Organization For Economic Cooperation Research Articles

Building resilience of the Ghanaian healthcare system: Lessons from a global health stage: Preparedness for the next pandemic: A scoping review

Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has underscored the need for resilient health systems. However, Ghana does not seem to achieve commensurate results, suggesting potential gaps in critical interventions. This study examines these gaps by drawing on global experiences to guide Ghana's preparedness for future emergencies. Methods A scoping review based on the synthesis of published journal articles and grey literature was used to gather relevant evidence to address the study’s objective. Peer-reviewed literature searches were conducted in databases, including Medline, Scopus, and Health Sources, supplemented by searches on organizational websites to identify grey literature. We adopted the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) framework to explore how health systems responded to the COVID-19 pandemic globally and draw lessons for strengthening Ghana's health system resilience. We analyzed policy responses in three main areas: pandemic preparedness, crisis management, and response and recovery. Results Ten strategies emerged from the study as critical in strengthening health system resilience against future pandemics. These strategies include whole-of-government engagement, financing for preparedness, community engagement and trust, robust surveillance systems, emergency medical care, diverse workforce development, digital health integration, critical health infrastructure, well-planned commodities/products, and social capital. Each strategy plays a vital role in enhancing preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, highlighting the multifaceted approach needed to mitigate the impact of future pandemics on health systems. Conclusions The identified strategies align with the attributes of a resilient healthcare system. By adopting these strategies, Ghana can build a resilient healthcare system that effectively addresses future challenges, guided by global insights and experiences.

Do schools have hindrance of quality to promote innovativeness? Examining the role of empowering leadership and stakeholder involvement

PurposeSchools provide high priorities to offer innovative curricular and cocurricular programs, and leaders make necessary efforts to promote enablers and overcome disablers for sustaining their innovativeness. With the background of quality management and stakeholder theories, the present study examines the interplay of hindrances to quality between empowering leadership, stakeholder involvement and organizational innovativeness.Design/methodology/approachResponses of 157 American school principals collected through the Teaching and Learning International Survey 2018 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development were used and analyzed to test the proposed hypotheses.FindingsResults show that empowering leadership behaviors of school principals support promoting organizational innovativeness, and involvement of stakeholders with the school activities also promotes organizational innovativeness. Interestingly, when American schools faced a high level of hindrance to providing quality education to their students, principals’ high level of empowering leadership behaviors promoted organizational innovativeness.Originality/valueThis is the first time in the literature that the interplay between empowering leadership, stakeholder involvement and hindrance of quality education has been examined to promote organizational innovativeness.

International legal mechanisms of liability for nuclear damage

Based on the analysis of accidents in the nuclear sphere, many states have come to the conclusion of the need to develop international legal principles for the settlement of disputes related to accidents and the formation of a regime of responsibility for damage caused to the life and health of people and the environment. The unification of the efforts of many states to develop joint approaches to ensure the safe development of atomic energy allowed the creation of a complex international legal regime – “international nuclear law”. The aim of the work is determination of the international legal bases of responsibility for causing nuclear damage. The methodological basis of the study. The following methods of cognition were used in the research process: analysis and synthesis, generalization, dialectical, system-structural methods, formal-legal, legal-technical method. Results. Various international organizations play an important role in the formation of nuclear law: the IAEA, the Atomic Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (NEA OECD), WNA and others. The documents issued by the IAEA serve as guidelines for the development and approval of laws and other regulatory acts related to the safe use of atomic energy in the countries of the world. Conventions on liability for nuclear damage were drafted in such a way that most of their provisions (especially the basic principles) were self-executing. Therefore, in principle, each participating state has the right to independently decide, on the basis of its constitutional or legal system, which approach it will use to bring its legislation in accordance with this or that convention: direct application of the provisions of the convention or preparation based on the text of the convention of the national law on nuclear liability. Conclusions. Currently, in the issue of liability for nuclear damage, countries can be divided into two groups: one group – those that have adopted a special regime in the field of nuclear liability either by joining international conventions or by adopting national legislation; another group – countries that do not have such a special regime.

