Breathing in danger: Understanding the multifaceted impact of air pollution on health impacts.

Air pollution, a pervasive environmental threat that spans urban and rural landscapes alike, poses significant risks to human health, exacerbating respiratory conditions, triggering cardiovascular problems, and contributing to a myriad of other health complications across diverse populations worldwide. This article delves into the multifarious impacts of air pollution, utilizing cutting-edge research methodologies and big data analytics to offer a comprehensive overview. It highlights the emergence of new pollutants, their sources, and characteristics, thereby broadening our understanding of contemporary air quality challenges. The detrimental health effects of air pollution are examined thoroughly, emphasizing both short-term and long-term impacts. Particularly vulnerable populations are identified, underscoring the need for targeted health risk assessments and interventions. The article presents an in-depth analysis of the global disease burden attributable to air pollution, offering a comparative perspective that illuminates the varying impacts across different regions. Furthermore, it addresses the economic ramifications of air pollution, quantifying health and economic losses, and discusses the implications for public policy and health care systems. Innovative air pollution intervention measures are explored, including case studies demonstrating their effectiveness. The paper also brings to light recent discoveries and insights in the field, setting the stage for future research directions. It calls for international cooperation in tackling air pollution and underscores the crucial role of public awareness and education in mitigating its impacts. This comprehensive exploration serves not only as a scientific discourse but also as a clarion call for action against the invisible but insidious threat of air pollution, making it a vital read for researchers, policymakers, and the general public.

Recent Insights into the Antimicrobial Properties of Phyllanthus emblica L.: A Comprehensive Review of Wonder Berry.

Phyllanthus emblica L., or Amla, is known for its therapeutic properties and has been used as a medicinal plant. It is rich in vitamin C and other bioactive phytochemicals like polyphenols, gallic acid, chebulagic acid, leutolin, quercetin, etc. Different parts of this plant are used to treat various viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases. This review article summarizes the recent literature relevant to the antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects of P. emblica. A variety of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtillus, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella typhi, and Escherichia, etc.), fungi (Alternaria alternate Botroyodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum corcori, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium exquisite, Fusarium solanii, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Colletotrichum gleosparoitis, and Macrophomina phaseolina) and viruses, like  Influenza A virus strain H3N2, hepatitis B, Human Immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), Simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) have experimented. Different techniques were used based on the way of identification. `For example, disc diffusion, dilution methods, sound diffusion, Immuno-peroxidase monolayer assay, serum HBV and HBsAg assay, enzyme immunoassay, etc. The present review analyzed and summarized the antimicrobial activities of P. emblica and possible mechanisms of action to provide future directions in translating these findings clinically.

Modulation of gut-microbiota through probiotics and dietary interventions to improve host health.

Dietary patterns play an important role in regards to the modulation and control of the gut microbiome composition and function. The interaction between diet and microbiota plays an important role in order to maintain intestinal homeostasis, which ultimately affect the host's health. Diet directly impacts the microbes that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), which then contributes to the production of secondary metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, neurotransmitters, and antimicrobial peptides. Dietary consumption with genetically modified probiotics can be the best vaccine delivery vector and protect cells from various illnesses. A holistic approach to disease prevention, treatment, and management takes these intrinsically linked diet-microbes, microbe-microbe interactions, and microbe-host interactions into account. Dietary components, such as fiber can modulate beneficial gut microbiota, and they have resulting ameliorative effects against metabolic disorders. Medical interventions, such as antibiotic drugs can conversely have detrimental effects on gut microbiota by disputing the balance between Bacteroides and firmicute, which contribute to continuing disease states. We summarize the known effects of various dietary components, such as fibers, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, proteins, phenolic acids, and antibiotics on the composition of the gut microbiota in this article in addition to the beneficial effect of genetically modified probiotics and consequentially their role in regards to shaping human health. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Teachers' teleworking job satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

This research takes insights from the job demand resource model to examine the teleworking job satisfaction of teachers for the period of COVID-19 pandemic. This study evidenced that teachers' satisfaction with teleworking has been reduced as a consequence of the job demand increase. In contrast, access to adequate resources has allowed them to confront the challenges of teleworking, thus increasing their job satisfaction. The adverse effect of job demands on teleworking job satisfaction is buffered by job resources as teachers' required extra means to confront unexpected and increased job demands. The technological gap between younger and older teachers was uncovered.

