Food allergies in pregnant women: a study of prevalence in expecting mothers and association with neonatal outcomes

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston UniversityIntroduction: Food allergies, the second most common form of allergic disorders in Western countries, have been on the rise in the US over the past few decades especially in young children. As the exact causes of food sensitizations are still unknown, much research has been dedicated to solving the mystery of how and why individuals develop food allergies in the first place. However, very few studies have focused solely on the prevalence of food allergies in the adult population. Furthermore, the prevalence of food allergies in expecting mothers and their potential impact on mother-baby health outcomes have barely been investigated. As such, this retrospective chart review study aimed at comparing the prevalence of food allergies in pregnant women to that of the adult US population and investigated the potential effects of maternal food allergies on perinatal maternal outcomes and infant health. Methods: A total of 595 maternal charts and 614 infant charts were reviewed for expecting mothers age 18 to 49 years old who gave birth at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC, between November 15, 2011 and November 15, 2012. Mothers’ data collected included basic demographic information, presence and nature of food allergies, and if applicable, occurrence and length of High Risk Antepartum visits. In addition to basic infant demographic information, the infant health outcomes collected were, when applicable: gestational age at birth, birth weight, 1 and 5 minute APGAR scores, NICU admissions and length of stay, as well as infant death. All statistical tests were two-tailed and p values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Food allergies were documented in 5.6% (N = 22) of the mothers, which was not significantly different from the national average reported by the FDA (Vierk et al., 2007). The most commonly reported allergy in the study’s pregnant women sample was seafood (42.2%), and the least common maternal food hypersensitivity disorder in the sample was egg allergy (2.2%). No significant relationship was found between the presence of maternal food allergies and maternal or infant health outcomes. Conclusion: Our study found that the proportion of pregnant women with food allergies was consistent with the FDA-reported percentage of US adult population affected by food allergies. Furthermore, we were unable to establish significant relationships between the presence of maternal food allergies and mother-baby health outcomes

The Relationship between Ethical Leadership and Teachers Continuance Organizational Commitment

The current study aims to investigate the relationship between the behavior of ethical leaders and their continuance organizational commitment, and also to discover the mediational impact of teachers' loyalty on their relationships at the international schools in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The study employed a quantitative approach as follows: a formatted questionnaire was distributed to a random sample, of which 372 valid questionnaires were returned to the researchers. In addition to examining the research hypotheses, several statistical methods were used to analyse the compiled data. The study showed that when the supervisor displays positive behaviors and a moral leadership style, this has leverage on the employees’ performance. The study found that there is a statistically important engagement relevance between moral leadership and teachers’ loyalty. Moreover, the study showed that teachers' loyalty facilitated the association between ethical leadership and teachers' continuance commitment toward organization. The current research recommended that it was essential to increase the standard of moral leadership for managers, to positively influence continuance commitment to the organisation, and to enhance teachers' loyalty

Primary healthcare reform in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

Palestinian refugees served by the United Nation Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) are experiencing increasing rates of diagnosis of non-communicable diseases. In response, in 2011 UNRWA initiated an Agency-wide programme of primary healthcare reform, informed by the Chronic Care Model framework. Health services were reorganized following a family-centred approach, with delivery by multidisciplinary family health teams supported by updated technical advice. An inclusive clinical information system, termed e-Health, was implemented to collect a wide range of health information, with a focus on continuity of treatment. UNRWA was able to bring about these wide-ranging changes within its existing resources, reallocating finances, reforming its payment mechanisms, and modernizing its drug-procurement policies. While specific components of UNRWA's primary healthcare reform are showing promising results, additional efforts are needed to empower patients further and to strengthen involvement of the community

Laser powder bed fusion of high-strength and corrosion-resistant Inconel alloy 725

The development of additive manufacturing, or three-dimensional (3D) printing, technologies has produced breakthroughs in the design and manufacturing of products by enhancing design freedom and minimising manufacturing steps. In addition, the complex, unique microstructures imparted by the additive processes offer prospects of unprecedented advances to produce high-performance metal alloys for high-temperature and corrosive environments. Here, we present the first additive manufacturing of Inconel alloy 725, an advanced nickel-base superalloy that is the widely accepted gold standard material of choice for oil and gas, chemical, and marine applications. We explore the printability of Inconel alloy 725 and identify a wide processing space to build material with a crack- and near-pore-free microstructure. The conventionally heat-treated Inconel alloy 725 has an equiaxed, near-fully recrystallised microstructure containing copious twin boundaries and nano-precipitates. It also displays promising tensile properties and corrosion resistance compared to its wrought counterpart. Our work opens the door toward additive manufacturing of Inconel alloy 725 components with optimised microstructure and topology geometry for applications in harsh environments

