Health status, health behaviour and healthcare use among migrants in the UK: Evidence from mothers in the Millennium Cohort Study

The health of migrants in the UK and their access to healthcare is of considerable policy interest. There is evidence of ethnic inequalities in health and access to and use of healthcare but insufficient consideration of the importance of birth abroad and length of residence in the UK. This study examines indicators of health status, behaviour and healthcare use among mothers of infants in the Millennium Cohort Study, according to whether born in the UK or abroad, individual ethnic grouping, and length of residence. Our findings show there are both positive and negative health indicators associated with ethnicity, birth abroad, and length of residence and presenting results on a single factor in isolation could lead to a misinterpretation of associations. For mothers ethnicity has an important relationship with most health indicators independent of country of birth, length of residence and socio-demographic circumstances. Once adjusted for ethnicity and socio-demographic variables, association with birth abroad disappears for most health outcomes suggesting that there may not be an independent migrant penalty in health. There is a linear trend in decreasing health status with increasing length of residence but no independent association between length of residence and healthcare use. This suggests that while there are continuing barriers to good health for migrants in the receiving society as shown in other studies, factors important for one health outcome may not apply to another. Our findings challenge linear acculturation models for migrants' health in showing that a linear trend in improving socio-economic circumstances for mothers in some ethnic groups is not always associated with better health outcomes or changes in health behaviour. Our results point to a need for a comprehensive collection of information and analysis for all categories of migrants for understanding patterns of and factors underlying health and use of healthcare

On the diffusion of lattice matched InGaAs/InP microstructures

Copyright (2003) American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. The following article appeared in F. Bollet et al., J. Appl. Phys. 93, 3881 (2003) and may be found at http://link.aip.org/link/?jap/93/388

Storage life of silverbelly (Leiognathus sp.) with delayed icing

Silver belly (leiognathus splendens) caught in September spoiled faster than the fish caught in May. This could be due to seasonal changes. For silver belly, Total Volatile Base (TVB) value could be used as a measure of spoilage. At the beginning of spoilage TVB value is between 30-40 mg. N/100g sample. The main spoilage for silver belly appears to start between 6 and 8 hours (at 28° C-30°C) after landing on board. Therefore it is not necessary to ice silverbelly immediately; it seems to be sufficient if icing can be done within 6 hours of landing on board

The GP Tests of Competence assessment: which part best predicts fitness to practise decisions?

BACKGROUND: The General Medical Council (GMC) conducts Tests of Competence (ToC) for doctors referred for Fitness to Practise (FtP) issues. GPs take a single best answer knowledge test, an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), and a Simulated Surgery (SimSurg) assessment which is a simulated GP consultation. The aim of this study was to examine the similarities between OSCEs and SimSurg to determine whether each assessment contributed something unique to GP ToCs. METHODS: A mixed methods approach was used. Data were collated on 153 GPs who were required to undertake a ToC as a part of being investigated for FtP issues between February 2010 and October 2016. Using correlation analysis, we examined to what degree performance on the knowledge test, OSCE, and SimSurg related to case examiner recommendations and FtP outcomes, including the unique predictive power of these three assessments. The outcome measures were case examiner recommendations (i) not fit to practise; ii) fit to practise on a limited basis; or iii) fit to practise) as well as FtP outcomes (i) erased/removed from the register; ii) having restrictions/conditions; or iii) be in good standing). For the qualitative component, 45 GP assessors were asked to rate whether they assess the same competencies and which assessment provides better feedback about candidates. RESULTS: There was significant overlap between OSCEs and SimSurg, p < 0.001. SimSurg had additional predictive power in the presence of OSCEs and the knowledge test (p = 0.030) in distinguishing doctors from different FtP categories, while OSCEs did not (p = 0.080). Both the OSCEs (p = 0.004) and SimSurg (p < 0.001) had significant negative correlations with case examiner recommendations when accounting for the effects of the other two assessments. Inductive thematic analysis of the responses to the questionnaire showed that assessors perceived OSCEs to be better suited to target specific knowledge and skills. SimSurg was thought to produce a more global picture as the scenarios more accurately portray a patient consultation. CONCLUSION: While all three assessments are strong predictors of both case examiner recommendations and FtP outcomes, our findings suggest that the efficiency of GP ToCs can be improved by removing some of this overlapping content

Investigation of Zinc removal capacities of different sorbent materials to be used in constructed wetlands

ABSTRACTIt has been found over the past couple of years that health hazards associated with heavy metals havebeen on the rise, particularly the chronic diseases. Lack of tertiary treatment of wastewater may havecontributed to this emergent problem, mainly due to the high costs involved in the removal of heavymetals. Constructed wetlands have therefore received great attention as a tertiary treatment method ora polishing technique of wastewater due to its low construction and operation costs. However, findinga low-cost sorbent material to be used as the wetland filter material, which can be used as analternative to activated carbon, has been a problem for decades. Therefore, the present study focuseson applicability of low-cost sorbent materials: viz., clay tile, brick, saw dust and rice husks, as filtermediums. Laboratory-scale experiments were performed with a synthetic Zinc solution. Resultsrevealed that clay tile material has the highest adsorption capacity (47.6 mg/g) and removal efficiency,(98%), while brick (37.0 mg/g, 86%), sawdust (20.4 mg/g, 80%) and rice husks (15.8 mg/g, 64%)have relatively low adsorption capacities and removal efficiencies, respectively. The separation factorof equilibrium (RL) indicates favourable isotherms (0&lt; RL&lt;1) for all tested sorbent materials. Amongthe studied materials clay tile, brick and rice husks are good adsorbents for Zinc (n&gt;2) while sawdustis a moderately difficult material for adsorption of Zinc (n &lt;2).Keywords: adsorption isotherms, constructed wetlands, sorbent material, Zin

Variations in neonatal mortality, infant mortality, preterm birth and birth weight in England and Wales according to ethnicity and maternal country or region of birth: an analysis of linked national data from 2006 to 2012.

