Areas Of District Research Articles

Adaptation strategies of paddy farmers to build resilience to climate change in kahama district, Tanzania

The study investigates the adaptation strategies used by the paddy farmers in Kahama District to increase their adaptability to climate change. The study focuses on four main objectives, including changed farming practices, changes in cropping practices, strategies used to adapt to climate change, and desired interventions to improve agricultural production and resilience to climate change. A mixed-methods strategy is used in the study to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. According to the data, paddy farmers in Kahama District have used a number of climate change adaptation strategies. These adaptations include modifications to irrigation techniques, timing adjustments for planting, seed variety changes, and fertilizer treatment adjustments. The study also reveals a change in crop systems, with farmers choosing drought-tolerant cultivars, intercropping, and crop diversification; increased water management practices, increased soil conservation practices, and informed decision-making through the use of climate information services are some of the strategies used by paddy farmers to adapt to climate change. The study also identifies the interventions that farmers want to see implemented, such as enhanced irrigation systems, workshops on climate-resilient farming techniques, access to resilient seed varieties, and dependable weather forecasting and climate information services. These findings show the paddy farmers in the Kahama District's proactive response to the problems posed by climate change and help to better understand the adaptation measures they have used. The study highlights the importance of assisting farmers in advancing their current strategies and knowledge while also attending to their unique requirements. Implementing desired actions, such as expanding climate information services, supplying training and access to robust seed varieties, and enhancing irrigation infrastructure, can significantly increase agricultural productivity and the region's resistance to climate change. For politicians, extension services, and development organizations looking to promote climate change adaptation and sustainable agriculture, these research findings have real-world applications. Paddy farmers' ability to adapt, agricultural output, and livelihood security in the face of climate change problems can all be improved by matching interventions and policies with their recognized needs and goals. Such activities can support attempts to achieve food security and sustainable development in the Kahama District and other areas, as well as the agricultural sector's overall resilience.

Studies on the Vascular Flora of Mahendragiri Hill and the Surrounding Regions, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli Districts, Tamil Nadu

The vascular flora of Mahendragiri hill and the surrounding areas of Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli Districts, Tamil Nadu, is dealt with in this paper. The floristic survey and investigations of the area reveal a varied and heterogeneous vegetetion. Tne vegetation varies from Southern tropical wet-evergreen, moist and dry deciduous to grassland and thorn forests. In all five exploration visits in different seasons were conducted which resulted in a collection of 831 field numbers distributed over 120 families, 398 genera and 579 species. About 21 species endemic to Tirunelveli and Travancore hill%, have been collected from this area. Of the families, Leguminosae, Gramineae, Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae, Acanthaceae, Labiatae, Orchidaceae, Arteraceae, Cyperaceze, Moraceae and Asclepizdaceae are in order of dominance. Pteridophytes are represented by 8 families, 14 genera and 16 species, the family Pteridaceae being dominant in having 6 genera and 7 species.

Botanical Observations in the Balimela Project Area, Orissa

This article deals with an account of the vegetation and flora of Balimela dam project area in Koraput district of Orissa. In all a total of about 200 species of flowering plants occurring in the submerging sites are enumerated.

Impact of Front Line Demonstrations on Yield Enhancement of Ginger (var. Nadia) Raised Single Node Seedlings through Pro Tray Technology in Tribal Area of Alluri Sitaramraju District of Andhra Pradesh, India

