Daytime Deliveries Research Articles

Obstetric Outcomes of Nighttime Versus Daytime Delivery with Labor Epidural: An Observational Retrospective Study.

Background: Variability in obstetric outcomes in terms of the number and type of deliveries related to the day-night cycle has been described in previous studies. This 11-year retrospective analysis explores the effects of nighttime versus daytime delivery with labor epidural on obstetric outcomes. Methods: Data on deliveries performed between 1 October 2008 and 1 October 2019 were collected and differentiated into daytime, occurring from 8:00 a.m. to 7:59 p.m., and nighttime deliveries, occurring from 8:00 p.m. to 7:59 a.m. of the following day. The data collected included the patient history and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results: A total of 29831 patients were included in the analysis. A positive and statistically significant correlation between the number of cesarean sections (Odds Ratio 1.35; 95% confidence interval = 1.26-1.44; p < 0.001) and the number of vaginal operative deliveries (Odds Ratio 1.21; 95% confidence interval = 1.01-1.44; p < 0.05) in patients who did not receive an epidural at nighttime was reported. Regarding the labor epidurals, a significantly greater incidence of accidental dural punctures with needles (0,4%; p < 0.05) in the nighttime versus daytime was reported. Conclusions: The absence of labor epidurals was associated with a significant increase in the number of cesarean sections and vaginal operative deliveries occurring at nighttime, without significant differences in labor duration. The incidence of anesthesiologic complications was greater in deliveries performed at nighttime.

Time of Birth and the Risk of Adverse Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes-A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: To determine whether in a labor floor housed continuously by senior physicians the risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcome is affected by time of delivery. Methods: This retrospective cohort study, conducted at a tertiary medical center, assessed singleton term deliveries from 1 January 2011 to 30 January 2020. Participants were categorized based on delivery timing, correlating with nursing shifts, to evaluate perinatal outcomes. The primary endpoint included adverse maternal outcomes such as emergency Cesarean section, anal sphincter injuries, blood product transfusions, and postpartum surgeries (laparotomy/laparoscopy). Secondary outcomes focused on neonatal health indicators, including low Apgar scores, ICU admissions, respiratory issues, extended hospital stays, and neurological complications. Results: 87,863 deliveries were available for analysis with equal distribution during the day. The risk of adverse composite maternal outcome was highest during the evening (aOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.18-1.32) and lowest during the night (aOR 0.94, 95% CI 0.88-0.99) compared to daytime deliveries. This difference was primarily driven by the highest rate of emergency CD in the evening. Neonatal outcomes were comparable, except for length of stay > 5 days, which was more frequent among newborns delivered during the evening and night shifts compared to the morning shift (aOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.07-1.33 and aOR 1.17, 95% CI 1.05-1.31, respectively). Conclusions: In term pregnancies, the evening shift is associated with the highest risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes despite physician seniority.

FACTORS PREDISPOSING TO NEONATAL ASPHYXIA AMONG NEONATES DELIVERED AT ADJUMANI GENERAL HOSPITAL, ADJUMANI DISTRICT. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background The purpose of the study was to assess the individual factors predisposing to neonatal asphyxia, to find out the community factors predisposing to neonatal asphyxia, and to determine the health-related factors predisposing to neonatal asphyxia. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was employed to collect data from 50 respondents. A purposive sampling technique was used and data obtained was presented in tables and figures. Results The results of the study reported that individual factors predisposing to neonatal asphyxia were, the majority (82 %) of the respondents had attended antenatal care three times, more than half (52 %) of the respondents reported that they had been diagnosed with severe malaria during pregnancy, the majority (76 %) of the respondents reported to have experienced prolong labor for more than 8 hours. The findings on the community factor showed that the majority (74 %) of the respondents delivered from the hospital, and most (46 %) of the respondents delivered from home by unskilled relatives. Findings on health facility factors were, that 56 % of the respondents had nighttime deliveries, 46 % of the respondents had daytime deliveries, more than half (52 %) of the respondents had been delivered by medical interns alone and the majority (66 %) of the respondents reported that the hospital was less prepared for neonatal emergencies. Conclusion Poor antenatal care attendance, severe malaria, prolonged labor, night-time delivery, delivery by medical interns alone, and less preparedness of the hospital for neonatal emergencies were the factors predisposing to neonatal asphyxia. Recommendation Pregnant mothers should ensure complete attendance of antenatal care to promote successful pregnancy outcomes, proper guidance to be given to medical interns attending labor by experienced midwives to ensure better delivery outcomes, and health workers attending labor should always be prepared to handle neonatal emergencies.