Saving the hotel industry: Strategic response to the COVID-19 pandemic, hotel selection analysis, and customer retention.

This study investigates the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hotel selection attributes and customer post-purchase behaviors. Qualitative and quantitative processes comprising an importance-performance analysis are used. This mixed-methods approach successfully (1) explores the hotel selection attributes after the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) uncovers the change of importance of these attributes before and after the outbreak of COVID-19, (3) identifies the importance and the performance level of the hotel selection attributes, and (4) explores the roles of the hotel selection attributes that form the overall image of a hotel and the subsequent intentions to revisit a hotel. This study includes a high degree of value, and this is the first empirical research that explores the guests' hotel choice behaviors before and after the pandemic, which can be helpful for the subsequent guest-behavior studies in the post-pandemic era.

Assessing customer financial risk perception and attitude in the hotel industry: Exploring the role of protective measures against COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has lead authorities from many countries to adopt crucial protective measures such as wearing face masks, lockdowns and social distancing. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationships among the protective measures against virus handled by hotels with financial risk perception, customer attitude, satisfaction and behavioral intention. The study also calculates the mean comparison across the demographic variables of hotel customer satisfaction and behavioral intention. Results reported a significant contribution of the protective measures implemented by Chinese hotels against COVID-19 on financial risk perception, and a customer attitude. It also demonstrates significant and positive interaction with customer satisfaction and behavioral intention. However, financial risk perception and customer attitude did not show effects on satisfaction, while they had effects on behavioral intention. The results suggest that protective measures are an important aspect of encouraging people to visit hotels safely and continually.

How the COVID-19 pandemic affected hotel Employee stress: Employee perceptions of occupational stressors and their consequences.

This study sought to examine the impacts of the global coronavirus pandemic on hotel employees' perceptions of occupational stressors and their consequences. Paired t-tests and structural equation modeling were applied to examine the responses of 758 hotel employees in the United States. The findings showed that occupational stressors after the outbreak of the pandemic consisted of three domains: traditional hotel-work stressors, unstable and more demanding hotel-work-environment stressors, and unethical hotel-labor-practices-borne stressors. The impacts of these stressors differed from the hypothesis that traditional hotel-work stressors positively affect job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The findings showed that job satisfaction and organizational commitment significantly explained job performance, subjective well-being, and prosocial behavior, but they did not significantly influence turnover intention. Hotel employees' pre-pandemic perceptions of occupational stressors and their consequences also differed significantly from their perceptions after the pandemic had broken out.

Cruise ship dining experiencescape: The perspective of female cruise travelers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cruise dining experience is one of the core elements of the overall cruise travel experience as guests fulfill their cognitive and affective needs in this pleasant environment. Nonetheless, the cruise dining experience has been sparsely researched. There is also no holistic model conceptualizing the cruise ship dining experiencescape. This study explores how under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise ship dining environment stimuli dimensions are evaluated by female cruise travelers. Female travelers are the major spenders and travel decision-makers. They are also the dominant customer group in the cruise sector. Their perception of cruise ship dining environment is leading to their positive emotional responses and approach behavior. More precisely, this study demonstrates the potency of the moderating role of a perceived health risk from COVID-19, which strengthens female travelers' perceptions of the dining atmosphere and interaction with other guests by evoking positive emotions and influencing their approach behavior.