Game-based Learning for Science Education in Institutional Care Settings in Northwestern Mexico

Play has been key to knowledge acquisition, creativity, and innovation. In education, game-based learning (GBL) is a physical and digital environment that enhances learning outcomes in students. This paper presents the results of observational research on game-based learning in science education as a motivation for young students from two institutional care settings in Northwestern Mexico, in the State of Sonora. The observational research touched on 1) game-based learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, and 2) learning motivation in vulnerable student groups. This paper focuses on the authors' experiences, most of them early researchers focused on science education, their purpose of promoting game-based learning in STEM education, and interviews with representatives from both institutions. We found that game-based learning was seen as a novelty, innovative, and motivational way of engaging young students from institutional care settings to learn and become curious about the STEM field. We also designed and created games focused on STEM subjects in both institutions. Students living in institutional care settings face even greater obstacles regarding education. In some instances, the lack of mentorship or follow-up tutoring activities can determine their academic outcome or lack thereof. With the ever-changing world of technology, industries demand highly qualified people in STEM fields. Nonetheless, international organizations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have reported that school systems around the world are not equipped with the proper teaching methodologies for students to acquire basic skills such as mathematics nor critical thinking. In Mexico, public school systems and institutional care settings often lack teacher training or mentorship approaches to promote STEM education. This paper concludes with a reflection on the benefits of GBL in STEM education in such settings and suggestions for student-led collaborations with children and youth in such settings.

Analyzing the Lange–Lerner Hypothesis: is a monopolized banking sector a threat to democracy?

Is a monopolized banking sector a threat to democracy? Increasing bank monopolization and its growing share of the economy have brought renewed interest to this historical concern. Oskar Lange and Abba Lerner held that banking monopolization would undermine democracy through the concentration of political power among banking elites. This led them to exclude the banking sector from their more general support for private ownership of the means of production. We examine whether banking monopolization is associated with concentrated political power and the undermining of democracy using the Lerner Index (based on Lerner’s measure of banking concentration), Polity scores, Varieties of Democracy’s (V-Dem’s) Political Civil Liberty Index, and V-Dem’s Power Distributed by Socioeconomic Position Index, comprising data for 101 countries from 1996 to 2014 in our full specification. We find no relationship between civil liberties and the banking sector in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries but a negative and statistically significant relationship in non-OECD countries. We find no relationship between the Lerner Index and the concentration of power by socioeconomic status. Our results support only one variant of the Lange–Lerner Hypothesis and only among non-OECD countries. We argue that, most likely, this is because long-established democracies are more resilient.

EVALUATION OF ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT FROM THE FRUIT PEEL OF ATALANTIA MONOPHYLLA (LINN.) IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC MICE

Objective: Atlantia monophylla is an indigenous medicinal plant, with a folk reputation as hypoglycemic agent throughout India. Considerable research has shown that plants rich in flavonoids content with anti-oxidant potential are known to be bioactive for the management of diabetes mellitus (DM). In the present investigation, hypoglycemic activity of aqueous fruit peel extract of A. monophylla was evaluated using alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice. Methods: Aqueous extract of the fruit peel of A. monophylla (AEAM) was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening and acute oral toxicity study as per Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines 425. AEAM was evaluated for hypoglycemic activity, Alloxan induced DM in mice, oral glucose tolerance test in fasted mice. In vitro α- amylase inhibitory in albino mice method was employed for evaluation of hypoglycemic activity. Results: All of the mice in each group had their blood glucose levels measured both before and after the treatments on fasting animals. The extract was given at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight, or 100 mg/kg body weight of the conventional antidiabetic medication Metformin. A glucometer was used to measure the blood glucose level. After 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h, the extract-treated diabetic mice had a substantial (p≤0.05) drop in blood glucose levels. The hypoglycemic action was similar to that of the medication Metformin used as a benchmark. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that AEAM has strong hypoglycemic properties. One such method might include the activation of insulin receptors and subsequent release of insulin once β cells are stimulated. The hypoglycemic effect of the plant could be achieved through increasing insulin release from the pancreas.

