2,485 research outputs found
The Impact of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene on Key Health and Social Outcomes: Review of Evidence
This evidence paper looks at 10 areas identified collaboratively with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on which WASH can plausibly have a strong impact: diarrhea, nutrition, complementary food hygiene, female psychosocial stress, violence, maternal and newborn health, menstrual hygiene management, school attendance, oral vaccine performance, and neglected tropical diseases. Together, these areas cover the most significant sector outcomes associated with the distinct life course phases that UNICEF seeks to help to address through its WASH activities
Over-indebtedness and health in Switzerland: A cross-sectional study comparing over-indebted individuals and the general population
Background
Previous international studies have shown that over-indebtedness is associated with poor health. However, in Switzerland research addressing over-indebtedness is widely lacking, strongly needed and particularly important because it is evidently a rising but still commonly tabooed, socially âundesiredâ and highly stigmatized phenomenon that is rarely discussed and largely ignored and unexplored.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among over-indebted adults seeking advice from one of the four official debt advisory centers in the Canton of Zurich. The survey finally included 219 respondents participating voluntarily and anonymously. This sample was then linked with a comparable subsample of the nationally representative Swiss Health Survey of 2017, namely 1,997 respondents of the same age from the Canton of Zurich. For reasons of comparability identical health questions and measures were taken from the Swiss Health Survey and used in the over-indebtedness survey. The pooled or combined dataset covered a total of 2,216 adult individuals.
Results
Remarkably high prevalence rates and relative risks of poor self-rated health, severe musculoskeletal and sleep disorders and moderate to severe depression were observed among over-indebted individuals compared to the general population. More than 50% of the over-indebted individuals had poor general health or moderate to severe depression compared to the general population with 14% and 7%, respectively. And far above one third of the over-indebted but âonlyâ between 6% and 8% of the general population showed severe musculoskeletal disorders and sleep disorders. Even after adjustment for various control variables and covariates, over-indebtedness increased the odds ratios for poor health outcomes consistently and dramatically, i.e. by a factor of 8 and more (aOR = 8.5â11.6).
Conclusions
Over-indebtedness in Switzerland has particularly negative effects on various aspects of the health of the persons concerned, irrespective of their demographic characteristics and their social and employment status
Over-indebtedness, mastery and mental health: a cross-sectional study among over-indebted adults in Switzerland
Objectives: The aim is to investigate whether and why over-indebted individuals in German-speaking Switzerland have poorer mental health than the general population.
Methods: A cross-sectional study among over-indebted people in the canton of Zurich was conducted in 2019. The study population (n = 219) was compared to the cantonal subsample of the general adult population selected from the nationally representative sample of the Swiss Health Survey 2017 (n = 1,997). Bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses were used to examine associations between over-indebtedness, mastery and health outcomes like mental stress and depression.
Results: Over-indebted people have poorer mental health and weaker mastery than the general population. Low mastery is the strongest predictor of poor mental health (beta coefficient = 0.58/-0.62 for mental stress/depression respectively) among the over-indebted, followed by the perception of one's health being affected by over-indebtedness (beta coefficient = -0.19/0.15). The amount of debt, anticipated time until repayment of debt and duration of indebtedness had no predictive effects.
Conclusion: Surprisingly, traditional debt parameters cannot explain the poor mental health of the over-indebted, in contrast to a strong sense of mastery, which was identified as a highly protective factor
Visual preference for social stimuli in individuals with autism or neurodevelopmental disorders : an eye-tracking study
Background
Recent research has identified differences in relative attention to competing social versus non-social video stimuli in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Whether attentional allocation is influenced by the potential threat of stimuli has yet to be investigated. This is manipulated in the current study by the extent to which the stimuli are moving towards or moving past the viewer. Furthermore, little is known about whether such differences exist across other neurodevelopmental disorders. This study aims to determine if adolescents with ASD demonstrate differences in attentional allocation to competing pairs of social and non-social video stimuli, where the actor or object either moves towards or moves past the viewer, in comparison to individuals without ASD, and to determine if individuals with three genetic syndromes associated with differing social phenotypes demonstrate differences in attentional allocation to the same stimuli.
Methods
In study 1, adolescents with ASD and control participants were presented with social and non-social video stimuli in two formats (moving towards or moving past the viewer) whilst their eye movements were recorded. This paradigm was then employed with groups of individuals with fragile X, Cornelia de Lange, and Rubinstein-Taybi syndromes who were matched with one another on chronological age, global adaptive behaviour, and verbal adaptive behaviour (study 2).
Results
Adolescents with ASD demonstrated reduced looking-time to social versus non-social videos only when stimuli were moving towards them. Individuals in the three genetic syndrome groups showed similar looking-time but differences in fixation latency for social stimuli moving towards them. Across both studies, we observed within- and between-group differences in attention to social stimuli that were moving towards versus moving past the viewer.
