of Nature” contest, courage insights, New Year, sports days, etc.). A unified procedure for personnel actions in various conditions of both peacetime and high readiness has been determined. Conclusion. The project made it possible for the first time ever to receive evidence of practicability of the integration approach to improve performance of several institutions complying with the requirements of the international standard series 9001:2015 “Quality Management Systems”. Administration of the two quality management systems provides a synergy effect in achieving common goals. They become interrelated elements of the system of medical care for circulatory diseases. Scope of application. The obtained results can be used by medical organizations, organizationally and functionally united by common goals and objectives.

韓·中·日 고전문학 속에 보이는 여성과 눈(雪)

This paper is about snow used as a main theme underpinning narratives about women from ancient East Asian literature. In the Eastern world, snow was engraved on people’s minds as a symbol of serene beauty embracing all things in the universe. It enriched the world of literature and arts as it represented beauty, evoked emotions, served as a symbol, and portrayed transcendence. Its color and figure were thoughtful gifts of nature for expressing women’s beauty. It also stimulated their emotions, and connected lovers. While snow represented the pureness of their inner beauty, its cold nature also symbolized the adversity and the bleak situations they experienced. Snow falling from the sky was believed to be connected with heaven, so it was viewed as a spiritual entity providing a channel of communication between the earth and heaven and as a judge presiding over heavenly trials. Constructing narratives about women from Eastern classics, snow helped women grow and change. It was a lifelong companion for women: it provided solace and comfort to those suffering from patriarchal ideals. Though it started as an image of beauty, it developed as a tool for eliciting emotions and a symbol and became a pathfinder to transcendence.

‘Nothing has changed, South Africa’s sub-imperialist role has been reinforced’: Samir Amin’s durable critique of apartheid/post-apartheid political economy

ABSTRACT Samir Amin’s critiques of both apartheid-era and post-apartheid political economy contributed to his scathing view of the crucial ‘semi-peripheral’ layer of the world system, a perspective typically ignored in binary formulations of Global North and Global South. Amin’s 1977 article ‘The future of South Africa’ was among his first statements of how, using that era’s dependency theory language, ‘South African capital requires an outward policy of expansionism, so that ultimately, internal colonialism becomes coterminous with sub-imperialism’. Amin also labeled post-apartheid South Africa sub-imperialist because of the domination of ‘monopoly capital’ in the extractive-industry circuits (depleting what Marx called ‘free gifts of nature’) and the below-survival-level wages that have long shaped the economic structure. Two other coterminous factors were Pretoria’s imposition of continent-wide neoliberalism through the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa BRICS network – both of which proved incapable of transcending neoliberal economic policies insisted upon by contemporary imperialism. Following the BRICS 2023 Sandton summit’s elite failure to advance de-dollarisation or other ‘delinking’ strategies, Amin would nod, knowingly, when hearing the term ‘sub-imperial’ to describe the bloc – and look for inspiration instead to successes of grassroots campaigners.

Lac - a Good Source of Livelihood in Jharkhand

Jharkhand state is blessed with the presence of tiny insects kerria lacca belonging to the family Tachardiidae. Lac is one of the most valuable gifts of nature to the Tribal of Jharkhand who dwell in and around the forest areas which have the conventional host trees, Kusum, Palash and Ber. The present study examines the role of Lac in providing sustainable livelihood in Khunti, Simdega and Gumla districts of Jharkhand which are the largest producer of lac in the state of Jharkhand. Through interviewing the villagers, conducting FGDs and visiting the local markets in twelve villages of three districts this research study has tried to bring out the volcanic potentiality of lac production in these three districts of Jharkhand. The Government intervention and role of JASCOLAMP have to be increased to give technical and marketing support to villagers for producing more LAC so that the income of the tribal could increase.

State regulation and management of the system of ownership and use of agricultural land. Part II

A huge country, sparsely populated over large areas, with an abundance of natural resources, inherited from the ancestors, this is a blessing and a burden at the same time - the territory and resources must not only be protected from envious neighbors and countries that are historically accustomed to obtain natural resources at an inexpensive price, but also populate and equip vast territories by establishing production, and not mainly engage in gathering and selling the gifts of nature, constantly being in a state of “lagging development model”. With an abundance of land resources, and at least half of the untapped potential of productive agricultural lands, the ever-increasing need for food in the world creates geopolitical and economic opportunities for increasing agricultural production through a more complete use of vacant agricultural lands of the Non-Black Earth Region and intensification of agriculture in regions with more fertile black soil. Land policy plays a decisive role in realizing the existing opportunities to increase agricultural production, legislation, and the quality of legal regulation of land relations, management of the use of productive agricultural land, institutional environment and land management infrastructure. The article considers long-term problems of land policy, land legislation, the quality of regulation and management of land resources in agriculture and the need to determine ways and means of their improvement. “Administrative labor occupies a dominant position in relation to executive labor, as well as to the services of the land. It forms “the third factor” of production (capital + land + labor. A significant part of capital is knowledge and the organization of production). Labor is as passive as natural objects (for economic theory). Labor and land are just an instrument” (Josef Alois Schumpeter, 1883-1950, Theory of Economic Development, p. 69).