Experience of respectful maternity care during childbirth and associated factors in public hospitals of the South West Region of Ethiopia: an institution-based, cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo determine women’s level of experience of respectful maternity care during childbirth and associated factors in public hospitals in the South West Region of Ethiopia.DesignInstitution-based, cross-sectional study.SettingThe study was conducted...

Understanding Customer Preferences of Delivery Services for Online Grocery Retailing in South Korea

With the rapid growth of online grocery shopping in South Korea, e-grocery retailers have faced intense competition. Consequently, they attempt to differentiate themselves by offering diversified delivery services, such as providing early morning delivery services or eco-friendly packaging. The purpose of this paper is to analyze consumer preferences with regards to delivery services with different delivery times and packaging types targeting South Korea’s online grocery markets. Specifically, six delivery types consisting of combinations of two delivery time options (dawn, daytime) and three packaging types (paper box, market cooler bag, personal icebox) are examined. A survey was conducted in July 2020 with 218 consumers who regularly buy fresh food online. The collected data were analyzed by means of a conjoint analysis and ANOVA. The present study finds that customers most strongly prefer dawn delivery using a personal icebox, followed by dawn delivery using a market cooler bag, with daytime delivery using a paper box being the least preferable. Furthermore, consumers value the packaging type more than the delivery time when selecting a delivery service. Lastly, the preferences of consumers regarding delivery service types differ according to their characteristics. This study is expected to contribute to the establishment of a delivery strategy for online grocery companies.

Influence of daytime versus nighttime births on late preterm infant outcomes

To determine whether delivery time of day is associated with differences in neonatal management or outcome in late preterm infants. Previous investigations of neonatal morbidity based on delivery time of day have focused on infants at term and early preterm gestational ages. This is a secondary analysis of ALPS, a multicenter trial of patients with anticipated late preterm delivery (34w0d-36w6d) randomized to betamethasone or placebo. Patients were assigned to a daytime (0700-1859) or nighttime cohort (1900-0659) using the documented time of birth. Study group characteristics were compared using chi-squared test for categorical data and Wilcoxon test for continuous data. Logistic regression models were used to adjust for birth weight, mode of delivery, and ALPS group assignment. The primary outcome was the administration of respiratory resuscitation in the first 30 minutes of life. Characteristics of the two cohorts are summarized in Table 1. There were 1539 daytime deliveries and 1288 nighttime deliveries. The daytime birth cohort had a significantly higher rate of Cesarean delivery and a higher mean birth weight. There was no significant difference in the primary outcome of administration of respiratory resuscitation in the first 30 minutes of life (aRR 1.03, 95% CI 0.86-1.24, p=0.73). Secondary outcomes, including administration of surfactant and NICU admission, were also comparable between the groups (Table 2). Of infants who received surfactant, the average duration of time to surfactant administration was not significantly different between daytime versus nighttime births. Previous studies have inconsistently demonstrated an association of delivery time of day with neonatal morbidity and mortality in early preterm and term infants. Here, we show that in late preterm infants, daytime compared to nighttime birth is not associated with increased neonatal morbidity.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)

Childbirth experience in induced labor: A prospective study using a validated childbirth experience questionnaire (CEQ) with a focus on the first birth.

ObjectiveFirst birth and labor induction are risk factors for negative childbirth experiences. As labor inductions are increasing, research into this high-risk group’s childbirth experiences is important. We aimed to investigate whether nulliparity or factors related to labor induction, labor, and delivery explain the association.MethodsThis was a prospective study of 711 women undergoing labor induction at Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, between January 1, 2019, and January 31, 2020. The participants answered the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) after delivery (response rate 69.4%). The patient characteristics and delivery outcomes were collected from patient records. We analyzed the results for nulliparous and parous women.ResultsThe mean CEQ scores were 2.9 (SD 0.5) for nulliparous women (n = 408) and 3.2 (SD 0.5) for parous women (n = 303), on a scale of 1–4; higher scores represent more positive experiences. However, 7.3% of the women had negative childbirth experiences (8.8% nulliparous; 5.3% parous, p = 0.08). Negative experiences were associated with a cesarean section (OR 6.7, 95% CI 1.8–9.3, p < 0.001) and a hemorrhage ≥ 1500 ml in vaginal delivery (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1–7.5, p = 0.03). In the separate CEQ domains analyses, nulliparity was associated with negative experiences in the “Own Capacity” domain (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0–2.4, p = 0.03). Cervical ripening, oxytocin use, and daytime delivery were associated with negative experiences in at least one domain, whereas epidural or spinal analgesia was regarded positively in two domains and negatively in one.ConclusionsNulliparous women undergoing labor induction risk negative childbirth experiences mainly due to labor and delivery-related factors, similar to parous women. Their perceptions of their capacity and preparedness for labor and delivery should be enhanced antenatally. An effective labor induction protocol promoting as high a rate of vaginal delivery as possible and preparedness to promptly respond to postpartum hemorrhage are key for avoiding negative childbirth experiences.

