Perception and practice of early initiation of breastfeeding and associated factors among postnatal mothers in East Sikkim

Background: Breastfeeding is the most desirable method for achieving a normal growth and development of the child. Breastfeeding practice is multifactorial, and number of variables influence mothers’ decisions and ability to breastfeed. This study aimed to assess the perception and practice regarding early initiation of breastfeeding and factors associated with breastfeeding among hospitalized postnatal mothers in East Sikkim.Methods: The descriptive study was carried out among 80 postnatal mothers who delivered term healthy babies either through normal vaginal delivery (n=34) or lower segment caesarean section (n=38), selected through purposive sampling technique and were interviewed within six hours of postpartum. Data were collected over a period of one month through an interview schedule to get information on feeding practice, perception and the factors responsible for delayed breastfeeding. Data analysis was done using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16. Chi square test was used to examine the factors associated with perception and practice of early initiation of breastfeeding (within one hour of birth).Results: The result shows that early initiation of breast feeding within one hour of birth was done by 36% of mothers after the delivery and few adopted prelacteal feeding (19%) where as 86% had positive perception towards it. The factors that mostly influenced early initiation of breastfeeding were planned pregnancy (100%) and support from family members during pregnancy and delivery (100%). There was a statistically significant association between mother’s educational status and information regarding early initiation of breastfeeding and influencing factors like breastfeeding education during antenatal period and guidance from the health professional (p<0.05).Conclusions: Early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour was found extremely low which is an alarming. The findings also suggest the need of breastfeeding promotion programs among the mothers who are less educated. Such breastfeeding promotion programmes could be implemented through network of community-based workers.

Exposure Levels of Airborne Fungi, Bacteria, and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Cotton Farms during Cotton Harvesting and Evaluations of N95 Respirators against These Bioaerosols

The USA is the third-leading cotton-producing country worldwide and cotton farming is common in the state of Georgia. Cotton harvest can be a significant contributor to airborne microbial exposures to farmers and nearby rural communities. The use of respirators or masks is one of the viable options for reducing organic dust and bioaerosol exposures among farmers. Unfortunately, the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR Part 1910.134) does not apply to agricultural workplaces and the filtration efficiency of N95 respirators was never field-tested against airborne microorganisms and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during cotton harvesting. This study addressed these two information gaps. Airborne culturable microorganisms were sampled using an SAS Super 100 Air Sampler in three cotton farms during cotton harvesting, and colonies were counted and converted to airborne concentrations. Genomic DNA was extracted from air samples using a PowerSoil® DNA Isolation Kit. A series of comparative critical threshold (2−ΔΔCT) real-time PCR was used to quantify targeted bacterial (16S rRNA) genes and major ARGs. Two N95 facepiece respirator models (cup-shaped and pleated) were evaluated for their protection against culturable bacteria and fungi, total microbial load in terms of surface ATP levels, and ARGs using a field experimental setup. Overall, culturable microbial exposure levels ranged between 103 and 104 CFU/m3 during cotton harvesting, which was lower when compared with bioaerosol loads reported earlier during other types of grain harvesting. The findings suggested that cotton harvesting works can release antibiotic resistance genes in farm air and the highest abundance was observed for phenicol. Field experimental data suggested that tested N95 respirators did not provide desirable \u3e95% protections against culturable microorganisms, the total microbial load, and ARGs during cotton harvesting

Local work function measurements of plasma-fluorinated epitaxial graphene

International audiencePlasma-fluorination is an attractive route toward the work function engineering of graphene. The effect of surface topography of epitaxial graphene grown on silicon carbide on the increase in work function after plasma-fluorination was investigated using scanning Kelvin probe microscopy. Results of these studies demonstrate the ability of plasma-treatments to functionalize epitaxial graphene without significant surface roughening. For few-layer epitaxial graphene on the Si-face, work function distribution corresponds to its surface topography. A bimodal distribution is observed before and after fluorination and the separation between the two modes widens after the fluorination. For multi-layer epitaxial graphene on the C-face, no correlation is observed between the work function distribution and the surface topography. After fluorination, the work function is fairly uniform except in few peeled off areas that show a stronger work function contrast