Biophilic Design and Its Effectiveness in Creating Emotional Well-Being, Green Satisfaction, and Workplace Attachment Among Healthcare Professionals: The Hospice Context.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to explore the biophilic design attributes within a hospice care center from the healthcare professionals' perspective by utilizing a qualitative research and investigated the effect of hospice professionals' attitudes toward the uncovered green features on the prediction of their workplace attachment through a quantitative research. BACKGROUND: In hospice establishments, studies showed that applying biophilic design principles significantly reduces stress and improves emotional well-being. Yet, despite its importance, attitude toward biophilic design, and its significant influence on well-being, satisfaction and attachment to the workplace of hospice healthcare professionals have not yet been researched. METHODS: The qualitative research used semi-structured in-depth interviews among hospice professionals to reveal biophilic design features that exert an influence on their activity, while the quantitative research employed a confirmatory factor analysis and the structural equation modeling to analyze the data. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The qualitative research generated five biophilic design features, such as open spaces with natural light, natural decorative elements, landscape provided by nature through windows, wooden furniture, and colors that create a warm atmosphere within the hospice care center. The quantitative approach indicated that attitude toward the uncovered biophilic design features in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly improved the healthcare providers' emotional well-being. This dimension, in turn, contributed to their satisfaction with green features/natural decor and attachment to the workplace. Results of this study provide practitioners and researchers valuable strategies to incorporate biophilic design features in the working environments of hospice settings.

Unveiling the global nexus: Pandemic fear, government responses, and climate change-an empirical study.

This study examined the relationships between pandemic fear, government responses, and climate change using a time-series dataset from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020. By employing an auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach, the results revealed that pandemic fear significantly impacts climate change, while government responses to COVID-19 negatively influence climate change in the long run. Climate change and government responses significantly positively affect pandemic fear in the long run. Moreover, we found a bidirectional causality between government responses and climate change, unidirectional causality from government responses to pandemic fear, and no Granger causality between pandemic fear and climate change. Our findings have some important policy implications. Governments must encourage coordination, enhance crisis responses, and consider revising economic metrics to maintain environmental sustainability. The COVID-19 experience can inform strategies for reducing CO2 emissions and investing in green economies and healthcare to prepare for future challenges.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding the relationship of obesity with diabetes among the general community of Pakistan.

This study sought to evaluate the influence of knowledge, attitude, and practices assessment on diabetes related to obesity in Pakistani society. Data was collected both through door to door and online survey approaches from 518 participants by using a pre-validated questionnaire. A total of 15.6% were underweight, 61.2% were normal weight, 17.2% were overweight and 5.8% were in obesity class I and 2.9% were classified as obesity class II. The co-occurrence of obesity and diabetes was 29% (n = 22) among diabetic individuals (n = 84). A majority of the residents (59.1%) were from cities. While 94% of the participants responded to what obesity was, 83.8% knew what diabetes was. Fast food, soft drinks, and mayonnaise were deemed to be healthy by 75.1% of the respondents. Obesity was viewed as a disease by 94.8%, a major health issue by 78.2%, and a weight-loss necessity by 44.6% of participants. Only 24.9% exercised every day, and 23.9% engaged in any physical activity daily. The majority of respondents (50.6%) never tried to lose weight and 23.2% ate junk food daily. The sociodemographic variables showed that the age ranges of 25-34 years (P < 0.001; OR 0.531), 45-54 years (P < 0.05; OR 0.527), and urban residency (P < 0.001; OR 0.128) had a significant association with knowledge. The factors of urban residency (P < 0.001; OR 3.996), being unmarried (P < 0.001; OR 1.95), and having an income of 51,000-70,000 (P < 0.001; OR 11.29) showed a very highly significant association with a good attitude regarding the relationship of obesity with diabetes (P < 0.05). Similarly, practices of the participants showed significant association with BMI range of 18.5-24.9 and 25-29.9 (P < 0.001). Our study revealed significant knowledge and understanding of the relationship between obesity with diabetes. However, it was observed that majority of respondents exhibited fundamental knowledge regarding obesity and diabetes, there was a notable absence of understanding regarding crucial elements, such as the significance of maintaining a healthy body weight, participating in physical activity, and implementing appropriate dietary strategies for weight control. We recognize the necessity for education initiatives and strongly encourage them to assist individuals in managing diabetes resulting from obesity.

