Rising CO₂ emission constitute a great threat to the world environment and public health. This study examines the major determinants of CO₂ emissions in Far East countries in the period of 1980 to 2017. We adopt a panel data-fixed effect model that accounts for time-invariant country-specific characteristics that may create omitted-variable bias. We also additionally take care of the time trend by applying an annual fixed effect into our model. The study finds that urbanization, economic growth and trade openness significantly determine CO₂ emission in the selected countries. Thus, the main policy suggestions are (a) to encourage green and sustainable urbanization, as it helps in economic progress but not at the expense of environmental deterioration; (b) to strategically regulate and improve industrial structure; and (c) enhance sharing of renewable energy in total energy consumption.

Air pollution in Asian countries represents one of the biggest health threats given the varied levels of economic and population growth in the recent past. The quantification of air pollution (PM_2.5) vis à vis health problems has important policy implications in tackling its health effects. This paper investigates the relationship between air pollution (PM_2.5) and child mortality in sixteen Asian countries using panel data from 2000 to 2017. We adopt a two-stage least squares approach that exploits variations in PM_2.5 attributable to economic growth in estimating the effect on child mortality. We find that a one-unit annual increase in PM_2.5 leads to a nearly 14.5% increase in the number of children dying before the age of five, suggesting the severity of the effects of particulate matter (PM_2.5) on health outcomes in sixteen Asian countries considered in this study. The results of this study suggest the need for strict policy interventions by governments in Asian countries to reduce PM_2.5 concentration alongside environment-friendly policies for economic growth.

We examine the conservation effects attributable to changes in the size of community-governed protected areas (PAs) by adopting a generalized difference-in-difference (DID) design with a two-way fixed effect regression model and synthetic control methods. Panel data from the extraordinary datasets of the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPAs) and the Red List of International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are used for 32 Sub-Saharan African countries in this study. Our generalized DID estimates show that countries with community-governed PAs have reduced the IUCN Red List threat level by 17% for mammals. We also find stronger evidence of the effect of community-governed PAs on the IUCN threat level using synthetic control method that allows us to match the “intervention countries” with those countries that exhibit similar pre-intervention threat level. Our results are robust on alternate specifications in which we exploit variations in the cumulative size of the designated PAs differentiated by the IUCN governance types. We also compare the effect of strictly state-governed PAs with community-governed PAs. Our findings provide evidence in support of recent qualitative studies that find positive responses of community participation towards common goods that carry potential economic incentives. This paper contributes to the idea that inclusive environmental policies and legislations yield environmental gains not at the cost of social exclusion.

Background: This study examined the prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) among hairdressers and beauticians in Peshawar, specifically targeting the areas of Hayatabad, University Town, and Peshawar Saddar. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) among hairdressers and beauticians in Peshawar, focusing on associated risk factors and impacts on occupational health. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, surveying a total of 340 participants, including 179 males and 161 females. Results: The findings revealed a high prevalence of WRMSDs, with 73.8% of respondents reporting various musculoskeletal conditions. The most reported areas of pain were the ankles (62.1%), followed by the lower back (56.5%), hands/wrists (35.0%), and shoulders (34.4%). Other frequently affected areas included the neck, upper back, hips/thighs, knees, and elbows. Musculoskeletal symptoms had varying impacts on work performance, with 8.5% of respondents reporting no impact, 40.0% reporting a slight impact, 31.8% reporting a moderate impact, 13.2% reporting a high impact, and 6.5% reporting a severe impact. Conclusion: The study found a significant association between repetitive tasks involving awkward postures and work-related stress contributing to musculoskeletal symptoms. Among the 340 participants, 283 reported both work-related stress and repetitive awkward postures as contributors to musculoskeletal symptoms, while only 7 participants reported neither. These findings suggest that repetitive tasks involving awkward postures are significantly associated with stress-related musculoskeletal symptoms among hairdressers and beauticians.

Background: Bell’s palsy is an acute unilateral facial nerve disorder resulting in partial to complete facial muscle paralysis, significantly affecting communication and social interactions. The condition is associated with viral infections, immune responses, and vascular ischemia. Its prevalence increases with age and is observed more frequently in rural populations. Recovery depends on the severity of the condition and timely intervention. Recent cases have been linked to COVID-19 and its vaccines. Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in improving functional outcomes at all stages of the disease. Objective: To evaluate the effects of Bell’s palsy on the psychosocial health of patients in tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar. A total of 121 patients diagnosed with Bell’s palsy were included using non-probability convenience sampling. The sample size was calculated using the OpenEpi sample size calculator. Data were collected using the House-Brackmann Grading Scale (HBGS) to assess disease severity and the Psychosocial Scale of Facial Appearance (PSFA) to evaluate psychosocial distress. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were calculated, and the chi-square test was applied to determine associations between Bell’s palsy severity and psychosocial distress. Results: Among the 121 patients, 58.7% experienced moderate psychosocial distress, while 41.3% reported severe psychosocial issues. A statistically significant association was found between Bell’s palsy severity and psychosocial health (p<0.001). Patients with severe facial paralysis had higher rates of emotional distress, social withdrawal, and self-esteem issues. The psychosocial impact was more pronounced among young, unmarried females, who expressed concerns about societal acceptance and future relationships. Conclusion: Bell’s palsy has a profound impact on psychosocial health, leading to moderate to severe psychological and social distress due to facial disfigurement, loss of facial expressions, and societal reactions. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive patient education and psychological support alongside medical treatment.

The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a simple and low-tech assessment that has proven to be reproducible and well-tolerated since its introduction. However, the influence of non-anthropometric factors on functional capacity in healthy young adults remains unclear, as most do not exhibit age-related changes in the locomotor system or comorbidities. The aim of the study was to enhance our understanding of how these factors (e.g. physical activity level, dyspnoea severity, and pulmonary function) influence functional capacity (exercise performance), with implications for preventing clinical abnormalities and promoting overall health and well-being. This cross-sectional study involved 330 healthy young adults who completed the 6MWT to measure walking distance and dyspnoea using the Borg scale. Pulmonary function was assessed with spirometry, and physical activity level was categorized using the IPAQ Questionnaire, classifying participants irregularly active and active. The 6MWD was positively correlated with pulmonary function parameters (P ≤ 0.002 for all). There was marginally significant correlation between 6MWD and the change in Borg scale scores before and after the test. Additionally, there was a trend toward significant differences in 6MWD across IPAQ categories. Forced vital capacity was the only pulmonary function parameter significantly different between IPAQ categories (P = 0.02).This study demonstrates that in healthy young adults, better pulmonary function is associated with a longer 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). Physical activity levels, as categorized by the IPAQ, seem to influence pulmonary function, particularly forced vital capacity (FVC).However, there is a weak relationship between IPAQ categories, the degree of dyspnea, and the 6MWD in these individuals.