Respectful delivery care and associated factors among mothers delivered in public health facilities of Dessie city, Northeast Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe government of Ethiopia has been implementing compassionate, respectful, and caring strategies to increase institutional delivery and decrease maternal mortality in recent years. There is limited evidence on respectful delivery care and associated factors in low-income countries like Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the proportion of respectful delivery care and associated factors among mothers delivered in the health facilities of Dessie city, Northeast Ethiopia.MethodsA health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a total of 390 mothers from April 16 to May 30, 2018. A pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The data were entered into Epidata and analyzed using Stata/SE 14. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated factors. Variables having P-value less than 0.2 in the bivariable regression were selected as a candidate for multi-variable regression. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated to measure the strength and direction of the association respectively.ResultsThe proportion of respectful delivery care among mothers delivered in public health facilities of Dessie city was 43.4%, 95% CI (39.1%, 47.6%). It was found to be 34.9% in hospital and 74.1 in health center. Respectful delivery care was associated with day time delivery [AOR = 2.23, 95% CI (1.30, 3.82)], any maternal and/or fetal complications [AOR = 0.50, 95% CI (0.27, 0.94)], gave birth in health center [AOR = 3.22, 95% CI (1.61, 6.46)] and educated mothers [AOR = 2.87, 95% CI (1.18, 7.01)].ConclusionsThe proportion of respectful delivery care in the study area was low as compared to the government emphasis and other works of literature. This study indicated that any maternal and/or newborn complications, daytime delivery, giving birth in a health center, and maternal education were associated with respectful delivery care. Women empowerment through education could be a recalled intervention for respectful care.

Respectful maternity care and associated factors among mothers who gave birth at public health institutions in South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia 2021.

Introduction:Respectful maternity care is essential for improving maternal and neonatal health. Lack of respectful maternity care during childbirth services is one of the deterrents to women seeking facility-based deliveries. It is a health system failure and a violation of women’s rights. There is limited data on respectful maternity care during childbirth and maternity care in Ethiopia, particularly at rural health facilities. But studies have shown that many women from rural areas were more likely to report disrespect and abuse than urban residents.Objective:This study aims to assess respectful maternity care and associated factors among mothers who gave birth at health institutions in the South Gondar zone, northwest Ethiopia, 2021.Methods:A multicenter institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among mothers who gave birth at South Gondar Zone public health institutions, from 1 February to 30 March 2021. Six hundred twenty-two study participants were selected by using systematic random sampling. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pretested and semi-structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was computed to determine the level of significance.Result:A total of 611 participants were included in the study with the response rate of 98.2%. The study revealed that only 39.4%, of (95% confidence interval: 35.4–43.2) women received respectful maternity care. Completed secondary education (adjusted odds ratio: 2.47, 95% confidence interval: 1.35–4.50), having antenatal care follow-up (adjusted odds ratio: 0.098, 95% confidence interval: 0.03–0.34), planned pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio: 3.21, 95% confidence interval: 1.69–6.08), cesarean section delivery (adjusted odds ratio: 0.47, 95% confidence interval: 0.25–0.89), and daytime delivery (adjusted odds ratio: 1.9, 95% confidence interval: 1.33–2.72)) were significantly associated with respectful maternity care.Conclusion and Recommendation:Only two out of five women received respectful maternity care during childbirth. Completed secondary education, having antenatal care follow-up, pregnancy intended/wanted, daytime delivery, and cesarean section delivery were identified factors. Therefore, giving emphasis to creating awareness of care providers on the standards and categories of respectful maternity care, improving care provider–client discussion, monitoring, and reinforcing accountability mechanisms for health workers to improve respectful maternity care during labor and childbirth were recommended.

