Maternal nutrition status and foetal outcome, and customs and practices in pregnancy and lactation affecting nutrition in Sri Lanka

Data were collected on 1025 women in a cross-sectional clinic based study in rural Mawanella (Central Province) and in urban Greater Colombo. A longitudinal study was undertaken of a further 525 mothers seen in antenatal clinics and their neonates born at Kandy hospital (Central Province). Indicators of nutritional status used were maternal height, maternal weight, antenatal weight, antenatal BMI, non-pregnant BMI, MUAC, anaemia <8g/dl indicated by copper sulphate solution. Indicators of pregnancy outcomes used were maternal postnatal BMI, birthweight, birth length, neonatal head, ponderal index, asymmetric growth, and weight/length. The population was heterogeneous with a large range of height (32 cm in the urban and 36 cm in the rural). Babies of taller mothers were significantly heavier and longer yet mothers of all heights had babies of similar ponderal index suggesting all babies could be considered equally well-grown. Five height specific fetal growth charts were developed from the height specific median weights found at 20 weeks pregnancy in social class 1-3. IUGR defined by birthweight less than the 10th centile ranged from 2.35 kg on the Short chart to 2.6 kg on the Tall chart. This suggests that some babies born weighing <2500 g are not growth-retarded but well grown for their mother's height. Height appropriate fetal growth monitoring can help alert midwives and obstetricians to what size of baby is to be expected for a particular height and weight of mother. Population characteristics of factors known to be associated with IUGR are described. Paternal smoking occurred in half the study families. More than half (55%) of the non-pregnant women in Mawanella and Colombo (N = 346) had a very low BMI (< 18.8). An antenatal (8/9 months) MUAC of 22.4cm will predict an antenatal BMI <23 at 8/9 months pregnancy with positive and negative predictive values of 87% and 75%. From comparison of routine data and the study measures, recommendations are made to improve routine anthropometric measurements and assessment of growth for gestational age antenatally and neonatally. Field applications of key anthropometric procedures and anaemia assessment are described

