The Interrelation among Obesity, Climate Change and the Food Industry

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Climate change poses a significant threat to natural ecosystems and human societies, while the global obesity pandemic constitutes a major public health challenge. These two phenomena are increasingly recognized as interconnected, with both influencing and being influenced by the food industry. The present study investigates the interrelationship among obesity, climate change, and the food industry, examining the interactions and mutual dependencies among these three domains. Their interlinkages are analyzed separately and their systemic interactions are highlighted. The results indicate that obesity, climate change, and the food industry are strongly interconnected and mutually influential. Consequently, changes in one of these domains can produce significant effects on the others. The findings suggest that the development of sustainable, low-carbon and climate-resilient agricultural systems capable of producing sufficient and nutritious food with minimal environmental impacts is urgently required. Furthermore, a strategic reorientation of the food industry toward the production of healthier food products with lower environmental footprints is necessary. Finally, the promotion through public policies of healthy dietary patterns with low greenhouse gas emissions could simultaneously reduce obesity prevalence and contribute to climate change mitigation. The findings of this study may be useful to policy makers, climate scientists, medical professionals, the food industry, farmers, and civil society organizations seeking to address these major challenges of the 21st century.

Measures to Develop Language for 3-4 Years Old Preschoolers Through Picture Storytelling Activities

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Language is a tool for children to communicate and exchange. Lean on language, children can express their thoughts and expand their communication skills in learning and playing. The task of language development for children is one of the important aims in the childhood education. Preschool teachers need to develop children’s language in all kinds of educational activities anywhere, anytime in the preschool. One of the activities that create an opportunity for children to develop language is storytelling with picture activities. Through storytelling with picture activities helps children develop coherent language, clearer pronunciation, and increases their vocabulary. In addition, storytelling with picture activities is a tool of comprehensively education children.

Head and Neck Alignment for Optimal Glottic view at Paediatric Laryngoscopy: Comparison of two Anatomical Axes

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Background: Suboptimal head-neck alignment in children, with consequent poor glottic visualisation, results in delayed tracheal intubation cascading to peri-intubation sequelae.

Objective: To determine the degree of glottic view achieved in children during direct rigid laryngoscopy for orotracheal intubation with head-neck alignment done keeping the suprasternal notch-auditory meatus (SN-AM) axis versus the sternal angle-auditory meatus (SA-AM) axis, horizontally.

Methods: Following ethical clearance and informed parental consent, 68 children aged 1 – 6 years, of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I or II, were randomized into two groups of pre-intubation head-neck alignments: group A used horizontal SN-AM axis, while group B adopted horizontal SA-AM axis, for the alignment. Degree of glottic view achieved, tracheal intubation attempts, external laryngeal backward upward rightward pressure (BURP) manoeuvre and grade were recorded. Glottic view achieved and grade of BURP applied were assessed using the Cormack-Lehane grading and three-point Likert scales respectively; the time to orotracheal intubation (TTOTI), defined as the period from removal of preoxygenating face mask to first capnographic evidence of correct tracheal tube placement, and immediate post-intubation arterial Oxygen saturation (SpO2) also were recorded.

Results: All 68 children completed the study. The groups were comparable in Cormack-Lehane grades of glottic visualisation, P=0.611, with statistically similar BURP application, P=0.642. The mean TTOTI (26.97±2.58 versus 26.41±2.68) in seconds, and the peri-intubation mean percentage SpO2 (95.08±1.08 versus 94.85±0.957) showed no significant difference, P=0.383 and 0.346, respectively, with zero occurrence of peri-intubation complications, in the groups.

Conclusion: In children aged 1-6 years, the degree of glottic visualisation achieved at conventional rigid laryngoscopy for endotracheal intubation, is similar between head-neck alignment done by keeping the SN-AM axis in horizontal plane and head-neck alignment done by keeping the SA-AM axis horizontally.

Behavioral and Environmental Risk Factors of Malaria Incidence: A Spatial Analysis in a Rural Endemic Area of Eastern Indonesia