Disappearing cities on US coasts

The sea level along the US coastlines is projected to rise by 0.25–0.3 m by 2050, increasing the probability of more destructive flooding and inundation in major cities1,2,3. However, these impacts may be exacerbated by coastal subsidence—the sinking of coastal land areas4—a factor that is often underrepresented in coastal-management policies and long-term urban planning2,5. In this study, we combine high-resolution vertical land motion (that is, raising or lowering of land) and elevation datasets with projections of sea-level rise to quantify the potential inundated areas in 32 major US coastal cities. Here we show that, even when considering the current coastal-defence structures, further land area of between 1,006 and 1,389 km2 is threatened by relative sea-level rise by 2050, posing a threat to a population of 55,000–273,000 people and 31,000–171,000 properties. Our analysis shows that not accounting for spatially variable land subsidence within the cities may lead to inaccurate projections of expected exposure. These potential consequences show the scale of the adaptation challenge, which is not appreciated in most US coastal cities

Carbonate determination in soils by mid-IR spectroscopy with regional and continental scale models

A Partial Least Squares (PLS) carbonate (CO3) prediction model was developed for soils throughout the contiguous United States using mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy. Excellent performance was achieved over an extensive geographic and chemical diversity of soils. A single model for all soil types performed very well with a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 12.6 g kg-1 and was further improved if Histosols were excluded (RMSEP 11.1 g kg-1). Exclusion of Histosols was particularly beneficial for accurate prediction of CO3 values when the national model was applied to an independent regional dataset. Little advantage was found in further narrowing the taxonomic breadth of the calibration dataset, but higher precision was obtained by running models for a restricted range of CO3. A model calibrated using only on the independent regional dataset, was unable to accurately predict CO3 content for the more chemically diverse national dataset. Ten absorbance peaks enabling CO3 prediction by mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy were identified and evaluated for individual and combined predictive power. A single-band model derived from an absorbance peak centered at 1796 cm-yielded the lowest RMSEP of 13.5 g kg-1 for carbonate prediction compared to other single-band models. This predictive power is attributed to the strength and sharpness of the peak, and an apparent minimal overlap with confounding co-occurring spectral features of other soil components. Drawing from the 10 identified bands, multiple combinations of 3 or 4 peaks were able to predict CO3 content as well as the full-spectrum national models. Soil CO3 is an excellent example of a soil parameter that can be predicted with great effectiveness and generality, and MIR models could replace direct laboratory measurement as a lower cost, high quality alternative

Reduced melt on debris-covered glaciers: investigations from Changri Nup Glacier, Nepal

International audienceApproximately 25 % of the glacierized area in the Everest region is covered by debris, yet the surface mass balance of debris-covered portions of these glaciers has not been measured directly. In this study, ground-based measurements of surface elevation and ice depth are combined with terrestrial photogrammetry, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and satellite elevation models to derive the surface mass balance of the debris-covered tongue of Changri Nup Glacier, located in the Everest region. Over the debris-covered tongue, the mean elevation change between 2011 and 2015 is −0.93 m year−1 or −0.84 m water equivalent per year (w.e. a−1). The mean emergence velocity over this region, estimated from the total ice flux through a cross section immediately above the debris-covered zone, is +0.37 m w.e. a−1. The debris-covered portion of the glacier thus has an area-averaged mass balance of −1.21 ± 0.2 m w.e. a−1 between 5240 and 5525 m above sea level (m a.s.l.). Surface mass balances observed on nearby debris-free glaciers suggest that the ablation is strongly reduced (by ca. 1.8 m w.e. a−1) by the debris cover. The insulating effect of the debris cover has a larger effect on total mass loss than the enhanced ice ablation due to supraglacial ponds and exposed ice cliffs. This finding contradicts earlier geodetic studies and should be considered for modelling the future evolution of debris-covered glaciers

Improved trapping and handling of an arboreal, montane mammal: Red Panda Ailurus fulgens

It is sometimes essential to have an animal in the hand to study some of their ecological and biological characteristics. However, capturing a solitary, cryptic, elusive arboreal species such as the red panda in the wild is challenging. We developed and successfully tested a protocol for tracking, trapping, immobilization, and handling of red pandas in the wild in eastern Nepal. We established a red panda sighting rate of 0.89 panda/day with a capture success rate of 0.6. We trapped and collared one animal in 3.7 days. On average, we took nearly 136 (range 50–317) min to capture an animal after spotting it. Further processing was completed in 38.5 (21–70) min. Before capture, we found it difficult to recognize the sex of the red panda and to differentiate sub-adults above six months from adults. However, body weight, body length, tail length, shoulder height, and chest girth can be used for diagnosis, as these attributes are smaller in sub-adults. Our method is a welfare-friendly way of trapping and handling wild red pandas. We report new morphometric data that could serve as a guide for field identification