Cross-cultural ethnobotany of the Baltis and Shinas in the Kharmang district, Trans-Himalaya India-Pakistan border.

Human communities that inhabit the political borders live a transitional life, which is due to several socio-political and geo-climatic factors. The current cross-cultural ethnomedicinal study was conducted at the highly elevated Pakistan-India borders of the Western Himalayas in order to address the medicinal flora and folk knowledge of Balti and Shina communities. Ethnobotanical field surveys were conducted from May 2021 to September 2022. We used semi-structured interviews in order to collect the ethnomedicinal data. The collected data was analyzed using the relative frequency of the citations, use value, and Venn diagrams. A total of 140 interviews were conducted, which comprised of 90 (64.28%) Baltis and 50 (35.71%) Shinas. The interviews recorded 60 medicinal plant species that belong to 56 genera and 35 families. Asteraceae (5 spp.), Lamiaceae (5 spp.), and Apiaceae (4 spp.) were the families that were the most represented. These medicinally valued plants were being used for 55 health issues that are related to different body systems. Delphinium brunonianum, Thymus linearis, Hymenolaena candollei, Corydalis adiantifolia, and Seriphidium brevifolium were medicinal taxa with maximum RFCs and UV. The Baltis have comparatively more ethnomedicinal knowledge than the Shinas. The Baltis commonly used 22 (36.66%) species, which 34 (56.66%) were exclusive to the Baltis and 4 (6.66%) to the Shinas. Both ethnic groups collectively hold significant ethnobotanical knowledge that demands the preservation of risked folk knowledge, which is due to uncertain border situations, outmigration, and permeating allopathic drugs.

Positive and negative aspects of bacteriophages and their immense role in the food chain.

Bacteriophages infect and replicate inside a bacterial host as well as serve as natural bio-control agents. Phages were once viewed as nuisances that caused fermentation failures with cheese-making and other industrial processes, which lead to economic losses, but phages are now increasingly being observed as being promising antimicrobials that can fight against spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. Pathogen-free meals that fulfil industry requirements without synthetic additives are always in demand in the food sector. This study introduces the readers to the history, sources, and biology of bacteriophages, which include their host ranges, absorption mechanisms, lytic profiles, lysogenic profiles, and the influence of external factors on the growth of phages. Phages and their derivatives have emerged as antimicrobial agents, biodetectors, and biofilm controllers, which have been comprehensively discussed in addition to their potential applications in the food and gastrointestinal tract, and they are a feasible and safe option for preventing, treating, and/or eradicating contaminants in various foods and food processing environments. Furthermore, phages and phage-derived lytic proteins can be considered potential antimicrobials in the traditional farm-to-fork context, which include phage-based mixtures and commercially available phage products. This paper concludes with some potential safety concerns that need to be addressed to enable bacteriophage use efficiently.

Exploring the impact of functional, symbolic, and experiential image on approach behaviors among state-park tourists from India, Korea, and the USA.

This study provides insights into the influence of state park image, visitor emotions, and place identity on visitors' revisit intentions by considering the moderating impact of national culture. A quantitative process with the data collected in India, Korea, and the US was used. Hierarchical regression analysis evidences the moderating role of national culture, which is hardly explored in the state park context. Results confirm that most hypotheses are fully or partially accepted, which suggests that brand image and national culture influence visitor intention. This study helps practitioners better understand the relevance of national culture in developing appropriate visitor attraction/retention strategies.

Does employee engagement promote innovation? The Facilitators of innovative workplace behavior via mediation and moderation.