To overcome the problems of high seed usage due to the high cost of seed material and rhizome rot disease in ginger in tribal agency areas of ASR district. Hence, the ICAR-ANGRAU, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kondempudi conducted Front Line Demonstrations (FLD) in five selected villages, namely Paderu, Peddabayalu, Hukumpeta, Dumbriguda, and Araku mandals of Alluri Sitaramraju district (ASR) of Andhra Pradesh, for three years (2019–20, 2020–21, and 2021-22). The purpose of the FLD was to showcase the superior performance of single node raised seedlings of the ginger variety Nadia raised through portray technology compared to the normal farmer practice variety Nadia. The single-node ginger (Var.Nadia) seedlings cultivated using technological demonstration of yield and economic analysis in contrast to farmers' practices 50 farmers participated actively in the FLD, which covered 20.5 acres. In terms of production, pooled fresh rhizome yields of 139.57 and 120.02 q/ha, respectively, showed that single-node grown seedlings of ginger var. Nadia raised by modern technology were superior over farmer practice. Single-node ginger (var. Nadia) seedlings grown by this technique exhibited an upsurge in fresh rhizome output from 10.28 to 20.39 percent over the course of the demonstration years. Average cost-benefit ratios for the three years for demonstration plots and farmer practice were 1:3.18, 1:3.26, and 1:3.61, and 1:2.09, 1:2.08, and 1:2.01, respectively. The extension gap of three years (2019–20, 2020–21, and 2021–22) was 27.71, 16.1, and 14.84 q/ha in demonstration plots, respectively. Results on the Technology Index ranged between 12.07 to 6.62% and 20.78 to 5.17% for single-node ginger (var.Nadia) seedlings raised through pro tray technology and farmers’ practices, respectively. All three years of study revealed that for single-node ginger (var.Nadia) seedlings raised through portray technology, there is much significance and scope for up scaling the demonstrated technology in tribal agency areas of Alluri Sitaramraj district, Andhra Pradesh.

Infant and young child feeding practice among mothers-child pair in irrigated and non-irrigated areas of Dangila district, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020: a community based comparative cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe issue of Infant and Young Child Feeding practices was widespread; it was estimated that infants were not exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life. Complementary foods were frequently provided too soon or too late, and they were often nutritionally deficient. Even, there are nutrition-sensitive activities like irrigation schemes, evidence on infant and young child feeding practices between irrigated and non-irrigated areas is scarce or limited.ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of infant and young child feeding practices among 0–23 months of age children in irrigated and non-irrigated areas of Dangila District, North-west Ethiopia, 2020.MethodsA community based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from Dec 1, 2020, to Jun 1, 2020. A stratified sampling technique was implemented to select 823 mothers with children age 0–23 months from irrigated (411) and non-irrigated (412) kebeles. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors of infant and young child feeding practice. Adjusted odds ratios with a 95% CI were used to determine the degree of association between the independent and outcome variables. A p-value < 0.05 was used as a cutoff point to declare statistically significant variables with the outcome variable.ResultsAmong 823 households visited, 802 respondents with a response rate of 97.8% in irrigated and 96.11% in non-irrigated areas gave complete responses. The overall prevalence of good IYCF practice was 62.5% (95% CI: 34.2, 41.3), and it shows a significant difference between irrigated (72.2%) and non-irrigated areas (52.8%). Moreover, the study identified that education primary and above (AOR = 1.889, 95% CI: 1.38, 2.648) knowledge above mean (AOR = 2.347, 95% CI: 1.555, 3.542), positive attitude (AOR = 1.716, 95% CI: 1.139, 2.587), PNC follow-up (AOR = 1.606, 95% CI: 1.154, 2.360), women’s decision-making power (AOR = 1.840, 95% CI: 1.226, 2.763), and multiple delivery (AOR = 0.352, 95% CI: 0.213, 0.583) were significant factors for IYCF among 0–23 month-old children.Conclusion and recommendationsThe infant and young child feeding practice among 0–23 month-old children was better in an irrigated area than in a non-irrigated area. Promoting irrigation practices, empowering women, and strengthening postnatal care are recommended interventions to increase infant, young, and child feeding practices in the study area.

Tiger prowling: Distribution modelling for northward-expanding Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Japan.

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is a significant public health concern owing to its expanding habitat and vector competence. Disease outbreaks attributed to this species have been reported in areas under its invasion, and its northward expansion in Japan has caused concern because of the potential for dengue virus infection in newly populated areas. Accurate prediction of Ae. albopictus distribution is crucial to prevent the spread of the disease. However, limited studies have focused on the prediction of Ae. albopictus distribution in Japan. Herein, we used the random forest model, a machine learning approach, to predict the current and potential future habitat ranges of Ae. albopictus in Japan. The model revealed that these mosquitoes prefer urban areas over forests in Japan on the current map. Under predictions for the future, the species will expand its range to the surrounding areas and eventually reach many areas of northeastern Kanto, Tohoku District, and Hokkaido, with a few variations in different scenarios. However, the affected human population is predicted to decrease owing to the declining birth rate. Anthropogenic and climatic factors contribute to range expansion, and urban size and population have profound impacts. This prediction map can guide responses to the introduction of this species in new areas, advance the spatial knowledge of diseases vectored by it, and mitigate the possible disease burden. To our knowledge, this is the first distribution-modelling prediction for Ae. albopictus with a focus on Japan.

