Bacteriological profile and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of neonatal septicaemia in patients of neonatal intensive care unit, by BACTEC in a tertiary care hospital, Vadodara

Background: Neonatal septicemia is the major cause of mortality and morbidity in developing countries like India. It is an ongoing major global public health challenge with major contribution from neonatal sepsis. Objective were to study the prevalent organisms and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern of neonatal septicemia in NICU by BACTEC and neonatal factors and maternal factors associated with neonatal sepsis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from December 2020 to September 2021. Blood samples were taken from the suspected cases admitted to NICU for culture and antimicrobial susceptibility test. A total of 103 blood culture-proven neonatal sepsis patients were enrolled in this study. Results: Out of 103 neonates having blood culture-proven sepsis, septicemia was most common in males (53.4%), preterm (73.4%), and low birth weight (61.2%), with vaginal mode of delivery (51.5%). Neonatal septicemia was predominantly caused by gram-positive methicillin resistant coagulase negative Staphylococci (CONS) (28.15%). Among the all-gram-positive organism, vancomycin was the most sensitive drug followed by linezolid. For the gram-negative organisms, piperacillin/ tazobactam was the most sensitive drug followed by meropenem. Turnaround time of an automated BACTEC system for reporting culture positivity along with antimicrobial susceptibility was most commonly within 3 days (55.34%). Conclusions: A high level of suspicion is needed on clinical grounds for the diagnosis of neonatal septicemia. Early onset septicemia is more common which can be curtailed by clean vaginal deliveries. Prematurity and low birth remain the major presentation for admission to NICU followed by respiratory distress syndrome. Maternal risk factors are associated with an increase in the incidence of neonatal septicemia. Septic screen markers are important in the presumptive diagnosis of sepsis in neonates along with the correlation of clinical presentation. The yield of reporting culture-proven sepsis neonates is more rapid with an automated BACTEC system as compared to conventional blood culture methods

Sleep and mental wellbeing in young people : The role of electronic media use and school start times

Research on the sleep of young people (12-24 years) has examined determinants and consequences of poor sleep. Poor mental health and wellbeing is one consequence that has received sustained empirical focus. In recent years, the rapid uptake of electronic and social media use has been regarded as an important risk factor for poor sleep. Avenues for improving sleep have focused on targeting these behaviours, but also addressing systemic factors such as school start times. This dissertation explores the relationships between these variables, and focusses on understanding how sleep problems within this population can be improved. Chapter 1 introduces the topic and provides an overview of the literature. Chapter 2 discusses the theoretical underpinnings, by reviewing Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory of human development and the two-process model of sleep. Developmental changes occurring in sleep during adolescence are explored, and how electronic media use and school start times impact sleep during this time are discussed. Chapter 3 presents the research questions. Chapter 4 examines a 25-minute school-based intervention aimed at improving sleep of adolescents by addressing sleep hygiene behaviours of bedtime electronic media use. Though bedtime electronic media use decreased for those in the Intervention Group, it did not reflect in changes in sleep or wellbeing. Chapter 5 explores the temporal links between bedtime social media use, sleep and affective wellbeing in young adults, by using an experience sampling methodology. Bedtime media use did not predict sleep the same night or affective wellbeing the following day for healthy participants. Chapter 6 evaluates the impact of a policy-level decision of delaying school start times for all public schools in the Swiss city of Basel, on the sleep duration and mental wellbeing of adolescents. The 20-minute delay did not lead to long-term improvements in sleep or wellbeing. Chapter 7 presents the overall findings, implications and avenues for future research, as well as a critical evaluation of the studies

The influence of sleep on subjective well-being: An experience sampling study

Previous research has associated sleep with subjective well-being (SWB), but less is known about the underlying within-person processes. In the current study, we investigated how self-reported and actigraphy-measured sleep parameters (sleep onset latency, sleep duration, sleep satisfaction, social jetlag, and sleep efficiency) influence SWB (positive affect [PA], negative affect [NA], and life satisfaction [LS]) at the within- and between-person levels. Multilevel analyses of data from 109 university students who completed a 2-week experience sampling study revealed that higher within-person sleep satisfaction was a significant predictor of all three components of next day's SWB (ps < .005). Higher between-person sleep satisfaction was also related to higher levels of PA and LS (ps < .005), whereas shorter self-reported between-person sleep onset latency was associated with higher PA and LS, and lower NA (ps < .05). However, longer actigraphy-measured within-person sleep onset latency was associated with higher next day's LS (p = .028). When including within- and between-person sleep parameters into the same models predicting SWB, only within- and between-person sleep satisfaction remained a significant predictor of all components of SWB. Additionally, we found an effect of higher self-reported within-person sleep onset latency on PA and of shorter self-reported within-person sleep duration on LS (ps < .05). Our results indicate that the evaluative component of sleep-sleep satisfaction-is most consistently linked with SWB. Thus, sleep interventions that are successful in not only altering sleep patterns but also enhancing sleep satisfaction may stand a better chance at improving students' SWB. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Alimentação saudável na educação infantil : projeto de intervenção

