Corrigendum to "A review on urban agriculture: Technology, socio-economy, and policy" [Heliyon 8(11), (2022) Article e11583].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11583.].

A review on urban agriculture: technology, socio-economy, and policy.

It has been a challenge to support the expansion of urban agriculture (UA) in cities due to its poor economic profitability. However, it is also hard to deny the increasing benefits of UA in improving the socio-environmental dimension of cities. Hence, in this review, different aspects of UA were examined to highlight its value beyond profitability such as social, health and well-being, disaster risk reduction, and environmental perspectives. A case study and relevant policies were analyzed to determine how policy makers can bridge the gap between current and future UA practices and sustainable development. Bridging these policy gaps can help the UA sector to sustainably grow and become successfully integrated in cities. Moreover, advancements in UA technologies and plant biotechnology were presented as potential solutions in increasing the future profitability of commercial UA. Consequently, as new UA-related technologies evolve, the multidisciplinary nature of UA and its changing identity from agriculture to digital technology, similarly require adaptive policies. These policies should maximize the potential of UA in contributing to resiliency and sustainability and incentivize the organic integration of UA in cities, while equally serving social justice.

Inhibitory Effect of Sulfated Polysaccharide from Codium edule P.C. Silva Against 2,4-Dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)- Induced Allergic Contact Dermatitis on Female BALB/c Mice.

Purpose: Sulfated polysaccharide from Codium species has been reported for its antiinflammatoryactivities. However, the effect of sulfated polysaccharide from Codium edule on allergic responses has not been studied. The study was conducted to determine the effect ofsulfated polysaccharide (F1) from C. edule on allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) induced by2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) in female BALB/c mice. Methods: F1 was isolated using DEAE sepharose gel chromatography and chemically identifiedby LC-MS analyses. The effects of F1 on changes in ear thickness, allergic responses, andhistology were evaluated. The effects of F1 on the production of inflammatory cytokinesinterferon gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-ɑ) in serum were also quantifiedand compared with standard prednisolone therapy. Results: F1 was identified as a heteropolysaccharide with ß-D-galactans and ß-L-arabinans units.F1 was non-toxic at 2000 mg/kg. Administration of F1 in DNFB-challenged mice significantlysuppressed the increase in ear thickness, erythema, desquamation, and proliferation ofinflammatory cells. F1 significantly decreased the production of inflammatory markers, IFN-γand TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner when compared to the untreated group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Results suggest that F1 from C. edule is a bioactive sulfated heteropolysaccharidewith anti-inflammatory activity and might be a valuable candidate molecule for the treatmentof allergic diseases such as ACD.

Associations between social support and access to healthcare among Filipino women living in Japan.

This study investigated associations between social support and access to healthcare among Filipino women living in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. A cross-sectional design was used. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to Filipino women and collected 342 valid responses. Each participant was asked about her access to healthcare for her own health and for her youngest child's health, and social support, as well as her socio-demographic characteristics. Of these respondents, 114 women (33%) did not have a usual source of care for themselves. Participants in our study had higher Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey scores than people living in other Southeast Asian countries. However, distribution of the score showed that there were outliers with low scores which were very different from the others. Women with the highest emotional/informational and tangible support score showed better access to healthcare (adjusted odds ratio=0.22, 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.50, and adjusted odds ratio=0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.17-0.85 respectively). Women with a Japanese husband also showed lower odds of no usual source of care (adjusted odds ratio=0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.20-0.95). On the other hand, there was no factors significantly associated with access to healthcare for their youngest child including social support. Emotional/informational and tangible support were crucial factors associated with access to healthcare among Filipino women in Aichi Prefecture.

Larvicidal and ovicidal activities of Artocarpus blancoi extracts against Aedes aegypti.

CONTEXT: Dengue control may be done by targeting its vector. In this study, we used Artocarpus blancoi (Elm.) Merr. (Moraceae) leaves, an endemic hematophagous insect repellent as a larvicide and ovicide. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the larvicidal and ovicidal activities of its soluble crude ethanol extract and the hexane, aqueous, and ethyl acetate fractions against Aedes aegypti. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Third to early fourth instar A. aegypti larvae were exposed to 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 ppm of crude ethanol; to 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 ppm of ethyl acetate; and to 500, 750, 1000, 1250 and 1500 ppm of hexane fractions of A. blancoi; 48 h LC50 and LC90 values were determined. For the ovicidal assay, an average of 25 eggs/paper strip was used; inhibition of egg hatchability was counted 72 h after exposure. Fractions were screened qualitatively for phytochemicals. RESULTS: Ethyl acetate soluble fraction gave the lowest LC50 value (18.59 ppm) followed by the crude ethanol (411 ppm), hexane (685 ppm) and aqueous (20,158 ppm) fractions. Similarly, ethyl acetate soluble fraction appeared to be the most ovicidal (80 ppm). Larvicidal and ovicidal activities of the fractions were dose dependent. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed moderate presence of glycosides and sterols and trace amounts of triterpenes, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: A. blancoi is a potential larvicide and ovicide against A. aegypti, and future studies isolating the specific components responsible for such actions would be significant.

Suppressive effect of the hot-water extract of Ficus pseudopalma Blanco leaves on the postprandial increase in blood glucose level in mice.

The use of medicinal plants with anti-diabetic properties continues because of the high cost of diabetes mellitus treatment. In the Bicol region of the Philippines, one local source is the leaves of Ficus pseudopalma Blanco (Philippine fig), which is utilized as an ingredient of their cuisine, and the decoction of its leaves is believed to have a blood-glucose lowering effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood-glucose lowering effect of F. pseudoplama using sugar/carbohydrate-loaded and normoglycemic mice. The results showed that the hot-water extract of the leaves significantly suppressed the increase of blood glucose levels after glucose, maltose and starch loading. On the other hand, the extract did not show any hypoglycemic activity in either fasted or non-fasted mice as compared to the positive control drugs. These results suggest that F. pseudopalma is potentially useful for the management of blood glucose levels in the postprandial condition, as believed in the Bicol region of the Philippines.