State regulation and management of the system of ownership and use of agricultural land

A huge country, sparsely populated over large areas, with an abundance of natural resources, inherited from the ancestors, this is a blessing and a burden at the same time - the territory and resources must not only be protected from envious neighbors and countries that are historically accustomed to obtain natural resources at an inexpensive price, but also populate and equip vast territories by establishing production, and not mainly engage in gathering and selling the gifts of nature, constantly being in a state of “lagging development model”. With an abundance of land resources, and at least half of the untapped potential of productive agricultural lands, the ever-increasing need for food in the world creates geopolitical and economic opportunities for increasing agricultural production through a more complete use of vacant agricultural lands of the Non-Black Earth Region and intensification of agriculture in regions with more fertile black soil. Land policy plays a decisive role in realizing the existing opportunities to increase agricultural production, legislation, and the quality of legal regulation of land relations, management of the use of productive agricultural land, institutional environment and land management infrastructure. The article considers long-term problems of land policy, land legislation, the quality of regulation and management of land resources in agriculture and the need to determine ways and means of their improvement. “Administrative labor occupies a dominant position in relation to executive labor, as well as to the services of the land. It forms “the third factor” of production (capital + land + labor. A significant part of capital is knowledge and the organization of production). Labor is as passive as natural objects (for economic theory). Labor and land are just an instrument” (Josef Alois Schumpeter, 1883-1950, Theory of Economic Development, p. 69).

“Studies on Preparation of Value-Added Amla Squash with Herbs”

Squash is a concentrate drink beverage, which must be diluted with water before consumption. Herbal extracts are added in the fruit extract as to enhance the sensory and therapeutic value ofthe product. Amla is one of the precious gifts of nature to mankind. Amla, has been used in Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine since ancient times. The benefits of Amla, Ginger, Tulsi and Mint which is having antibacterial, anticarcinogenic, antiemetic, antiviral, antitumor, anti-cardiotoxic properties which officious for treatment of diabetes, cancer arthrosclerosis, liver etc. Herbs have medicinal, aromatic, phototherapeutic properties. It is richsource of micro nutrient and phenolic compounds. The amla with herbs squash are taken in daily diet then it’s helpful to remove the toxic elements from the body Utilization of the amla with herbs in the diet or by incorporation and optimizing their use in fruit beverages, an individual will get all the benefits related to health and also reduces the risk of serious diseases like cancer.

Signification of Plants in Traditional Peace Building in the Bamenda Grassfields of Cameroon: The Case of Fig Tree and Dracaena amongst the Bali Chamba Polities

Gifts of nature such as streams, hills and vegetation constitute the centre of activities in African cultural practices. Communities across the continent in the face of conflicts seek peace using one of several gifts of nature just like the the Balis make use of fig tree and dracaena in their socio-cultural economic and political life. From Fondom creation to contemporary times, these trees have occupied a preponderant place in the Bali peace culture as they are used in the domain of traditional governance, conflict resolution, and peace building. Further, these plants are used to pass various messages namely; the birth of twins, the end of wars, and also to indicate the entrances or exits from a community or farmland. This chapter argue that, the fig tree and dracaena locally called ghim and nkeng respectively, amongst the people of Bali Chamba polities of North West Cameroon played fundamental roles in the preservation of peace in the life of the people. These plants having dark green beautifully designed leaves, have cultural, moral, spiritual, economic and political implications. Planted around shrines, graves, boundaries and used in performing rituals, the ghim and nkeung are also symbols of traditional authority, source of economic growth, traditional medicine health and peace. The introduction of foreign cultures amongst these people during the wave of migration, settlement and colonial rule, greatly diminished the symbolic values assigned to these plants. Although the deep cultural and moral implications of these plants are fading away as a result of religious influences and western secular culture, their significance have not been completely eroded especially as the plants are still used in Bali and most communities in the region for different reasons.

Instrumental potential of monetary valuation in managing natural ecosystems reproduction sustainability

The basic approaches to comprehension of economic nature and the subject content of the process of market transformation of natural ecosystem into nature-economy in the course of which there is a disturbing system of the formed geobiocenosis, human intrusion which creates artificial nature-ecosystem, which needs constant poly-resource support, are described in the paper. Scientific conceptualisation of the transition from the consumer attitude of man to nature as a natural "pantry" of production resources and free environmental benefits as gifts of nature to the understanding of the creative nature of partner interaction with nature and the commodity-market nature of ecosystem services rendered by it required an appropriate accounting and cost estimate of them as a tool to regulate this transition and manage the reproductive mode of functioning of the nature management system.

