Role of Oil Production and Government Expenditure in Improving Human Development Index: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

The economic development of Saudi Arabia depends largely upon the receipts from the exports of crude oil being spent as government expenditure on growth needs. Saudi Arabia is included in the 'very high human development' category of UNDP. Using time series data from 1990 to 2016, the study finds that both government spending and oil exports are significant drivers of human development index (HDI) in Saudi Arabia. The study estimates that a 100 (million barrels) increase in oil production will increase the HDI with 4-percentage point. Similarly, a 1 percent increase in total government expenditure increases 10-percentage point in HDI. The study also reports that expenditure on education contributes the most to HDI. The study also finds an inverse relationship between health expenditure and economic growth. This finding resulted in a recommendation of streamlining the health sector. Finally, the study predicts that HDI index will be 0.94 by 2030. Keywords: HDI, Oil production, Government spending, Saudi Arabia JEL Classifications: H50, I15, I25, I31 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.740

Mapping Ecotourism Potential in Bangladesh: The Integration of an Analytical Hierarchy Algorithm and Geospatial Data

The significance of ecotourism has been increasing due to its potential for biodiversity preservation, economic advancement, and the promotion of sustainability awareness. In this research, geospatial analysis and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to identify feasible ecotourism sites in Bangladesh. The study applied Geographical Information System–Remote Sensing (GIS-RS) parameters and weighted overlay techniques for selected ecotourism characteristics, such as natural attractiveness, topographic features, accessibility, proximity to facilities, and community characteristics. The study found that a significant proportion (around 44%) of Bangladesh’s land exhibits high potential for ecotourism. Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, and Rangamati are particularly favorable ecotourism locations. However, some difficulties emerge in regions that are not easily reachable, such as mangrove forests, and in densely inhabited localities like Dhaka. The research also identified the ecological costs linked with ecotourism, such as the exhaustion of resources, the fragmentation of habitats, contamination, and the disruption of wildlife. The primary recommendations to address the adverse effects include educating the local populace, enforcing regulatory measures, implementing efficient waste management systems, enforcing a stringent code of conduct, providing economic incentives to the local communities, and addressing the issue of food security. The cartographically delineated potential zones have the potential to function as a navigational instrument for global travelers and facilitate the decision-making process of policymakers in the realm of sustainable land resource management in Bangladesh. This study enhances the understanding of the potential of ecotourism and offers valuable insights for advancing responsible and sustainable tourism practices within the nation

Comparison of computational pose estimation models for joint angles with 3D motion capture

Tools to calculate human movement patterns can benefit musculoskeletal clinicians and researchers for rehabilitation assessments. The research objective of this study was to compare two human pose estimation models (HRNet, MediaPipe) against the laboratory marker-based reference standard for joint angles and range of motion (ROM) for several movement parameters. Twenty-two healthy volunteers (Female n=16, Male n=6), participated to compare outputs for knee and elbow kinematics. Joint angles were calculated by selecting three marker points defining the joint and angle between them in Qualisys Track Manager software. Using predicted key points, pose estimation model calculations for the same musculoskeletal kinematic outputs were computed. Coefficient of Variation (CoV) was used as a variation statistic for joint angle during movements. All comparison results were under 10%, implying that both models compute reliable joint angle data during the five tested activities. When comparing ROM as a discrete parameter, CoV values remain low, though not all below 10%. Intra-class Correlation Coefficients were computed across the ROM data as a measure of statistical similarity. Each exercise displayed good-excellent and significant correlations for both models compared to Qualisys apart from left knee sit-to-stand. Exploration from this data sampling imply that flexion/extension exercises give stronger consistency results than full sit-to-stand movements when compared to 3D motion analysis, and there is little distinction between these two models. Finer tuning of models will give further reliability for in-depth analysis as these results are restricted, but valuable for a rehabilitative setting with limited objective analysis alternative

Depression and Associated Factors among International Students in a Private University of Bangladesh

Background: Depression is the second major cause of disability and is a principal source of disease burden worldwide which is quite common among international students. Aim: This study explored the depression and its associated factors among international students of a private university in Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 149 international students at a private university in Dhaka, Bangladesh using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D 10) Scale. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms among international students was 47.7%. Students’ age, marital status, satisfaction with living conditions and problems concerning studies, food, homesickness, finances, accommodation, and health were significantly associated with depression. Conclusion: This study concluded that there is an unmet need for psychological support for international students studying in Bangladesh. Appropriate support services should be directed to them to help and to overcome the challenges they face