An assessment of environmental impacts in mining areas of Paschim Bardhhaman district, West Bengal, India

Mining is the most significant economic action in the Paschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal, India. Simultaneously, it has an enormous figure of negative influences on the natural, environmental, ecological, and social environment. The land use and land cover (LULC) alteration, coal mining effect (open-cast) on the LULC, and the local environmental influences are deliberated. The Paschim Bardhhaman’s LULC area is examined for the period of 30 years i.e., since the year like 1991 to 2021. Furthermore, alteration examination and spatial–temporal dynamics of LULC quantification are also deliberated. Analysis discloses that the water body marginally increased from 0.64% in 1991 to 0.96% in 2021. Mining area increased from 0.00% (1991) to 8.97% (2021) respectively. Instead, vegetation has decreased from 40.17% (1991) to 31.20% (2021) continuously. Similarly, settlement increased from 5.02% to 13.77% in the year 1991 to 2021 respectively. Agricultural land progressively decreased from 44.47% (1991) to 39.73% (2021) respectively. Raniganj Coalfield area, Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL), and Coal India Limited (CIL) are the triggers for open cast mining. Land surface temperature (LST) increased by 7.96 ˚C (summer) and 10.24 ˚C (winter) between 30 years. The LST, LULC, and vegetation limitations are substantial factors in the universally changing climate investigations. Thermal infrared remote sensing demonstrated its competence for observing temperature and moving micro-climate in urban regions. The outcomes indicate that the outside temperature influences self-heating surfaces (hotspots) regions. The examination likewise shows that the outside temperature influences the self-heating surfaces (hotspots) regions.

The human and financial costs of conservation for local communities living around the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem, Tanzania

Protected areas have long been recognized globally as an important strategy for conserving biodiversity. However, the establishment of protected areas has often adversely impacted local livelihoods, particularly where people and their livelihoods are exposed to wildlife threats. Understanding the magnitude and the types of human and livelihood losses to wildlife can help to reduce the losses in the future. Here we collected and analysed a large and comprehensive historical data sets on crop damage, livestock depredation, and human attacks over eight years from January 2015 to October 2022 from Serengeti District and Ngorongoro Conservation Area to understand human and livelihood losses to wildlife in the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem (GSE). The data were government records of loss and compensation. Additionally, we performed individual interviews on what communities lose to wildlife in the area. We found that wildlife causes serious annual losses of crops (value estimated at USD 489,000) and livestock (USD 17,600). On average 22 people from villages beside or within the protected areas were injured each year and eight people were killed, usually by elephants. Compensation paid by the government to local communities only covered <20% of their total financial losses, and was also very little for the injury or loss of human life. Given our estimates are only for two administrative areas i.e. Serengeti District and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the figure will be much higher if we include all districts around the GSE. These findings contribute to the broader conservation science field and the global discourse on human-wildlife conflict and coexistence. Protected area authorities should: a. take greater responsibility for protecting local communities and their assets from wildlife attacks, and b. assist the local communities with implementing deterrence and in establishing problematic animal prevention units in hotspot areas. In particular, we recommend that the Tanzanian Government should review the current compensation regulations to reflect the actual loss.