An assessment of economy- and transport-oriented health performance

BackgroundGood health can prolong one’s lifespan and is a fundamental human right. Thus, human health is being influenced by prejudiced from sociological, environmental, economic, and geographic aspects. The economy and transportation system pose a serious challenge to the assessment of the health performance of economies.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the health performance of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) economies by using economic and transport-related indicators and examining the role of health expenditure and governance in improving efficiency.MethodsThis study measures the economy- and transport-oriented health efficiency of 35 OECD economies for the period of 2000–2022. In the first stage, this study employs a slacks-based measure and the data envelopment analysis–window analysis approach to conduct individual (economy and transportation) and joint assessments to measure health efficiency. In the second stage, this study uses the tobit regression method to investigate the effects of influencing factors, namely, government general health and pharmaceutical expenditures, the medical infrastructure, and governance, on health efficiency.ResultsEmpirical results reveal that a 1-unit change in the health expenditure during the research period improves economy-oriented health efficiency by 71% and transport-oriented health efficiency by 58%. The econometric analysis demonstrates that all the coefficients of economy- and transport-oriented health efficiency are significant and positive. Notably, a 1-unit change in the medical infrastructure increases economy- and transport-oriented health efficiency by 50.8%, and a 1% increase in pharmaceutical expenditure increases the health, economy, and transport efficiency scores by 16.3%, 33%, and 58.6%, respectively.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that some of the economies were efficient with regard to their health-oriented outputs, that is, quality of life and mortality and morbidity rates, and most of the economies demonstrated excellent economic performance. The findings of the transport-oriented health efficiency assessment reveal that the economies were unable to perform well in the last year of the research period owing to the nationwide lockdowns. Nonetheless, they demonstrated efficiency in the first half of the research period. The joint assessment of economy- and transport-oriented health efficiency indicates that economic and transport input resources can adversely affect the GDP and life expectancy simultaneously, and the medical infrastructure, pharmaceutical expenditure, and number of medical graduates serve as constructive stimuli for health efficiency improvement.

Hybrid Modeling Techniques for Municipal Solid Waste Forecasting: An Application to OECD Countries

Abstract Accurate forecasting of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation is critical for effective waste management, given the rising volumes of waste posing environmental and public health challenges. This study investigates the efficacy of hybrid forecasting models in predicting MSW generation trends across Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The empirical analysis utilizes five distinct approaches – ARIMA, Theta model, neural networks, exponential smoothing state space (ETS), and TBATS models. MSW data spanning 1995–2021 for 29 OECD nations are analyzed using the hybrid models and benchmarked against individual ARIMA models. The results demonstrate superior predictive accuracy for the hybrid models across multiple error metrics, capturing complex data patterns and relationships missed by individual models. The forecasts project continued MSW generation growth in most countries but reveal nuanced country-level differences as well. The implications for waste management policies include implementing waste reduction and recycling programs, investing in infrastructure and technology, enhancing public education, implementing pricing incentives, rigorous monitoring and evaluation of practices, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. However, uncertainties related to model selection and data limitations warrant acknowledgment. Overall, this study affirms the value of hybrid forecasting models in providing robust insights to inform evidence-based waste management strategies and transition toward sustainability in the OECD region.

Social Cost of Carbon as an International Benchmark to Drive Countries’ Carbon Pricing during the Transition

Building on updated estimates of the social cost of carbon obtained from the most recent literature, this article proposes a social cost of carbon-based benchmark for carbon pricing to drive world countries’ carbon pricing policies up to 2050, consistent with the Paris Agreement targets. By using a dataset on net effective carbon rates developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), we firstly compare both explicit and implicit carbon pricing in 2021 in 71 OECD and non-OECD countries with the social cost of carbon benchmark for 2021 and calculate the degree of internalization of the social cost of carbon averagely related to their carbon pricing instruments. We find that there is a serious gap in current climate policies, which are far from creating optimal pricing conditions to reduce global emissions to levels needed by the Paris Agreement. The economic and distributional feasibility of a full implementation of the carbon pricing benchmark is tested in the same set of countries using two indicators, which are calculated for 2025, 2030, 2040 and 2050. Since the test results are income-regressive among income country groups, benchmark implementation by countries within the cooperative approaches of Paris Agreement art. 6 should be accompanied by the creation of an international cooperative fund aimed to recycle at least part of the revenues collected by high-income countries to compensate affected population in lower-income countries.

Effects of Corruption and Informality on Economic Growth through Productivity

Corruption and informality are issues which have attracted a great amount of empirical research, since they are variables that can affect economic development in various and complex ways, with direct and indirect effects on economic growth. In this context, the objective of this investigation is to assess the impacts of corruption and informality on economic growth and productivity in countries from Latin America and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). To achieve this, a 3SLS-GMM estimation is proposed to manage the endogeneity of the variables in the system of equations. Subsequently, a simulation analysis is conducted to quantify the impacts of increases in corruption and informality on growth and productivity, as well as the influence of human capital in counteracting these impacts. The main findings of the research are as follows: (i) corruption decreases economic growth and productivity in both groups of countries; (ii) informality negatively affects economic growth and productivity; (iii) increases in corruption and informality reduce economic growth and productivity; and (iv) human capital has a positive impact on economic growth and reduces the negative impacts of corruption and informality.