Conclusions
Taken together, these results provide strong evidence to suggest differential visual attention to competing social versus non-social video stimuli in populations with clinically relevant, genetically mediated differences in socio-behavioural phenotypes
Domestic leguminous plants in the feed for sows and piglets
Intresset för alternativa proteinfoder ökar mer och mer i och med den pÄgÄende klimatdebatten. Eftersom sojabönan inte kan odlas i Sverige medför det istÀllet att den importeras vilket har börjat ifrÄgasÀttas. Inhemsk trindsÀd Àr dÀrför ett bra alternativ till sojabönor och nu nÀr den ekologiska produktionen snart övergÄr till helt ekologiskt foder vill man öka anvÀndandet och odlingen av dessa grödor. Den trindsÀd som tas upp i denna text Àr Àrt, Äkerböna och lupin. De Àr alla utmÀrkta kvÀvefixerare och Àr Àven anpassade för det nordiska klimatet men en nackdel Àr att de krÀver en lÄng vÀxtsÀsong. TrindsÀd innehÄller ofta mer eller mindre av olika antinutritionella substanser som kan hÀmma nÀringsupptaget och pÄverka tillvÀxt och reproduktionsförmÄga. De vanligaste antinutritionella substanserna Àr tanniner, trypsininhibitorer, lektiner, vicin och alkaloider. Till suggor bör inte mer Àn 30 % Àrter ingÄ i fodret och Äkerbönor bör inte ingÄ alls eller endast i smÄ mÀngder. Till unga smÄgrisar bör inte inblandningen av Àrter överstiga 15 % och till de lite Àldre kan 30 % Àrter ingÄ i fodret utan att ge nÄgra negativa effekter. I stora mÀngder har vÀrmebehandlade Äkerbönor dÀremot inte haft nÄgra negativa effekter pÄ tillvÀxt om metionin tillsatts. Lupin bör inte ingÄ i mer Àn 10 % av fodret dÄ negativa effekter har setts i form av ett minskat foderintag. Det behövs mer forskning inom omrÄdet för att kunna dra sÀkrare slutsatser gÀllande rekommenderade inblandningsnivÄer
Moist crimped barley inoculated with yeast and lactic acid bacteria
En stor del av energikostnaderna inom lantbruket gĂ„r Ă„t till att torka spannmĂ„l. Ett alternativ till torkning och ett sĂ€tt att minska kostnaderna Ă€r att lagra in och anvĂ€nda fuktig spannmĂ„l. Problemet med det kan vara att fuktig spannmĂ„l Ă€r en gynnsam miljö för skadliga mikroorganismer och kan ge stora problem om nĂ„got gĂ„r fel under fermenteringssprocessen och om lagringen inte blir stabil. Tidigare forskning med jĂ€sten Wickerhamomyces. Anomalus har visat pĂ„ positiva egenskaper som bland annat hĂ€mmande av skadliga mikroorganismer och ökad tillgĂ€nglighet av fosfor. Syftet med denna studie var dĂ€rför att utvĂ€rdera hur fuktig spannmĂ„l ympat med W. anomalus och mjölksyrabakterier pĂ„verkar smĂ€ltbarheten av rĂ„protein, kalcium och fosfor hos vĂ€xande grisar samt att utvĂ€rdera hur jĂ€sten och mjölksyrabakterierna pĂ„verkar foderhygienen. Totalt ingick 6 kastrerade hangrisar (30±4) kg som genom operation försĂ„gs med en PVTC- fistel. Försöket var upplagt enligt en change-over design och pĂ„gick under sex perioder som innefattade fyra foderbehandlingar baserat pĂ„ korn och premix; torkad (T), fuktig (F), fuktig ympad med W. anomalus (W) och fuktig ympad med W. anomalus och mjölksyrabakterier (WM). Resultaten visade att mögel kunde frĂ€mst ses i foder T samt F i endast första perioden. JĂ€st kunde i princip ses i alla foder dock var innehĂ„llet lĂ€gre i de tre sista perioderna för foder W och WM. Enterobacteriaceae detekterades endast i foder T under hela försöket. UppmĂ€tt pH var lĂ€gst i foder WM och högst i foder F. Ileal skenbar smĂ€ltbarhet (AID), total skenbar smĂ€ltbarhet (TTD) och standardiserad ileal smĂ€ltbarhet (SID) visade inga signifikanta skillnader mellan T, F, W och WM pĂ„ varken organisk substans, rĂ„protein, kalcium eller fosfor. Försöket visade att det gĂ„r utmĂ€rkt att utfodra grisar med fuktigt spannmĂ„l och ur hĂ€lsosynpunkt Ă€r de ympade fodren att föredra.A large proportion of the energy costs in agriculture are used for high-temperature drying. An alternative method to high-temperature drying and a way to reduce costs is to store and use moist crimped grain. One problem with storing high moisture grain is that the environment is favorable for microorganisms and a malfunctioning airtight storage can lead to spoilage of fungi and mould. Earlier research with the yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus have shown positive properties including inhibition of harmful microorganisms and increased availability of phosphorus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate moist crimped grain inoculated with W. anomalus and lactic acid bacteria on the digestibility of crude protein, calcium and phosphorus in growing pigs and to evaluate the effect of yeast and lactic acid bacteria on feed hygiene. Six castrated male pigs (30 ± 4) kg were surgically fitted with a PVTC â cannula. The experiment were arranged in a change-over design with six periods and four feed treatments based on barley and premix, dried (T), moist (F), moist inoculated with W. anomalus (W) and moist inoculated with W. anomalus and lactic acid bacteria (WM). The results showed mould in T during all periods and in F in the first period. Yeast was detected in every treatment, however, yeast was lower in the last three periods of W and WM. There were only Enterobacteriaceae in T throughout the experiment. Measured pH were lowest in WM and highest in F. Apparent ileal digestibility (AID), total tract digestibility (TTD) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) showed no significant differences between T, F, W, and WM on organic substance, crude protein, calcium, and phosphorus. The experiment showed that it is possible to feed pigs with high moisture grain and the inoculated feed treatments are preferred with regarding to feed hygiene