Pengaruh Literasi Keuangan, Sikap Keuangan dan Tingkat Pendidikan terhadap Pengelolaan Keuangan UMKM Di Kecamatan Grokgak

This research activity has a purpose to examine the influence that can be raised by aspects of financial literacy, aspects of financial attitudes and aspects of educational level on financial management. The type of research used is causal quantitative using a questionnaire. In this case, the population used is MSMEs in the Grokgak District area with numbers reaching 292 MSMEs. Sampling used a technique called Simple Random Sampling and calculated according to Ferdinand (2006), so that the sample reached 75. The data analysis method used was multiple linear regression analysis with the help of SPSS version 25 for Windows. The results of this study succeeded in showing that (1) Aspects of financial literacy, financial attitudes and level of education show a positive and significant influence on financial management, (2) Aspects of financial literacy show a positive and significant influence on financial management, (3 ) The financial attitude aspect shows a positive and significant influence on financial management, and (4) The education level aspect shows a positive and significant influence on financial management

A Cross-sectional study to assess the mental health problems during menstrual cycle among adolescent girls in the rural area of Wardha District

Introduction It is essential to improve global public health and to achieve sustainable developmental goals. Mental health problems are common during menstruation in adolescent girls. Menstrual problems affect academic performance, personal lives, and social lives. Menstrual problems are both affective and somatic. This study is undertaken to study the Impact of Menstruation on the Mental Health of young adolescent girls. The participants ‘ ages range from 15 to 19 years. Adolescent coping method ds Mental health, psychological well-being, and spiritual well-being were assessed. Menstrual-phase respondents exhibited increased psychological traits as a measure of adolescent girls’ coping with mental difficulties. Objectives To evaluate menstruation-related knowledge, attitude, sources of information, and psychological well-being To determine the mental health problems during the menstrual cycle. To find out the association between sociodemographic variables and mental health problems during menstrual cycle Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural area of the Wardha district. This study used a descriptive cross-sectional research design. A sample of 364 individuals was selected using random sampling. The inclusion criteria were adolescent girls aged 15–19 years who attained menstruation. Exclusion criteria: Girls younger than 15 years and above 19 years, as well as those who were hesitant and uncomfortable asking for information to participate in the study, were excluded. Outcomes Adolescent girls experienced menstruation-related psychosocial issues that are not uncommon. Menstrual distress, burden, stigma, lack of counselling services, lack of preparation menarche, lack of easy access to clean resources, vacy concerns when changing pads are necessary, lack of facilities for disposing sanitary napkins, and inadequate psychological and social support. Most girls experienced stress, mood swings, and restlessness during their menstrual cycle. These findings are consistent with past studies that found that the majority of girls were agitated during menstruation. Approximately 25% of them felt ashamed and guilty about their pubertal changes, and experienced menarche in fear, shyness, and sadness. On the first day of menstruation, girls report psychological problems such as anxiety, trouble concentrating, sadness, irritability, and excitement7. Approximately two-thirds of teenagers in the current study were unaware that menarche occurred earlier.

The level of pusblic knowledge regarding how to obtain, use, store andDisposing of Antibiotics in the Kediri City District Area

Antibiotics are drugs used to treat bacterial infections that kill bacteria or prevent bacteria from multiplying. According to data from the antimicrobial resistance control committee, the level of bacterial resistance in Indonesia increased, from 40% in 2013 to 60.4% in 2019, this indicates that the need for antibacterials is still very high among the public. This study aims to evaluate the level of public knowledge regarding how to obtain, use, store and dispose of antibiotics in the Kota sub-district area, Kediri City. This research uses a descriptive method with a quantitative approach, the sample used is the community in the Kota District area, Kediri City which was taken randomly.cluster sampling. The results of the research show that the majority of respondents in Kota sub-district, Kediri City have a sufficient level of knowledge of antibiotic use with a percentage of 38.5%, it is known that the majority of respondents have an average knowledge of antibiotic storage between good and sufficient with a percentage of 37.0%, the majority of respondents have low knowledge of antibiotic disposal. with a percentage of 69.0%, then regarding how to get antibiotics the majority had good knowledge with a percentage of 49.3%. From the research results, it was concluded that the level of public knowledge regarding the use, storage, disposal and methods of obtaining antibiotics is still lacking. Then, from the results of respondents' answers, there is no significant relationship between gender and age, with respect to respondents' knowledge about use, storage, disposal and how to obtain them, whereas based on education there is a significant relationship with knowledge of storage and for work there is a significant relationship with knowledge of how to obtain antibiotics in the sub-district area. City, Kediri City.

