Effectiveness of visual package on breastfeeding technique among antenatal mothers admitted at a selected hospital, Vellore

Breastfeeding is an art and a skill which needs to be learnt and mastered. Some young primiparous inexperienced mothers will need some help. Breast milk is accepted as the unique nutritive food provided by nature for the newborn. It is universally acknowledged as the best and complete food for infants including sick and preterm as it fulfils their specific nutritional needs. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a visual package on breastfeeding technique among antenatal mothers admitted at selected hospital at Vellore. The study aimed at improving the knowledge of the mothers on breastfeeding technique.� This study helped the mothers for providing knowledge on breastfeeding technique by visual package during pregnancy. The result of the study showed great need for health personnel to educate the antenatal mothers regarding breastfeeding technique

Efficacy of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score in Predicting Mortality and Morbidity in Obstetric Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Observational study

INTRODUCTION: Maternal mortality has long been used as a quality indicator for national health care. However, given declining maternal mortality rates and the need to understand health-systemfailures, two additional indicators of obstetric care have been introduced: maternal morbidity and the ratio of severe maternal morbidity to mortality. Critically ill obstetric patients management is challenging due to the presence of a fetus, altered physiology of mother, and presence of disease-specific to pregnancy. In developed countries, pregnant patients account for a small number of ICU admissions (2%), but in developing countries like India they reach up to 10% or more. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score assess the degree of organ system dysfunction of a patient. This score has a score for each of six major organ systems (respiratory, hematological, hepatic, cardiovascular, central nervous system, and renal) of our body on a scale of 0 to 4 depending on the severity and thus calculates the total score on each day of stay of the patient in ICU. The minimum SOFA Score is 0 and the maximum is 24. Although the SOFA score has been extensively studied in the general population, few studies have been conducted in the obstetric population. By comparison with APACHE II and SAPS II, which evaluate only the first 24 hours of an ICU stay, the SOFA score can be evaluated daily in the ICU. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic value of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score among patients admitted to the Obstetric intensive care unit (ICU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 100 patients admitted to labor ward unit in MMC with suspected and confirmed cases were included in the study population. 1. ICU admission satisfying inclusion criteria. 2. Written consent, history taking, examination. 3. SOFA score calculated on admission, at 24 hours at 48 hours and 24 hourly during ICU stay. 4. MEAN SOFA SCORE and TOTAL SOFA Score calculated. 5. Data are analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The study results showed that the minimum SOFA score was two at admission, and then there was a slight increase at the next time point, i.e., seven at 24hrs and 11 at 48hrs. There was a statistically significant increase in mortality rate when the SOFA score was above 14. There is a steep rise in the ROC curve when the value reaches 14 or above. There is a statistically significant difference between survivors and non-survivor when compared to SOFA score at admission, 24hrs and 48hrs with p-value<0.05. The sensitivity of the SOFA score is 97% that means 97% of the time SOFA score is capable of predicting mortality which is significant with a p-value of 0.01 with the ROC curve. CONCLUSION: From the study done, we can summarize that the SOFA score is instrumental in predicting mortality in obstetric patients. There is a strong relationship between the rise in the SOFA score and maternal mortality from admission to 48th hour. The mean SOFA score and the total SOFA score are independent predictors of maternal mortality. Using the score, mortality can be predicted early, which helps make suitable changes in the management plan

Body appreciation around the world: Measurement invariance of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age.

The Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) is a widely used measure of a core facet of the positive body image construct. However, extant research concerning measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across a large number of nations remains limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset - with data collected between 2020 and 2022 - to assess measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that full scalar invariance was upheld across all nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups, suggesting that the unidimensional BAS-2 model has widespread applicability. There were large differences across nations and languages in latent body appreciation, while differences across gender identities and age groups were negligible-to-small. Additionally, greater body appreciation was significantly associated with higher life satisfaction, being single (versus being married or in a committed relationship), and greater rurality (versus urbanicity). Across a subset of nations where nation-level data were available, greater body appreciation was also significantly associated with greater cultural distance from the United States and greater relative income inequality. These findings suggest that the BAS-2 likely captures a near-universal conceptualisation of the body appreciation construct, which should facilitate further cross-cultural research. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Body appreciation around the world: Measurement invariance of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age

