Unavailability Of Food Research Articles

Food Production in Ergonomically Designed Unit with Low Energy Consuming Thick Film Hot Plate

The Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh is a cold desert where the temperature drops as low as -45°C, which makes the cultivation of fresh food almost impossible. The region is strategically very important as it borders two countries China and Pakistan. The unavailability of fresh food causes nutritional deficiency in the deployed troops and locals, affecting their performance. Cultivation of fresh food is very difficult due to the average low temperature and mountainous soil of the region. Transportation of fresh food to such forward locations causes decaying of nutrition besides the difficulty of reaching such snow-bound mountainous locations. Nutritious micro-greens grown in media under controlled conditions look perfect solutions for meeting nutritional requirements. The present study focuses on year-round cultivation of nutritious micro-green (2-3 times more nutritious than mature counterparts) with low energy consuming thick-film hot plate for necessary temperature maintenance in properly designed portable structures to reduce dependency on packaged food which are the causes of many diseases. The study involves the development of a thick film energy-efficient micro-climate maintenance technology-based system for the maintenance of temperature along with phase-wise development of suitable cultivation structure and standardization of the number of such plates and sizing of the portable unit.These hotplates produce heat based on the principle of Joule heating or resistive heating and the power of a hotplate is equal to I2R. The hotplates are capable of raising the surface temperature to 90°C –100°C at the expense of only 8W power consumption and maintenance of average temperature in the range of 18°C to 20°C at -25°C to -40°C outside ambient temperature. The region receives the highest solar irradiance along with annual average of 7-8 hours of sunshine duration and hence a solar-based technology can fulfill the energy supply of 8W with ease.The study revealed that a suitable temperature can be maintained for growing variety of nutritious micro-green in a triple layer-based multitier structure integrated with low energy consuming (~8 W), small (50.8 mm (x) 50.8 mm), efficient, and lightweight thick film technology.Thick-film hot plate integrated standardized unit is capable of producing an average of 1000grams/trial/unit in a short period of 8-12 days during the winter period of 6-8 months for the targeted supply of 8-10grams/person/day with total energy consumption of approximately 20-25Kw/trial at ~3350 m to ~5400 m Altitude.

Keterkaitan pangan dan politik-ekonomi global

Background: Global food needs will continue to increase, this cannot be separated from the increase in population which has implications for the increase in food needs which until now the world's population has increased. The availability and unavailability of food are related to the relationship between supply and demand in a global context. Findings: The hegemony of food power is not absolutely influenced by food barn countries but global food politics that enter the food chain are one of the developing issues. The control that occurs is not only in the harvesting process but also the process from planting, maintenance, to post-harvest and processing. Therefore, each country has its own unique position even though it does not have a large food barn but is still able to control global food. Methods: This study uses a descriptive qualitative method with a primary and secondary database through data collection techniques using interview techniques. Conclusion: Factors that influence food politics and dynamics have a long chain, not only farmers and buyers but there are indirect agents who add to the food process chain. Global policy intervention through institutions is carried out directly on agricultural policies and in general development policies that overall encourage global market agriculture. Support for local agricultural development subsidies and building proxy policies for small farmers when there is a surplus or deficit in supply during exports or imports.

Deterioration of people with Parkinson’s symptoms during COVID-19 lockdown: results of a web-based survey in Northwestern Italy

Objectives COVID-19 lockdowns were introduced to control the pandemic, however, they resulted in a global disruption of daily life and of individual and global health. Reduced accessibility of health services, unavailability of food and drugs, and mental health challenges had a huge impact on older people and on people living with disabling conditions such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). We assessed whether and to what extent the more disabled and vulnerable people with Parkinson’s (PwP) were affected by lockdowns. Method We analysed responses collected through a web-based survey of PwP according to their self-sufficiency [self-sufficient (SS); nearly self-sufficient (nSS); non-self-sufficient, cared for by family (NSS/F); non-self-sufficient, needs professional care (NSS/PC)]. Results Fears due to COVID-19 and difficulties with food supply were highest in NSS/F PwP. Difficulties with the supply of Parkinson’s medication or other drugs were apparently not an issue, while problems accessing primary care physicians and neurologists were similar across all patient groups. On the contrary, difficulties with daily and motor activities were higher in NSS/F and NSS/PC PwP. PwP symptoms worsened in all groups, with NSS/F and NSS/PC participants experiencing the worst deterioration. Notably, the deterioration of PwP symptoms was specifically related to changes in daily and motor activities, with participants who reported less engagement in daily and motor activities experiencing the worst deterioration. Conclusion Findings strongly support the need for decision-makers and healthcare providers to carefully re-evaluate the risk–benefit ratio of limiting healthcare accessibility for PwP, since evidence shows that lockdown measures primarily impact the groups who are most fragile and vulnerable.

