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New value-added uses for solid municipal waste are needed for environmental and economic sustainability. Fortunately, value-added biochars can be produced from mixed solid waste, thereby addressing solid waste management issues, and enabling long-term carbon sequestration. We hypothesize that soil deficiencies can be remedied by the application of municipal waste-based biochars. Select municipal organic wastes (newspaper, cardboard, woodchips and landscaping residues) individually or in a 25% blend of all four waste streams were used as feedstocks of biochars. Three sets of pyrolysis temperatures (350, 500, and 750 °C) and 3 sets of pyrolysis residence time (2, 4 and 6 h) were used for biochar preparation. The biochar yield was in the range of 21-62% across all feedstocks and pyrolysis conditions. We observed variations in key biochar properties such as pH, electrical conductivity, bulk density and surface area depending on the feedstocks and production conditions. Biochar increased soil pH and improved its electrical conductivity, aggregate stability, water retention and micronutrient contents. Similarly, leachate from the soil amended with biochar showed increased pH and electrical conductivity. Some elements such as Ca and Mg decreased while NO3-N increased in the leachates of soils incubated with biochars. Overall, solid waste-based biochar produced significant improvements to soil fertility parameters indicating that solid municipal wastes hold promising potential as feedstocks for manufacturing value-added biochars with varied physicochemical characteristics, allowing them to not only serve the needs for solid waste management and greenhouse gas mitigation, but also as a resource for improving the quality of depleted soils.

This paper uses neuro-fuzzy programming to perform a comparison between the different electricity power generation options for Jordan. Different systems are considered: in addition to fossil fuel power plants, nuclear, solar, wind, and hydropower systems are evaluated. Based on cost-to-benefit ratios, results show that solar, wind, and hydropower are considered to be the best systems for electricity power generation. On the other hand, nuclear electricity turns out to be the worst choice, followed by fossil fuel electric power.

Climate Change (CC) is one of the most significant global environmental challenges humanity has faced. The most dominant causative factors due to human activity are emissions of greenhouse-gasses (GHG) from the combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation of natural rain forests. Although CC has a global impact, developing countries in the South East Asian Region (SEAR) would be more vulnerable to the effects as growth, development, poverty and health of these countries will be severely affected. The key ill-effects include increasing global average temperatures, the rise in sea levels, changes in eco-systems, and adverse impacts on human health. Rising sea levels threatens coastal cities; changes to the monsoon rainfall and a significant reduction in agricultural output are among some of the climate risks these countries will have to face. CC would compromise the essential prerequisites for good health; safe water, secure shelter, and food security and aggravate health risk through emerging and re-emerging diseases and spread of infectious diseases. Health-focused investments in climate actions remain weak and countries should focus on implementing health systems, while targeting for universal health coverage. The growth rate for Asian economies has risen over the past decade and this has led to steady emission increase. India and Indonesia are amongst the top ten emitters while others remain small emitters. Efforts are needed to limit the temperature increase to minimize adverse effects, which will require deep de-carbonization by both developed and developing countries, through an integrated portfolio of mitigation and adaptive strategies, which will be abide by UNFCCC common but differentiated approach.South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.6(2) 2016: 3-10

Objectives: This study assessed the reliability and validity of the DASS-21 self-reported measure in the context of COVID-19 on anxiety, stress, and depression. Through this Study, the psychological effect of COVID-19 on anxiety, tension, and depression amongst samples of students enrolled in 201 Malaysian private universities was assessed. Methods: The data were collected from university students through an online survey because of Malaysian Government Movement Control Order (MCO) restrictions. Two separate intervals were used for data collection (i.e., May and September 2020), as this period was associated with the pandemic. For scale validation, convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity criteria were used. Results: The outcome of a CFA model for DASS-21 yielded factor loading that is very significant. Therefore, the measure of the root means square error approximation (RMSEA) and the comparative fit index (CFI) are acceptable values that were produced, demonstrating a good fit for the data. Conclusions: This study was conducted in the Malaysian context to validate depression, anxiety, and stress among university students using the DASS-21 scale. Our findings support the reliability of using DASS-21 in the Malaysian cultural context. Lastly, we testified to the presence of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students through descriptive statistics and provided empirical evidence in this regard. Our results suggested that there was a significant presence of DASS among university students.