Insights into nanoparticle toxicity against aquatic organisms using multivariate regression, Read-Across, and ML algorithms: Predictive models for Daphnia magna and Danio rerio

The production of nanoparticles (NPs) has recently become more prevalent owing to their numerous applications in the fast-growing nanotechnology industry. Although nanoparticles have growing applications, there is a significant concern over their environmental impact due to their inevitable release into the environment. With the increasing risk to aquatic organisms, D. magna and zebrafish (Danio rerio) have been preferred as important freshwater model organisms for risk assessment and ecotoxicological studies on metal oxide-based nanoparticles (MeOxNPs) in aquatic environments. It is unfeasible to assess the risks associated with every single NP through in vivo or in vitro experiments. As an alternative, in silico approaches are employed to evaluate the NP toxicity. To evaluate such performance, we have collected data from databases and literature reviews to develop models based on multivariate regression, read-across approach (RA), and machine learning (ML) algorithms following the principles of OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) for QSAR modeling. This work has aimed to investigate which features are important drivers of nanotoxicity in D. magna and Danio rerio using simple periodic table-derived descriptors. Further, we have examined the effectiveness of read-across-derived similarity measures compared to traditional QSAR models. The results obtained from model 1 infers that nanoparticles' size, the number of metals, the core environment of the metal present in the metal oxide, and the oxidation number of the metal play a key role in the final expression of toxicity of nanoparticles to D. magna. On the other hand, the presence of higher molecular weight, the core of the metal, and the presence of oxygen influence the enzyme inhibition activity. The enzyme inhibition is correlated with the ability of zebrafish embryos to hatch, and therefore, the inhibition of ZHE1 seems to be the factor driving hatch delay. The study emphasized the importance of developing transferable, reproducible, and easily interpretable models for the early identification of nanoparticle features contributing to aquatic toxicity.

Is Redistribution Good for Our Health? Examining the Macrocorrelation between Welfare Generosity and Health across EU Nations over the Last 40 Years

Context: Social determinants of health are finally getting much-needed policy attention, but their political origins remain underexplored. In this article, the authors advance a theory of political determinants as accruing along three pathways of welfare state effects (redistribution, poverty reduction, and status preservation), and they test these assumptions by examining impacts of policy generosity on life expectancy (LE) over the last 40 years. Methods: The authors merge new and existing welfare policy generosity data from the Comparative Welfare Entitlement Project with data on LE spanning 1980–2018 across 21 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. They then examine relationships between five welfare policy generosity measures and LE using cross-sectional differencing and autoregressive lag models. Findings: The authors find consistent and positive effects for total generosity (an existing measure of social insurance generosity) on LE at birth across different model specifications in the magnitude of an increase in LE at birth of 0.10–0.15 years (p < 0.05) as well as for a measure of status preservation (0.11, p < 0.05). They find less consistent support for redistribution and poverty reduction measures. Conclusions: The authors conclude that in addition to generalized effects of policy generosity on health, status-preserving social insurance may be an important, and relatively overlooked, mechanism in increasing LE over time in advanced democracies.

Financial development and tax evasion: International evidence from OECD and non-OECD countries

This study investigates the nexus between financial development and tax evasion across 156 countries from 2000 to 2017. In contrast to previous research focusing solely on banks or financial markets’ development, we employ a more comprehensive financial development index introduced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2016. This index gauges the progress of financial institutions (FI) and financial markets (FM) in terms of depth, access, and efficiency. Our findings underscore a negative correlation between financial development and tax evasion. Enhanced depth, access, and efficiency in both FI and FM correspond to reduced levels of tax evasion. Nevertheless, disparities emerge between the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and non-OECD countries. While non-OECD countries exhibit negative associations between FI and FM development and tax evasion, in OECD countries, the role of FI assumes greater significance in curtailing tax evasion. Notably, within OECD countries, the depth of FI and FM emerges as the sole influential factor. This contrasts starkly with non-OECD counterparts, where all dimensions − depth, access, and efficiency − negatively influence tax evasion. Our research has noteworthy implications for policymakers in both categories of countries.

Safety assessment of novel oxadiazole derivatives in acute and sub-acute toxicity studies.