Food Insecurity Is High in a Multi-Site Cohort of Transgender Women Vulnerable to or Living with HIV in the Eastern and Southern United States: Baseline Findings from the LITE Cohort.

The prevalence and correlates of food insecurity-the unavailability of food and limited access to it-have not been adequately considered among transgender women (TW), particularly alongside other health-related conditions burdening this population, such as HIV infection. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among TW. Between 2018 and 2020, 1590 TW in the Eastern and Southern U.S. completed a multi-site baseline assessment (socio-behavioral survey and HIV testing). Descriptive statistics were calculated and multivariable Poisson models with robust error variance were used to estimate prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals for correlates of food insecurity (dichotomized as sometimes-to-always vs. seldom-to-never running out of food). Eighteen percent of TW were living with HIV and nearly half of participants (44%) reported food insecurity. Correlates of food insecurity included being Black, multiracial, or another race/ethnicity; having < college education, low income, unstable housing, and high anticipated discrimination; and a history of sex work and sexual violence (all p < 0.05). Food insecurity was highly prevalent among TW. Current programs to provide food support do not adequately meet the needs of TW. HIV pr evention and care programs may benefit from addressing food insecurity.

Human-wildlife conflicts (sudden increase in tiger attacks on humans) in adjacent areas of Corbett National Park Ramnagar Uttarakhand, India (from November 2023 to January 2024)

Human-wildlife conflicts become a common problem in Ramnagar tehsil of district Nainital in Uttarakhand state in India. The incidence of tiger attacks has suddenly increased in the villages adjoining Corbett Park, Ramnagar Forest Division and Tarai-West Forest Division during three months of winter (from November 2023 to January 2024). Tiger hunger, unavailability of adequate food (Cheetal/Sambar, etc.), man-eaters tigers, increasing population density of tigers, old age tigers with worn and broken claws, disturbance of their alertness and breeding (by noise of safari, bike and public vehicle), large herds of Cheetal in villages near the forest, foreign tiger in this area, need for tiger territory in buffer area (shrinking territory) etc. are main reasons for tiger attacks in these incidences. Both humans and tigers are affected by these conflicts. After these incidents, the Forest department cut small trees and bushes on both sides of the road from the buffer area (about 20-30 feet) and the road has become clear. With this, the tiger will not be able to hide in the bushes on the roadside and sit in ambush, and tiger attacks will be reduced.

Consuming the non-human and the less-than-human: A critical study of Sarah Kane’s Blasted (1995)

The epoch of the Anthropocene, with accelerating technological advances and growing economic and social inequalities, have made the spatial reality more violent, intolerable, discriminatory and disintegrating. These growing inequalities set the conditions for exploitation and subjugation. While the privileged section of the human population buys their way out and lives comfortably within the closed spaces of their gated communities amidst the global devastation; the underprivileged, on the other hand, have to confront the consequences. Within the privileged closed space, the food is available in abundance, and is lavishly served, consumed and even wasted; but for those outside the privileged closed space, the scarcity and unavailability of food is an imminent threat. The paper focuses on the fragility of the economy of food within the gradually worsening Anthropocene condition, especially the over-dependence of global food supply chains. The paper places Sarah Kane’s play Blasted (1995) in one such condition, such as conflict or war, in which the food supply is halted and the havoc is unleashed. In Blasted, the object of consumption, the food eaten by human subjects when the food supply chains are unharmed, is the non-human flora and fauna. And when the food supply chains are disrupted or halted, when the bubble of a safe closed space bursts and when the food is hard to come by, the natural instinct to survive kicks in and the human subjects do everything in their power to survive, including cannibalizing the less-that-human or the dehumanized Other.

Barriers and enablers to a healthy food environment in Australian childcare services: Exploring directors' perspectives.