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Malaria remains a significant public health problem in East Sumba Regency, particularly in rural areas with ecological conditions favorable for Anopheles vector breeding. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between behavioral and household environmental risk factors and malaria incidence and to map the spatial distribution of cases in Mau Bokul Village. An analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted among 194 respondents during August–September 2025. Data were obtained through microscopic examination of thick blood smears, structured questionnaire interviews, and geographic coordinate mapping using Avenza Maps. Statistical analysis used Fisher’s Exact Test, while spatial analysis applied buffering and overlay techniques. The prevalence of malaria was 4.1% (8 cases). Significant associations were found between malaria incidence and not using bed nets (p < 0.001), nighttime outdoor activities (p < 0.001), sleeping outdoors (p < 0.001), non-permanent house walls (p = 0.001), absence of window screens (p = 0.028), and proximity to rivers (p = 0.001). Spatial analysis demonstrated clustering of cases within a 500-meter buffer radius from the river. These findings indicate that sleeping outdoors and residence near river areas were the most strongly associated factors with malaria incidence. The study provides spatial evidence that malaria transmission in rural endemic settings tends to cluster around river buffer zones, emphasizing the importance of integrating GIS-based surveillance with environmental management and behavior-focused interventions to support malaria control and elimination strategies in similar endemic regions.

Exploring the Lived Experiences of University Students: The Influence of Parental, and Peer Expectations and Mental Health in Lusaka, Zambia

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University students globally navigate significant expectations from parents and peers, which can profoundly impact their mental health. While these expectations can motivate, they often generate stress and anxiety, particularly when perceived as unrealistic. Existing literature highlights this dual effect, but there is a scarcity of qualitative, in-depth research on this topic within the African, and specifically Zambian, higher education context. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of university students in Lusaka, Zambia, regarding the influence of parental and peer expectations and mental health. Its specific objectives were to: explore parental expectations and mental health based on students’ experiences; explore peer expectations and mental health based on students’ experiences; and determine whether students perceive these expectations as contributing positively or negatively to their overall mental health.

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of university students in Lusaka, Zambia, regarding the influence of parental, peer expectations and mental health. Utilizing a phenomenological research design, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 university students, of which 11 students were from the University of Zambia, and 9 students were from Levy Mwanawasa Medical University. A focus group discussion was utilized as a second data collection method, with 8 university students from the initial group of students that participated in the interview process, 3  university students of which were from Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, and 5 university students were from the University of Zambia. All university students who participated, were aged 18–27. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data.

Findings reveal that parental expectations are a pervasive and powerful influence, often centered on academic and career success. While these expectations were sometimes described as motivating and linked to improved academic performance, they more frequently generated significant psychological distress, including stress, anxiety, feelings of being overwhelmed, and a loss of autonomy, particularly when perceived as unrealistic or misaligned with the student’s own goals. Peer expectations primarily manifested as pressure to perform academically and conform socially. Their impact was more varied; some students reported resilience and motivation from positive peer influence, while others experienced anxiety and social pressure to meet group norms.

Overall, the study concludes that expectations act as a double-edged sword. Their effect on mental health is contingent on their nature, source, and the individual’s perception. The study highlights the critical role of balancing high expectations with emotional support and autonomy to safeguard student well-being. It recommends enhanced university support services and culturally sensitive interventions to help students navigate these pressures and promote mental health in the Zambian higher education context.

The Role of Technical Drawing in Enhancing Vocational Skills within Higher Education Programs (A Case Study of the Civil and Hydrotechnical Departments, Construction Faculty, Jawzjan University)

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Technical drawing is a fundamental component of engineering and technical education, serving as an essential foundation for engineers, architects, and vocational professionals. It plays a critical role in developing spatial thinking, graphical literacy, and vocational competencies required for effective learning and professional practice in technical fields. This study aims to examine the importance of technical drawing in higher education curricula and its role in enhancing vocational skills and spatial cognition among university students. The research is applied in purpose and adopts a descriptive–analytical design. The statistical population consists of 70 undergraduate students enrolled in 2025 from the Industrial Construction, Civil Engineering, and Hydrotechnical Construction departments of the Faculty of Construction at Jawzjan University. Data were collected through educational document analysis and structured questionnaires, and subsequently analyzed using descriptive statistics and graphical representations. The findings reveal that prior exposure to geometry, trigonometry, and other graphical subjects at the secondary school level, as well as achieving high scores in the national university entrance examination (Kankor), significantly influence students’ performance in technical drawing courses. Students with adequate graphical preparation demonstrate stronger learning outcomes, while those lacking such preparation face noticeable difficulties. Moreover, the results indicate that technical drawing education contributes substantially to the improvement of vocational skills, spatial thinking, and students’ engagement in practical activities. The study concludes that effective instruction in technical drawing plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of technical and vocational education. The integration of modern educational technologies, along with strengthening students’ foundational knowledge before entering higher education, significantly improves learning outcomes. Therefore, technical drawing should be regarded as a core subject in technical curricula and continuously updated to meet the demands of the contemporary technological era.