Abstract This paper uses fuzzy set methodology to perform the comparison between different solar systems for various applications. The aim of the paper is to determine the order in which solar systems should be given higher priority to be used in Jordan. The systems considered are solar distillation, solar water heating, solar space heating and ventilation, solar water pumping, photovoltaics and solar electric power production. They were compared according to their benefits and costs. Based on benefit to cost ratios, the results show that solar distillation is found to be the best choice and should be given the highest priority in terms of research and development. It is followed by the solar pond for electric power production, then, solar water pumping followed by solar space heating and photovoltaics. Finally, solar water heating may not need further development.

The subtropical ROPME Sea Area (RSA), comprising the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the northern Arabian Sea, is a heavily exploited sea region that experiences extreme environmental conditions, and for which climate change is expected to further impact marine ecosystems and coastal communities, sectors and industries. Climate change risk assessments provide a valuable tool to inform decision-making and adaptation planning through identifying and prioritising climate risks and/or opportunities. Using the first UK Climate Change Risk Assessment as an example, a marine climate change risk assessment was undertaken for the marine and coastal environment of the RSA for the first time. Through an extensive literature review and a workshop involving regional experts, marine and coastal climate change risks were identified, scored and prioritised. A total of 45 risks were identified, which spanned two key themes: ‘Risks to Biodiversity’ and ‘Risks to Economy and Society’. Of these, 13 were categorised as ‘severe’, including degradation of coral reefs and their associated ecological assemblages, shifts in the distribution of wild-capture fisheries resources, changes to phytoplankton primary productivity, impacts on coastal communities, threats to infrastructure and industries, and impacts on operations and safety in maritime transport. The diversity of risks identified and their transboundary nature highlight that climate change adaptation responses will require coordinated action and cooperation at multiple scales across the RSA. This risk assessment provides a crucial baseline for a largely overlooked geographic area, that can be used to underpin future decision-making and adaptation planning on climate change, and serve as a ‘blueprint’ for similar assessments for other regional shared seas.