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings are ideal environments to optimise nutrition and positively influence children's food behaviours. However, recent research has identified the need to improve nutrition policies, food provision, and mealtime environments in Australian ECEC settings. This study explored the perceptions of ECEC directors regarding barriers and enablers to a health-promoting food environment within ECEC services. Eleven directors from ECEC services in Nerang, Queensland, and surrounding areas, participated in qualitative interviews between March and May 2021. Transcripts were analysed using qualitative content analysis that followed a deductive-inductive approach employing nutrition-related domains from the Wellness Child Care Assessment Tool, these being: (i) nutrition policy; (ii) nutrition education; (iii) food provision; and (iv) mealtimes. Transcripts were coded independently by two researchers in NVivo and consensus for barriers and enablers was achieved through discussion. Barriers and enablers were reported across four domains (nutrition policy, nutrition education, food provision, and mealtimes). Comprehensive nutrition-related policies were an enabler to a healthy nutrition environment but were sometimes described as lacking detail or customisation to the service. Nutrition education for children was described as competing with other activities for time and resources in an already-crowded curriculum. Financial and time pressures faced by families were a barrier to healthy food provision in services where families provided food for children. The ability of staff to sit with children and engage in conversation during mealtimes was an enabler; however, competing demands on time and the unavailability of food for staff were cited as barriers to health-promoting mealtimes. Directors in ECEC services report both barriers and enablers to a healthy food environment. Nutrition policies were an enabler when comprehensive and relevant but a barrier when vague and not tailored to the service environment. ECEC services should be supported to develop and implement service-specific nutrition policies and practices by engaging with parents and staff. SO WHAT?: The barriers and enablers reported in this study should be considered when designing and implementing future evidence-based interventions to improve the nutrition environment in ECEC services.

Engaging Social Resilience as Strategic Framework in Inter-Group Relations: Implications for National Security Drive in Nigeria

The core objective of this study is to examine the extent to which the effective engagement of social resilience strategies could assist in mitigating social, economic and cultural as well as environmental disasters in Nigerian society. Research evidence from works of experts has revealed that due to the complexities of the Nigerian state, and in view of several ethnic conflicts, electoral violence, terrorism and terror attacks; banditry, flooding and many other disasters, it has been relatively complex for citizens to cope after these occurrences happen. Several states in Nigeria for example have been overtaking by increasing killings maiming, farmers-herders clashes, post-election violence, arm banditry, terrorism and insurgency. Quite a number of other states, especially those around the Niger/Benue River tributaries such as Kogi State, Delta State, Anambra state, and many riverine states, including Bayelsa and many others, have continued to face the ravaging challenges of flooding. In 2022 alone, hundreds of thousands of people have been evicted from their homes and their means of livelihood running into millions of US dollars have been destroyed by flooding. In Nigeria currently, there is a devastating effect of hunger, disease and malnutrition due to after-effect of flooding. By every standard, Nigerian citizens in some of these affected areas are living in dire strait while several farm lands have been taken over by excessive flooding, which is why there is a lingering shortage of food supply, unavailability of sea food, and lack of infrastructural development such as housing, and increasing rate of homelessness among the teeming population. This study explores works of experts in the broader field of intergroup and conflict studies designed to x-ray some of the factors and strategic policy alternatives that can be employed to mitigate adverse effects of such incidences as they pattern to the complex social groups living in the Nigerian political system. The study relies heavily on secondary research materials as a data collection method. The paper sums up with findings and recommendations.

Solar Energy powered active Greenhouse for the cultivation of Fresh Food during winter in Trans Himalayan Cold Arid Region, India

The Trans-Himalayan Cold arid high altitude region of Ladakh have hostile climatic conditions particularly lowtemperature (-20°C to -45°C). The region shares international borders with two countries viz. China and Pakistanand hence large numbers of Army personnel are deployed in the region due to their strategic importance. Production of fresh food locally is difficult due to low atmospheric temperatures. The region remains cut off from the external world during the winter period for almost 6-8 months due to the closure of roads, which causes an acute shortage of fresh food. Some supply from other regions through the air is carried out but available only to a limited population and costly also, hence beyond the pocket of the common’s man. The inhabitants hence mostly have to survive on packaged food containing food preservatives and harmful chemicals, which are the causes of many diseases. In addition, the unavailability of fresh food causes nutritional deficiency in the inhabitants of the region. Production of fresh food locally seems possible and realistic in closed structures, only if the temperature is maintained. The objective of this study is to prove fresh food production by maintaining suitable temperatures in structures during peak winter using solar energy. Solar energy is available in plenty in the region and stood at 4 th position in India in terms of irradiation. A variety of fresh foods were produced by maintaining temperature in the coldest and largest existing structure using commercially available heating units successively from 2016-2019 during the winter period. The heating units were supplied energy from a Solar PV-based system. An average of 1500kgs-1800kgs of a variety of fresh vegetables were produced and supplied for the first time in the region during the peak winter period of 2016 to 2019. The survival percentage of 92.5% to 100% is found in a structure with an area of 3600 2 feet.Fresh foods were produced and supplied to the user by maintaining minimum survival temperature using solar energy as a source with commercially available heating technology in the largest and coldest existing structure.

