bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined effect of work stress and impaired sleep on coronary and cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive workers: The MONICA/KORA cohort study
Authors: Li Jian , Atasoy Seryan , Fang Xioayan , Angerer Peter , Ladwig Karl-Heinz
Published: April 2019

Background

Although work stress and impaired sleep are established risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among healthy individuals, their impact on hypertensive workers is largely unknown.

Design

Prospective cohort study design.

Methods

Hypertensive workers (N = 1959), derived from the population-based MONICA/KORA study in Southern Germany, who were free of any cardiovascular disease and diabetes were interviewed at baseline for work stress (high demand plus low control) and impaired sleep (difficulties falling asleep and/or maintaining sleep). Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by multivariate Cox proportional hazards models with adjustment for relevant covariates.

Results

During a mean follow-up of 17.8 years covering 34,900 person-years, 134 fatal CVD and 73 coronary heart disease (CHD) events were observed. In comparison to participants with low work stress and non-impaired sleep, participants with work stress (hazard ratio (HR) 1.56, 95% CI 0.81-2.98), or impaired sleep (HR 1.76, 95% CI 0.96-3.22) had an increased risk of CVD, while participants with both work stress and impaired sleep had the highest risk of CVD mortality (HR 2.94, 95% CI 1.18-7.33). Participants with both risk conditions had an absolute CVD mortality risk of 7.13 cases per 1000 person-years in comparison to 3.05 cases per 1000-person years in the reference group. Similar risk patterns were found for CHD mortality.

Conclusions

Our findings add a new piece of evidence that work stress together with impaired sleep increase risk of coronary and cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive workers.
СЛОВООБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНЫЕ ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ ЛЕКСЕМЫ В ЭВЕНСКОМ ЯЗЫКЕ
Authors: Savvinova Stepanida Nikolaevna , Sadovnikova Ia Ivanovna
Published: April 2019

Цель. Статья посвящена исследованию словообразовательных возможностей эвенского языка. Предметом анализа выступает лексема екэ и суффиксы, которые формируют новые слова. Авторы статьи ставят цель раскрыть словообразовательные возможности суффиксов, изучить пути развития новых значений слов на примере лексических единиц с лексемой екэ в эвенском языке.Метод или методология проведения работы. Основу исследования образует описательно-методологический метод, который позволил системно охарактеризовать материал. Структура и формальные связи исследованы при помощи перспективного словообразовательного анализа.Результаты. Исследование при помощи вышеописанных методов позволили выявить словообразовательную возможность суффиксов в эвенском языке применительно к лексеме екэ.Область применения результатов. Результаты исследования могут быть применены при составлении словообразовательного словаря эвенского языка, который покажет словообразовательные возможности суффиксов.
ПОНЯТИЕ И ОСНОВНЫЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ ФУНКЦИОНАЛЬНО-СЕМАНТИЧЕСКОГО ПОЛЯ СРАВНЕНИЯ
Authors: Tregubchak Alina Viktorovna
Published: April 2019

Актуальность. В данной статье предлагается анализ функционально-семантического поля сравнения как языковой реализации семантической категории сравнения.Цель. Определить особенности семантики, структуры и средств формального выражения функционально-семантического поля сравнения.Методика и методы изучения. Методология изучения функционально-семантического поля сравнения основана на положениях функциональной грамматики и методах изучения функций единиц разных уровней языка, предложенных А.В. Бондарко.Результаты. Функционально-семантическое поле сравнения базируется на семантической категории сравнения и представляет собой гетерогенную систему, состоящую из элементов различных уровней языка, находящихся во взаимосвязи и взаимозависимости и выполняющих общую функцию: описание сравнительных отношений между предметами, явлениями, признаками, процессами действительности. Семантической доминантой поля являются значения сходства, различия и тождества. Структура поля традиционна для моноцентрических полей и распадается на три функциональные сферы: ядро, основную часть и периферию. Ядром поля является форма степеней сравнения прилагательных и наречий.Выводы. Исследование позволило определить ведущие признаки функционально-семантического поля сравнения, его семантическую вариативность, структуру.
СИНТАКСИЧЕСКИЕ СРЕДСТВА ВЫРАЗИТЕЛЬНОСТИ ЗАГОЛОВКОВ ПРЕССЫ (НА МАТЕРИАЛЕ ПУБЛИКАЦИЙ ЖУРНАЛА SPIEGEL)
Authors: Chaiko Natalja Nikolaevna
Published: April 2019

