Rethinking food loss and waste to promote sustainable resource use and climate change mitigation in agri-food systems: A review.

The sustainable agri-food system is an important sector recognized for promoting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals on food security, resource conservation and climate change mitigation. However, the increasing food loss and waste (FLW) along the supply chains has continued to hinder these goals. This study evaluates the trend of FLW research from 1975 to 2022 and how it promotes the achievement of resource and environmental sustainability in agri-food systems.

A safe haven of SARS-CoV-2 in the environment: Prevalence and potential transmission risks in the effluent, sludge, and biosolids.

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which has caused millions of death globally is recognized to be unstable and recalcitrant in the environment, especially in the way it has been evolving to form new and highly transmissible variants. Of particular concerns are human-environment interactions and the handling and reusing the environmental materials, such as effluents, sludge, or biosolids laden with the SARS-CoV-2 without adequate treatments, thereby suggesting potential transmission and health risks. This study assesses the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in effluents, sludge, and biosolids.

Assessing the impact of food trade centric on land, water, and food security in South Korea.

The observed and predicted changes in climate, as well as the growth in urban population, are creating severe stress on existing water resources in South Korea. By the importation of agricultural products from more water-rich countries through the virtual water concept, a country could save local water resources for other important uses. However, these imports from other countries could lead to certain vulnerabilities in the importing country derived from climate change.

Spatial Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTE) Concentration in Mushroom Collected from Local Vegetable Markets of Uttarakhand State, India.

This study presents a spatial assessment of eight potentially toxic elements (PTE: Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, Mn, and Zn) in white button (Agaricus bisporus J.E. Lange) mushroom samples collected from the local vegetable markets of Uttarakhand State, India.

Foliar use of TiO-nanoparticles for okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) cultivation on sewage sludge-amended soils: biochemical response and heavy metal accumulation.

Considering its richness in organic and inorganic mineral nutrients, the recycling of sewage sludge (SS) is highly considered as a soil supplement in agriculture. However, the fate of hazardous heavy metal accumulation in the crops cultivated in SS amended soils is always a source of concern. Since nanoparticles are widely recognized to reduce heavy metal uptake by crop plants; thus, the present experiment deals with okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.

Sustainable Use of Sewage Sludge as a Casing Material for Button Mushroom () Cultivation: Experimental and Prediction Modeling Studies for Uptake of Metal Elements.

The present study focused on the use of sewage sludge (SS) as a casing material amendment and the potential uptake of metal elements by the cultivated white button (: MS-39) mushroom. Laboratory experiments were performed under controlled environmental conditions to grow on the composted wheat straw substrate for 50 days. Different treatments (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 g/kg) of casing material were prepared by mixing garden and dried SS and applied on the mushroom substrate after proper sterilization.

Insights into hazardous solid waste generation during COVID-19 pandemic and sustainable management approaches for developing countries.

The recent emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the drastic production and use of healthcare and personal protective equipment, leading to the release of a huge quantity of hazardous medical and solid wastes in the environment. Meanwhile, these solid wastes may contribute to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 viral particles when disposed of without proper treatment and care. Since SARS-CoV-2 could persist on different material surfaces including plastic, steel, paper, cardboard, cloth, and wood, proper management of these hazardous solid wastes has become a challenging task during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Understanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on sustainable agri-food system and agroecosystem decarbonization nexus: A review.

The existing finite natural resources have witnessed unsustainable usage in the past few years, especially for food production, with accompanying environmental devastation and ecosystem damage. Regrettably, the global population and consumption demands are increasing ceaselessly, leading to the need for more resources for food production, which could potentially aggravate the sustainability and ecosystem degradation issues, while stimulating drastic climate change. Meanwhile, the unexpected emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and some implemented measures to combat its spread disrupted agricultural activities and the food supply chain, which also led to a reduction in ecosystem carbonization.

Modeling of mineral elements uptake and localization in cabbage inflorescence (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) grown on sugar mill pressmud-amended soils.

Sugar mill pressmud is highly considered and used as a supplement to improve soil fertility and crop yield, especially in India. This study investigated the growth and yield performance of cultivated cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) on sugar mill pressmud amended soil.

Monitoring the presence and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in water-food-environmental compartments: State of the knowledge and research needs.

The recent spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SAR-CoV-2) and the accompanied coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has continued ceaselessly despite the implementations of popular measures, which include social distancing and outdoor face masking as recommended by the World Health Organization. Due to the unstable nature of the virus, leading to the emergence of new variants that are claimed to be more and rapidly transmissible, there is a need for further consideration of the alternative potential pathways of the virus transmissions to provide the needed and effective control measures. This review aims to address this important issue by examining the transmission pathways of SARS-CoV-2 via indirect contacts such as fomites and aerosols, extending to water, food, and other environmental compartments.

Assessment of environmental and economic aspects of household food waste using a new Environmental-Economic Footprint (EN-EC) index: A case study of Daegu, South Korea.