Laser powder bed fusion of high-strength and corrosion-resistant Inconel alloy 725

The development of additive manufacturing, or three-dimensional (3D) printing, technologies has produced breakthroughs in the design and manufacturing of products by enhancing design freedom and minimising manufacturing steps. In addition, the complex, unique microstructures imparted by the additive processes offer prospects of unprecedented advances to produce high-performance metal alloys for high-temperature and corrosive environments. Here, we present the first additive manufacturing of Inconel alloy 725, an advanced nickel-base superalloy that is the widely accepted gold standard material of choice for oil and gas, chemical, and marine applications. We explore the printability of Inconel alloy 725 and identify a wide processing space to build material with a crack- and near-pore-free microstructure. The conventionally heat-treated Inconel alloy 725 has an equiaxed, near-fully recrystallised microstructure containing copious twin boundaries and nano-precipitates. It also displays promising tensile properties and corrosion resistance compared to its wrought counterpart. Our work opens the door toward additive manufacturing of Inconel alloy 725 components with optimised microstructure and topology geometry for applications in harsh environments

Driving next generation manufacturing through advanced metals characterisation capability

Understanding the effects of manufacturing methods upon materials has driven constant innovation for over 300 years. While our ability to fabricate metallurgical wonders extends into the annals of history our ability to understand the scientific principles where process meets material has been pivotal to improving our capabilities. In this letter we briefly consider this history, comment upon the current state-of-the-art and, most importantly, propose new technologies for future industrial application which have been devised and exploited by the authors. It is hoped that this letter will allow other researchers to engage in this topic and facilitate the emergence of new processcompatible technologies which do not require destructive evaluation. This is particularly timely given the ability to manipulate microstructures with increasing dexterity. This is perhaps best illustrated in additive manufacturing [1] but is also a key consideration when process planning for machining [2], grinding [3] and forming [4]

Classifying caesarean section to understand rising rates among Palestinian refugees: results from 290,047 electronic medical records across five settings

Background: Rising caesarean-section rates worldwide are driven by non-medically indicated caesarean-sections. A systematic review concluded that the ten-group classifcation system (Robson) is the most appropriate for assessing drivers of caesarean deliveries. Evidence on the drivers of caesarean-section rates from confictafected settings is scarce. This study examines caesareans-section rates among Palestinian refugees by seven-group classifcation, compares to WHO guidelines, and to rates in the host settings, and estimates the costs of high rates.Methods: Electronic medical records of 290,047 Palestinian refugee women using UNRWA’s (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) antenatal service from 2017–2020 in fve settings (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, Gaza) were used. We modifed Robson criteria to compare rates within each group with WHO guidelines. The host setting data were extracted from publicly available reports. Data on costs came from UNRWA’s accounts.Findings: Palestinian refugees in Gaza had the lowest caesarean-section rates (22%), followed by those residing in Jordan (28%), West Bank (30%), Lebanon (50%) and Syria (64%). The seven groups caesarean section classifcation showed women with previous caesarean-sections contributed the most to overall rates. Caesarean-section rates were substantially higher than the WHO guidelines, and excess caesarean-sections (2017–2020) were modelled to cost up to 6.8 million USD. We documented a steady increase in caesarean-section rates in all fve settings for refugee and host communities; refugee rates paralleled or were below those in their host country.Interpretation: Caesarean-section rates exceed recommended guidance within most groups. The high rates in the nulliparous groups will drive future increases as they become multiparous women with a previous caesareansection and in turn, face high caesarean rates. Our analysis helps suggest targeted and tailored strategies to reduce caesarean-section rates in priority groups (among low-risk women) organized by those aimed at national governments, and UNRWA, and those aimed at health-care providers

Limiting global warming to 1.5ºC will lower increases in inequalities of four hazard indicators of climate change