Принято считать, что заголовок – неотъемлемая и главная часть любой публикации, поскольку он является первым звеном, на которое обращает внимание читатель при знакомстве с публицистическим текстом. Заголовок несет определенную информацию о содержании публицистического произведения, поэтому должен иметь эмоциональную окраску, возбуждать читательский интерес, привлекать внимание.Цель. Данная статьяпосвящена анализу синтаксических средств выразительности заголовков. Предметом анализа выступают современные немецкие публицистические тексты. Выбор текстов публицистики в качестве материала исследования позволяет по-новому проанализировать средства выразительности заголовков на синтаксическом уровне.Метод или методология проведения работы. Основу исследования образуют метод сплошной выборки при подборе практического материала, описательный метод лингвостилистического анализа, а также метод количественно-качественного анализа.Результаты. Результаты исследования показали, что синтаксические особенности заголовков публицистических текстов многогранны и разнообразны. Журналисты используют различные синтаксические средства для того, чтобы сделать заголовок более эмоциональным и экспрессивным. Самыми частотными являются номинативные заголовки, как односоставные, так и состоящие из двух или нескольких существительных. С целью придания заголовку броскости широко используется эллипсис. Краткий заголовок быстрее воспринимается читателем, его необычная форма вызывает интерес и побуждает читателя прочитать сам текст. С точки зрения цели высказывания наиболее распространены повествовательные предложения. Однако встречаются заголовки в форме вопросительных предложений, весьма редки побудительные предложения. Для привлечения внимания читателя к тексту нередко возникает эмфатическое выделение в начале заголовка путем изменения порядка слов. Использование повтора на разных уровнях в целях эмфазы также имеет место быть в исследуемом материале.Область применения. Результаты исследования могут быть использованы в теоретических курсах по стилистике немецкого языка, а также в спецкурсах по дискурсу современной немецкой прессы.
ФИГУРЫ КОНТРАСТА В МЕДИАТЕКСТЕ (НА МАТЕРИАЛЕ НЕМЕЦКОГО И РУССКОГО ЯЗЫКОВ)
Authors: Vysotskaya Inna Vladimirovna , Prom Natalya Alexandrovna , Yovanovich Tamara Georgievna , Alekseenko Natalya Valerevna
Published: April 2019

Данная статья рассматривает прагматический потенциал фигур контраста. Источниками материала исследования послужили немецкие и российские спортивные издания, а также газеты, содержащие рубрику «Спорт». Предметом анализа выступает прагматический потенциал контрастного описания на материале спортивного немецкого и русского дискурса. Целью исследования стало определение прагматических функций контраста в медиатексте. В ходе исследования использованы стилистический анализ и прием количественного подсчета. Результатами работы стало выделение языковых средств, послуживших основой для контраста, и определение функционального спектра фигуры контраста в массмедийном тексте. Анализ показал, что контраств значительной степени представлен антитезой, в частности, она оказалась наиболее востребованной в спортивном репортаже. Менее частотны в исследовании паронимы и другие. Контраст может быть усилен авторскими метафорическим и метонимическим переносами и синтаксическими средствами: повторами, синтаксическим параллелизмом, сравнением и другими. Контрастное описание представляет собой сильное прагматическое средство создания яркого изобразительного и комического эффекта, оценочности, скрытого поучения, а также реализации аттрактивной функции текста. Поскольку при сопоставлении материала в немецком и русском языках количественные и качественные показатели имеют близкие значения, представленные выводы могут считаться релевантными для обеих лингвокультур. Следовательно, результаты исследования могут быть учтены при описании прагматических особенностей в целом и при сопоставительных описаниях немецкого и русского медиадискурсов.
A kerosene summer dress
Authors: Wetzler Graydon
Published: April 2019

This article combines situational analysis with situationists dérive to weave a seemingly disjointed series of historical tableaux, materialities, marginalia, combustion and corporeal techniques in embryology, chemistry, geology, synthetics and magic. The double locus structuring this constellation is Hilde Proescholdt (1898–1924), a gifted German experimental biologist; and Abraham Gesner (1797–1864), Canadian physician, geologist and inventor of kerosene. Following Adele Clark’s SA research programme, I attend to situational maps recurring the experimental repertoires Gesner and Proescholdt with the material, social and artefactual historicities they environed. Through dérive, I narrate by displacement, cutting along the bias, rather than with the historical fabric. My aim is to contribute media ethology as variation on Robert Logan’s call for a broad spectrum media ecology that is agnostic to stable distinctions between content and container. I pay special appropriation to the signalling dynamics of the Spemann-Mangold organizer as an active media or, in complimentary phenomenal guise, Marshall McLuhan’s characterization of acoustic space as ‘all centres and no margins’. Proceeding through double-locus and doublemethod appropriates what Proescholdt’s supervisor, Hans Spemann, would have cautioned us against as bad magic by co-inducing interference between primary and the implanted organizing centres. Within the chapter, media ethology contributes a complex sum of SA+ dérive as a symmetrical mappings and non-obligate appropriations across inquiry and technique in the arts and the sciences. My discussion more broadly offers to enter debates on the relative merits and stakes for performative knowledge production and communication through the nexuses of art, science and technology studies.
Artistic body interventions as tactics of resistance to the governance over the bodies
Authors: Tratnik Polona
Published: April 2019

The article presents artistic body interventions as tactics of minimal resistance to the governance over those bodies, i.e., resistance to the apparatuses that govern, control and manage our bodies, and those that also make our bodies sacred. This means the resistance to the apparatuses that separate my body from my own management. Giorgio Agamben calls for the strategy of profanation, for bringing back what was sacred to the use and property of humans. The author offers a thesis that the artistic acts that resist to the power over the bodies do not construct counter-apparatuses to the apparatuses of power, but they do challenge or even sometimes subvert the machines of governance over the bodies.
Zona Autónoma Militarizada. Europa [zam~]: A multimedia archive and immersive, 360°, reactive and interactive audio-visual system based on field studies across militarized European borders and hotspots where trafficking cells operate
Authors: Oliveros Miguel
Published: April 2019