Health seeking behaviour among the farm house residents in Vijayapura district, Karnataka. A Cross sectional study

Background: Health seeking behaviour as defined by Kasl and Cobb is any activity undertaken by individuals who perceive themselves to have a health problem or to be ill for the purpose of finding an appropriate remedy. More often than not, a country has a mixture of both public and private health care systems to ensure an equitable distribution of quality health care. Objectives: To identify the health seeking behavior and distance travelled to access the health care among the farm house residents. Material &amp; Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among the farm house residents in rural areas of Vijayapura district. A Sample of 450 farm house residents were interviewed by prestructured proferma containing information regarding socio demographic profile, health seeking behaviour and distance travelled to access the health care among the farm house residents. PSUs were selected with probability proportional to size sampling and 5 households in a selected PSU were selected by random sampling. All characteristics were summarized descriptively, Chi-square (?2) test was employed to determine the significance of differences. Results: Majority of the participants took treatment from government hospital followed by private practitioner when they are sick and majority of participants travelled between 1-5KM. (61.3%) and for the past illness it was (33.2%). Conclusion: The present study concludes that availability of government health facility constitute about (93.8%) compared to private (6.2%).

Studi Identifikasi Nilai-nilai Karakter dalam Cerita Rakyat Masyarakat Rejang Kabupaten Lebong

This study aims to describe the types of folklore that developed in the Rejang society, Lebong Regency, and describe the character values in folklore identified in Lebong Regency. This research uses qualitative research with survey method. The main instrument in this study is the researcher himself and is assisted by supporting instruments in the form of interview sheets and documentation. Data collection techniques used in this study were interviews and documentation. The data obtained were analyzed through data reduction, data display (data display), and drawing conclusions. The results of the study collected fourteen folk tales found in three areas in South Lebong District. Based on the identification results, it can be concluded that, from fourteen folk tales adapted to the types of folklore, they were obtained, namely: four folk tales with the type of myth, five folklores with the type of legend, and five folklores with the type of fairy tale. Based on the results of the identification, it can be concluded that the character values found in the folklore of the Rejang society, Lebong Regency, obtained nine character values, namely: honest, hard work, creative, democratic, curiosity, respect for achievement, care for the environment, social care, and responsibility.Keywords: character values, folklore, Rejang society

PENGARUH BELANJA ONLINE TERHADAP PERILAKU PERJALANAN BELANJA DI KECAMATAN KUTA

Advances in telecommunications technology can be used to hold meetings, distance learning processes, recreation, and online shopping without having to travel to the store. A person's decision to shop online will indirectly influence a person's travel behavior, such as substitution (online shopping replaces conventional shopping), modification (changing the characteristics of the shopping trip), complementary (complementing the shopping trip), or neutral (no effect on the shopping trip). The purpose of this research is to analyze the factors that influence online shopping activities on the travel behavior of people who live in the Kuta District Area. The primary data collection method was carried out by observation and distributing questionnaires containing closed questions to 100 respondents. The data analysis method uses multiple linear regression statistics. The results of the analysis show that the trust aspect, the time and cost aspect, as well as the information and promo aspect have a significant positive effect partially and simultaneously on the travel behavior of people who live in the Kuta District area to use online shopping system services. The resulting equation model is: Y = 2.501+ 0.254X1 + 0.376X2 + 0.267X3, where the time and cost aspects have the greatest influence compared to the trust and information aspects. The model's ability to predict is very strong as indicated by the coefficient of determination (R2) of 81.0%.

Warsaw small and medium-sized public urban green spaces as a response to short-time leisure needs of local residents and passers-by

ABSTRACT The study investigates visitors’ activity patterns in small and medium-sized public urban green spaces (SAMPUGS) and the relationship between the green space features and their use through the field observation of 36 case areas in Warsaw districts – Śródmieście and Ursynów. They were analysed using the perceived sensory dimensions (PSDs) and the Environmental Assessment of Public Recreation Spaces (EAPRS) tool. The green spaces in Ursynów are greener and richer in species than those in Śródmieście, but they lack historical features. The most popular activities are: sitting on a bench, strolling, dog walking, chatting and eating/drinking. Sitting on a bench is encouraged by the presence of historical feature and view outside green space but not by the ‘green ground cover’ or high green coverage ratio. Strolling is promoted in the green spaces of the bigger size and with the developed path network, but also with presence of flowerbeds and those rich in species. Chatting is promoted by the presence of historical features but not by the presence of ‘green ground cover’ and richness in species. Eating/drinking is encouraged by the presence of many places to sit, higher PSD ‘culture’ score, especially in Śródmieście and higher PSD ‘space’ score, especially in Ursynów.