1,3,4-Oxadiazole is a fascinating heterocyclic compound with a unique five-membered ring structure containing nitrogen and oxygen atoms. It has garnered significant attention for its interactions and activities within biological systems. This versatility has led to the production of several ligands using this compound as a pharmacophore. This study evaluates the acute toxicity of three oxadiazole derivatives (1,3,4-Bromo, Chloro, and Iodo) followed by a 28days sub-acute study involving four different doses of each derivative. The study followed the guideline, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) outlined, specifically OECD Guidelines 425 for the acute toxicity study and OECD Guidelines 407 for the sub-acute study. In the acute toxicity study, a high dose of 2000 mg/kg was administered to male and female rats to establish lethal dose 50 (LD50) values, and the rats were closely monitored for 14 days. The subsequent sub-acute study involved the administration of four different doses (1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) of each derivative to male and female rats for 28 days. Throughout both studies, careful monitoring for signs of toxicity and comprehensive hematological, biochemical, and histological analysis were carried out thoroughly. The results of the acute toxicity study indicated that all three derivatives had LD50 values exceeding 2000 mg/kg, and the rats did not display significant signs of toxicity. Similarly, no organ or systemic toxicity was observed in the repeated dose sub-acute study for any of the three derivatives. In conclusion, based on the findings of these studies, it was determined that the derivatives are safe for further investigation of their pharmacological activity.

Inter-Nation Equity And The Regulation of Tax Competition via the Global Minimum Tax Rule: A Case for Improvement

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an institution that influences policymaking in international tax law, and it is changing the international tax architecture to deal with tax competition by encouraging countries to adopt a global minimum tax rule. This emerging rule – called Pillar Two in international tax circles – is inadequate for dealing with poverty and inequality in an asymmetrical global context. The rule is premised on the notion and argument that tax competition is a problem for international tax law. Notwithstanding, there is existing research and evidence to show that tax competition can also be a solution to the enormous challenge of poverty and inequality as it can have a redistributive effect. This is a valuable factor amid the inefficiently asymmetrical global society with extreme poverty in many countries and enormous wealth in a few others.This article submits that the Pillar Two minimum tax rule – the Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Rules encompassing the income inclusion rule (IIR), undertaxed payment/profit rule (UTPR), and qualified domestic minimum top-up tax (QDMTT) – should incorporate inter-nation equity to prevent exacerbating global inequality and poverty. Pillar Two intensifies these for at least two reasons: (1) it restricts the positive redistributive effects of tax competition on an inefficiently asymmetrical global society, and (2) it encourages tax competition more suited for high-income countries (HICs) and less suited for those that are low-income countries (LICs). There is latitude to incorporate a differentiated principle deriving from inter-nation equity into this new Pillar Two rule designed to regulate tax competition globally. This proposal requires that the emerging rule be disenabled in certain circumstances to enable LICs to choose whether to apply the rule without being worse off. The article’s proposal seeks to allow LICs room for effective tax competition needed to attain sustainable development goals.

Quantitative Structure-Property Relationship for Gas-Chromatographic Retention Indices of Volatile Organic Compounds in Colored-Quinoa Seeds

This study outlines the development of a predictive in silico model for the retention index (RI) of 61 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in diverse colored-quinoa seeds. The analysis was performed using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) with the FS-SE-54-CB-1 capillary column. The chemical information in the database was carefully curated, and the molecular geometries of the VOCs were properly optimized to calculate diverse molecular descriptors. The database was then divided into a training set (48 compounds) and a test set (13 molecules). For model development, unsupervised and supervised chemometric approaches were integrated to obtain a four-descriptor quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR). The negligible differences in the coefficient of determination and residual standard deviation for the training set (R2 = 0.957, s = 34.16) and test set (R2 = 0.954, s = 35.46) indicate a stable and predictive model. The QSPR model was also subjected to cross-validation using diverse strategies, along with an applicability domain assessment. A thorough explanation of the mechanistic effects of these descriptors in predicting the RI is provided, ensuring the model accomplished all the criteria defined by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. This model is simple and can assist chemists working on the analysis of VOCs in quinoa seeds using GC-IMS and to gain a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the retention index phenomenon. This QSPR model was also applied as a tool to predict the retention index of an external set of 89 new VOCs identified in quinoa seeds through GC-IMS analysis.