Οικονομική και περιβαλλοντική αξιολόγηση της διαδικασίας παραγωγής βιοκαυσίμου από τη βιομηχανία ζάχαρης στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση

With the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the sugar reform, European Commission has encouraged reduction of domestic sugar production in less competitive member countries. After that Greek sugar quota is reduced by 50%, while the Hellenic Sugar Industry (HSI) has chosen to reduce sugar production by 160 thousand tons by converting two of the five sugar factories in ethanol plants. On this track, this study aims to answer the question, whether the conversion of sugar factory to an ethanol production plant is economically viable and environmentally favorable, considering the existing facilities and equipment of sugar plant and farming practice of the surrounding area under current agricultural and environmental policy constraints. A partial equilibrium micro-economic model of regional supply in the arable farming system of Thessaly was coupled to industrial processing sub-models of bio-ethanol production from beets and grains. The partial equilibrium agricultural sector modelling and engineering approaches, applied to the industrial model, are jointly exploited to determine the appropriate technical configuration, size of bio-ethanol plant and also raw material supply. Thus industry aims at maximizing profits whereas the most efficient farmers will provide beet and grain at the lowest possible prices. The environmental performance of bio-fuel production is assessed for life cycle. Results show that the average cost ranges between 800 and 1000 euros per tonne of ethanol. The feedstock cost has a positive slope amounting almost at 50% of total cost for small plants but this element increases to 60% for highest capacity (120000t) plant. Given this reason, various changes in agricultural policy have a significant impact on the cost of ethanol. Agricultural policies for decoupling subsidies from production are in favor of cultivation in biomass for energy purposes. On the other hand, the increase in subsidy for cotton introduced in 2009 makes it more competitive and therefore the opportunity cost of land for energy crops has increases resulted in an increasing ethanol costs about 50 euros per ton, and shifts the minimum cost plant capacity point from 50 thousand tons to 25 thousand tons. The environmental benefit of emissions reduction varies depending on the range limits considered for life cycle analysis. When indirect land use change has taking into account, environmental outcome improves and reducing costs per unit of emission reduction. This ranges from 100 to 250 euros per ton and vary depending on the technical characteristics and capacity of the conversion plant.Η μεταρρύθμιση της Κοινής Ευρωπαϊκής Αγροτικής Πολιτικής (ΚΑΠ) ενθάρρυνε τη μείωση της παραγόμενης ποσότητας ζάχαρης στις λιγότερο ανταγωνιστικές χώρες μέλη. Η ποσόστωση για την Ελλάδα μειώθηκε στο 50%, ενώ η Ελληνική Βιομηχανία Ζάχαρης επέλεξε να μειώσει την παραγωγή κατά 160 χιλ. τόνους με τη μετατροπή δύο εκ των πέντε συνολικά εργοστασίων παραγωγής ζάχαρης σε μονάδες παραγωγής αιθανόλης. Η διατριβή αυτή επιχείρησε να απαντήσει το ερώτημα αν η μετατροπή σε μονάδα παραγωγής βιοαιθανόλης είναι οικονομικά βιώσιμη και περιβαλλοντικά ενδιαφέρουσα, μελετώντας την κατάσταση τόσο στο βιομηχανικό στάδιο όσο και στο γεωργικό τομέα. Μικρο-οικονομικό υπόδειγμα μερικής ισορροπίας της περιφερειακής προσφοράς από την αροτραία γεωργία της Θεσσαλίας κατασκευάστηκε σε συνδυασμό με τη βιομηχανική μεταποίηση και παραγωγή βιοαιθανόλης από τεύτλα και τα δημητριακά. Τα επιμέρους υποδείγματα συναρθρώθηκαν σε ενιαία μορφή για να προσδιοριστεί η καλύτερη τεχνική και η βέλτιστη δυναμικότητα της μονάδας παραγωγής, και ταυτόχρονα το είδος και οι ποσότητες πρώτης ύλης. Η βιομηχανία επιδιώκει τη μεγιστοποίηση του κέρδους και την παραγωγή με το ελάχιστο κόστος, δηλαδή τη βέλτιστη οργάνωση της παραγωγής και την προμήθεια πρώτης ύλης στην χαμηλότερη δυνατή τιμή, ενώ οι γεωργοί να μεγιστοποιήσουν το εισόδημα τους. Τα αποτελέσματα δείχνουν ότι το μέσο κόστος κυμαίνεται μεταξύ 800 και 1000 ευρώ ανά τόνο αιθανόλης. Το κόστος της πρώτης ύλης ανέρχεται σχεδόν στο 50% του συνολικού κόστους και αυξάνεται σε 60% για μεγάλη δυναμικότητα (120000t). Έτσι επιμέρους αλλαγές στην αγροτική πολιτική έχουν σημαντική επίπτωση στο κόστος της αιθανόλης. Συγκεκριμένα, η αποσύνδεση των επιδοτήσεων από την παραγωγή λειτουργεί υπέρ της καλλιέργειας σε βιομάζα για ενεργειακούς σκοπούς. Αντίθετα, η αύξηση της δεσμευμένης ενίσχυσης στο βαμβάκι που εφαρμόστηκε το 2009 καθιστώντας το πιο ανταγωνιστικό συνεπώς αυξάνει το κόστος ευκαιρίας της γης που έχει αποτέλεσμα την αύξηση του κόστους αιθανόλης κατά περίπου 50 ευρώ τον τόνο και μετατοπίζει το σημείο ελάχιστου κόστους από τη δυναμικότητα εργοστασίου 50 χιλ. τόνων σε 25 χιλ. τόνους. Το περιβαλλοντικό όφελος από τη μείωση των εκπομπών διοξειδίου διαφοροποιείται ανάλογα με το εύρος των ορίων του συστήματος στο οποίο βασίζεται η ανάλυση κύκλου ζωής. Όταν ληφθούν υπόψη οι έμμεσες αλλαγές χρήσεων γης τα περιβαλλοντικά αποτελέσματα βελτιώνονται και μειώνεται το κόστος ανά μονάδα μείωσης εκπομπών. Αυτό κυμαίνεται από 100 έως 250 ευρώ και διαφοροποιείται ανάλογα με τα τεχνικά χαρακτηριστικά και τη δυναμικότητα του εργοστασίου μετατροπής

