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Background Nurses and midwives play a critical role in the provision of care and the optimization of health services resources worldwide, which is particularly relevant during the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, they can only provide quality services if their work environment provides adequate conditions to support them. Today the employment and working conditions of many nurses worldwide are precarious, and the current pandemic has prompted more visibility to the vulnerability to health-damaging factors of nurses’ globally. This desk review explores how employment relations, and employment and working conditions may be negatively affecting the health of nurses in countries such as Brazil, Croatia, India, Ireland, Italy, México, Nepal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Main body Nurses’ health is influenced by the broader social, economic, and political system and the redistribution of power relations that creates new policies regarding the labour market and the welfare state. The vulnerability faced by nurses is heightened by gender inequalities, in addition to social class, ethnicity/race (and caste), age and migrant status, that are inequality axes that explain why nurses’ workers, and often their families, are exposed to multiple risks and/or poorer health. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, informalization of nurses’ employment and working conditions were unfair and harmed their health. During COVID-19 pandemic, there is evidence that the employment and working conditions of nurses are associated to poor physical and mental health. Conclusion The protection of nurses’ health is paramount. International and national enforceable standards are needed, along with economic and health policies designed to substantially improve employment and working conditions for nurses and work–life balance. More knowledge is needed to understand the pathways and mechanisms on how precariousness might affect nurses’ health and monitor the progress towards nurses’ health equity.

Ecosystem services provided by green infrastructure are often discussed for their potential to address the societal challenges of urbanization. However, green infrastructure, particularly small-scale types (e.g. trees), is vulnerable to loss through urbanization and is often passed over during scientific investigations. Studies on the perceptions of ecosystem services and disservices (hereafter called ecosystem (dis)services) dynamics along the rural-urban gradient are particularly rare in the literature. Therefore, this study assessed the perceived importance of ecosystem (dis)services associated with small-scale green infrastructure along a rural-urban gradient in Bengaluru, India. Based on photos of the five most common types of small-scale green infrastructure and the three most common tree species associated with them, we conducted a photo-elicitation survey of 649 residents from 61 towns in Bengaluru. We found significant differences in the perceptions of all ecosystem (dis)services among the types of green infrastructure. The most appreciated services were air/climate regulation from platform trees and aesthetic values from farm trees. Regulating services were most appreciated in urban areas while provisioning and cultural services were most appreciated in transitional areas, and disservices were most strongly perceived in rural areas. Gender, age, education, caste, and income from agriculture significantly affected the use and valuation of the ecosystem (dis)services within the local communities. Our study reveals the crucial role of small-scale green infrastructure as a multifunctional element, which is highly relevant for the supply of provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services in Bengaluru.

The consumption of green juice of Barley and wheat grass is widely increases because of its therapeutic benefits. The study aimed to investigate phytochemicals and evaluate the antioxidant and antidepressant activity of aqueous extract of barley and wheat grass. This study included phytochemical screening, evaluation of antioxidant and antidepressant activities. Four groups consisting of six mice in each group. Negative control with stressed induced mice; imipramine group (100 mg/kg), barley and wheat extract group (400 mg/kg) respectively. Forced swim, tail suspension and elevated plus maize test were carried out to evaluate the antianxiety and antidepressant activity. Phytochemical screening of barley and wheat grass extract showed secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, Saponin, Tannins, Phenolic, Carbohydrate, Glycosides, Flavonoids, and Proteins. The mean total phenolic content of aqueous extract of barley and wheat grass was 160.996 ± 0.656, 135.63 ± 1.184 mg equivalent of GAE/g respectively. The total flavonoid content of aqueous extract of barley and wheat grass was 153.42 ± 0.40, 133.14 ± 0.43 mg equivalent of quercetin/g respectively. The extracts were proved to be an effective radical scavenger in all antioxidant assays. Forced swim and tail suspension test showed a significant (∗p < 0.05 and ∗∗p < 0.01) decrease in an immobility time. In elevated plus maize, there was a significant (∗∗p < 0.01) increase in average time spent on the open arm of the extract-treated group as compared to the negative control. It shows that barley and wheat grass extract has antidepressant effect.