Abstract The Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) is a widely used measure of a core facet of the positive body image construct. However, extant research concerning measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across a large number of nations remains limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset – with data collected between 2020 and 2022 – to assess measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that full scalar invariance was upheld across all nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups, suggesting that the unidimensional BAS-2 model has widespread applicability. There were large differences across nations and languages in latent body appreciation, while differences across gender identities and age groups were negligible-to-small. Additionally, greater body appreciation was significantly associated with higher life satisfaction, being single (versus being married or in a committed relationship), and greater rurality (versus urbanicity). Across a subset of nations where nation-level data were available, greater body appreciation was also significantly associated with greater cultural distance from the United States and greater relative income inequality. These findings suggest that the BAS-2 likely captures a near-universal conceptualisation of the body appreciation construct, which should facilitate further cross-cultural research

Body appreciation around the world: Measurement invariance of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age

The Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) is a widely used measure of a core facet of the positive body image construct. However, extant research concerning measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across a large number of nations remains limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset - with data collected between 2020 and 2022 - to assess measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that full scalar invariance was upheld across all nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups, suggesting that the unidimensional BAS-2 model has widespread applicability. There were large differences across nations and languages in latent body appreciation, while differences across gender identities and age groups were negligible-to-small. Additionally, greater body appreciation was significantly associated with higher life satisfaction, being single (versus being married or in a committed relationship), and greater rurality (versus urbanicity). Across a subset of nations where nation-level data were available, greater body appreciation was also significantly associated with greater cultural distance from the United States and greater relative income inequality. These findings suggest that the BAS-2 likely captures a near-universal conceptualisation of the body appreciation construct, which should facilitate further cross-cultural research

Improve Malay Vocabulary Among Year 5 National Type School Pupils Through Gape Activity

Malay language acquisition among National Type School (NTS) is not at a satisfactory level. Malay language is important for Malaysians because it is the main communication language all over Malaysia. The Ministry of Education also makes it compulsory to all Malaysian students to pass the Malay language in examinations. The researcher's preliminary review shows that NTS pupils have difficulties in identifying verbs which is equivalent to Sivaneswary's research (2019) which shows NTS pupils are weak in identifying verbs in Malay language. They also face difficulties communicating in Malay because lack in vocabulary of verbs. The previous studies show that NTS pupils need to improve in Malay language. Studies also show that lack in vocabulary can affect pupils' ability in communicating in Malay. However, there is not much research done to NTS pupils in improving their vocabulary of verbs. Therefore, an action research which includes quantitative and qualitative approach has been done to 30 year 5 NTS pupils. A language activity was carried out to pupils to improve their vocabulary in verbs. Data from pre and post-examinations, and interviews were analysed to examine the effectiveness of the activity introduced. Data shows that the activity has improved pupils' ability in finding correct verbs. Furthermore, they are found to be motivated to take part in Malay lessons and communications. This research can be done in NTS schools for Malay lessons to aid pupils to improve their Malay vocabulary in verbs and drive them to communicate this language. Teachers can create a lively and entertaining lesson too

Catalytic degradation of methyl orange using biogenic nanosilver and its phytotoxicity evaluation

336-343The cell free extract of Staphylococcus aureus has been used to reduce the 1mM silver nitrate into silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in biological manner. The colour change from yellowish to brown colour is primary confirmation of AgNPs synthesis. Further, the synthesized AgNPs have been characterized by UV-vis for confirmation of reduction process. The morphology of AgNPs is visualized using transmission electron microscope (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to determine the size and zeta potential of AgNPs. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) is confirmed the presence of silver and its structure and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) is used to determine the functional group that actively involved in methyl orange (MO) degradation. For application of AgNPs, different concentration (10-200 µg/mL) of AgNPs has been used to degrade the different concentration (100-2000 µg/mL) of MO. Roughly, 62% of MO (2000 µg/mL) has been degraded after treated with 200µg/mL of AgNPs. Further, the degradation is confirmed using FT-IR analysis that show the AgNPs break down the N=N bond of MO and dispersed it. The treated dye further evaluated its phyototoxicity against Oryza sativa and the results indicate that the treated dye has less toxicity than untreated