In 2015 the first mass migration and the first geopolitical and transnational crisis of the digital age began. This brought along the awakening of a new phase in slavery trade and trafficking of human beings (THB) at the European borders. In this article I introduce an ongoing field study I began in January 2016, in collaboration with experts from Spanish and European institutions, that so far has taken me to hotspots and borders, and to the accumulation of a vast multimedia archive. This led to the creation of zonaautonomamilitarizada.eu, an immersive/360°, interactive and reactive audio-visual performative system conceptually rooted in military technologies, second-order cybernetics and mass media developments.
Paratactical use of algorithmic agencies in artistic practice
Authors: Yetiskin Ebru
Published: April 2019

This article aims to make a distinction among contemporary artworks that use algorithmic technologies. Departing from Science, Technology and Society (STS) studies, the focus is given to artworks that use algorithmic agencies, as assemblages of human and nonhuman entities. Making an ethno-methodological analysis of three artworks, The Pitiful Story of Deniz Yılmaz (2015–present) of Bager Akbay, Artificial Intelligence for Governance, the Kitty AI (2016) of Pınar Yoldaş and Plantoid (2015) of Primavera Di Filippi, the article examines paratactical use of algorithmic agencies in contemporary artistic practice. Exploring, revealing and learning from the tactics used by platforms, corporations and institutions that control and govern, paratactical use of algorithmic agencies generates a self-reflexive perspective on such tactics of control. Paratactical works also explore absurdities and contingencies embedded in algorithmic technologies. They work within failures and errors, and perform subversive ways of thinking, acting and enacting. In conclusion, paratactical works deal with the reproduction, distribution and normalization of ignorance, extinction, degeneration, corruption and destruction.
Pengaruh Alkali dan Fraksi Volume terhadap Sifat Mekanik Komposit Serat Akar Wangi – Epoxy
Authors: Nurdin Akhmad , Hastuti Sri , D. Henanto Pandu , H. Rino
Published: April 2019

Perkembangan material komposit mulai bergeser dari bahan serat sintetis menjadi bahan berpenguat serat alam dan sangat potensial untuk dikembangkan di Indonesia. Salah satu serat alam yang bisa digunakan yaitu limbah padat hasil penyulingan akar wangi yang masih berupa akar dengan jumlah yang melimpah, sehingga limbah ini sangat potensial untuk dikembangkan sebagai penguat pada komposit. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui pengaruh dari perlakuan alkali dan  fraksi volume  serat terhadap sifat mekanik dari komposit. Pada penelitian pertama, serat akar wangi yang bersih direndam larutan alkali (5% NaoH) selama 0, 2, 4, dan 6 jam. Selanjutnya dicuci sampai bersih dan didiamkan sampai kering. Pada penelitian kedua,hasil terbaik dari penelitian pertama digunakan sebagai acuan perendaman alkali, selanjutnya variasi yang digunakan fraksi volume serat 10%, 20%,30%, dan 40%. Matrik yang digunakan pada penelitan ini adalah Epoxy A dengan Harderner B. Spesimen untuk uji bending mengacu pada ASTM D790-02 dan uji impak ASTM D 5942-9. Hasil daripenelitian pertama, pengaruh perendaman alkali didapat tegangan bending dan harga imapak terbesar  39,05 MPa  dan 8,28 kJ/mm2  pada perendaman 6 Jam. Sedangkan hasil penelitian kedua, pengaruh penambahan fraksi volume serat didapat tegangan bending dan harga impak terbesar  43,40 MPa  dan 20,5 kJ/mm2 pada fraksi volume serat 20%.
Early seedling growth affected by CuSO4 and its combination with PEG 6000 in maize
Authors: Hirve Mamta , Jain Meeta
Published: April 2019

Several abiotic stress factors are faced by the plants in nature, including metal exposure and water deficit condition. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of copper and its combination with water deficit, on growth and anatomical characteristics of Zea mays L. (maize) cv. Ganga safed-2 seedlings. Seeds were treated with CuSO4 (0-1000µM) for inducing Cu stress, PEG 6000 (0-10%) for inducing water deficit stress and their combination for combined stress for 5 days. Germination %, growth parameters, % phytotoxicity, and root anatomical characteristics were analyzed. Treatment of maize seeds with 0-1000µM CuSO4 significantly reduced almost all the growth parameters, except germination %. Root growth was inhibited significantly at 100µM and higher concentrations of CuSO4, however, for shoot growth, ?300µM are inhibitory. Germination percentage was not affected by the supplementation of Cu, indicating the tolerant nature of Ganga safed-2 maize genotype at germination stage. Treatment with Cu (?300µM) and PEG 6000 (10%), decreased the growth of maize seedlings with prominent effect on root by Cu and on the shoot by 10% PEG. Anatomical modifications in root were noticed with both the stresses, individually and in combination.
Time, tense and viewpoint shift across languages: A Multiple-Parallel-Text approach to “tense shifting” in a tenseless language
Authors: Lu Wei-lun
Published: May 2019