Climate and biodiversity crises, conflicts over access to land, water, or food, multiple and overlapping types of land management and livelihoods are some of the players that describe current landscape challenges worldwide. It has been broadly acknowledged that addressing interconnected social and ecological challenges needs integrated solutions at landscape scale. Integrated landscape approaches (ILAs) are governance strategies that deal with these complex social and ecological challenges. Yet, many of these governance strategies lack a nuanced attention to the injustices that manifest themselves in landscape governance, use, and management. These injustices influence the strategies chosen and how they can be reached. In this synthesis, we first identify the injustices that can appear in, and shape a given landscape, empirically illustrating how ILAs can relate to multiple dimensions of justice. We highlight methods suitable for studying injustices in landscapes from an academic perspective. Later, we share and reflect about our positionality, and our experiences of struggling, in harnessing a more transgressive science that engages with landscape justice. We argue that identifying, understanding, and reflecting on how to address injustice in landscape research should become a crucial step in implementing ILAs.

The morphology and molecular study of the penguin brain are crucial to define its survival in the extreme conditions of Antarctica. The present study focusses on extracting different optical parameters of the penguin brain using label-free optical imaging and spectroscopic techniques. In label-free optical imaging, we have used quantitative phase imaging, which provides morphological information about the neurons in brain tissue, giving the quantitative phase value of 5 to 20 radians corresponding to the 8 µm tissue section. In label-free spectroscopic techniques, we have used autofluorescence and Raman spectroscopy. Autofluorescence spectroscopy provides molecular information about nicotinamide dinucleotide, flavins, lipofuscins, and porphyrins in the brain’s spectral range of 420 nm to 700 nm. Raman spectroscopy provides multiple peaks associated with different molecules in the brain; among them, few signals are observed at approximately 1305 cm −1 , 1448 cm −1 , and 1661 cm −1 , which correspond to vibrational modes indicative of vibrational features within lipids and protein structures, as well as the presence of amide groups within brain tissue constituents. All these techniques provide the microscopic and molecular fingerprint of the penguin brain, which can be useful for understanding penguin’s anatomical, physiological, and social behavior.

Background: Yoga’s influence on the well-being and performance of youth has garnered increasing attention due to its numerous benefits, such as stress reduction, enhanced concentration, and improved physical fitness. However, research on the awareness and practice of yoga among youth in Nepal remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to examine the level of awareness and involvement in yoga practice among high school students in Nepal. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study design is followed to examine the awareness and practice of yoga among high school students’ participants N = 226, in selected institutions in Kathmandu District. The study focused on two institutions: One institutes is situated in Bashundhara, Kathmandu, and another in Kamaladi, Kathmandu. Stratified sampling method is used. Researchers utilized self-administered tools. These tools were self-designed in consultation with experts, underwent pilot testing, and underwent reliability and validity testing. Additionally, descriptive and Chi-square tests were administered. Results: The study revealed that 49.8% of participants had a poor level of awareness about yoga. Additionally, the majority of respondents (90.5%) reported not having a habit of practicing yoga. Conclusion: The current study found a poor level of knowledge about yoga, with only a few participants engaged in practicing it. These findings suggest a gap between knowledge and practice. However, evidence suggests that regular yoga practice supports the enhancement of mental well-being and performance. Therefore, researchers strongly recommend that academic leadership, parents, and teachers introduce such packages in schools and implement interventions, such as life skills education, to promote and maintain sustainable habits.

The study examines the relationship between emotional nurturance and cognitive development in preschool-aged children in Western Tarai, Nepal. The research involved 391 preschoolers from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, analyzing factors such as health-caregiver education, occupation, caste/ethnicity, and family structure. Results showed that age and certain socio-economic factors significantly influenced cognitive outcomes. Children aged 36-48 months had higher cognitive scores, and children from joint families scored higher than those from nuclear families. Children from disadvantaged caste backgrounds showed lower cognitive outcomes compared to those from advantaged castes. Emotional nurturance was positive but not significantly associated with cognitive development after adjustments. Socio-economic disparities, particularly caste and family structure, significantly influence cognitive outcomes among young children. Policies targeting socio-economic inequities are needed to promote equitable cognitive development, preventive public health, especially in pre-school children. Supportive interventions focusing on joint family systems and educational opportunities for mothers may further enhance cognitive outcomes in rural settings.