Exosomes as Novel Delivery Systems for Application in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Exosomes, as gifts of nature derived from various cell types with a size range from ~40 to 160 nm in diameter, have gained attention recently. They are composed of a lipid membrane bilayer structure containing different constituents, such as surface ligands and receptors, from the parental cells. Originating from a variety of sources, exosomes have the ability to participate in a diverse range of biological processes, including the regulation of cellular communication. On account of their ideal native structure and characteristics, exosomes are taken into account as drug delivery systems (DDSs). They can provide profound effects on conveying therapeutic agents with great advantages, including specific targeting, high biocompatibility, and non-toxicity. Further, they can also be considered to ameliorate natural compounds, the main constituents of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which are usually ignored due to the complexity of their structures, poor stability, and unclear mechanisms of action. This review summarizes the classification of exosomes as well as the research progress on exosome-based DDSs for the treatment of different diseases in TCM. Furthermore, this review discusses the advantages and challenges faced by exosomes to contribute to their further investigation and application.

Locational Evocational and Emotional Topography in Anita Desai’s Fire on the Mountain, Clear Light of Day and Cry, the Peacock

The nature with all its phenomena governs the whole universe and it is a principal source for civilization to exist on this planet. This whole natural system cannot be controlled or governed by man. Though, being free gifts of nature, human beings stated misusing these resources for their personal gain and desires. As a result, natural resources are being degraded and gradually fading away the natural setting with the concern of the universal threats revolving around us.
 India is blessed with the wide range of natural resources, beginning from the Himalaya Regions to the dynamics of Sunderbans and the dry land-desert in Rajasthan. With the passing of time, these natural resources are harmed by population, pollution and other avarices of humankind. Now the writers come out with the global concerns for the degradation and depletion of nature and environmental landscapes. During the post- colonial era, Anita Desai is a leading Indian author in English who construct nature in their works. She remarkably writes on those aspects which she has observed. She succeeds in capturing and delineating the spirit of surroundings, places and social values. Nature has been known to reflect the inner state of human mind more than ever, either through as it is in its immediateness or by its phenomenal happenings like drizzle or heavy downpour. Griffin rightly interprets on it in her book, ‘Woman and Nature: Roaring Inside Her’, that
 
 “I know am made from the earth, as my mother’s hands were made
 from this earth, as her dreams came from this earth… you… are earth
 too, and listen as we speak to each other of what we know, the light is in us.”
 (Griffin 227)
 
 Based on this aspect Anita Desai’s masterpieces Fire on the Mountains and Clear Light of Day portray a beautiful significance of nature in every aspect of human nature. Set in the natural backdrop of Kasauli and Delhi respectively, these two novels aptly portray not only the isolation and loneliness haunting the human mind but also specifically demonstrates the passage of time in the life of people, connected by blood and the ups and downs in their relations, signified by their immediate surroundings and it's protection by Carson.

Organic Food Production as a Necessity and Obligation of People in the 21st Century to Preserve Health, Biodiversity, and the Atmosphere the Position of Serbia on a Global Scale

Ever since the beginning of the existence of homo sapiens on the planet, from the initial basic diet of hunting, there was a gradual transition to using the gifts of nature from the plant world by collecting natural fruits, so that knowledge would lead man to planned cultivation. The initial primitive methods of land cultivation, including irrigation, did not have negative effects on the natural environment, as did the later cultivation of plants and the promotion of growth and yield with organic fertilizers. Only from the middle of the 20th century, when the race to increase yield became closer to the race for profit, was a negative imbalance observed, which directly affects human health and its environment. The continuous trend of increasing the crop, selection and modification of seeds and the use of nitrogen fertilizers, led to the loss of crop quality, especially from the health aspect, then the impact on the habitus and biodiversity of the wider environment, as well as the reduction of soil characteristics (humus layer). Economic crises also include food production, so the dilemma arises as to whether we should produce large quantities at any cost or rapidly switch to ecologically more justified organic production.In this modest study, a brief analysis of the relationship to basic foods in the human diet was carried out, with an emphasis on cereals, which were and remain a basic component, because in each historical period they represented the sources of about 20% of the calories and proteins necessary for human health, as well as the impact of healthy (organic) types of this cereal on the human environment. And then the quantity of organic food production in Serbia was analyzed.

P21-1 The herbal treatment of COVID-19 proved to be boon for cancer patients a observational cross sectional study

Ayurveda being the science of life propagates the gifts of nature in maintaining healthy and happy living. It is a plant based science. In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak entire mankind across the globe is suffering. Enhancing the bodys natural defense system immunity plays an important role in maintaining optimum health.