The demonstration of innovative behaviour by employees plays a crucial role in enabling organisations to effectively respond and adapt to the rapidly evolving business landscape. There has been an increase in research aimed at identifying the factors that contribute to the progressive development of innovative capacity, as there has been a substantial rise in interest in the comprehension of innovation mechanisms. Drawing on self-determination theory, this study aims to investigate the effect of employee engagement on innovative work behavior. The mediating role of employee voice behavior was also explored. Additionally, this study examines the potential moderating impact of perceived distributive justice on the relationship between employee engagement and innovative work behavior. A quantitative study was undertaken using a sample size of 180 participants who were employed in the manufacturing sector of Pakistan. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the results of the study. The results revealed that engaged employees are more likely to exhibit innovative behavior. Furthermore, employee voice was discovered to fully mediate the relationship between employee engagement and innovative behavior, as well as to have a significant influence on both employee engagement and innovative behavior. However, the findings did not support the hypothesis that perceived distributive justice moderates the association between employee engagement and innovative behavior. Future research directions and managerial implications were also mentioned.

From Corporate Social Responsibility to Employee Well-Being: Navigating the Pathway to Sustainable Healthcare.

Purpose: Despite extensive research on the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on employee outcomes, only limited research has been conducted to investigate the impact of CSR on healthcare employees' burnout (BUO). Additionally, the underlying mechanism by which CSR may reduce BUO has not been fully understood. In order to fill these gaps, we explored the relationship between CSR and BUO, as well as the possible mediating effects of subjective wellbeing (SW) and compassion (CM). Also, employee admiration (AM) was examined as a moderating factor. Methods: The study utilized a questionnaire to collect data, which was distributed using the paper-pencil method. A total of 335 healthcare employees, including nurses, doctors, paramedics, and general administration, participated in the study. Specifically, we focused on the healthcare segment of Pakistan. A survey was conducted to assess participants' perceptions of CSR practices, BUO, AM, SW, and CM within their organizations. The questionnaire consisted of several standardized scales validated in previous research. Results: We investigated the relationship between CSR and BUO using the AMOS software. BUO was negatively associated with CSR, suggesting that organizations with strong CSR practices may be able to reduce employee burnout. Moreover, the relationship between CSR and BUO was mediated by both subjective wellbeing (SW) and compassion (CM), revealing how CSR may impact employee burnout. Furthermore, we found that employee admiration (AM) buffered the relationship between CSR and BUO. Findings: BUO is a growing concern among healthcare professionals and has the potential to negatively impact the quality of patient care, staff morale, and, ultimately, the success of healthcare organizations. BUO in healthcare settings can be effectively addressed by implementing CSR strategies. Effective CSR strategies should be implemented in a meaningful way to employees and provide them with opportunities to engage in activities that align with their values and interests.

Internal Corporate Social Responsibility and Employee Burnout: An Employee Management Perspective from the Healthcare Sector.

Purpose: The issue of burnout has been identified as one of the most pressing challenges in organizational management, impacting the ability of an organization to succeed as well as employee productivity. In the healthcare industry, burnout is particularly prevalent. Burnout has received increasing attention from scholars, and different models have also been proposed to address this issue. However, burnout is on the rise in healthcare, especially in developing countries, indicating the need for more research on how to mitigate burnout. Research indicates that internal corporate social responsibility (ICSR) has a significant impact on employee behavior. However, little attention has been paid to exploring how ICSR might effectively reduce healthcare burnout. This study aims to investigate how ICSR and employee burnout are related in the healthcare sector of a developing country. In addition, we tested how subjective well-being and resilience mediate and moderate the effect of ICSR on employee burnout. Methods: Data were collected from 402 healthcare employees working in different hospitals in Pakistan. In our study, we used a self-administered questionnaire as a data collection instrument. We have adapted the items in this survey from reliable and already published sources. Data collection was carried out in three waves. Results: Hypotheses were evaluated using structural equation modeling (SEM). Software such as IBM-SPSS and AMOS were used for this purpose. ICSR significantly reduces healthcare employees' burnout, according to the results of the structural analysis. The relationship between ICSR and burnout was also found to be mediated by subjective well-being, and resilience moderated the relationship between ICSR and subjective well-being. Findings: In light of our findings, hospitals can take some important steps to resolve the problem of burnout. The study specifically stresses the importance of ICSR as a contextual organizational resource for preventing burnout among healthcare employees.

Green road transportation management and environmental sustainability: The impact of population density.