Dermal Toxicity Studies of 1,2-Benzisothiazolin-3-One (CAS Number: 2634-33-5) in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Biocides are used as preservatives in various household products, and 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (BIT) is one of the popular chemicals. Therefore, BIT is highly likely to be exposed to human skin, necessitating dermal toxicity evaluation. In this study, we aimed to investigate dermal toxicity, eyes and skin irritation, and skin sensitization of BIT. All studies were conducted according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development testing guidelines. In acute dermal toxicity using rats, no treatment-related responses were observed at the highest dose (2,000 mg/kg). A 28-day repeated dermal toxicity study at 1, 4, and 12 mg/kg/day showed transient local skin irritation lesions, including erythema, exfoliation, and crust formation. Based on no systemic effects, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of BIT of the 28-day repeated dermal toxicity study was determined to be 12 mg/kg/day. Eye and skin irritation tests showed that BIT is a strong irritant and corrosive to the eyes and a mild irritant to the skin. However, BIT showed no skin sensitization reactions in a local lymph node assay. These dermal toxicity studies can provide valuable information for the risk assessment of BIT.

Phytochemical and Toxicity Evaluation of Methanol Extracts of Leaves and Fruits of Zanthoxylum rhetsa (Rutaceae)

Zanthoxylum rhetsa is extensively utilized in the realm of gastronomy and therapeutics. However, existing literature lacks any documentation concerning the systematic assessment of the toxicity characteristics of the foliage and produce of Z.rhetsa. Consequently, the present inquiry was executed to appraise the immediate toxicity examinations of the methanol extract derived from the leaves and fruits in mice, in accordance with the regulations delineated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD 420, 2001). In this investigation, a solitary dosage of 5000 mg/kg body mass of the specimen was administered to female mice, as stipulated by the OECD guidelines. Daily surveillance ensued for a total of fourteen days, with the objective of detecting any indications of toxicity or fatality. Upon the culmination of this two-week period, a comprehensive analysis involving hematological, biochemical, and histopathological evaluations was conducted. The outcomes of the immediate toxicity investigations evinced that neither the leaves nor the fruits extract exhibited any morbidity, conspicuous alterations in corporeal mass, nor any discernible impairment in behavioral or motor neural activities in the mice. The haematological and serum biochemical parameters did not exhibit significant disparities from the control groups. These findings were corroborated by histopathological investigations, wherein no abnormalities or pathological alterations were detected in the vital organs. The LD 50 (oral lethal dose) of the samples was determined to exceed 5000 mg/kg body weight. Consequently, the methanol extract of leaf and fruit extract of Z.rhetsa can be regarded as non-toxic and demonstrated a broad margin of safety for its therapeutic application.

A Critical Analysis of Selected Aspects of Real Estate Taxation in the Context of Recent Legislative Amendments in the Czech Republic

The real estate tax is the sole property tax in the Czech Republic and has been part of its tax system since its establishment, i.e. since January 1, 1993. The Czech Republic has long been recommended by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to increase the collection of this tax because its yield as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) is one of the lowest among all OECD and EU countries. The lower yield is in part attributable to the manner in which the tax base is determined. The Czech Republic, with the exception of a few minor instances, continues to employ the assessment-based rather than the value-based method of determining the tax base. Furthermore, the Czech Republic is encouraged to use the correction elements at the disposal of municipalities to influence the amount of property tax. This article examines the revenue aspect of real estate tax in the Czech Republic, including the determination of the tax base and the use of correction mechanisms. In light of these considerations, it is evident that the development of the Czech real estate tax system has been influenced by a number of factors, including the introduction of one of the most significant amendments to the Real Estate Tax Act in the country’s history. This amendment, known as the consolidation package, was implemented on January 1, 2024 and has had a profound impact on the current legislation.

Development of a Clinical Guideline for Suicide Prevention in Psychiatric Patients Based on the ADAPTE Methodology.

Suicide is a significant public health issue, with South Korea having the highest suicide rate among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. This study aimed to develop clinical guidelines for suicide prevention in psychiatric patients in Korea using the ADAPTE methodology. The development process involved a comprehensive review of literature, expert consultations, and consensus-building using the Nominal Group Technique and Delphi method. The guidelines focus on evidence-based psychiatric treatments, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, tailored to the Korean context. Key findings underscoring the need for standardized treatment protocols for patients with major psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. The guidelines incorporate treatments like lithium, clozapine, atypical antipsychotics, electroconvulsive therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, which have shown effectiveness in suicide prevention. Applicability and acceptability within Korea's healthcare system were addressed, ensuring feasibility given the country's medical insurance coverage and accessibility. The guidelines were validated through expert reviews and Delphi rounds, achieving consensus on the final recommendations. The developed guidelines provide a structured, evidence-based approach to reducing suicide rates among psychiatric patients in Korea. Future research will focus on expanding these guidelines to include screening protocols for high-risk groups.