The paper discusses the role of tense and time from a cross-linguistic perspective by comparing English (a tensed language) and Mandarin (a language without formal tense marking). Multiple translations of the same literary piece are used to test the correspondence between the tense, the perfective aspect and temporal adverbials. In English, tense marking is found to work with at least two language-specific stylistic means, clause interpolation and inversion, to create a mixed narrative viewpoint. In Mandarin, neither the perfective aspect nor temporal adverbials, i.e., constructions that invoke time, are systematically used across the renditions, which shows the Mandarin system’s overall indifference to time in managing viewpoint in discourse. The Mandarin renditions, in addition to an overall indifference to time, feature consistent and frequent use of reduplication as the system’s distinctive viewpoint strategy. The paper concludes with a discussion of the cognitive consequence of a language using an obligatory marking system to piggyback the function of viewpointing narratives.
Budding yeast ChEC v2
Authors: Zentner Gabe
Published: May 2019

Genome-wide mapping of protein-DNA interactions is critical for understanding gene regulation, chromatin remodeling, and other chromatin-resident processes. Formaldehyde crosslinking followed by chromatin immunoprecipitation and high-throughput sequencing (X-ChIP-seq) has been used to gain many valuable insights into genome biology. However, X-ChIP-seq has notable limitations linked to crosslinking and sonication. Native ChIP avoids these drawbacks by omitting crosslinking, but often results in poor recovery of chromatin-bound proteins. In addition, all ChIP-based methods are subject to antibody quality considerations. Enzymatic methods for mapping protein-DNA interactions, which involve fusion of a protein of interest to a DNA-modifying enzyme, have also been used to map protein-DNA interactions. We recently combined one such method, chromatin endogenous cleavage (ChEC), with high-throughput sequencing as ChEC-seq. ChEC-seq relies on fusion of a chromatin-associated protein of interest to micrococcal nuclease (MNase) to generate targeted DNA cleavage in the presence of calcium in living cells. ChEC-seq is not based on immunoprecipitation and so circumvents potential concerns with crosslinking, sonication, chromatin solubilization, and antibody quality while providing high resolution mapping with minimal background signal. We envision that ChEC-seq will be a powerful counterpart to ChIP, providing an independent means by which to both validate ChIP-seq findings and discover new insights into genomic regulation.
Effects of a nutrition education intervention on maternal nutrition knowledge, dietary intake and nutritional status among food insecure households in Kenya
Authors: Mbogori Teresia , Murimi Mary
Published: April 2019

Background: Malnutrition remains a major concern in the developing countries especially in food insecure populations. Maternal nutrition knowledge, among other factors, has been shown to improve nutritional status in children under the age of 5 years. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a nutrition education intervention on maternal nutrition knowledge, dietary intake, and nutritional status in Turkana County, Kenya.Methods: Seventy-three mothers/female caretakers with children <5 years old from Nadapal village in Turkana County were included in the study. At baseline, maternal nutritional knowledge, maternal and child nutritional status, and dietary intake were assessed. During the intervention, participants were trained on breastfeeding, complementary feeding, hygiene and sanitation. The intervention was conducted for five days with two- three hour sessions each day. Six months after the intervention, a follow-up was done to assess the effect of the intervention.Results: At baseline, 53% of the women were underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m2), 24% of the children were stunted, 20.7% wasted, and 28.6% underweight. After the intervention, maternal knowledge on length of breastfeeding and composition of complementary foods improved. There were no significant changes in nutritional status in both women and children after the intervention.Conclusions: Results from this study implied that nutrition education interventions may improve nutrition knowledge of the mothers /female caretakers. However, without provision of food, the effects of the gained nutrition knowledge may not reflect in the dietary intake or nutritional status and therefore future interventions need to include ways to reduce food insecurity.
A study on evaluating lipid profile of patients with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Abdul Majid M. , Abdul Bashet M. , Estiar Rahman M. , Sabrina Moonajilin M. , Ruhul Furkan Siddique M.
Published: April 2019

Background: The diabetic patients are at increased risk to develop lipid abnormalities (hyperlipidemia). Diabetic patients who have lipid abnormalities are more prone to develop cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the current study was to estimate lipid profiles of patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus at Savar area, Dhaka, Bangladesh.Methods: This was a multidisciplinary study conducted between January to April, 2017. A total of 105 known cases of type-2 diabetic patients were investigated. Demographic characteristics and clinical data situation of the patients were taken by interview questionnaire. About 5 ml of fasting venous blood sample was collected from each subject for biochemical analysis. Data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS-IBM) version 22.Results: Out of 105 patients, 64.8% patients were male and 35.2% were female. The mean±SD for age of patients was 47.67±5.9. The pattern of lipid abnormalities estimated was high serum triglycerides (TGs) in 58.1% patients, high serum total cholesterol (TC) in 61.9%, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in 44.8%, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) in 53.3%. Among all the variables only HDL levels was found significantly associated with age group (p=0.043). Study also revealed that, among all the variables only LDL-C level was found significantly associated with education (p=0.028) and TC level was associated with gender (p=0.003).Conclusions: Hyperlipidemia is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. Therefore maintaining good lipid profile can prevent development and progression of related complications among patient with diabetes mellitus.
Misuse of topical corticosteroids in women in Hail region Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alafnan Shumoukh S. , Alhussaini Shooq A. , Alshammarie Alya A. , Alshammari Rasha S. , Elagib Halima M.
Published: April 2019