Food insecurity and its socioeconomic and health determinants in pregnant women and mothers of children under 2 years of age, during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced access to adequate food in terms of quality and quantity, especially for the most vulnerable population groups. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Food Insecurity and its main socioeconomic and health determinants in pregnant women and mothers of children under 2 years of age, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) and registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42021278033). The descriptors "Pregnant Woman", "Postpartum Women", "Breastfeeding Women", "COVID-19", "Food Insecurity", "Food Security" were combined in Scopus (Elsevier), Medline/PubMed (via National Library of Medicine), Embase (Elsevier), Web of Science and Science Direct independently by two researchers in September 2022. Original articles about Food Insecurity in households with pregnant women and mothers of children under 2 years of age during the COVID-19 pandemic were included. The meta-analysis of the prevalence of Food Insecurity was conducted using the RStudio software (4.0.4). The initial search resulted in 539 records, and 10 articles met the proposed criteria and were included in this review. The prevalence of Food Insecurity ranged from 11.5 to 80.3% and in the meta-analysis it was 51% (IC: 30-71) (I 2 = 100.0%). The main socioeconomic and health determinants were ethnicity, domain language, low education, low income, informal employment, unemployment, occurrence of mental disorders, domestic violence, in addition to the unavailability of food in markets and lack of transport. The inclusion of studies with data collection by telephone stands out as a limitation, due to the non-inclusion of vulnerable groups without access to this means of communication. It is necessary to implement and strengthen specific public policies for the maternal and child group with the objective of protecting and strengthening the rights of women to maintain the physical and mental integrity of this group and guarantee Food Security.

Kazakhstan Food security at the present stage of development

In this article, the authors consider the current state of food security in Kazakhstan. The main purpose of the article is to assess food security in Kazakhstan. Today, 9.2% of the world's population faces food insecurity, namely the consumption of insufficient food, as a result of which a person experiences hunger. It is worth noting that the economic consequences of the epidemic and the measures taken to prevent it have led to an increase in food prices and there is often an economic unavailability of healthy food in the world. In the course of the study conducted by the authors, it was revealed that in the conditions of recent events, the severity of food insecurity is aggravated. Therefore, in the context of innovative development, Kazakhstan is increasingly focusing on food security issues. The article considered the current state of agricultural production development: namely, the gross harvest of agricultural crops and the production of certain types livestock products in Kazakhstan for 2018-2022. The authors also analyzed Kazakhstan profile in more detail according to the data of the global food security index. The global food security index is considered in more detail, which includes the level of availability and consumption of food, the availability and accessibility of food, the level of food quality and safety. In the course of the analysis, the main directions of ensuring food security were proposed, such as: the growth of agricultural competitiveness and product quality, the development of export-oriented production, the development of breeding and genetic and technical and technological modernization of the agro-industrial complex, the introduction of high-tech technologies, etc.