Traditional healing practices in rural Bangladesh: a qualitative investigation

Abstract Background Traditional healing practice is an important and integral part of healthcare systems in almost all countries of the world. Very few studies have addressed the holistic scenario of traditional healing practices in Bangladesh, although these serve around 80% of the ailing people. This study explored distinctive forms of traditional healing practices in rural Bangladesh. Methods During July to October 2007, the study team conducted 64 unstructured interviews, and 18 key informant interviews with traditional healers and patients from Bhabanipur and Jobra, two adjacent villages in Chittagong district, Bangladesh. The study also used participatory observations of traditional healing activities in the treatment centers. Results Majority of the community members, especially people of low socioeconomic status, first approached the traditional healers with their medical problems. Only after failure of such treatment did they move to qualified physicians for modern treatment. Interestingly, if this failed, they returned to the traditional healers. This study identified both religious and non-religious healing practices. The key religious healing practices reportedly included Kalami, Bhandai, and Spiritual Healing, whereas the non-religious healing practices included Sorcery, Kabiraji, and Home Medicine. Both patients and healers practiced self-medication at home with their indigenous knowledge. Kabiraji was widely practiced based on informal use of local medicinal plants in rural areas. Healers in both Kalami and Bhandari practices resorted to religious rituals, and usually used verses of holy books in healing, which required a firm belief of patients for the treatment to be effective. Sorcerers deliberately used their so-called supernatural power not only to treat a patient but also to cause harm to others upon secret request. The spiritual healing reportedly diagnosed and cured the health problems through communication with sacred spirits. Although the fee for diagnosis was small, spiritual healing required different types of treatment instruments, which made the treatment implicitly expensive. Conclusions Traditional healing was widely practiced as the means of primary healthcare in rural areas of Bangladesh, especially among the people with low socioeconomic status. The extent of services showed no decline with the advancement of modern medical sciences; rather it has increased with the passage of time

In silico prediction of a highly immunogenic and conserved epitope against Zika Virus