Dinamika CO2 in procesi raztapljanja v kraški vadozni coni

The dynamics and distribution of carbon dioxide (CO2) in karst systems are crucial for understanding fundamental karst processes, namely precipitation and dissolution, which drive karst development both at the surface and underground. The study of CO2 transport provides valuable insights into the role of karst systems in the global carbon cycle and the impact on present climate, but also into the growth of speleothems, which are one of the most reliable terrestrial archives for palaeoclimate reconstruction. Due to the complexity of karst systems, long-term monitoring and high-resolution analyses of cave air and water geochemistry are essential to better understand the controlling factors that affect these processes and their outcomes. In the framework of this dissertation, cave climate and water hydrochemistry monitoring was established in a side-passages of the renowned Postojna Cave in Slovenia during 2017–2021. In the Pisani Passage, high CO2 concentrations, large temporal variations and a heterogeneous distribution of CO2, as well as extreme dissolution features, have already been detected in previous studies. The aim of the present study was to investigate these observations in depth and to find the reasons for their occurrence. This led to creating of a conceptual model for CO2 transport in karst systems that would be valid not only in this case but in karst areas worldwide. The first focus of the study is dedicated to understanding the spatio-temporal dynamics of the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) in the Pisani Passage, which is mainly transported by advection (i.e., cave ventilation). Continuous measurements of airflow velocity, air temperature and pCO2 showed (1) that airflow through the karst massif is driven by both the action of the chimney effect and external winds, and (2) that the relationship between the direction of airflow, the configuration of airflow pathways and the connection to the outside explains the observed variations in pCO2. Due to the particular configuration of the airflow pathways, the terminal chamber of Pisani Passage accumulates high levels of CO2 (>10,000 ppm) and forms high vertical gradients of up to 1000 ppm/m. The pCO2 is low and uniform during updraft when outside air flows into the cave chamber through open, unobstructed passages (i.e., high-flow, low-pCO2 pathways). When the airflow reverses direction to downdraft, the chamber is fed by low-flow, high-pCO2 pathways that enter the cave passage through a CO2-rich fracture network embedded in a vadose zone. The spatial distribution of inlets and outlets results in minimal mixing between the low and high pCO2 pathways, leading to high and persistent pCO2 gradients. In addition to the chimney effect driving the seasonal ventilation of the cave, the specific signs of a secondary wind-driven effect were also foundwhich is the second focus of this study. Wind flow over irregular topography leads to near-surface air pressure variations, and thus, pressure differences between cave entrances at different locations. Pressure differences depend on wind speed and direction and their relationship to surface topography and the location of cave entrances. Winds can act in the same or opposite direction as the chimney effect, either enhancing, diminishing or even reversing the direction of density-driven airflows. In the case of Postojna Cave, north and northeast winds enhance the downdraft and limit updraft, while the opposite is true for south winds, which enhance the updraft and limit downdraft. To investigate the importance of wind-driven flow, a computational fluid dynamics model was used to calculate the wind pressure field over Postojna Cave and the pressure differences between selected points for different configurations of wind speed and direction. These values were compared with those obtained from airflow measurements in the cave and from simple theoretical considerations. Despite the simplicity of the approach and the complexity of the caPoznavanje časovne in prostorske porazdelitve ogljikovega dioksida (CO2) v kraških sistemih je ključno za razumevanje raztapljanja in izločanja karbonatov v krasu. Ti procesi poganjajo razvoj krasa na površini in v podzemlju. Prav tako raziskave prenosa CO2 v kraških sistemih nudijo oceno pomena kraških procesov v globalnem kroženju ogljika in posledično njihovega globalnega klimatskega pomena. CO2 ima ključno vlogo pri rasti kapnikov, ki so eden najzanesljivejših kopenskih arhivov za paleoklimatske raziskave. Dolgoročna opazovanja in analize parametrov jamskega zraka in kemičnih parametrov vode v kraških jamah nam omogočajo določitev ključnih dejavnikov in mehanizmov, ki vplivajo na kraške procese. V okviru te disertacije smo v obdobju 2017–2021 vzpostavili monitoring jamskega zraka in geokemije vode v stranskih rovih Postojnske jame v Sloveniji. V Pisanem rovu so bile v prejšnjih študijah že odkrite visoke koncentracije CO2, velika časovna in prostorska spremenljivost CO2 ter sledi intenzivnega raztapljanja matične kamnine in sige. Namen te študije je raziskati in pojasniti ta opažanja z vidika temeljnih procesov v krasu in sestaviti širše veljaven konceptualni model prenosa CO2 v kraških sistemih. V prvem delu se osredotočamo na razumevanje prostorske in časovne spremenljivosti parcialnega tlaka CO2 (pCO2) v Pisanem rovu. Pri tem predpostavimo, da je glavni dejavnik prenosa CO2 naravno prezračevanje kraškega masiva. Analiza samodejnih meritev hitrosti zračnega toka, temperature zraka in pCO2 v visoki časovni ločljivosti je pokazala da: (1) pretok zraka skozi kraški masiv poganjata učinek dimnika (vzgon) in tlačne razlike, ki jih povzročajo zunanji vetrovi, (2) opaženo prostorsko in časovno porazdelitev CO2 lahko pojasnimo z razmerjem med smerjo podzemnega zračnega toka in konfiguracijo zračnih poti, ki povezujejo jamo z zunanjo atmosfero. Zaradi teh dejavnikov v končni dvorani Pisanega rova opazujemo izjemno časovno in prostorsko spremenljivost koncentracije CO2 v zraku. V zimskem režimu, ko zunanji zrak priteka v dvorano skozi glavni jamski vhod in velike dobro prezračene rove z nizkim pCO2, je pCO2 v dvorani stalno nizek. Ko zračni tok obrne smer, v dvorano s površja zrak doteka skozi mrežo razpok, z različnim pretokom in koncentracijo CO2. Prostorska porazdelitev dotokov in iztokov povzroča minimalno mešanje med potmi z nizkim in visokim pCO2, kar vodi do močnih in obstojnih gradientov pCO2. V drugem delu naloge obravnavamo dejavnike, ki vsiljujejo tok zraka v kraškem masivu. Meritve so pokazale, da v primeru Postojnske jame poleg učinka dimnika, pretok zraka vsiljuje tudi zunanji veter. Tok vetra po nepravilnem reliefu povzroča spremembe zračnega tlaka blizu površine in posledično tlačne razlike med vhodi v jamo na različnih mestih. Te razlike so odvisne od zveze med hitrostjo in smerjo vetra ter oblikovanostjo površja in položaj jamskih vhodov. Vetrovi lahko vsiljujejo tok zraka v isti ali nasprotni smeri kot učinek dimnika, tako da povečajo, zmanjšajo, ali celo obrnejo smer zračnega toka, ki bi ga povzročal samo vzgon. V primeru Postojnske jame severni in severovzhodni veter spodbujata poletni režim in omejujeta zimski režim, južni veter pa krepi zimski režim in omejuje poletni režim naravnega prezračevanja zaradi učinka dimnika. V raziskavi smo z uporabo računske dinamike tekočin (CFD) izračunali tlačno polje vetra nad Postojnsko jamo in tlačne razlike med izbranimi točkami za različne konfiguracije hitrosti in smeri vetra. Te vrednosti smo primerjali z ocenami tlačnih razlik, ki smo jih dobili iz meritev pretoka zraka v jami in preprostih teoretičnih izhodišč. Kljub enostavnemu pristopu in kompleksnosti jamskega sistema, smo dobili zadovoljivo ujemanje. Raziskava prinaša prvo kvantitativno oceno relativnega prispevka površinskih vetrov k prezračevanju kraškega podzemlja. V tretjem delu obravnavamo tvorbo korozijskih kotlic, ki jih najdemo pod številnimi curki v končnem delu Pisanega rova. Raziskave temeljijo na st