Clarifying characteristics of hazards and risks of climate change at 2 °C and 1.5 °C global warming is important for understanding the implications of the Paris Agreement. We perform and analyze large ensembles of 2 °C and 1.5 °C warming simulations. In the 2 °C runs, we find substantial increases in extreme hot days, heavy rainfalls, high streamflow and labor capacity reduction related to heat stress. For example, about half of the world's population is projected to experience a present day 1-in-10 year hot day event every other year at 2 °C warming. The regions with relatively large increases of these four hazard indicators coincide with countries characterized by small CO2 emissions, low-income and high vulnerability. Limiting global warming to 1.5 °C, compared to 2 °C, is projected to lower increases in the four hazard indicators especially in those regions.ISSN:1748-9326ISSN:1748-931

A Sensitive and Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Cell Free In Vitro Non-Homologous End Joining Assay for Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are responsible for sustaining hematopoietic homeostasis and regeneration after injury for the entire lifespan of an organism. Maintenance of genomic stability is crucial for the preservation of HSCs, which depends on their efficient repair of DNA damage, particularly DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). Because of the paucity of HSCs and lack of sensitive assays, directly measuring the ability of HSCs to repair DSBs has been difficult. Therefore, we developed a sensitive and quantitative cell free in vitro non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) assay using linearized plasmids as the substrates and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique. This assay can sensitively detect DSB repair via NHEJ in less than 1 µg 293T cell nuclear proteins or nuclear extracts from about 5,000 to 10,000 human BM CD34+ hematopoietic cells. Using this assay, we confirmed that human bone marrow HSCs (CD34+CD38− cells) are less proficient in the repair of DSBs by NHEJ than HPCs (CD34+CD38+ cells). In contrast, mouse quiescent HSCs (Pyronin-Ylow LKS+ cells) and cycling HSCs (Pyronin-Yhi LKS+ cells) repaired the damage more efficiently than HPCs (LKS− cells). The difference in the abilities of human and mouse HSCs and HPCs to repair DSBs through NHEJ is likely attributed to their differential expression of key NHEJ DNA damage repair genes such as LIG4. These findings suggest that the qPCR-based cell free in vitro NHEJ assay can be used to sensitively measure the ability of human and mouse HSCs to repair DSBs

Ei merkittävää haittaa -periaatteen (DNSH) soveltaminen Suomen elpymis- ja palautumissuunnitelman hankkeissa

Tämä raportti esittelee lähestymistavan ja ohjeita DNSH-arviointiin Suomen elpymis- ja palautumissuunnitelman hankkeissa ja mahdollisissa muissa DNSH-arviointeja edellyttävissä hankkeissa. Euroopan unionin jäsenmaiden on laadittava jokaiselle elpymis- ja palautumissuunnitelman toimenpiteelle elvytystoimista mahdollisesti aiheutuvan haitan määrittelemiseksi ns. DNSH-arviointi (Do No Significant Harm). Elpymis- ja palautumissuunnitelmaan liittyy kestävän kasvun investointi- ja rahoitusohjelmia. DNSH-arvioinnissa rahoitusohjelmien vastuutahojen on varmistettava, että jokainen elpymis- ja palautumistukivälineestä rahoitettava hanke on DNSH-periaatteen mukainen kaikkien kuuden ympäristötavoitteen osalta: 1. ilmastonmuutoksen hillintä 2. ilmastonmuutokseen sopeutuminen 3. vesivarojen ja merten luonnonvarojen kestävä käyttö ja suojelu 4. siirtyminen kiertotalouteen 5. ympäristön pilaantumisen ehkäiseminen ja vähentäminen 6. biologisen monimuotoisuuden ja ekosysteemien suojelu ja ennallistaminen. Suomen ympäristökeskus on kehittänyt DNSH-arviointien ohjeistusta ja arviointien toteutuskaavioita erilaisten kestävän kasvun investointi- ja rahoitusohjelmista rahoitettavien hankehakujen tueksi ja taustamateriaaliksi rahoitusohjelmien vastuutahoille. Arviointimenetelmien kehittämisessä on kiinnitetty huomiota erityisesti Suomen kestävän kasvun ohjelmassa tunnistettuihin teollisuuden investointihankkeisiin sekä tutkimus-, kehittämis- ja innovaatiohankkeisiin. Suomen elpymis- ja palautumissuunnitelman hankkeiden lisäksi kehitettyjä arviointimenetelmiä voidaan soveltaen käyttää myös muissa DNSH-arviointeja edellyttävissä hankkeissa. Kehitettävien arviointimenetelmien käyttäjiä ovat rahoitusohjelmien vastuutahot, ensisijaisesti Business Finland, Suomen Akatemia, ympäristöministeriö ja työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö, ELY-keskukset sekä rahoitushakuja tekevien hankkeiden vastuutahot