Biofuels Subsidies and the Green Paradox

This paper develops sufficient conditions under which the Weak Green Paradox may (and may not) hold in terms of subsidies for biofuel production such that the supply-side responses by fossil fuel producers may more than offset the substitution to biofuels. Analytical results are derived and numerical simulations show that, under a wide range of parameter values, biofuel subsidies will increase the rate of extraction of fossil fuels in the short and medium term, and possibly bring climate-change damages closer to the present.biofuels subsidies, the Green Paradox

Knowledge and attitudes of men to prostate cancer

Objective: To ascertain the current level of understanding about prostate cancer (PCa), including treatment options and potential side effects of treatment, among older men. Design and Setting: Questionnaires administered by general practitioners (GPs) in 5 general practices in the Perth metropolitan and regional areas of Western Australia. Participants: Convenience sample of men aged 40-80 years (n=503) with or without prostate cancer presenting for routine consultations. Main outcome measures: Knowledge and attitudes of men to prostate cancer Results: Eighty percent of men did not know the function of the prostate and 48% failed to identify PCa as the most common internal cancer in men. Thirty-five percent had no knowledge of the treatments for PCa and 53% had no knowledge of the side effects of treatments. Asked how they would arrive at a decision about treatment, 70% stated they would ask the GP/specialist for all their options and then decide themselves. Conclusion: This study confirms a deficit in knowledge of the disease among men in the at risk age group. Lack of knowledge encompassed areas which could delay diagnosis and hence treatment. Overall the population preferred some GP/specialist involvement in treatment decision making

ANTIHYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC AND ANTIATHEROGENIC POTENTIAL OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF ADANSONIA DIGITATA STEM BARK INDUCED BY HEATED PALM OIL SUPPLEMENTED WITH EGG YOLK IN RAT

Objective: Poor control of hypercholesterolemia which mediated by overproduction of reactive oxygen species and endothelial dysfunction leads to atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to investigate the antihypercholesterolemic and anti-atherogenic effects of Adansonia digitata (AD) in heated palm oil/cholesterol supplemented with egg yolk in rat. Methods: Quantitative phytochemical screening of aqueous extract of A. digitata was carried out to identify the phytoconstituents. In vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential was evaluated. The antihypercholesterolemic and anti-atherosclerosis activity of A. digitata was evaluated by inducing hypercholesterolemia in rats with heated palm oil/cholesterol diet supplemented with egg yolk for 10 w. At the end of the induction period, animals were divided into 5 groups of 8 rats each after 6 w of induction: Group I (normocholesterolemic rat, NCR), Group II (hypercholesterolemia rat, HCR), Group III (Atorvastatin 2 mg/kg), Groups IV (AD. 100 mg/kg) and V (AD. 200 mg/kg). Hemodynamic parameters, lipid profile, atherogenic indices and oxidative stress markers were evaluated. Results: Adansonia digitata significantly reduced the systolic arterial blood pressure (SBP), diastolic arterial blood pressure (DBP), pulsatile pressure (PP) and heart rate compared to the hypercholesterolemic group. Plant extract reveal important flavonoids and phenolic contents and has significant in vivo antioxidant efficacy. The higher dose (200 mg/kg) of the extract significantly reduced in the level of total cholesterol by 27.29 %, triglycerides by 27.60 % and the LDL-c by 36.04 % meanwhile the HDL-c increased by 277.47 % when compared to 5HPOC treated group. Atorvastatin (2 mg/kg) administered in addition to 5HPOC significantly improved in lipid profile as compared to untreated rats. Furthermore, the histopathological examination of aorta of 5HPOC-treated rats indicated that the aqueous extract of A. digitata significantly attenuated atherosclerosis lesions. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of A. digitata possessed antihypercholesterolemic and anti-atherogenic effects via modulation overproduction of reactive oxygen species and endothelial dysfunction

Editorial: summary for policymakers of the thematic assessment on pollinators, pollination and food production

Values of pollinators and pollination 1. Animal pollination plays a vital role as a regulating ecosystem service in nature. Globally, nearly 90 per cent of wild flowering plant species depend, at least in part, on the transfer of pollen by animals. These plants are critical for the continued functioning of ecosystems as they provide food, form habitats, and provide other resources for a wide range of other species. 2. More than three quarters of the leading types of global food crops rely to some extent on animal pollination for yield and/or quality. Pollinator-dependent crops contribute to 35 per cent of global crop production volume. 3. Given that pollinator-dependent crops rely on animal pollination to varying degrees, it is estimated that 5–8 per cent of current global crop production is directly attributed to animal pollination with an annual market value of $235 billion–$577 billion (in 2015, United States dollars1) worldwide

MYOCARDIAL POTENCY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF HARUNGANA MADAGASCARIENSIS STEM BARK AGAINST ISOPROTERENOL-INDUCED MYOCARDIAL DAMAGE IN RATS

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of Harungana madagascariensis on electrocardiographical, biochemical and histopathological changes in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Methods: Male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided and treated with the aqueous extract of Harungana madagascariensis stem bark (AEHM, 200 and 400 mg/kg per os), or normal saline or vitamin E for 7 days with concomitant administration of ISO (85 mg/kg, subcutaneously) on 8th and 9th days, at 24 h interval. Results: The ISO injections to the rats caused cardiac dysfunction evidenced by a marked (P<0.01) elevation in ST-segment, a reduction in R wave amplitude (P<0.01), decrease in endogenous antioxidant reduced glutathione (GSH), increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation marker, increase of cardiac marker enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT). All these changes in cardiac function as well as GSH, MDA and the enzymes (LDH, AST and ALT) were ameliorated when the rats were pretreated with AEHM. Additionally, the protective effects were strengthened by improved histopathological changes, which specify the protection of cardiomyocytes from the deleterious effects of ISO. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the cardioprotective effect of Harungana madagascariensis on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats. The mechanism might be associated with the enhancement of antioxidant defense, reduction of lipid peroxydation and it is confirmed by amending electrocardiographic pattern, improvement of cardiac markers and less histopathological damages following ISO-induced myocardial infarction. It could provide experimental evidence to support the use of Harungana madagascariensis used in traditional medicine to treat cardiovascular disorders. Peer Review History: Received  9 February 2018;   Revised 22 February; Accepted 28 February, Available online 15 March 2018 UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:        Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Mohamed Said Fathy Al-Refaey, University of Sadat City, Menofia, Egypt, [email protected] Dr. Mohamed Salama, Modern University for Technology & Information, Egypt, [email protected] Similar Articles: ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANTI-OXIDANT POTENTIAL OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF VITEX THYRSIFLORA LEAVES ON DIABETIC RATS STUDY ON FRESH LEAF AQUEOUS EXTR STUDY ON FRESH LEAF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF FLACOURTIA INDICA FOR HEPATOPROTECTIVE, ANTI-ANEMIC AND HYPOGLYCEMIC ABILITIES IN CCL4 INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN ALBINO WISTAR RAT

Defining and unpacking the core concepts of pharmacology : A global initiative

The authors acknowledge the contribution of the expert group members who contributed their expertise to the study and Professor Martin Kingsbury for his invaluable guidance on concept mapping.Peer reviewe