How Preschool Teachers Use Book Sharing Strategies to Build Academic Language Skills

AbstractMeiners-Lovel, Lorraine A. PhD. The University of Memphis. Preschool Teachers Use of Book Sharing Strategies to Build Academic Language Skills. May, 2020. Emily Thrush, PhD. ArrayIt is essential to understand the role of preschool teachers in the linguistic preparation of young children for kindergarten and elementary school. This understanding becomes even more important as more American preschoolers attend group care and public universal pre-kindergarten becomes more common. Children must master the variety of language known as the academic register, academic language, or school language in order to be academically successful. Preschool teachers need to understand the features of academic language and how to communicate them to young children. This mixed methods comparative study looked at whether or not preschool teachers used various linguistic behaviors that are known to help children learn academic language during large group book sharing. It compared various teacher and child care center characteristics to see which if any produced better pedagogical methods. None of the characteristics studied produced statistically significant results. Four teachers in the study were also interviewed. These qualitative results provided a number of interesting insights into preschool teachers linguistic knowledge and how it might inform their pedagogical practice regarding teaching academic language. The results of this study could be used to help preschool teachers and administrators understand certain linguistic concepts and how to use them during story time to help children learn academic language. They might also help preschool teacher preparation programs design academic programs that teach these preliteracy pedagogical practices

Kontaktni krš u zaleđu izvora Rječine – najbrža podzemna vodna veza prema izvorima?

U radu su predstavljeni rezultati prvih speleoloških istraživanja i geomorfološki opisi pojava na kontaktnom kršu sjevernog ruba navlačne strukture Rječine u riječkom zaleđu. Područje obuhvaća malenu izvorišnu i ponornu zonu na zapadnom rubu krškog vodonosnika koji snabdijeva najveće krške izvore sjevernog Jadrana – izvor Rječine i Zvir. Rezultati prijašnjih studija trasiranja vodenih tokova pokazali su da je upravo ovdje utvrđena najbrža podzemna vodena veza prema izvorišnim zonama sjeverozapadnog ruba Grobničkog polja. U najmanju ruku to upućuje na dobro razvijenu podzemnu mrežu vodenih kanala, a time i na moguća speleološka otkrića

Jama kod Rašpora – 100 godina istraživanja najduljeg ponora Istre

Jama kod Rašpora najduži je i najdublji speleološki objekt na Ćićariji u Istri i među 10 najdužih u Republici Hrvatskoj. 2022. godine obilježava se točno 100 godina od početka prvih speleoloških istraživanja ovog ponora, a kroz to su razdoblje sudjelovali speleolozi raznih nacionalnosti iz raznih organizacija i s veoma različitom istraživačkom tehnikom i ambicijama. Jama tako ima nekoliko nacrta, a trenutno je najpotpuniji onaj objavljen 2017. godine, koji je nadopunjen početkom 2022. Shodno s dugom poviješću, jama ima bogatu bibliografiju, gdje su najbrojniji članci o opisima speleoloških istraživanja. Dok je posljednji najdetaljniji opis nedavnih istraživanja objavljen 2017. godine, ovaj članak nadopunjuje opisima najnovijih istraživanja unazad 10 godina, no nudi i razmatranja o morfologiji, morfogenezi i hidrogeologiji, te konačno, opise aktualnih perspektiva kako bi se usmjerio put ka budućim istraživanjima