Contexte : Des preuves de plus en plus nombreuses indiquent que l'obésité et le diabète sont des états d'inflammation associés à une circulation élevée de médiateurs inflammatoires.L' adiposité excessive et le stress oxydatif, induits par l'alimentation, peuvent également conduire à un état d'inflammation de bas grade.Objectif : Cette étude visait à étudier le bilan énergétique et la distribution par rapport à l'inflammation de bas grade chez les patients atteints de diabète de type 2.Design : Une étude transversale comprenait 198 patients masculins et féminins atteints de diabète de type 2.Le poids, la taille, le tour de taille, la graisse corporelle totale et le pourcentage de graisse tronculaire des patients, l'énergie et l'apport en macronutriments ont été mesurés.Les échantillons de sang ont été prélevés, et les taux d'HbA1c et les taux sériques de protéine C-réactive de haute sensibilité (hs-CRP) ont été déterminés.Résultats : Après ajustement pour tenir compte des covariables (indice de masse corporelle, graisse corporelle totale et graisse tronculaire), le bilan énergétique était positivement corrélé avec hs-CRP et HbA1c. Un bilan énergétique positif était également associé à une augmentation du tour de taille et du pourcentage de graisse tronculaire (p B0,05) .L' apport énergétique total, le pourcentage d'énergie provenant des graisses (p 00,04) et le pourcentage d'énergie provenant des protéines (p 00,03), mais pas le pourcentage d'énergie provenant des glucides (p 00,12), étaient également corrélés avec des taux de hs-CRP plus élevés chez les patients mal contrôlés sur le plan glycémique. Conclusion : un bilan énergétique positif est associé à des élévations du hs-CRP. Une augmentation de l'apport énergétique et des pourcentages accrus d'énergie provenant des graisses et des protéines sont associés à un hs-CRP élevé chez les patients ayant un mauvais contrôle glycémique. Antecedentes: La evidencia recientemente creciente indica que la obesidad y la diabetes son estados de inflamación asociados con una circulación elevada de mediadores inflamatorios. El exceso de adiposidad y el estrés oxidativo, inducidos por la alimentación, también pueden conducir a un estado de inflamación de bajo grado. Objetivo: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar el equilibrio y la distribución de energía en relación con la inflamación de bajo grado entre pacientes con diabetes tipo 2. Diseño: Un estudio transversal incluyó a 198 pacientes masculinos y femeninos con diabetes tipo 2. Se midieron el peso, la altura, la circunferencia de la cintura, el porcentaje total de grasa corporal y grasa troncal, la energía y la ingesta de macronutrientes de los pacientes. Se recolectaron muestras de sangre venosa. y se determinaron los niveles de HbA1c y los niveles séricos de proteína C reactiva de alta sensibilidad (hs-CRP) .Resultados: Después de ajustar por covariables (índice de masa corporal, grasa corporal total y grasa troncal), el equilibrio energético se correlacionó positivamente con hs-CRP y HbA1c. Un equilibrio energético positivo también se asoció con un aumento de la circunferencia de la cintura y el porcentaje de grasa troncal (p B0.05). La ingesta total de energía, el porcentaje de energía de la grasa (p 00.04) y el porcentaje de energía de las proteínas (p 00.03), pero no el porcentaje de energía de los carbohidratos (p 00.12), también se correlacionaron con niveles más altos de hs-CRP entre pacientes con control glucémico deficiente.Conclusión: El balance energético positivo se asocia con elevaciones en hs-CRP. El aumento de la ingesta de energía y el aumento de los porcentajes de energía de grasas y proteínas se asocian con niveles elevados de hs-CRP entre pacientes con control glucémico deficiente. Background: Recently growing evidence indicates that obesity and diabetes are states of inflammation associated with elevated circulation of inflammatory mediators.Excess adiposity and oxidative stress, induced by feeding, may also lead to a state of low-grade inflammation.Objective: This study aimed at investigating energy balance and distribution in relation to low-grade inflammation among patients with type 2 diabetes.Design: A cross-sectional study included 198 male and female patients with type 2 diabetes.Patients' weight, height, waist circumference, total body fat and truncal fat percent, energy, and macronutrient intake were measured.Venous blood specimens were collected, and levels of HbA1c and serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were determined.Results: After adjusting for covariates (body mass index, total body fat, and truncal fat), energy balance was positively correlated with hs-CRP and HbA1c.A positive energy balance was also associated with increased waist circumference and truncal fat percent (p B0.05).Total energy intake, percent energy from fat (p 00.04), and percent energy from proteins (p 00.03), but not percent energy from carbohydrates (p 00.12), were also correlated with higher hs-CRP levels among poorly glycemic-controlled patients.Conclusion: Positive energy balance is associated with elevations in hs-CRP.Increased energy intake and increased percentages of energy from fat and protein are associated with elevated hs-CRP among patients with poor glycemic control. معلومات أساسية: تشير الأدلة المتزايدة مؤخرًا إلى أن السمنة ومرض السكري هما من حالات الالتهاب المرتبطة بارتفاع الدورة الدموية للوسطاء الالتهابيين. قد تؤدي السمنة المفرطة والإجهاد التأكسدي، الناجم عن التغذية، إلى حالة من الالتهاب منخفض الدرجة. الهدف: تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى التحقيق في توازن الطاقة وتوزيعها فيما يتعلق بالالتهاب منخفض الدرجة بين مرضى السكري من النوع 2. التصميم: شملت دراسة مستعرضة 198 مريضًا من الذكور والإناث المصابين بداء السكري من النوع 2. تم قياس وزن المرضى وطولهم ومحيط خصرهم وإجمالي الدهون في الجسم ونسبة الدهون الجذعية والطاقة والمغذيات الكبيرة. تم جمع عينات الدم الوريدية، وتم تحديد مستويات HbA1c ومستويات مصل البروتين التفاعلي C عالي الحساسية (hs - CRP). النتائج: بعد ضبط المتغيرات المشتركة (مؤشر كتلة الجسم، إجمالي الدهون في الجسم، والدهون الجذعية)، ارتبط توازن الطاقة بشكل إيجابي مع hs - CRP و HbA1c. كما ارتبط توازن الطاقة الإيجابي بزيادة محيط الخصر ونسبة الدهون الجذعية (p B0.05). كما ارتبط إجمالي استهلاك الطاقة، ونسبة الطاقة من الدهون (p 00.04)، ونسبة الطاقة من البروتينات (p 00.03)، ولكن ليس نسبة الطاقة من الكربوهيدرات (p 00.12)، مع ارتفاع مستويات hs - CRP بين المرضى الذين يعانون من ضعف التحكم في نسبة السكر في الدم. الخلاصة: يرتبط توازن الطاقة الإيجابي بالارتفاعات في hs - CRP. يرتبط زيادة استهلاك الطاقة وزيادة النسب المئوية للطاقة من الدهون والبروتين بارتفاع hs - CRP بين المرضى الذين يعانون من ضعف التحكم في نسبة السكر في الدم.