Orientadora: Profª MSc. Shirley BollerMonografia (especialização) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curso de Especialização em Saúde para Professores do Ensino Fundamental e MédioInclui referênciasResumo : O presente trabalho é resultado do projeto de intervenção que visou orientar os alunos do pré I e pré II do Centro Municipal de Educação infantil acerca da alimentação saudável. O objetivo foi orientar os alunos do pré I e pré II do Centro Municipal de Educação infantil acerca da alimentação saudável através de atividades interdisciplinares, direcionadas e participativas. Dentre elas, revitalizar na escola a área verde produtiva para que as crianças pudessem plantar e acompanhar o desenvolvimento das hortaliças, leguminosas e plantas medicinais no meio ambiente, utilizando recursos sustentáveis. Construir cartaz coletivo e gráficos interativos onde os alunos possam reconhecer preferências, distinguir os alimentos saudáveis dos evitáveis e os que se deve consumir com moderação. Também foi utilizado material concreto, recursos lúdicos, vídeos, e histórias infantis, avental representando alguns alimentos saudáveis. O projeto foi realizado durante o período de 6 (seis) meses do segundo semestre do ano letivo de 2015, no CMEI Jardim Lindóia e toda ação foi embasada no respeito à faixa etária das crianças envolvidas. Os resultados obtidos foram registrados em mídias, cartazes, fotografias, gráficos entre outros. Foram organizadas ações dentro e fora da sala de aula, ações estas em comum acordo com a instituição escolar. Os participantes deste projeto foram os alunos, professores, funcionários, empresas e comunidade local. Ao final do projeto de intervenção constatou-se a evolução do projeto a cada ação em que os alunos apresentaram cada vez mais com maior nível de envolvimento, entusiasmo e de conscientização quanto a alimentação e a melhoria na saúde dos envolvidos

Dalit identity in urban Pokhara, Nepal

Urban migration by Nepalese Dalits has not only provided them with social, economic and educational opportunities, but also the possibility of escaping traditional caste-based discrimination. However, despite making the most of opportunities provided by the city, Dalits have not been able to pursue their political agenda to the extent of other ethnic communities. This study in the city of Pokhara, Nepal, explored Dalit identity using two rounds of focus group discussions involving a total of 23 individuals drawn from a range of Dalit caste groups with a variety of livelihoods. The results describe the caste-based discrimination experienced by the participants and the different strategies they employ to either reinvent themselves by changing names; or embracing their caste-heritage and taking advantage of affirmative action programmes. Whilst urban migration can provide some relief from discrimination, the study reveals that caste still remains prominent in the lives of Dalits in Pokhara. The paper argues that Dalit unity and elimination of intra-Dalit caste-based discrimination are needed in order to institutionalise their citizenship rights in post conflict Nepal

Effects of a 20 minutes delay in school start time on bed and wake up times, daytime tiredness, behavioral persistence, and positive attitude towards life in adolescents

Objectives Preliminary evidence suggests that delaying school start times is an effective tool for improving adolescent sleep duration. Our study assessed whether a policy driven 20-minute delay in school start times led to an increase in adolescents’ weekday bed and wake up times. Method Data collected via school satisfaction surveys concerned 663 students (45.2% females, Mean age: 14.91 years, SD = .58 years) in three lower-track secondary schools in Switzerland. Of all the students, 249 experienced a policy-driven 20-minutes school start time change (SSTc), from 7.40 am to 8.00 am between the 8th and 9th grade, while 414 students did not (Comparison Group/CG). Students filled out the survey twice, at the end of their 8th and 9th grades, respectively, and reported their weekday bed and wake up times, daytime tiredness, behavioural persistence, and positive attitude towards life. Results Generalized estimating equations models of bed and wake up times showed that there was a significant delay in both the bed and wake up times of the students in the SSTc group. Multilevel analyses revealed that students in the SSTc group did not significantly differ from CG students in daytime tiredness, behavioural persistence, and positive attitude towards life. Conclusions Findings suggest that not only wake up times but also bed times may shift later when school start times are delayed. The 20 minutes delay in school start times may have been too slight to have an impact on daytime tiredness, behavioral persistence and positive attitude towards life

Changing Trends in Cultivation Practices and Adoption of Climate Adaptive Farming in Eastern Nepal

Climate change impacts are likely to affect the agricultural production leading to further food insecurity. In this context, the trend of cereal production with climate variables was studied in order to understand the linkages between climate change and crop productivity. The study was conducted in three districts of Sagarmatha zone, namely Solukhumbu (mountain region), Okhaldhunga (hill region) and Saptari (Terai region) representing three ecological zones in Nepal. A household survey (295 households), focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used to collect data on the history of the cultivation systems, varieties of crop grown, trends on crop yield, and adaptation to climate change. Results showed farmers’ introduction of high yielding varieties of crops and vegetables due to economic benefit, while traditional varieties are no longer cultivated. The infestation of pest attack is increasingly seen since two decades, while few pests were reported to be disappeared. Although majority of farmers in Saptari and Okhaldhunga districts used pesticides as per the prescribed doses, pesticide use is still random in Solukhumbu district. The multiple comparisons of means showed that there is a significant difference in the average production of rice and maize since 30 years until recently (p<0.05) in these three districts. The average production of rice, maize and wheat increased with decreasing average annual temperature and rainfall in Saptari district since 30 years. In contrast, in Okhaldhunga and Solukhumbu districts, the average production of three cereal crops increased with increasing average annual temperature and rainfall. With the late arrival of the monsoon, farmers have adopted coping strategies particularly for rice cultivation through occasional shift in crop planting dates and selection of shorter duration crop varieties that can be harvested earl