Background: A lot of women seek to get beautified. Consequently, some of the women often resort to using the products contained corticosteroids (CS) and other kinds of cosmetics, and this significantly increased with year 2018, due to the influence of social media. Despite the benefits, that excessive use of corticosteroids leads to serious side effects.Methods: 769 electronic questionnaires were completed by women for using corticosteroids in Hail, Saudi Arabia. Statistical comparison was done using SPSS (ANOVA test) was used to compare the answers given by the participants and P values less than 0.05 were considered significant.Results: 769 women responded. More than 30.3% of the patients were in the age group 31 to 40 years. The main reason for using the topical corticosteroids was to lighten skin color and reduce wrinkles.Conclusions: Misuse of topical corticosteroids is widely spread among women in Hail city, and this due to various reasons, the most important of which is to get bleaching and get rid of skin blemishes.
A study on assessment of sleep quality amongst patients attending a rural hospital in Kancheepuram, Tamilnadu, India
Authors: Ganesan Vijayakrishnan , Ganesan Dinesh Kumar , Fulse Gayatri , Shah Jhara
Published: April 2019

Background: Sleep is the state, in which the organism temporarily, partially and periodically loses its interaction with surroundings at different intensities and which can be reversed with stimuli. Sleep deficiency in sleep is linked with many physical ailments. The present study was aimed at assessing the sleep quality of patients attending the outpatient department of a rural health centre in Kacheepuram, Tamilnadu.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted amongst patients attending the OPD of rural health center of a Medical College Hospital at Kancheepuram. A pretested semi structured questionnaire based on Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was used to collect data. Data were entered on and analyzed using Microsoft excel spread sheet.Results: Of the 150 participants who participated in the study 87 (58%) were males and 63 (42%) were females. In the present study there were 80 participants (53.3%) under the age of 40 years and 70 participants (46.7%) over the age of 40 years. Of the 150 participants 85.3% of them had a sleeping time <8 hrs a day and a minority of them 14.7% had a sleeping time of >8 hrs a day. The sleep quality of females was slightly better (54%) when compared to males. It was also observed that only 10 (9.7%) of the skilled workers had good quality of sleep when compared to unskilled workers.Conclusions: Our present study shows, the prevalence of poor-quality sleep was 31.3%. Various factors like gender, occupation and education were found to positively associated with poor quality sleep.
Nomophobia - mobile phone dependence, a study among students of a rural medical college
Authors: Myakal Vanita V. , Vedpathak Vinod L.
Published: April 2019

Background: Nomophobia literally means ‘no mobile phobia’ that is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. People experience symptoms of withdrawal when they are away from mobile phones. To address this problem and create awareness among medical students the present study was planned. Objectives of this study were 1)To assess prevalence of nomophobia among medical students 2) To assess pattern of mobile phone usage. 3) To know health related consequences of nomophobiaMethods: This college based cross sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students of SRTR Government Medical College, Ambajogai. All undergraduate students from 1st MBBS to final MBBS were enrolled in the study. Data was collected from a total of 346 medical students with a predesigned pretested questionnaire. “test of mobile phone dependence” (TMD Brief) was used to assess nomophobia. TMD brief scale was designed and validated by Chóliz et al. According to scores, medical students scoring 30-60 were labeled as having nomophobia. Data was analyzed using Epi info 7 Software.Results: The prevalence of nomophobia was 71.39%, which was more among males (73%) compared to females (69.94%). ‘Disturbance of sleep’ (41.33%) was most common symptom experienced due to mobile phone dependence. Study participants belonging to nuclear family, 3rd year MBBS batch, age group of 20-22 years and students spending Rs. >400/month on mobile phones were significantly associated with nomophobia.Conclusions: The present study has reported prevalence of nomophobia as 71.39% among undergraduate medical students which is very high. Now a day’s nomophobia is an alarming issue and it should be addressed on priority basis.
Morbidity profile among housekeeping workers in a tertiary care hospital, South India
Authors: Jose Femina , Nisha Catherin , Jerome Kerline , Paul Jini
Published: April 2019