Background Excessive or inappropriate use of social media has been linked to disruptions in regular work, well-being, mental health, and overall reduction of quality of life. However, a limited number of studies documenting the impact of social media on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are available globally. Aim This study aimed to explore the perceived social media needs and their impact on the quality of life among the adult population of various selected countries. Methodology A cross-sectional, quantitative design and analytical study utilized an online survey disseminated from November to December 2021. Results A total of 6689 respondents from ten countries participated in the study. The largest number of respondents was from Malaysia (23.9%), followed by Bangladesh (15.5%), Georgia (14.8%), and Turkey (12.2%). The prevalence of social media users was over 90% in Austria, Georgia, Myanmar, Nigeria, and the Philippines. The majority of social media users were from the 18–24 age group. Multiple regression analysis showed that higher education level was positively correlated with all four domains of WHOQoL. In addition, the psychological health domain of quality of life was positively associated in all countries. Predictors among Social Media Needs, Affective Needs (β = -0.07), and Social Integrative Needs (β = 0.09) were significantly associated with psychological health. Conclusion The study illuminates the positive correlation between higher education levels and improved life quality among social media users, highlighting an opportunity for policymakers to craft education-focused initiatives that enhance well-being. The findings call for strategic interventions to safeguard the mental health of the global social media populace, particularly those at educational and health disadvantages.

Context Often called a ‘Garden city’, Bengaluru is renowned for its green infrastructure. However, the association of human wellbeing with the amount of tree cover (as an example of green infrastructure), degree of urbanization, and local people's socio-demographics has not been explored. Objective We investigated how human wellbeing is related to the amount of tree cover at household and neighborhood levels, the degree of urbanity, and underlying social factors among respondents. Methods The study was conducted in 61 towns along the rural–urban gradient of Bengaluru, surveying 836 respondents in total. Data on multiple dimensions of respondents’ wellbeing was collected between December 2016 and May 2017. The percentage of tree cover at the household and neighborhood levels was obtained based on WorldView-3 images. Logistic regression models were applied to assess correlations between human wellbeing and tree cover. Kruskal–Wallis tests, Mann–Whitney tests, and cross tabulation with chi-square tests were conducted to investigate relations of human wellbeing with the degree of urbanity, and with social factors. Results We found that several variables of human wellbeing were positively associated with tree cover. Measures of wellbeing also differed along the rural–urban gradient and among social groups. Conclusions Though urbanization is often considered to promote material wellbeing, non-material aspects (e.g., community activities and social relationships) are also important components of overall human wellbeing in urbanizing landscapes. Holistic interactions among natural, spatial, and social factors should be considered while designing interventions for equitable urban landscapes that promote human wellbeing and ecological restoration.

With the widespread adoption of mobile phone use (PMU) among undergraduate (UG) students in Kathmandu’s academic institutions, this research aims to investigate how emotional intelligence (EI) functions as both a mediator and a moderator in the MPU-Affective Commitment (AC) relationship among undergraduate students in selected academic institutions in Kathmandu. A quantitative cross-sectional survey questionnaire, comprising 30 statements, was completed by 423 undergraduate (UG) students from selected academic institutions in Kathmandu. Responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert-type scale. The relationships were examined using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The study revealed relationships between MPU, EI, and AC. EI exhibited both mediating and moderating effects on the relationship between MPU and AC. However, the mediation observed is partial. Additionally, EI played a moderating role, influencing the strength and direction of the MPU-AC relationship. Based on these findings, it is evident that emotional intelligence (EI) plays a multifaceted role in the relationship between mobile phone use (MPU) and affective commitment (AC) in academic pursuits. EI serves as both a mediator and a moderator, highlighting the complexity of these interactions. These insights hold significant implications for educational institutions seeking to leverage the positive aspects of mobile technology while nurturing EI to enhance students’ AC. This insight can inform educators and policymakers on strategies to optimize the positive effects of mobile technology on student commitment while addressing potential challenges.