CONSEQUENCES OF POVERTY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY

The article examines the main consequences of poverty for individual citizens and society as a whole. Among the consequences of poverty for individuals, physiological, psychological and communicative effects are distinguished. The physiological consequences of poverty are the unavailability of quality food, as well as quality medical, hygiene, and health services, which reduces both life expectancy and health in general. Psychological problems include stress, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, which can lead to suicidal tendencies. The communicative consequences mean that a poor person often loses social ties, and his or her circle of communication becomes quite limited. Poverty also affects society as a whole. Among the purely economic consequences, we singled out the Vicious Cycle of Poverty, to which many Western studies are devoted. Also, impoverished societies in general cannot afford goods and services that are not related to survival. Therefore, there is a low demand for various categories of services, in particular, educational ones. Poverty is one of the factors of labor migration, which is illustrated by the example of Ukraine. In the conditions of a transitional and a market economy in post-Soviet states, the desire to withstand competition on the world market under the conditions of high energy and material intensity of production has been reflected in the preservation of low labour costs. Low wages, in turn, are a direct factor in the formation of social and economic risks in the field of human development. Poverty is also associated with the phenomenon of social exclusion, which we consider as the process of excluding an individual or a social group from social relations. A special class of precariat is being formed. The precariat is capable of self-organization under certain conditions. This group of people is associated with the spread of shadow employment and other forms of violation of the law. Political problems caused by poverty are also important. Poor citizens in the vast majority of countries (at least in all democracies) have the right to vote. Accordingly, they often support populist movements. Poverty and unemployment lead people to support far-left and far-right parties. Far-right movements often have an anti-immigrant focus. Sometimes poverty, social exclusion, social deprivation and other related socio-economic factors lead to revolutions and coups. In our opinion, relative poverty is unavoidable in principle, since in any society there will always be more and less wealthy citizens. But absolute poverty, which puts a person on the edge of normal existence, can and must be overcome. According to this, most countries of the world, including Ukraine, declare themselves welfare states. The article uses the achievements of economic, political, sociological, psychological and other sciences, taking into account the interdisciplinary synthesis and the pluralism of approaches. Modern trends in the interpretation of the consequences of poverty, which can be traced in the works of Ukrainian and foreign authors, are analyzed.

Role of Climate Change During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Climate change has become a topic of concern around the world. Many aspects of human well-being are affected by climate change. The social, economic, political, ecological and cultural development was influenced directly or indirectly. This paper has examined the role of climate change during the current period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The documentary analysis method was chosen. Various books, research reports, WHO databases and internet sources have been used extensively. Various literature shows that climate change may have played a significant role in the widespread effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 affects people with compromised immunity. The weakened immunity results from some diseases and treatments that weaken the body’s immunity. These include chronic lung diseases such as chronic asthma, some cancers, high blood pressure (hypertension), HIV / AIDS, and some developmental diseases. As a result, people become vulnerable to COVID-19. Poor diet also causes people to have weak immunity and become less resistant to the coronavirus. Poor nutrition results from changes in the climate pattern; Unavailability of sufficient and high-quality food, low production of sufficient food, and inaccessibility of high-quality food due to poverty. The world must take serious steps to stop excessive greenhouse gas emissions. If not, the human species will die as new diseases and viruses will emerge to take our lives as COVID-19 did.

Metabolic scaling and thermal acclimation of the cave asellid Proasellus lusitanicus

Metabolism is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. It scales allometrically to the body mass in ecto- and endotherm organisms, implying that larger individuals are more economical in terms of energy requirements. Within the limited range of “biologically relevant” temperatures (from 0° to 40°C), the allometric scaling with a factor between 0.66 and 0.75 has been consistently observed in unicellular microbes and plentiful multicellular plants and animals (Gillooly et al. 2001). The allometric scaling factor does not vary when organisms acclimate to changing temperatures where thermal acclimation represents a phenotypic response with essential implications for coping with global climate change. Cave fauna, which live in thermally-stable habitats, are expected to conform to allometric scaling though showing a substantial inability to acclimate to increasing temperatures rapidly. We measured the individual oxygen consumption (as a proxy of metabolic response to temperature variation) of Proasellus lusitanicus, a cave asellid (Crustacea Isopoda: Asellidae) endemic of the Estremenho karst massif in central Portugal (Reboleira et al. 2011). We measured the thermal acclimation ability of this species in a thermal ramp-up experiment over a range of temperatures (from 17 ° to 22.5 C), also assessing the scaling of oxygen consumption with body mass. We found out that P. lusitanicus shows low thermal plasticity, likely inadequate to protect this species from the temperature increase expected in the next 90 years. Furthermore, we observed that the metabolism of P. lusitanicus does not scale allometrically with the body mass. Rather, the metabolism of this species does not vary with body mass, similarly to two other subterranean species (Di Lorenzo et al. 2014), and contrarily to other epigean animals. The lack of metabolic scaling is likely to be a novel trait in subterranean ecosystems where the temporal unavailability of food and oxygen can be relevant and protracted. Our study sheds light in understanding regarding the phenotypical adaptations of cave animals to subterranean environments and also highlighted that narrowly-distributed cave species may be at extinction risk because of temperature increase to climate change.