Background: Housekeeping staff play an important role in maintaining the health and hygiene in the hospitals. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that more than 125 million workers are victims of occupational accidents and diseases in a single year. Each year an estimated 2.2 million men and women die from work related injuries and diseases and 160 million cases of new diseases arise globally. The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of existing morbidities among housekeeping workers at a tertiary care hospital in South India.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken in a private tertiary care hospital in south India for a period of one year (2017 September – 2018 September). Housekeeping workers who had work experience of more than one year in the current work place were enrolled in the study (n=168). The health of the workers was assessed to pick up the prevalence of various morbidities.Results: In the study population majority 133 (79.2%) were females and most of them 117 (69.64%) were in the age group of 30-49 years. There was statistically significant difference between work tenure and hypertension and diabetes (p<0.05). The common morbidities found among the study population was dental carries 111 (66.0%), pallor 24 (14.0%) and musculoskeletal disorders 20 (11.9%).Conclusions: Periodic examination and immediate corrective measures are advisable to protect the health of employees at risk. Stress management principles can be implemented to enhance physical and mental health. There is need for safety training program for housekeeping workers in the hospital.
A KAP study on water, sanitation and hygiene among residents of Parla village, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh
Authors: Hothur Rekha , Arepalli Sreedevi , Doddoju Veera Bhadreshwara Anusha
Published: April 2019

Background: Ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation for rural people is the key catalyst for economic and human growth. However extreme poverty inhibits a significant portion of rural population from getting access to sanitation facilities and safe drinking water services. The study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitudes and Practices (KAP) with regard to water, sanitation and hygienic practices and to identify the socio-demographic factors in relation.Methods: A cross-sectional study sample comprising of 236 households was conducted in the rural field practice area after obtaining Institutional Ethics Committee approval. Proportionate sample of 20% households were taken from each ward and houses were selected by systematic random sampling method. Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding water, sanitation and hygiene were assessed using pretested semi-structured questionnaire.Results: Out of 236 households majority interviewed were females 169 (71.6%), illiterate (54.2%) and unskilled workers 122 (51.7%) belonging to class V socio-economic status 165 (69.9%). Household lavatory is absent in 114 (48.3%) households. Out of 122 (51.7%) households having sanitary lavatories only 59 (48.4%) were fully utilizing them remaining 63 (51.6%) households were going to open defecation even though sanitary lavatory was present. A significant association between defecation practice and socio-economic status, education were observed.Conclusions: This study shows that even though they have sufficient knowledge on water purification, Sanitation and hygiene this was not translated into practice because of poor attitude.
Knowledge, attitude and practices of contraception among urban women in Mangaluru, Karnataka
Authors: George Jibi Stephen , Kumar Hemant
Published: April 2019

Background: India with 50% percent of its population in reproductive age group is the second most populous country in the world with an estimated population of 1.37 billion and if measures are not taken; it is likely to rise to 1.68 billion by the year 2050.The answer lies in promoting small family norms by modern contraceptive methods with the proposed goal of 75% coverage by 2030. In the backdrop of above present research was conceived to study, the knowledge, attitude and practices of contraception among urban women in Mangaluru, Karnataka.Methods: Present study is a cross sectional study. A total of 110 urban women were evaluated with the help of a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire for the knowledge, attitude and practices on various prevalent contraceptive methods.Results: Though all the participants were found to be aware of available contraceptives, only 57.3% of them had used one or the other method in their life time. The attitude of large majority (82.7%) of study subjects was found to be positive. The most commonly used contraceptive was condom 73.9%, followed by oral pills (39.2%) and Copper -T (23.9%). Desire for male child (30.1%), lack of awareness (15.1%) and fear of side effects (11.3%) were cited as the main barriers to the use of contraceptives.Conclusions: The study brings out the need for health educational strategies to create awareness in the community on family planning and contraceptive methods.
Prevalence of asthenopia among computer operators in Central India and effectiveness of educational intervention
Authors: Arshad Shoaib , Khan Amreen , Pal D. K. , Melwani Veena , Verma Shipra , Sawlani Harshima
Published: April 2019

Background: Objective was to study the prevalence of asthenopic symptoms among computer operators in central India and assess the change in their practices related to factors affecting asthenopia symptoms and relief measures..Methods: Longitudinal Educational Interventional Study, done on 150 employees of computer based company offices of Bhopal city in duration of 3 months from August 2018 to October 2018 after obtaining Ethical clearance from the institutional ethics committee and they were asked to fill a pre-tested questionnaire, after obtaining their verbal consent. Other relevant information was obtained by personal interview and inspection of their working area. The data was entered in MS excel and analysis was done using Epi-info 7 software.Results: Among the 150 participants studied, the overall prevalence of asthenopia (at least 1 symptom present) is 87.3%. The prevalence of various asthenopic symptoms varied from 85.3% (eye fatigue) to 18.7% (blurring of vision). With educational intervention, significant change was observed in symptoms and relief measures.Conclusions: Prevalence of asthenopia was found to be quite high in computer operators, especially in those who started its use at an early age. Individual as well as work-related factors were found to be associated with asthenopia.
Study on attitude of household waste management in a rural area of Northern Kerala
Authors: Kaithery Nivya Noonjiyil , Karunakaran Usha
Published: April 2019