Pengaruh Aksesibilitas Jalan Ende – Nuabosi Terhadap Peningkatan Perekonomian Masyarakat Kecamatan Ende

Nuabosi is one of the villages in the Ende District area, where this village helps improve the economy of Ende District in terms of meeting economic needs, namely in the form of various agricultural and plantation products. However, even though Nuabosi Village is sufficient to meet the economic needs of Ende District, distance and inadequate infrastructure conditions are some of the factors that influence the level of accessibility in Ende District. This research aims to determine the value and level of accessibility in the villages of Ende District. The accessibility measuring parameter data used is travel time, road pavement conditions, supporting facilities, and travel rates or costs. Data analysis uses quantitative descriptive analysis and crosstab analysis methods, using the total accessibility calculation formula. The results of the analysis based on a review of accessibility parameters and crosstabs show that the highest accessibility value for each village is Ria Raja Village with a value of 2.18 and the lowest is Tina Bani Village with a value of 0.37. The average level of accessibility in Ende District as a whole is 0.83, indicating a high level of accessibility, where the existing road conditions can influence the improvement of the economy of the people in Ende District. Crosstab analysis also shows that most of the factors determining accessibility are related to the socio-economic conditions of the community.

Mapping burned areas in Thailand using Sentinel-2 imagery and OBIA techniques

Monitoring burned areas in Thailand and other tropical countries during the post-harvest season is becoming increasingly important. High-resolution remote sensing data from Sentinel-2 satellites, which have a short revisit time, is ideal for accurately and efficiently mapping burned regions. However, automating the mapping of agriculture residual on a national scale is challenging due to the volume of information and level of detail involved. In this study, a Sentinel-2A Level-1C Multispectral Instrument image (MSI) from February 27, 2018 was combined with object-based image analysis (OBIA) algorithms to identify burned areas in Mae Chaem, Chom Thong, Hod, Mae Sariang, and Mae La Noi Districts in Chiang Mai, Thailand. OBIA techniques were used to classify forest, agricultural, water bodies, newly burned, and old burned regions. The segmentation scale parameter value of 50 was obtained using only the original Sentinel-2A band in red, green, blue, near infrared (NIR), and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The accuracy of the produced maps was assessed using an existing burned area dataset, and the burned area identified through OBIA was found to be 85.2% accurate compared to 500 random burned points from the dataset. These results suggest that the combination of OBIA and Sentinel-2A with a 10 m spatial resolution is very effective and promising for the process of burned area mapping.

Factors Affecting the Supplier's Quality of the Perishables Supply Chain; Special Reference to the Hotel Industry in Sri Lanka

Food is the main factor that anyone who measures the quality on a hotel or a restaurant. If there is good quality food, consumer will never forget to revisit that restaurant. If they are unable to maintain the food quality of perishables there can be many issues for hoteliers that directly affect the business. In this context, suppliers' quality, of the perishables supply chain plays vital role in the hospitality industry as it engages with many aspects, procurement, packing, transportation. storage, temperature, and maintenance. However, these challenges affect the final quality of perishable food items therefore, identifying these factors is crucial for hoteliers to develop strategies to mitigate them. Therefore, the current study investigates the most critical factors that affect the supplier quality of the perishables supply chain and finds the impact of variables on the quality of the perishable supply chain in the hospitality industry, in Sri Lanka. In this study, an online questionnaire was distributed among the people who work in the procurement section and the hotel chefs in the 3-star to 5-star hotels, in Negombo and Colombo. The convenience sampling method was used with 384 respondents, but the survey was concluded with 200 responses because of these data collected from managerial and executive level employees from selected areas in Gampaha district. The reports of the statistical outputs of the SPSS analysis, including reliability analysis, demographic factor analysis, cross-tabulation analysis, descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis, are included in the study. However, the outcome shows high internal consistency in the reliability test, positive ratings for temperature, storage method, packaging method, lead time, and transport method and there was a significant positive correlation between these variables and the quality of the perishable supply chain showing the positive impact. Further research suggests examining the impact of each perishable factor in depth by exploring the relationship between quality and food wastage.