Preparation and characterization of plasma-fluorinated epitaxial graphene

The discovery of unique properties of graphene has led to the development of graphene for a variety of applications like integrated circuits, organic electronic devices, supercapacitors, sensors, and composite materials. Fluorination of graphene enables control of its physical, chemical, and electronic properties. Our initial studies demonstrated the viability of sulfur hexafluoride plasmas to fluorinate epitaxial graphene as a safer alternative to the commonly reported techniques of fluorination that include exposures to fluorine and xenon difluoride gas. Formation of carbon-fluorine bonds after SF6 plasma-treatment was confirmed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy and low-energy electron diffraction studies suggest that the framework of sp2-hybridized carbon atoms remains intact after the plasma-treatment. Increase in work function after the fluorination was determined by ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopy. The findings of our subsequent investigation to controllably modify the work function of epitaxial graphene via plasma-fluorination indicate that the work function of fluorinated epitaxial graphene is controlled by the polarity of carbon-fluorine bonds. Further studies to investigate the effect of the surface topography of epitaxial graphene on the work function of plasma-fluorinated epitaxial graphene were performed using scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM). The results of SKPM characterization of plasma-fluorinated epitaxial graphene demonstrated that the increase in the work function of epitaxial graphene after plasma-treatment is independent of its surface topography, but non-uniform fluorination may result from non-uniformities in plasma density.PhDCommittee Member: Filler, Michael; Committee Member: Graham, Samuel; Committee Member: Hess, Dennis; Committee Member: Reichmanis, Elsa; Committee Member: Riedo, Elisa; Committee Member: Williams, Michae

Sampling Optimization For Soil Carbon Assessment In A Complex Agroecosystem Of The Northeastern United States

Low-cost accurate methods for estimating soil carbon (C) stocks are needed if terrestrial C offset markets are going to be implemented in the United States. Accurately measuring C stocks is often prohibitively expensive due to high spatial variability and analytical costs, therefore the development of cost-effective sampling designs and methods of inference are critical. We evaluated sampling optimization approaches for estimating soil C baseline levels for a dairy farm in Harford, NY with multiple land uses, including cultivation of silage corn, alfalfa hay, pasture, and forest. Three hundred and nineteen samples were collected in a spatially balanced design over a 232 hectare area to a depth of 30 cm. Secondary variables including soil type, elevation, slope, cropping history, and manure application rate were assessed for correlations with soil C and suitability for sampling stratification. Random, stratified, and systematic sampling arrangements at three sampling densities (n = 253, 160, 83), were compared to the full sampling grid (n = 319) using both design-based and modelbased approaches for soil C assessment. Total soil C stocks for the sampling area were estimated by three different approaches: i) spatial mean (SM) where total C stocks are calculated by the area-weighted average of the mean C stocks for each landscape unit; ii) ordinary kriging where the sum of the predicted values for the interpolation grid are used to determine total C-stocks; iii) (SSURGO) where average C stocks are based on estimates from the Soil Survey Geographic database with total C stocks calculated from the area-weighted average for each soil map unit. The systematic sampling arrangement was preferred over random or stratified arrangements because RMSE increased little with the reduced sample size, and the distribution of soil C stocks for the lowest sampling density closely resembled the full sampling grid. Landscape units defined by manure application rate explained the spatial variability of soil C-stocks better than any other categorical variable. Model-based approaches provided more reliable estimates for soil C stocks than design-based approaches. SM resulted in a higher RMSE than OK, 20.7 and 23.1 Mg ha-1 compared to 18.0 and 22.4 Mg ha-1, respectively. Additionally, when the sampling density was reduced from 319 to 83, OK estimates fluctuated less than SM, with mean and total soil C stocks for the entire farm differing by 2% from that of the full sampling grid. Estimates of total C stocks to 30 cm for the entire 232 ha sampling area ranged from 16217-20049 Mg. Modelbased approaches provided the most reliable estimates of soil C stocks. SSURGO based estimates consistently underestimated soil C stocks by 2.6-18.1 % compared to the full grid sampling, but given the low cost this approach may be of interest in some circumstances. i