BACKGROUND: Risks of adverse birth outcomes in England and Wales are relatively low but vary across ethnic groups. We aimed to explore the role of mother's country of birth on birth outcomes across ethnic groups using a large population-based linked data set. METHODS: We used a cohort of 4.6 million singleton live births in England and Wales to estimate relative risks of neonatal mortality, infant mortality and preterm birth, and differences in birth weight, comparing infants of UK-born mothers to infants whose mothers were born in their countries or regions of ethnic origin, or elsewhere. RESULTS: The crude neonatal and infant death risks were 2.1 and 3.2 per 1000, respectively, the crude preterm birth risk was 5.6% and the crude mean birth weight was 3.36 kg. Pooling across all ethnic groups, infants of mothers born in their countries or regions of ethnic origin had lower adjusted risks of death and preterm birth, and higher gestational age-adjusted mean birth weights than those of UK-born mothers. White British infants of non-UK-born mothers had slightly lower gestational age-adjusted mean birth weights than White British infants of UK-born mothers (mean difference -3 g, 95% CI -5 g to -0.3 g). Pakistani infants of Pakistan-born mothers had lower adjusted risks of neonatal death (adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 0.84, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.98), infant death (aRR 0.84, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.94) and preterm birth (aRR 0.85, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.88) than Pakistani infants of UK-born Pakistani mothers. Indian infants of India-born mothers had lower adjusted preterm birth risk (aRR 0.91, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.96) than Indian infants of UK-born Indian mothers. There was no evidence of a difference by mother's country of birth in risk of birth outcomes among Black infants, except Black Caribbean infants of mothers born in neither the UK nor their region of origin, who had higher neonatal death risks (aRR 1.71, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.76). CONCLUSION: This study highlights evidence of better birth outcomes among UK-born infants of non-UK-born minority ethnic group mothers, and could inform the design of future interventions to reduce the risks of adverse birth outcomes through improved targeting of at-risk groups

Are Green Jobs Sustainable for Sri Lankan Economy?

It is imperative that Sri Lanka grasps the concepts of green jobs to meet the most vital but intricatechallenge of the 21st Century, which is the transformation to a sustainable and a low-carbon economy.Such a transformation or a paradigm shift, which can be gradual or rapid depending on the circumstances,will undoubtedly have a considerable positive effect on the way we produce and/or consume goods andservices. The speed at which this transformation would occur is likely to accelerate in the near future asthere is a trend of global transition from a traditional to a low-carbon economy, in order to attainsustainable economies. Such trends will help create an array of different forms of green jobs across manysectors, and most probably can become a catalyst for further development. The International LabourOrganization (ILO) has defined green jobs as “Jobs created when they help in reducing the negativeenvironmental impacts ultimately leading to environmentally, economically and socially sustainableenterprises and economies”. Green jobs, in general, stand on two pillars: decent work and environmentalsustainability. Thus, green jobs can be defined as decent work that contributes to environmentalsustainability. In a broader sense decent work needs to address the core of international labour standardssuch as freedom of association and effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, eliminationof all forms of forced or compulsory labour, effective abolition of child labour, elimination ofdiscrimination in respect of employment and occupation, occupational health and safety, etc. whilstaligning to laws applicable to Sri Lanka. Environmental sustainability addresses issues such as effectivelycombating climate change, pollution prevention and control, conservation of eco-systems and biodiversityetc. (ILO, 2007)

Zinc adsorption by lowcost sorbent materials: clay tile, Brick, sawdust and rice husk

It has been found over the past couple of years rapid growth of population, industrialization and urbanization has first and foremost contributed to the severe water pollution in both surface and ground water. The health hazards associated with heavy metals have been on the rise, particularly the chronic diseases. Lack of tertiary treatment of wastewater may have contributed to this emergent problem, adsorption process is considered as the best available water treatment method and activated carbon has proven to be the best sorbent material which can be used in removing wide variety of pollutants. However, usage of this activated carbon becomes restrict due to its high cost and regeneration cost. Therefore, the present study focuses on low-cost sorbent materials: viz., clay tile, brick, sawdust and rice husks. Laboratory-scale experiments were performed with a synthetic Zinc solution. Results revealed that clay tile material has the highest adsorption capacity (47.6 mg/g) and removal efficiency, (98%), while brick (37.0 mg/g, 86%), sawdust (20.4 mg/g, 80%) and rice husks (15.8 mg/g, 64%) have relatively low adsorption capacities and removal efficiencies, respectively. The separation factor of equilibrium (RL) indicates favourable isotherms (0< RL<1) for all tested sorbent materials. Among the studied materials clay tile, brick and rice husks are good adsorbent for Zinc (n>2) while sawdust is a moderately difficult material for adsorption of Zinc (n <2)