The objective of the study is to examine the moderating role of population density in the relation between road transportation and environment sustainability of South Asian countries from 1990 to 2014. The study uses environment sustainability (population density) as the outcome (moderator), whereas road infrastructure, road density, energy intensity and transportation energy consumption are explanatory variables. The selection of these variables is motivated by their significance in understanding the relationship between road transportation and environmental sustainability. Road infrastructure and road density capture the physical aspects of transportation systems, while energy intensity and road transportation energy consumption provide insights into the energy efficiency and environmental impact of road transport, respectively. The findings show that a positive impact of road infrastructure and road density exists on environmental sustainability. There is contrarily a negative effect of road transportation energy consumption and energy intensity on environmental sustainability. Population density also harms environmental sustainability. When population density is used as a moderator between road transportation energy consumption, energy intensity and environment sustainability, it increases the coefficients of both energy intensity and road transportation energy consumption, which shows that population density plays an enhancing role between road transportation energy consumption, energy intensity and environment sustainability. The coefficients of road density and road infrastructure changed into a negative from a positive in the presence of population density as a moderator, which states that population density plays an antagonistic role between road density and environmental sustainability. We recommend prioritizing sustainable transportation solutions and policies in densely populated areas. Implementing measures such as promoting public transportation and electric vehicles, and investing in infrastructure that supports active transportation modes like cycling and walking can help mitigate the negative environmental effects of transportation while addressing the challenges posed by population density.

Influence of Thai Street Food Quality, Price, and Involvement on Traveler Behavioral Intention: Exploring Cultural Difference (Eastern versus Western).

Introduction: Gastronomy tourism has become a phenomenal trend of the global tourism industry in the 21st century. As the tourism industry and its related foodservice businesses flourish, street food has received increasing popularity with its combination of local delights and the cultural value of the destination. This study examined the psychology of street food consumption and assessed the effect of street food quality that is represented by the cultural experience, health and safety of the food, food sensory appeal, staff service, physical environment, the meal menus with perceived reasonable prices, involvement in Thai street food, and repurchase intention from an international tourist perspective. Methods: A survey method along with a quantitative structural analysis was used. Results: The findings revealed that Thai street food quality positively and significantly predicted the international tourists' perceived reasonable prices, involvement, and repurchase decisions. Perceived reasonable prices and involvement were found to be important mediators between Thai street food quality and repurchase intentions. Moreover, this research identified the significant moderating role of Eastern and Western cultures.

Physico-chemical, sensory, and microbiological quality of raw chicken meat: an exploratory study in the Hisar city of Haryana, India.

A survey was conducted in Hisar, located in Haryana, India, to assess the quality of raw chicken meat. To ensure comprehensive coverage, healthy broiler chickens were obtained from various meat retail outlets in Hisar city, encompassing the majority of such establishments. Additionally, a sample of control chickens was obtained from the Livestock Farm, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), Hisar, Haryana, India. The raw chicken meat was grouped into two categories, breast cut and thigh cut. The breast muscles, which include pectoralis major and pectoralis minor, and the thigh muscles, which include the abductor muscles, were chosen as the samples for proximate analysis, which included physico-chemical, sensory, and microbiological analyses of raw chicken meat. The analysis of the raw meat in the laboratory revealed inconsistent variations between the control and retail samples in terms of parameters, such as proximate composition, pH, the water-holding capacity (WHC), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), instrumental color analysis, and sensory evaluation. The moisture content of the control breast sample was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the samples from shops 2, 3, and 5. However, it was statistically similar to that of the samples from shops 1, 4, and 6. The total plate and psychrotrophic counts of the control thigh sample were significantly lower than those of the samples from shops 3, 4, 5, and 6. Among the thigh pH values, the samples from shops 1, 2, 5, and 6 had significantly higher pH values than the control sample. The variations in the various parameters were multifactorial and established the superiority of birds slaughtered under laboratory conditions and grown in university farms compared to the raw chicken meat available in retail outlets in Hisar city.