Background: Proper waste management is a major concern of public health. It is necessary to create positive behavioural changes towards waste management among public in order to control diseases. Objectives were to determine the attitude towards solid and liquid waste management among the households of Cheruthazham Panchayat in Northern Kerala.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in Cheruthazham Panchayat, under Kalliasseri block, located in Kannur district of Kerala state from June 2017 to July 2018. A total of 400 households were studied. Multistage sampling was done. Data was collected by direct interview using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS software.Results: The participants responsible for the waste management in household were women. Out of the 400 participants, 83%, 11% and 6% were Hindus, Muslims and Christians respectively. Majority of them (82%) had an educational qualification of high school and above. Most of them (82.5%) were housewives. About 47% of the study population belongs to upper middle class. Their major sources of information about solid waste management were kudumbasree class. In the study, 93.8% of the study population had above average attitude and 6.2% had below average attitude. Almost 70% had the belief that government is not doing anything to fix the garbage problem. About 97%, 88.6% and 92% were willing to do composting, segregation and recycling of waste respectively.Conclusions: Majority of the participants had above average attitude towards household waste management. Continuous awareness programmes have to be conducted on safe waste disposal and efforts should be made to sustain the supervision of household waste management.
Study on depression among elderly people in an urban slum of Raichur
Authors: Ganganapalli Vandana , N. Sujatha , Kurre Bhaskar
Published: April 2019

Background: Globally, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression. With an ageing population, depression among the elderly is likely to increase in the coming years, with higher prevalence among the elderly people than that in the general adult population. This study was intended to know the prevalence of depression and factors associated with depression among elderly people.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban field practice area of Navodaya Medical College, Raichur. A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to interview the elderly person, after taking verbal consent. Depression was assessed using geriatric depression scale (short version). The study duration was from 1st September 2018 – 31st December, 2018 with 360 sample size.Results: Out of 360 elderly people, the prevalence of depression was found to be 31.4 %. The prevalence of depression was more in females 31.9% (63 out of 197). Significant association of depression was noted with age, socio-economic status, marital status, type of family, education and occupation with p<0.05.Conclusions: Around 1/3rd of the study participants were found to be suffering from depression. Depression was significantly associated with age, illiteracy, nuclear family, dependent on family members. Family support to the elderly population may prevent depression.
Infant feeding practices among mothers in rural Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh
Authors: Uppiretla Suresh Babu , Mishra Sushant Kumar , Rachakulla Hari Kumar
Published: April 2019

Background: Maternal and child under nutrition remain extensive in low and middle-income population groups. Safe delivery practices and adequate nutrition during infancy is essential to ensure health, growth, and development of a child. Early under nutrition has a long-lasting effect on physical and cognitive growth. So it is essential to assess and promote the healthy child feeding & caring practices in the vulnerable groups.Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to enrol 160 mothers of infants by probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling procedure for 5 months in the field practicing areas of GSL Medical College. Primary data was collected through a validated questionnaire with variables of socio-demography, intra-natal, and infant feeding practices. Secondary data was obtained from MCP cards. The analysis was done using SPSS trial version 18, results were expressed as percentages and proportions and Chi-square test was used to assess the association.Results: Majorities (90%) of the deliveries are institutional and the proportion of low birth weight was found to be 12.5%. Breastfeeding was initiated within 1st hour after delivery among 75.6% infants and 79.1% of the infants of 6-11m were reportedly exclusively breast fed. Working status and literacy status of mother are significantly associated with infant feeding practices.Conclusions: In spite of many programmes targeted for promoting safe intra natal and infant feeding practices this study finds a relatively high proportion of faulty practices prevalent in rural areas.
Socio-demographic co-relates of depression among housewives in rural area of district Ludhiana
Authors: . Urvashi , Girdhar Sangeeta , Chaudhary Anurag , Gupta Sanjay , Monga Shamim
Published: April 2019

Background: Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in general practice. It is much more common among women than men, with female/male ratio roughly 2:1. In today’s hectic life, stress is increasing in housewives. Very few data is available on depression among housewives in India. So the present study is aimed to assess the prevalence of depression and study its epidemiological co-relates among housewives aged 18-59 years in rural area of district Ludhiana. Objectives were to assess depression among housewives aged 18-59 years in a rural area and determine the association of depression with socio-demographic co-relates.Methods: This study is a community based cross-sectional study carried out in the field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab. 300 subjects were selected by systematic random sampling. Assessment of depression among the housewives was done by using Patient Health Questionnare-9 (PHQ-9).Results: In the present study, 43% of the subjects were found to have depression. Mean age of subjects with depression was found to be 42.4 (±10.3) years. There was an increasing trend of depression among housewives with increasing age (p=0.000). Inverse relationship was found between level of education and depression (p=0.000). Lower socio-economic status was found to be associated with higher rates of depression (p=0.039).Conclusions: Depression was seen to be on higher side among housewives in rural area of Ludhiana. Housewives should be educated about warning signs and symptoms of depression and motivated to avail the primary health care services.
COTPA 2003 compliance assessment of tobacco vendors and products: current status of an earliest smoke free Indian city
Authors: Chaudhary Ankit , Thakur Anita , Chauhan Tripti , Mahajan Anjali , Barwal Vijay Kumar , Chamotra Shaina , Sachdeva Amit , Singh Baljeet
Published: April 2019