Persistence of self-injurious behaviour in autism spectrum disorder over 3 years: a prospective cohort study of risk markers
BACKGROUND: There are few studies documenting the persistence of self-injury in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and consequently limited data on behavioural and demographic characteristics associated with persistence. In this longitudinal study, we investigated self-injury in a cohort of individuals with ASD over 3Â years to identify behavioural and demographic characteristics associated with persistence. METHODS: Carers of 67 individuals with ASD (Median age of individuals with ASD in yearsâ=â13.5, Interquartile Rangeâ=â10.00â17.00), completed questionnaires relating to the presence and topography of self-injury at T(1) and three years later at T(2). Analyses were conducted to evaluate the persistence of self-injury and to evaluate the behavioural and demographic characteristics associated with persistence of self-injury. RESULTS: At T(2) self-injurious behaviour had persisted in 77.8Â % of individuals. Behavioural correlates of being non-verbal, having lower ability and higher levels of overactivity, impulsivity and repetitive behaviour, were associated with self-injury at both time points. Risk markers of impulsivity (pâ=â0.021) and deficits in social interaction (pâ=â0.026) at T(1) were associated with the persistence of self-injury over 3Â years. CONCLUSIONS: Impulsivity and deficits in social interaction are associated with persistent self-injury in ASD and thus may act as behavioural risk markers. The identification of these risk markers evidences a role for behaviour dysregulation in the development and maintenance of self-injury. The findings have clinical implications for proactive intervention; these behavioural characteristics may be utilised to identify âat riskâ individuals for whom self-injury is likely to be persistent and therefore those individuals for whom early intervention may be most warranted
Three-dimensional stratigraphic complexity within mixed Eolian-Fluvial successions: implications for reservoir connectivity
On-going exploration of conventional hydrocarbon plays is increasingly focused towards the development of geologically complex reservoirs for which stratigraphic heterogeneity is difficult to predict. Many such current reservoirs, and an increasing proportion of likely future ones, are characterized by sedimentary bodies that accumulated as mixed eolian-fluvial systems that competed and interacted synchronously. Well-known reservoir examples include the Permian Unayzah Formation of Saudi Arabia, the Permian Rotliegend Group of the North Sea, the Triassic Ormskirk Sandstone of the East Irish Sea, the Jurassic Norphlet Sandstone of the Gulf of Mexico, and the Cretaceous Agrio Formation, Argentina. These mixed depositional systems typically exhibit highly variable lateral and vertical facies configurations that preserve complex juxtapositions of architectural elements composed of stratal units with markedly variable reservoir properties. Such stratigraphic partitioning is intrinsically difficult to predict from limited subsurface data. As such, there exists a requirement for more sophisticated geological models to better account for reservoir architecture and connectivity. This work uses outcropping case-study examples of eolian-fluvial interactions from the Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group of the UK and the Permo-Pennsylvanian Cutler Group of southeast Utah, USA, to develop a suite of predictive models that depict common styles of stratigraphic complexity within eolian-fluvial systems. Studied successions accumulated in response to a variety of system interactions, deposits of which are preserved at a range of spatial scales from 100â104 m: (i) short-lived and localized fluvial reworking of eolian dune deposits in response to flash flood events; (ii) eolian reworking of fluvial deposits via winnowing; (iii) the fluvial exploitation and possible damming of open interdune corridors; (iv) the flooding of isolated (spatially enclosed) interdune hollows in response to an elevated water table. Identified types of interactions are characterized within a spatial scheme whereby occurrences can be used as a predictor of relative position within the larger-scale zone of transition between coeval eolian dune-field and fluvial systems. Application of this spatial scheme allows for prediction of the type of eolian-fluvial interactions expected for a range of paleogeographic settings, thereby serving as a tool for ranking exploration targets within larger prospect areas
Balancing Consumer and Industry Interests in Public Health: The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and Its Influence During the Last Two Decades
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