While the global food demand has continued to increase, the enormous natural resources required for its production are limited, in addition to the accompanying environmental degradation. Despite all these, food waste generation continues unabated, especially at the household level, further compounding the environmental impacts, economic cost, and food security issues. In this study, granular primary data of edible household food waste using direct-weighing from 218 households in Daegu, South Korea was used to assess the environmental (carbon footprint, and water footprint) and economic (wasted cost) impacts associated with their wastage.

Assessment of food waste generation and composition among Korean households using novel sampling and statistical approaches.

Food waste management in Korea has become increasingly important as the country continues to champion the transition into a circular economy among the OECD countries to achieve sustainable development target goals. However, reliable primary data on food waste quantity and composition to achieve its prevention and managementtargets by understanding food waste patterns among Korean households is poorly documented. This study investigates the quantity and composition of food waste generation rates among the sampled households by considering two important influencing factors of seasonality and housing types in the Buk-gu province of Daegu, South Korea.

Snowballing transmission of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) through wastewater: Any sustainable preventive measures to curtail the scourge in low-income countries?

In this communication, we proposed sustainable preventive measures that may be adopted by the low-income countries to forestall the potential outbreak and transmission of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) through wastewater. Most low-income countries have poor sanitation and wastewater management policies, which create potential risks of COVID 19 spread. Hence, the proposed measures include decentralization of wastewater treatment facilities, community-wide monitoring and testing of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples, improved sanitation, developing point-of-use devices for wastewater decontamination, and more focused policy interventions.

Exploring the Subjective Frame of References in the Development of Gerotranscendence in Korean Older Adults: Q Methodology.

This study aims to explore how older people structure the subjectivity that accompanies the development of gerotranscendence in late adulthood within a specific sociocultural context. Q methodology, a common method for assessing subjectivity, was applied. The four subjective frames of reference that accompany the development of gerotranscendence, represented by four corresponding Q-factors, were (a) generation awareness, (b) awareness of aging, (c) awareness of the big picture of life, and (d) awareness of temporality.

Subjective Health and Factors of Health-related Quality of Life in Elderly Haenyo.

Purpose: To investigate the subjective health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Haenyo.

Methods: Subjects were 100 elderly Haenyo in Jeju island who belonged to a fishing-village society. Main variables were activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL (IADL), the HRQoL, subjective health, and depression.

Characterization of New Bioactive Enzyme Inhibitors from Endophytic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens RWL-1.

Endophytic bacteria are known to produce a wide array of bioactive secondary metabolites with beneficial effects on human health. In the current study, a novel endophytic bacterial strain, RWL-1, was isolated from the seeds of Oryza sativa. Initially, the crude extract of RWL-1 was assessed for potential biological effects of enzyme inhibition and cytotoxicity and was found to exhibit a broad spectrum inhibition for α-glucosidase (37 ± 0.

Decision-making about prenatal genetic testing among pregnant Korean-American women.

Objective: to understand the prenatal genetic testing decision-making processes among pregnant Korean-American women.

Design: a qualitative, descriptive research design.

Participants: referrals and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit 10 Korean-American women who had been recommended for amniocentesis during pregnancy in the United States (U.

A psychological intervention programme for patients with breast cancer under chemotherapy and at a high risk of depression: A randomised clinical trial.

Aims And Objectives: To develop a nurse-led psychological intervention programme and to evaluate its effects on psychological distress and quality of life in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy and at a high risk of depression.

Background: Depression is common among patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Psychological intervention programmes that improve psychological distress and quality of life have previously been lacking in South Korea.

Case-control Study on Risk Factors of Unplanned Extubation Based on Patient Safety Model in Critically Ill Patients with Mechanical Ventilation.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify risk factors of unplanned extubation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with mechanical ventilation using a patient safety model.

Methods: This study was designed to be a case-control study. Data collection sheets, including 29 risk factors of unplanned extubation in mechanically ventilation patients were retrospectively collected based on a patient safety model over 3 years.

Experiences of Prenatal Genetic Screening and Diagnostic Testing Among Pregnant Korean Women of Advanced Maternal Age.

Purpose: This study explored the experiences of Korean women of advanced maternal age undergoing prenatal genetic screening and diagnostic testing.

Design: A descriptive, qualitative design was used to guide the study.

Method: Ten participants were purposely recruited from a large metropolitan Korean hospital for clinical observations and individual, semistructured interviews.

A job analysis of care helpers.

The aim of this study was to examine the roles of care helpers through job analysis. To do this, this study used the Developing A Curriculum Method (DACUM) to classify job content and a multi-dimensional study design was applied to identify roles and create a job description by looking into the appropriateness, significance, frequency, and difficulty of job content as identified through workshops and cross-sectional surveys conducted for appropriateness verification. A total of 418 care helpers working in nursing facilities and community senior service facilities across the country were surveyed.

A study on Korean nursing students' educational outcomes.

The purpose of this study was to describe outcome indicators of nursing education including critical thinking, professionalism, leadership, and communication and to evaluate differences among nursing programs and academic years. A descriptive research design was employed. A total of 454 students from four year baccalaureate (BS) nursing programs and two three-year associate degree (AD) programs consented to complete self-administered questionnaires.