Methodological issues of retrospective surveys for measuring mortality of highly clustered diseases: case study of the 2014–16 Ebola outbreak in Bo District, Sierra Leone

ABSTRACT Background There is a lack of empirical data on design effects (DEFF) for mortality rate for highly clustered data such as with Ebola virus disease (EVD), along with a lack of documentation of methodological limitations and operational utility of mortality estimated from cluster-sampled studies when the DEFF is high. Objectives The objectives of this paper are to report EVD mortality rate and DEFF estimates, and discuss the methodological limitations of cluster surveys when data are highly clustered such as during an EVD outbreak. Methods We analysed the outputs of two independent population-based surveys conducted at the end of the 2014–2016 EVD outbreak in Bo District, Sierra Leone, in urban and rural areas. In each area, 35 clusters of 14 households were selected with probability proportional to population size. We collected information on morbidity, mortality and changes in household composition during the recall period (May 2014 to April 2015). Rates were calculated for all-cause, all-age, under-5 and EVD-specific mortality, respectively, by areas and overall. Crude and adjusted mortality rates were estimated using Poisson regression, accounting for the surveys sample weights and the clustered design. Results Overall 980 households and 6,522 individuals participated in both surveys. A total of 64 deaths were reported, of which 20 were attributed to EVD. The crude and EVD-specific mortality rates were 0.35/10,000 person-days (95%CI: 0.23–0.52) and 0.12/10,000 person-days (95%CI: 0.05–0.32), respectively. The DEFF for EVD mortality was 5.53, and for non-EVD mortality, it was 1.53. DEFF for EVD-specific mortality was 6.18 in the rural area and 0.58 in the urban area. DEFF for non-EVD-specific mortality was 1.87 in the rural area and 0.44 in the urban area. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate a high degree of clustering; this contributed to imprecise mortality estimates, which have limited utility when assessing the impact of disease. We provide DEFF estimates that can inform future cluster surveys and discuss design improvements to mitigate the limitations of surveys for highly clustered data.

Long-Range Consequences of Emergency Underground Nuclear Explosions in Yakutia: Incidence of Malignant Neoplasms

The paper evaluates the possibility of interrelation of emergency underground nuclear explosions with an increased incidence of cancer among the population of areas bordering the area of emergency underground nuclear explosions, for example, in Suntarsky and Nyurbinsky districts, in which the incidence of malignant neoplasms, mortality from malignant neoplasms is higher than the average in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). For this purpose, the radiation situation of the sites of underground nuclear explosions “Kraton-3” and “Kristall” was investigated: the radionuclide composition of soil and vegetation was studied by semiconductor gamma-ray spectrometry and a water sample by liquid scintillation spectrometry; dosimetric measurements were carried out: the power of exposure doses. Based on the results of water analysis, it is possible to determine the possibility of migration of tritium from the cavities of emergency underground nuclear explosions. The results of the study of vegetation and soil showed the presence of artificial radionuclides 137Cs, 241Am and traces of 60Co. High values of the specific activity of radiocesium are observed in several samples taken near the area “Kraton-3”. Also in this area, the results of dosimetric measurements showed a slight decrease in the gamma background level, but which still remains elevated and exceeds the safe level by 2.5 times. It is possible that the increased incidence rate in the districts of the republic bordering the area of emergency underground nuclear explosions can be considered as their long-term consequences due to additional dose loads, for example, from caesium during the entire time after the explosions, since the half-life of caesium is approximately 30 years. The results of this study can be considered as a basis for the development of recommendations, possible regulations that can be applied in the implementation of compliance with radiation safety standards during future similar tests and during mining, during which there may be emissions of natural radionuclides to the earth's surface.