Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is typically considered a feature of wealthy western countries1,2. However, dietary and behavioural determinants of blood cholesterol are changing rapidly throughout the world3 and countries are using lipid-lowering medications at varying rates. These changes can have distinct effects on the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, which have different effects on human health4,5. However, the trends of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels over time have not been previously reported in a global analysis. Here we pooled 1,127 population-based studies that measured blood lipids in 102.6 million individuals aged 18 years and older to estimate trends from 1980 to 2018 in mean total, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol levels for 200 countries. Globally, there was little change in total or non-HDL cholesterol from 1980 to 2018. This was a net effect of increases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in east and southeast Asia, and decreases in high-income western countries, especially those in northwestern Europe, and in central and eastern Europe. As a result, countries with the highest level of non-HDL cholesterol—which is a marker of cardiovascular risk—changed from those in western Europe such as Belgium, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Malta in 1980 to those in Asia and the Pacific, such as Tokelau, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, high non-HDL cholesterol was responsible for an estimated 3.9 million (95% credible interval 3.7 million–4.2 million) worldwide deaths, half of which occurred in east, southeast and south Asia. The global repositioning of lipid-related risk, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from a distinct feature of high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to one that affects countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania should motivate the use of population-based policies and personal interventions to improve nutrition and enhance access to treatment throughout the world.</p

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is typically considered a feature of wealthy western countries1,2. However, dietary and behavioural determinants of blood cholesterol are changing rapidly throughout the world3 and countries are using lipid-lowering medications at varying rates. These changes can have distinct effects on the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, which have different effects on human health4,5. However, the trends of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels over time have not been previously reported in a global analysis. Here we pooled 1,127 population-based studies that measured blood lipids in 102.6 million individuals aged 18 years and older to estimate trends from 1980 to 2018 in mean total, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol levels for 200 countries. Globally, there was little change in total or non-HDL cholesterol from 1980 to 2018. This was a net effect of increases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in east and southeast Asia, and decreases in high-income western countries, especially those in northwestern Europe, and in central and eastern Europe. As a result, countries with the highest level of non-HDL cholesterol�which is a marker of cardiovascular risk�changed from those in western Europe such as Belgium, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Malta in 1980 to those in Asia and the Pacific, such as Tokelau, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, high non-HDL cholesterol was responsible for an estimated 3.9 million (95 credible interval 3.7 million�4.2 million) worldwide deaths, half of which occurred in east, southeast and south Asia. The global repositioning of lipid-related risk, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from a distinct feature of high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to one that affects countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania should motivate the use of population-based policies and personal interventions to improve nutrition and enhance access to treatment throughout the world. © 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited

Abridging the yield gap in eastern Indian states: Issues and challenges

Estimating and explaining yield gap is essential to guide for sustainable intensification of agricultural systems in order to keep pace with increasing food demand in India driven by population and income growth. Eastern Indian states contribute 40 percent of total area under paddy in India but yield level is not at par with other high productive regions of the country. Hence this region is considered as potential region for second green revolution in India. In this study empirical method was used to decompose yield gap into efficiency and resource yield gaps for paddy and wheat. Further, stochastic frontier analysis was employed to estimate inefficiency in production pattern by encompassing critical agronomic and socio-economic factors. Results showed that estimated yield gap is 10 to 30 percent for paddy and 2 to 15 percent in case of wheat. It was identified that, not only sub-optimal resource usages (e.g. fertilization, mechanization) but supra-optimal resource disposal also found detrimental for yield level very often (e.g. seed rate). Besides, frequent drought, flood and state specificity explains yield gap. Hence, it was suggested that proper resource utilization framework and institutional mechanism can be possible remedy to reduce yield gap instead of providing for material input support. Acknowledgement

