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The purpose of this chapter is to offer reflections on conventional theories concerning causes and determinants of diseases. It also intends to examine both theoretical and empirical bases for adopting an Integrated Social-Ecological Systems (ISES) lens as a tool for understanding complexities related to drivers, determinants and causes of diseases.

We assessed the theoretical underpinnings of a range of historical and contemporary lenses for viewing infectious disease drivers and the implications of their use when used to explain both personal (i.e. individual) and population health. We examined these issues within the empirical context of the City of Dhaka (Bangladesh) by adopting an ISES lens. Within this study an emphasis has been placed on illustrating how feedback loops and non-linearity functions in systems have a direct bearing upon various aspects of infectious disease occurrences.

A brief triumph over microbes during the last century stemmed in part from our improved understanding of disease causation which was built using disciplinary-specific, monocausal approaches to the study of disease emergence. Subsequently, empirical inquiries into the multi-factorial aetiology and the ‘web of causation’ of disease emergence have extended frameworks beyond simplistic, individualistic descriptions of disease causation. Nonetheless, much work is yet to be done to understand the roles of complex, intertwined, multi-level, social-ecological factors in affecting disease occurrence. We argue, a transdisciplinary-oriented, ISES lens is needed to explain the complexities of disease occurrence at various and interacting levels. More theoretical and empirical formulations, with evidence derived from various parts of the world, is also required to further the debate.

Our study advances the theoretical as well as empirical basis for considering an integrated human-nature systems approach to explaining disease occurrence at all levels so that factors at the individual, household/neighbourhood, local, regional and global levels are not treated in isolation.

The Green Revolution was a singular event in world history; because of the Green Revolution, world prices for all crops declined. The agricultural mechanization issue was also driven by intellectual property rights (i.e., the right to patent products), as was the agricultural chemical revolution. The livestock industrialization revolution sharply lowered the prices for all livestock products. The Gene Revolution (i.e., the recombinant DNA revolution) further lowered the cost of producing farm products. The Gene Revolution was based on three events. The first was the discovery that DNA (Delbrook) was the carrier of genetic information. The second was the discovery by Watson and Crick of the double helix structure of DNA. The third was the method of stable insertion of DNA into a host genome (Cohen and Boyer). The future of agricultural research depends on the capacity of countries to invent and imitate.

Purpose – The aim of this study is to determine the differences in the antimicrobial activity of katuk leaf (Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr) against Escherichia coli.

Design/Methodology/Approach – The method used in this study was experimental posttest using a control group design. Analysis of the effect of katuk leaf was performed in the dilution method with 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% concentration. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test (α = 0.05) and was then tested using the least significant difference (LSD) test.

Findings – Bacterial colony counting that used total plant count found the average of E. coli amount at 20% of concentration (526.820 CFU/ml), 40% of concentration (449.380 CFU/ml), concentration of 60% (255.710 CFU/ml), concentration of 80% (194.110 CFU/ml), and at concentration 100% (168.600 CFU/ml). This study concluded that the katuk leaf extract at 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of concentration had antimicroba effect with significant influence. The 100% of concentration had the most significant effect compared with the other concentrations.

Research Limitations/Implications – Katuk leaf could be used as one of the alternative herbal choices that has a compound antimicrobial effect.

Originality/Value – This study increases the theoretical understanding of the difference of antimicrobial effectivity of katuk leaf extract (S. Androgynus (L.) Merr.) concentration against E. coli

Purpose – This purpose of the research is to investigate the process of manufacturing LDPE recycle thermoplastic composites with reinforcement oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) biomass microfillers.

Design/Methodology/Approach – Methods of physical and chemical modification of OPEFB fibers into the LDPE matrix and the addition of some compatibilizer such as MAPE and xylene process through melt blending can improve mechanical properties, electrical properties, biodegradability, and improve the morphology of composites.

Research Limitations/Implications – These composites are prepared by the following matrix ratio: filler (70:30)% and filler size (63, 75, 90, and 106) μm. The LDPE plastic is crushed to a size of 0.5–1 cm, then pressed with hot press free heating for 5 min and with a pressure of 10 min at 145 °C. Based on the characterization obtained, the tensile strength and the high impact on the use of 106 μm filler is 13.86 MPa and 3,542.6 J/m², and thermal stability indicates the degradation temperature (T₀) 497.83 °C. FT-IR analysis shows the presence of functional groups of cellulose and lignin molecules derived from TKKS collected in the composite.

Practical Implications – Based on the characterization obtained, this composite can be applied as furniture material and vehicle dashboard.

Originality/Value – Composites obtained from recycle of LDPPE plastics waste has some advantages such as good compatibility and high tensile strength. This composite used the OPEFB filler whose size is in micrometer, and so this product is different from other products.