Hybrid Bootstrap–LSTM Model for Probabilistic Sea Level Rise Prediction

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Sea level rise poses increasing risks to coastal regions, highlighting the need for accurate and reliable forecasting methods. This study proposes a probabilistic sea level forecasting framework by integrating a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model with the Moving Block Bootstrap (MBB) technique. The LSTM model is used to capture nonlinear temporal dependencies in sea level time-series data, while the bootstrap approach is employed to quantify prediction uncertainty through probabilistic forecasting. The LSTM model achieved high deterministic prediction accuracy with an MSE of 2.11 × 10!”, RMSE of 0.00459, MAE of 0.00356, and MAPE of 0.34%. The proposed hybrid MBB–LSTM model generates probabilistic forecasts with a 95% confidence interval, resulting in an MSE of 0.01155, RMSE of 0.10749, MAE of 0.08370, and MAPE of 8.99%. Forecast results indicate relatively stable sea level variability until 2026 with an estimated rising trend of approximately 7.44 mm per year. The proposed hybrid framework provides a more informative prediction approach by combining deep learning with bootstrap-based uncertainty estimation, which is valuable for coastal risk assessment and climate adaptation planning.

Association of Economic Status and Type of Occupation with Changes in Risky Behaviors among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kupang City, Indonesia

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Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a major global public health problem. Changes in risky behaviors among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) play a crucial role in preventing further transmission. Socioeconomic factors, particularly economic status and type of occupation, may influence behavioral changes by affecting access to health information and services.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the association between economic status and type of occupation with changes in risky behaviors among people living with HIV/AIDS in Kupang City, Indonesia.

Methods: An analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted among adult PLWHA in Kupang City from August to October 2024. A total of 136 respondents were selected using non-probability consecutive sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing economic status, type of occupation, risky behaviors, and changes in risky behaviors. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation test, with a significance level of p < 0.05.

Results: Most respondents showed changes in risky behaviors after being diagnosed with HIV. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant association between economic status and changes in risky behaviors among PLWHA. In addition, type of occupation was also significantly associated with changes in risky behaviors.

Conclusion: Economic status and type of occupation are significantly associated with changes in risky behaviors among people living with HIV/AIDS in Kupang City. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating socioeconomic considerations into HIV prevention and behavioral intervention programs.

Application of Magnesium Sulfate in In-Situ Leaching of Rare Earth Elements: Mechanisms, Performance and Environmental Implications

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Ion-adsorption clay deposits are among the most important sources of heavy rare-earth elements (REEs), particularly in southern China, where extraction is commonly performed by in situ leaching (ISL) using ammonium salts. Although ammonium sulfate and related lixiviants achieve high extraction efficiencies via ion-exchange mechanisms, their large-scale use has raised significant environmental concerns, including ammonium contamination, soil degradation, and groundwater pollution. In recent years, magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) has emerged as a potential alternative lixiviant with lower environmental impact. This review critically analyzes the application of MgSO₄ in the in-situ leaching of REE-bearing ion-adsorption clays, focusing on ion-exchange mechanisms, leaching performance, hydrodynamic behavior, and environmental implications. The thermodynamic and geochemical aspects governing Mg²⁺–REE exchange reactions are examined together with laboratory, column, and pilot-scale studies. Comparative analyses with conventional ammonium-based lixiviants are discussed in terms of extraction efficiency, selectivity, reagent consumption, and environmental footprint. The review also identifies key research gaps related to process optimization, hydrogeological modeling, and large-scale implementation. Overall, MgSO₄-based leaching systems represent a promising pathway toward more sustainable rare-earth extraction, although further technological and environmental validation is required before full-scale industrial deployment.

The Influence of Bureaucratic Administration and Human Resource Competence on Organizational Performance with Work Engagement as a Moderating Variable

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This study examines the influence of bureaucratic administration and human resource competence on organizational performance, with work engagement acting as a moderating variable. Organizational performance is an important factor in ensuring operational effectiveness and service quality, particularly in strategic infrastructure sectors such as port operations. This research aims to analyze how administrative systems and employee competencies contribute to improving organizational performance in the Operational Department of Timor Port Tibar, Timor-Leste.

This study employed a quantitative research approach using a survey method. Data were collected through structured questionnaires distributed to employees working in the operational department. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine both direct and moderating relationships among variables.

The results indicate that bureaucratic administration and human resource competence positively influence organizational performance. Furthermore, work engagement strengthens the relationship between bureaucratic administration and organizational performance as well as the relationship between human resource competence and organizational performance. These findings highlight the importance of effective administrative systems, competent human resources, and strong employee engagement in improving organizational performance in port operations.