Speleological Camp “Šverda 2017“

Speleološka udruga „Estavela“ organizirala je deseti jubilarni speleološki kamp na području Šverde, na krajnjem zapadu Gorskog kotara. Nakon niza manjih i kraćih kampova, ovaj se po trajanju, logistici, broju sudionika i broju istraženih objekata vratio u zlatne dane istraživanja Šverde. U 11 dana trajanja, od 14. do 25. lipnja, kroz kamp je prošlo 27 speleologa iz 8 speleoloških organizacija (SU Estavela, SK Ursus spelaeus, SO Velebit, SD Buje, SD Ćićarija, SO Željezničar, SD Istra, Društvo za raziskovanje jam Ljubljana). Ukupno je istražen 31 objekt od kojih je najdublji i najduži WD-40, dubine 88 m i dužine 218 m.The Estavela Speleological Association organised the 10th speleological camp in the Šverda area in the far west of the Gorski Kotar region. With the scale of the logistics, duration, number of participants and caves explored, this camp surpassed an earlier series of smaller and shorter camps and brought back the golden days of Šverda exploration. In the 11 days from 14th to 25th June 2017 the camp included 27 speleologists from 8 speleological organisations (Estavela Speleological Society, Speleological Club Ursus spelaeus, Speleological Section Velebit, Buje Speleological Society, Ćićarija Speleological Society, Željezničar Speleological Section, Istra Speleological Society and the Ljubljana Society for Cave Exploration, from Slovenia). A total of 31 caves were explored of which the largest was the WD-40 Cave which is 88 m deep and 218 m long

Novokrajska jama u Sloveniji

Novokrajska jama je periodičan ponor na rubu sela Novokračine udaljen manje od jednog kilometra od hrvatsko-slovenske granice i graničnog prijelaza Rupa. Ovaj ponor duljine preko 1000 m prvi su istražili talijanski speleolozi još između dva svjetska rata, a veliki obol novijim istraživanjima dali su hrvatski speleolozi 1967. godine kada je izrađen danas važeći nacrt ovog objekta. Novokrajska jama, još poznata i kao Ponor u Novokračinama, smatrana je najdužim speleološkim objektom u širem riječkom zaleđu, a svojevrsno je i potaknula razvoj riječke speleologije 60-ih godina. Iako su istraživanja nastavljena i kasnije, rezultati do sada nisu objedinjeni u jedinstveni nacrt, a službene dimenzije su samo pretpostavljene. Zato je cilj ovog rada predstaviti dugu povijest koja se veže uz ovaj ponor, hidrogeološke značajke te prije svega, kompletan nacrt i poligonski vlak. Iako kvaliteta i točnost takve kompilacije može biti upitna, i takav rezultat čini vrijednu geografsku informaciju o kršu do neke buduće akcije topografskog snimanja i nastavka speleoloških istraživanja

Novokrajska jama u Sloveniji

Novokrajska jama je periodičan ponor na rubu sela Novokračine udaljen manje od jednog kilometra od hrvatsko-slovenske granice i graničnog prijelaza Rupa. Ovaj ponor duljine preko 1000 m prvi su istražili talijanski speleolozi još između dva svjetska rata, a veliki obol novijim istraživanjima dali su hrvatski speleolozi 1967. godine kada je izrađen danas važeći nacrt ovog objekta. Novokrajska jama, još poznata i kao Ponor u Novokračinama, smatrana je najdužim speleološkim objektom u širem riječkom zaleđu, a svojevrsno je i potaknula razvoj riječke speleologije 60-ih godina. Iako su istraživanja nastavljena i kasnije, rezultati do sada nisu objedinjeni u jedinstveni nacrt, a službene dimenzije su samo pretpostavljene. Zato je cilj ovog rada predstaviti dugu povijest koja se veže uz ovaj ponor, hidrogeološke značajke te prije svega, kompletan nacrt i poligonski vlak. Iako kvaliteta i točnost takve kompilacije može biti upitna, i takav rezultat čini vrijednu geografsku informaciju o kršu do neke buduće akcije topografskog snimanja i nastavka speleoloških istraživanja