Background: Tobacco smoking is a global phenomenon, associated not only with health but also with other issues like employment, trade and revenue. However, the ill aspects of tobacco outweigh any productivity related to it. Various regulatory measures have been devised to control this menace at national as well as international level. In India, COTPA-2003 legislation intends to control and regulate tobacco consumption, advertisement and trade.Methods: The present study assessed the compliance of 157 points of sale and 59 tobacco products to the Sections 5,7,8,9 and 10 of the smoke free legislation using a structured observational checklist.Results: In total (41%) POS were advertising tobacco in one or other form with product showcasing (64%) being the most common modality of advertisement. Actual advertisement boards were seen at only 14.6% of POS. About 87% of the advertisement boards carried a health warning. Loose cigarettes were being sold at about 77% of the POS. All tobacco products available in the city were observed to display good compliance; however none of the smoke product displayed nicotine and tar content on the pack.Conclusions: Negligible number of PoS was seen to display an actual advertisement. Almost all tobacco products displayed good compliance to the Act. The striking shortcoming was the absence of nicotine and tar content on the package of the product even after 16 years of enactment. Discrepancies need to be addressed appropriately supplemented with aggressive monitoring of adherence to the Act in order to sustain the smoke free status of the city.
Seroprevalence of TORCH infection among pregnant women
Authors: Sahu Susanta Kumar , Pradhan Subrat Kumar , Nayak Lal Mohan
Published: April 2019

Background: TORCH infection complex during pregnancy has bad obstetric outcomes starting from low birth weight to congenital anomalies, sensory neural deafness, mental retardation, cerebral palsy and sometimes to fatal outcomes like abortion and still birth. As these diseases remain mostly asymptomatic these are rarely tested during pregnancy. Serology is the mainstay of diagnosing these infections..Methods: A cross sectional study was undertaken to estimate the burden of these infections in a rural belt of western Odisha where majority of the population depend upon agricultural work. A total number of 402 antenatal cases were screened by ELISA test for presence of IgG&IgM antibodies against toxoplasma, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 & 2; RPR test was done to know seroprevalence of Syphilis.Results: It was found that Rubella is the most predominant infection being positive in 69.1% of the cases (IgG 68.4%, IgM 0.5%, and both IgG&IgM 0.25%), followed by CMV infection-66.7% (IgG 57.2%, IgM 1.7%, both 7.7%), Toxoplasma infection-39.8% (IgG 38.3%, IgM 0.7%, both 0.7%), HSV 1-23.6% (IgG 21.1%, IgM 2%, both 0.25%) and HSV 2 – 13.2% (IgG 11.7%, IgM 1.6%, both 0.25%). The seoprevalence of syphilis by RPR was least common with 0.5%.Conclusions: This study showed that most of the infections have occurred by 20 years of age and before or during the 1st pregnancy. It is less common among the antenatal cases who have better education and have spouses servicing in private or government sectors signifying the more health and sanitation awareness among this group.
Time series analysis of dengue cases reporting to a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Kembhavi Ravindra S. , U. S. Saurabha
Published: April 2019

Background: Dengue fever is a major public health problem, the concern is high as the disease is closely related to climate change.Methods: This was a retrospective study, conducted for 1 year in a tertiary care hospital in the city of Mumbai. Data of Dengue cases and climate for the city of Mumbai between 2011 and 2015 were obtained. Data was analysed using SPSS- time series analysis and forecasting model.Results: 33% cases belonged to the 21-30 years, proportion of men affected were more than women. A seasonal distribution of cases was observed. A strong correlation was noted between the total number of cases reported and (a) mean monthly rainfall and (b) number of days of rainfall. ARIMA model was used for forecasting.Conclusions: The trend analysis along with forecasting model helps in being prepared for the year ahead.
Prevalence of mental health problems by using strength and difficulty questionnaire in school going adolescents (11-17 years) of Jaipur city, Rajasthan
Authors: Shekhawat Rekha , Sharma Nikita , Sodha Vikram S.
Published: April 2019

Background: Adolescents constituting 21% of India’s population. Most mental disorders begin before age 14, though they are often first detected later in life. Detecting these disorders and individual prone to these disorders at earlier ages can facilitate better treatment. With this in mind the present study was planned to find out the prevalence and pattern of mental health problem and their association with socio-demographic factors (age, gender, religion and socio-economic status) in school going adolescents in Jaipur.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 994 school going adolescents (11-17 years) studying in 6th to 12th class of Jaipur city, Rajasthan. The simple random sampling and self reported version of Strength & Difficulty questionnaire (SDQ) were used to assess mental health. Chi-square was used to test significance.Results: The 8.35% school going adolescents had abnormal SDQ score indicating probable mental disorders. The borderline and normal adolescents on total difficulty score were 14.19%, 77.46% respectively. Conduct Problem was the most prevalent (12%), followed by emotional (10%), peer (7%), hyperactivity (6%) and prosocial problem (5%). Impact of total difficulty was abnormal in 13.78% adolescents. The age and SES were found significantly associated with mental health problems (p<0.05). The mental health was not associated with gender, religion and school type.Conclusions: The proportion of borderline and abnormal adolescents was more than one fifth on total difficulty score that need further evaluation and appropriate counselling/treatment by psychiatrist.