Grammatical categories of the verbal piece in Nzema.

The thesis is divided into seven chapters and is mainly devoted to an analysis, in formal terms, of the grammatical categories of mood, polarity, tense, person, number, transitivity and aspect that need to be set up for a synchronic description of the verbal piece in Nzema. The introductory first chapter presents a general classification of the verb as a linguistic unit in the grammar, the characteristic phonological features of the verb word and its grammatical features; and, as a convenient reference, a summary of the grammatical categories set up together with the systems of their terms is provided. Chapter 2 presents, as a necessary background, a phonetic and phonological description of the speech sounds of Nzema. The remaining chapters 3-7 contain the main body of the analysis of the grammatical categories. Chapter 3 deals with the three terms of indicative, interrogative and imperative set up within the category of Mood. Chapter 4 considers the category of Polarity in its specific relation to imperative mood clauses and treats together the two categories of Polarity and Tense as they relate to indicative and interrogative mood clauses. In the description of the various tense forms and their distinctive features, two contexts, marked by a nominal phrase or pronominal subject, are selected for the examples. Chapter 5 presents together the closely-related categories of Person and Number. Chapter 6 deals with the sets of grammatical relations between the verb and any items that may follow it in the clause by means of the seven terms; transitive, complex transitive, intransitive, complex semi-transitive, semi-transitive, ditransitive and relational within the category of Transitivity. A sub-classification of the verbs capable of occurring in each transitivity clause-type is also provided. Finally, Chapter 7 treats the tripartite distinction between normal and ingressive, dynamic and stative, and causative and non-causative within the category of Aspect

Childbearing women of twenty and under are at greater risk than those of twenty-five and over for compromised folate status

This study assessed folate intakes, folate concentrations in plasma and erythrocytes, plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration, and urinary excretion of folate metabolites in Korean women with childbearing potential. A total of 23 women voluntarily participated in this study. Precise dietary intakes for 3 consecutive days were determined by weighing all foods consumed and folate intake was calculated using a computer-aided dietary analysis system. Folate concentration of plasma and erythrocytes was determined by a microbiological method. Plasma tHcy concentration was assayed using an HPLC analysis method. Urine excreted over the same period of time was collected and folate catabolites, para-aminobenzoylglutamate (pABG) and para-acetamidobenzoylglutamate (ApABG), were evaluated using a reverse-phase HPLC method after affinity chromatography. Young women of 20 and under were likely to consume less folate with low energy intake, had lower folate concentration in plasma and erythrocytes, and excreted a lesser amount of ApABG and total folate catabolites than women of 25 years and over. The results of this study confirmed that young Korean women with childbearing potential, especially those under 21 years of age, might be at risk for compromised folate status due to insufficient folate intakes from inadequate energy consumption

Association between pregnancy intention and optimal breastfeeding practices in the Philippines: a cross-sectional study¹

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The effect of pregnancy intention on post-natal practices like breastfeeding is still poorly understood in the Philippines. In this light, this study aims to determine the association between pregnancy intention and optimal breastfeeding practices in the Philippines.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a cross-sectional study design using the 2003 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent association of pregnancy intention and optimal breastfeeding practices. The study includes 3,044 last-born children aged 6–36 months at the time of survey. Dead children were also included as long as their age of death satisfies the age criterion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Children born from mistimed pregnancies are more likely to have late breastfeeding initiation compared to children born from wanted pregnancies (OR = 1.44; 90%CI: 1.17-1.78). However, this occurs only among children belonging to households with low socio-economic status. Among children belonging to households with high socio-economic status, no significant effect of pregnancy intention on breastfeeding initiation was observed. Children born from unwanted pregnancies are less likely to have short breastfeeding duration (OR = 0.60; 90%CI: 0.48-0.76). However, this occurs only among children belonging to households with high socioeconomic status. No significant effect of pregnancy intention on breastfeeding duration was observed among children belonging to households with low socio-economic status.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings of this study suggest that there are different effects of pregnancy intention on the two types of optimal breastfeeding practices examined. With regards to breastfeeding duration, it was found that among infants belonging to high SES, the odds of having short breastfeeding duration is lower among children born from unwanted pregnancies compared to children born from wanted one. Conversely, children belonging to low SES household, the odds of having late breastfeeding initiation among children born from mistimed pregnancies are higher compared to children born from wanted pregnancies.</p