Rise of eating disorders and obesity in young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dear Madam, COVID-19 has taken the world by storm, brought everything to an alarming halt and has put forward a plethora of challenges into the life of everyday people. These challenges include an outbreak of Eating Disorders (ED) during the pandemic, which inevitably leads to obesity; it was found that 41.7% of adolescents had gained more unhealthy weight; which would tether towards obesity during the period of COVID-19.1 The pandemic has brought many problems into the lives of the Pakistani population. Social isolation and stress from lockdown and uncertainties brought forth from COVID-19, and the restrictions enforced by the governmental bodies have been contributing factors in increasing the rising rate of eating pathologies amongst young adults.2 These disorders, if left untreated, will develop into a multitude of life-threatening diseases due to a sudden increase in body weight. In a study done in Pakistan, around 40% of the participants gained weight during COVID-19 lockdown, and 67% saw decreased physical activity.3 It is difficult to maintain healthy eating in low-income countries where access to unhealthy food in bulk is easier compared to healthy foods. Physical activities are almost non-existent in places without a culture of walking or exercising outdoors. In a study by Rodgers et al., it is stated that people’s food choices during COVID-19 are influenced by isolation, disrupted routines, a lack of physical activity, and emotional distress in their lives. The authors also state that social media plays a role, worsening young people’s relationship with food by calling for specific diets either because of diet culture or the fear of contamination. Media also covers stressful events that increase anxiety in individuals and contribute to eating disorders, such as binge eating disorder.4 These eating behaviours that affect people during a lockdown are predicted to have far-reaching effects in the future through indirect consequences of COVID-19. Unhealthy lifestyle habits could impair immunity and even decrease the effectiveness of vaccines.5 It is clear that the rise of eating disorders in young adults during the pandemic needs to be examined further. Underlying causes such as unavailability of healthy food, stress, and isolation should be addressed in further research. Advice regarding lifestyle modification should be tailored accordingly for lockdown: for example, home workouts replacing gyms, easy access to healthy food, and telemedicine that replaces in-clinic therapy for EDs.

Harmful effects of malnutrition and possible sustainable solution

Malnutrition is a condition that results from eating a diet that does not supply a healthy amount of one or more nutrients. It is a condition characterized by lack of one or more essential nutrients from the diet or a surplus of some nutrients which affect the body negatively. Malnutrition consists of two types: undernutrition and overnutrition. Undernutrition involves the deficiency of macronutrients like protein or calories and micronutrients like iron, iodine and many more. Protein energy malnutrition is caused by the inadequate intake of protein and calories. It is further classified in three types, kwashiorkor, marasmus and marasmic kwashiorkor. Malnutrition mainly affects an individual’s immune system, lean body mass, cardio-respiratory functions, muscle functions. Malnutrition can be caused due to many factors including unavailability of food, poverty, higher food prices and many more. Strategies like biofortification and supplementation are used for the treatment of malnutrition.

Ethnobotanical Review of Medicinal Plants Used Against Diarrhea and Dysentery in Northeast India (Assam)

Background: Since primitive times, plants have been extensively utilized in conventional remedies for primary health care. It is observed that medicinal plants have various bioactive components. It becomes an alternative choice for synthetic medications to treat diarrhea and dysentery, which are the primary waterborne diseases with high mortality rates that bring substantial health threats to global populations. Objective: The present review aims to look over the ethnobotanical knowledge for the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery and folklore practices by the people prevailing in Assam. Methods: In this perspective, an extensive literature survey was carried out to understand the mechanism, control, and treatment of diarrhea and dysentery in different online academic databases and books. An advanced search was carried out in 'PubMed' and 'Google Scholar' using the term "Phytoconstituents" and "antidiarrheal" along with "Phytoconstituents" and "anti-amoebic". Results: Data retrieved from databases were analyzed and interpreted to conclude that in Assam, diarrhea and dysentery are the primary leading causes of mortality among children under five years. It is mainly due to the unhygienic livelihood, unavailability of safe drinking water, unhealthy food, seasonal rainfall, flood, and open defecation. The present investigations reveal that the people of Assam use 39 plant species belonging to 36 families to cure diarrhea and dysentery. Conclusion: The present study established the effective use of medicinal plants by various communities in Assam to treat diarrhea and dysentery. Furthermore, it can be used to develop a new therapeutic approach to create new chemical entities (NCE) in drug discovery, which are safe, fruitful, and inexpensive.