Pharmacognostical Studies and Anti-oxidant Activity of Tagetes erecta (Marigold) LINN Flower

Plants are the living gifts of nature. Drugs obtained from plants have very low side effects and are very popular worldwide. Tagetes erecta Linn locally known as Genda Phool (Marigold) belongs to the family Asteraceae. It is containing about 50 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plant. The plants have numerous pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antiepileptic, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antidepressant, antifungal etc. It is used as wound healing, soothing and softening the skin and thus used in skin care products. Microscopic parameters (Tagetes erecta) showed the presence of calyx (dark green, ovate), corolla (Bright orange, oblanceolate), cortical portion and fibro vascular bundle and macroscopic parameters showed that the flower is of bright orange colour, aromatic odour and distinctly bitter taste. Total ash value, water soluble ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble extract value, alcohol soluble extract value, loss on drying (moisture content) were found to be 4.91% w/w, 1.63% w/w, 0.2% w/w, 72% w/w, 16.7% w/w and 7.44% w/w respectively. Phytochemical analysis of different extract showed the presence of different primary and secondary metabolites like tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, saponins, alkaloids compound etc. The IC50 value was calculated.

Potential of Bio-Organic Mix as an Alternative to Inorganic Fertilizer in Maize Production in Africa

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most abundantly produced and consumed cereal in the world. Major challenge in maize production in Africa is low soil fertility due to lack of sustainable soil fertility restoring inputs among others. This study investigated the potentials of Moringa-banana-maize mix, a biodegradable, environment friendly and abundantly available free gifts of nature in soil fertility improvement. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the mixture of Moringa olifera leaves (MO) +Banana Peels (BL) +Maize Stalks (MS) on yield and profitability of maize production. Specifically, to choose the right combination of the mix and determine the correct mode of application. Field and screen house experiments were conducted in 2020 planting seasons, at the Teaching and Research Farm of Kwara State University, Malete. Four treatments were considered and each represented a technology on field/screen trials. These include; A=100N+40P+30K, B= 120N+50P+40K, C= 70N+30P+ 20K and the control using the national recommended dose of 90kg/ha of NPK fertilizer (for comparison).

Borneol as Adjuvant Chemotherapy: A New Way for the Development of Novel Chemotherapeutic

Nature has generously open life-saving remedies to mankind by offering evolutionarily optimized drug like bimolecular in the form of several natural products. These marvelous gifts of nature have been serving as most suitable candidates against the treatment of multiple disorders and particularly for cancer (2nd leading cause of death, cancer) due to their pleiotropic mode of action on target molecules. Current review intends to provide an update on the bioactivities of such gifts from nature, natural borneol, which is the major bioactive constituents of traditionally used medicines. Borneol is a monoterpenoid, isolated from different medicinal plants and have strong potential to be used against multiple disorders such as bacterial and inflammatory infections. Recently it is investigated that borneol has a great potential of inhibiting the growth of multiple neoplasms such as hepatocellular carcinoma, neuroblastoma, glioma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, ovarian and lung cancer. Moreover, by regulating the BBB junctions it also increases the drug concentration in cancer cells, this shows that its combine use with already practiced therapeutics may increase the efficacy of these therapeutics against cancer cells. In this review we will summarize all the studies on anticancer activity of borneol, our primary goal will be to discuss the combined use of borneol with other clinically used drugs to improve their efficacy against human cancers.

Antifreeze Proteins: Novel Applications and Navigation towards Their Clinical Application in Cryobanking.

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) or thermal hysteresis (TH) proteins are biomolecular gifts of nature to sustain life in extremely cold environments. This family of peptides, glycopeptides and proteins produced by diverse organisms including bacteria, yeast, insects and fish act by non-colligatively depressing the freezing temperature of the water below its melting point in a process termed thermal hysteresis which is then responsible for ice crystal equilibrium and inhibition of ice recrystallisation; the major cause of cell dehydration, membrane rupture and subsequent cryodamage. Scientists on the other hand have been exploring various substances as cryoprotectants. Some of the cryoprotectants in use include trehalose, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol (EG), sucrose, propylene glycol (PG) and glycerol but their extensive application is limited mostly by toxicity, thus fueling the quest for better cryoprotectants. Hence, extracting or synthesizing antifreeze protein and testing their cryoprotective activity has become a popular topic among researchers. Research concerning AFPs encompasses lots of effort ranging from understanding their sources and mechanism of action, extraction and purification/synthesis to structural elucidation with the aim of achieving better outcomes in cryopreservation. This review explores the potential clinical application of AFPs in the cryopreservation of different cells, tissues and organs. Here, we discuss novel approaches, identify research gaps and propose future research directions in the application of AFPs based on recent studies with the aim of achieving successful clinical and commercial use of AFPs in the future.