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Not AvailableThis paper has assessed the diversification scenario of agriculture at the national level and its reflection at farm level situation alongside. It has been observed that concentration ratio (CR4) for four major agricultural sub-sectors has declined from 73.6 per cent to 69.6 per cent for the study period, 1999-00 to 2013-14. It clearly indicates a shift in Indian agriculture from cereals-based production pattern to other high-value based production pattern. However, Simpson Index for Diversification (SID) indicates that the average national SID for all agricultural enterprises is 0.83 which spans from 0.60 for Punjab to 0.89 for Karnataka. Relating it to farm level situation, the primary survey in Banka and Bhagalpur districts of Bihar has been carried out in 2016-17 to find out the impact of agricultural diversification on farm income with two-stage least square technique (2SLS). Empirical analysis has suggested that diversification of farm by adopting ancillary, horticulture and other HVE like mushroom, etc. will increase farm income.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe study seeks to profile climate change adaptation strategies of potato cultivators in Karnataka and identifies socio-economic factors governing farmers’ adaptations to climate change. Farmers of different size classes differed in their adaptation behavior with large farmers adopting more of crop-and water centric adaptation practices while small farmers opted for alternative livelihood options like diversifying income through dairy management and non-farm employment. Ordinal logistic regression analysis is used to identify factors governing farmers’ adaptation to climate change. Access to credit, membership in farmers’ groups, contact with extension agencies, size of land holding, number of livestock owned and returns from farm enterprise were found to increase the likelihood of a farmer belonging in a higher adopter category.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe study seeks to profile climate change adaptation strategies of potato cultivators in Karnataka and identifies socio-economic factors governing farmers’ adaptations to climate change. Farmers of different size classes differed in their adaptation behavior with large farmers adopting more of crop-and water centric adaptation practices while small farmers opted for alternative livelihood options like diversifying income through dairy management and non-farm employment. Ordinal logistic regression analysis is used to identify factors governing farmers’ adaptation to climate change. Access to credit, membership in farmers’ groups, contact with extension agencies, size of land holding, number of livestock owned and returns from farm enterprise were found to increase the likelihood of a farmer belonging in a higher adopter category.Not Availabl

Analysis of charge transfer for in situ Li intercalated carbon nanotubes

Vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VA-CNT) arrays have been synthesized with lithium (Li) intercalation through an alcohol-catalyzed chemical vapor deposition technique by using a Li-containing catalyst. Scanning electron microscopy images display that synthesized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are dense and vertically aligned. The effect of the Li-containing catalyst on VA-CNTs has been studied by using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). XPS results show the change in binding energy of Li 1s and C 1s peaks, which indicates that Li is inserted in VA-CNTs during growth. Analysis of Raman spectra reveals that the G-band profile of CNTs synthesized with the Li-containing catalyst is shifted, suggesting an electronic interaction between Li and neighboring C atoms of the CNTs. The EELS spectra of the C K edge and Li K edge from CNTs also confirmed that Li is inserted into CNTs during synthesis. We have performed ab inito calculations based on density functional theory for a further understanding of the structural and electronic properties of Li intercalated CNTs, especially addressing the controversial charge-transfer state between Li and C. © 2012 American Chemical Society

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Not AvailableThe impact of climate change on agriculture is well studied yet there is scope for improvement as crop specific and location specific impacts need to be assessed realistically to frame adaptation and mitigation strategies to lessen the adverse effects of climate change. Many researchers have tried to estimate potential impact of climate change on wheat yields using indirect crop simulation modeling techniques. Here, this study estimated the potential impact of climate change on wheat yields using a crop specific panel data set from 1981 to 2010,for six major wheat producing states. The study revealed that 1°C increase in average maximum temperature during the growing season reduces wheat yield by 3 percent. Major share of wheat growth and yield (79%) is attributed to increase in usage of physical inputs specifically fertilizers, machine labour and human labour. The estimated impact was lesser than previously reported studies due to the inclusion of wide range of short-term adaptation strategies to climate change. The results reiterate the necessity of including confluent factors like physical inputs while investigating the impact of climate factors on crop yields.Not Availabl