How do overweight people dropout of a weight loss diet? A qualitative study

BackgroundThe growing trend of overweight and obesity in many developed and developing countries in recent years has made obesity one of the most significant health problems in the world. The treatment of overweight and obese people is challenging, as patients have difficulty adhering to a weight-loss diet. Thus, the present study aimed to identify the reasons for the dropout of weight-loss diets.MethodsThis qualitative study using content analysis was conducted in a comprehensive health center in Shiraz, southern Iran, between April and October 2020. The study was performed on 27 participants with a history of obesity and diet dropout selected via purposive and theoretical sampling. The data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and were thematically analyzed.ResultsThe participants included 25 females (92.6%) and two males (7.4%) with a mean age of 33.4 ± 8.4 years. Data analysis resulted in the emergence of three themes and 14 sub-themes. The first theme was personal reasons for diet dropout, which included six sub-themes; i.e., misunderstanding of diet, not having enough motivation, stress and hormonal disorder, having the feel of “being harmful to health”, lack of mental and psychological preparation, and personal taste. The second theme was familial and social reasons for diet dropout, including two sub-themes, i.e., social and familial problems. Finally, the third theme was the reasons related to diet characteristics, including six sub-themes: ineffectiveness of diet, expensiveness of diet food and dietary supplements, family problems, unavailability of food, unscientific and unconventional diets feeling bad about the diet, and unpalatable diet food. All the concepts were related to each other and resulted in a pattern revealing the experiences of overweight people and who had dropped out of weight-loss diets.ConclusionThe reasons for diet dropout were divided into three levels: personal reasons, familial and social reasons, and diet characteristics. Overall, clinicians should pay attention to the complexity of diets to increase the success rate of weight management. Based on the current study findings, a guideline is recommended to guide patients who dropout of weight-loss diets.

A Review on the Nutritional Aspects of Wild Edible Plants

Abstract:: The world is facing many issues regarding malnutrition, lack of food security, unavailability of food resources, and famines due to poor crop harvest, scarcity, and high cost of healthy food. To overcome these situations, there is a need for an alternative that can effectively fulfill the requirement of the world population. Wild edible plants (WEPs) are one of them, these plant species are neither managed nor cultivated commercially, but utilized in many cultural, traditional, and heritage practices all over the world. They are the sources of various essential nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, etc., which can serve as an important source of nutrition in many parts of the world especially, developing and under-developed countries. They have high nutritional and medicinal properties, therefore utilized to cure a range of diseases like fever, injury, diarrhea, boils, stomach ache, bleeding gums, toothaches, etc. WEPs are currently underutilized and consumed traditionally by different communities. These foods lack recognition as a significant contributor to the human diet in developed areas, which suggest more scientific exploration to make their use common among people all over the world. Therefore, the aim of this review paper is to document, compare, and contrast the nutritional and medicinal properties of selected fifty WEPs. This review emphasizes diversity, ethnobotanical value, conservation, cultural as well as traditional knowledge of wild edible plants (WEPs). Commercial exploitation and scientific scrutiny of WEPs to develop dietary supplements, new food alterations, product development, pharmaceutical use, and biofortification have also been discussed.

Major Stressors and Coping Strategies of Internal Migrant Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Exploration.

COVID-19 forced lockdown in India, leading to the loss of job, crisis of food, and other financial catastrophes that led to the exodus migration of internal migrant workers, operating in the private sector, back to their homes. Unavailability of transport facilities led to an inflicted need to walk back to homes barefooted without lack of any other crucial resources on the way. The woeful state of internal migrant workers walking back, with all their stuff on their back, holding their children, was trending on social media worldwide. Their problem continued even after reaching home, including misbehavior of villagers, indifferent mannerism of family members toward them, inability to fulfill family responsibility, and financial crisis, which led to stress, fear, and trauma for these internal migrant workers. The present paper aimed to assess the idiosyncratic stressors of internal migrant workers throughout the pandemic era and their responses toward those problems, which helped them cope with it. In-depth semistructured telephonic interviews were conducted with 25 internal migrant workers who were working in different cities in India before lockdown. The analyses revealed that multiple stressors include financial crisis, unavailability of food, inability to continue education, inability to pay house rent, lack of support from neighbors and family, and other psychological stressors that affected them. However, they also tried multiple strategies to deal with the problems, including a cognitive appraisal of the problem and making oneself psychologically competent to deal with the situation. Social support of family and friends played a vital role in enhancing hardiness and increasing the level of happiness at scarce times. At the same time, some of them could not deal with stressors and opted for psychiatric help to manage the physical symptoms of stress.