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arboviral pathogen that belongs to the Flaviviridae subgroup and is a contemporary global concern. Recent epidemic outbreaks in Brazil have indicated that ZIKV could be responsible for post-infection neurological disorders in infants, resulting in ZIKV being considered a major threat to global health. Unfortunately, no vaccine is yet available to prevent the spread of this virus. In this study, we have applied an in silico approach to the identification of B-cell epitopes in the ZIKV genome. By utilizing currently available genomic data and applying multiple sequence alignments and the Immune Epitope Database (IDEB) tools, a LEFYSYKKSG epitope was identified in a highly conserved peptide region of the ZIKV polyprotein. The antigenicity, allergenicity, and affinity of the B-cell epitope were evaluated, and significant B-cell affinity against ZIKV was identified. This highly conserved epitope can be used to develop a peptide-based vaccine and can also be applied toward the development of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes against ZIKV

Familial and socio-cultural barriers in maintaining tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh: a comparative cross-sectional study

Objectives Children, pregnant women and the elderly at a global level are all being dangerously exposed to tobacco use in the household (HH). However, there is no understanding of the familial and socio-cultural factors that provide barriers to ensuring tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh either in urban or rural areas (U&RAs). This study therefore investigates those barriers to help enable a move towards tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh.Design Comparative cross-sectional study.Settings Data were collected from both urban and rural settings in Bangladesh.Participants A probability proportional sampling procedure was used to select 808 participants in U&RAs out of a total of 3715 tobacco users. Semi-structured interviews through the use of a questionnaire were conducted with the participants followed by a multivariate logistic regression analysis of the data in order to explore the familial and socio-cultural factors associated with tobacco use at home.Results The prevalence of tobacco use at home was 25.7% in urban areas and 47.6% in rural areas. In urban areas: marital status (adjusted OR (AOR)=3.23, 95% CI 1.37 to 6.61), education (AOR=2.14, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.99), the smoking habits of elderly family members (AOR=1.81, 95% CI 0.91 to 2.89), offering tobacco as a traditional form of leisure activity at home (AOR=1.85, 95% CI 0.94 to 2.95) and lack of religious practices (AOR=2.39, 95% CI 1.27 to 4.54) were identified as significant socio-cultural predictors associated with tobacco use at home. In rural areas: age (AOR=5.11, 95% CI 2.03 to 12.83), extended family (AOR=3.08, 95% CI 1.28 to 7.38), lack of religious practices (AOR=4.23, 95% CI 2.32 to 7.72), using children to buy or carry tobacco (AOR=3.33, 95% CI 1.11 to 9.99), lack of family guidance (AOR=4.27, 95% CI 2.45 to 7.42) and offering tobacco as a traditional form of leisure activity at home (AOR=3.81, 95% CI 2.23 to 6.47) were identified as significant determinants for tobacco use at home.Conclusion This study concludes that socio-cultural traditions and familial norms in Bangladesh provide significant barriers for enabling tobacco-free homes. The identification of these barriers can aid policymakers and programme planners in Bangladesh in devising appropriate measures to mitigate the deadly consequences of tobacco use in the home. The consequences also include the dangers involved in family members being exposed to secondhand smoke

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of female health care service providers on female genital mutilation in Somalia:A cross-sectional study

Background: Despite a strong international standpoint against female genital mutilation, the prevalence of female genital mutilation in Somalia is extremely high. Objectives: This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of female genital mutilation among female health care service providers in order to formulate appropriate policies and programs to eliminate this harmful practice. Design: Facility-based cross-sectional survey conducted in 2019 among female doctors and nurses working in Banadir Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia. Methods: A total of 144 female health care service providers were randomly selected, and data were collected through a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed by using the statistical software SPSS (Version 21), and qualitative data were analyzed thematically in accordance with the objectives of the study. Results: The study found that about three-fifths of the respondents had undergone some forms of female genital mutilation during their life. An overwhelming majority believed that female genital mutilation practices were medically harmful, and a majority of them expressed their opinion against the medicalization of the practice of female genital mutilation. The study also observed a significant association between participants’ age and their negative attitudes regarding the legalization of female genital mutilation. Conclusion: Health care service providers’ effort is critical to eliminating this harmful practice from the Somalian society. Strong policy commitment and a comprehensive health-promotion effort targeting the parents and community leaders are essential to avert the negative impact of female genital mutilation.</p