A retrospective review of clinical and non-clinical factors associated with unscheduled cesarean deliveries at one urban medical center.

To investigate factors associated with unscheduled cesarean delivery at one urban tertiary medical center. A retrospective chart review was performed on 11162 deliveries between 2009 and 2019. The dependent variable was unscheduled cesarean delivery. Covariates examined included time of delivery, as well as several maternal and pregnancy-related factors. There were a total of 7037 (63.1%) vaginal, 1133 (10.1%) elective cesarean, and 2992 (26.8%) unscheduled cesarean deliveries. Independent factors associated with increased odds for unscheduled cesarean delivery included daytime delivery (odds ratio [OR] 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-1.42, P<0.001); advanced maternal age (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.26-1.56, P<0.001); obesity (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.03-1.05, P<0.001); history of previous cesarean delivery (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.91-4.01, P<0.001); hypertension (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.27-2.32, P<0.001); multiparity (OR 3.99, 95% CI 2.82-5.64, P<0.001); pre-eclampsia (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.33-2.89, P=0.001); and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count) syndrome (OR 5.45, 95% CI 1.13-26.28, P=0.035). Factors associated with unscheduled cesarean delivery in this study cohort included daytime delivery, advanced maternal age, obesity, hypertension, previous cesarean delivery, multiparity, preterm labor, pre-eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome.

Pilot Off-Peak Delivery Program in the Region of Peel

Off-peak delivery (OPD) is the delivery of goods during the evening and overnight hours. This strategy has the potential to alleviate peak period congestion, improve efficiency of delivery firms, and reduce emissions. This paper investigates benefits and challenges of a pilot OPD program in the Region of Peel, with the goal of informing potential broader implementations of OPD. In contrast to other previously implemented OPD projects, this OPD pilot focuses on deliveries in suburban areas. Three firms, delivering to 14 pilot retail stores, participated in the OPD pilot in the Region of Peel from March to August 2019. The analysis shows that during the six-month pilot, the average speed of the trips that were made in off-peak hours, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next day, is 18.1% faster than those that happened in day-time hours. Furthermore, the total greenhouse gas emissions/km decreased by 10.6%, and emissions factors for air quality pollutants, including CO, NOx, PM10, and PM2.5 reduced by 10.8% to 15.0% in off-peak hours. Results for service times varied between firms, but on average increased by 15.2%, indicating activities in the off-peak hours at the retail stores that prevented overall improvements in service time compared to day-time deliveries. A post-pilot interview was done with logistics managers of the three firms, which provides rich insights about challenges, successes, and ways that the OPD program could be improved.

Respectful maternity care during labor and childbirth and associated factors among women who gave birth at health institutions in the West Shewa zone, Oromia region, Central Ethiopia

BackgroundSkilled assistance during pregnancy and childbirth is one of the key interventions in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. But studies have shown that many women across the globe experience disrespectful and abusive treatment during labor and childbirth in institutions, which forms an important barrier to improving skilled care utilization and improving maternal health outcomes. Although there are few studies done in Ethiopia, information on the status of respectful maternity care (RMC) among women during childbirth at health institutions in the West-Shewa zone is lacking. Therefore, the study aimed to assess RMC during Labor and Childbirth and associated factors among women who gave-birth at health-institutions in the West Shewa zone, Central Ethiopia.MethodsCross-sectional study was conducted at Health institutions in the West Shewa zone, Oromia region, Central Ethiopia. A systematic random sampling technique that uses women’s delivery registration number was used to collect data. Data was collected through an exit-interview. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify associated factors.ResultsFrom a total of 567 women who fully responded, only 35.8% received RMC. From categories of RMC, 76.5% of the woman is protected from physical harm/ill-treatment and 89.2% received equitable care free of discrimination. But, only 39.3% of woman’s right to information, informed consent and preferences were protected. Giving birth at health center (AOR:5.44), discussion on the place of delivery (AOR:4.42), daytime delivery (AOR:5.56), longer duration of stay (≥ 13 h) (AOR:2.10), involvement in decision-making (AOR:8.24), asking for consent before the procedure(AOR:3.45), current pregnancy unintended (AOR:5.56), the presence of < 3 health-workers during childbirth (AOR:2.23) and satisfied on waiting-time to be seen (AOR:2.08) were found to be significantly associated with RMC.ConclusionsThe proportion of RMC during labor and childbirth in the study area was low. Type of institution, discussion during ANC, time of delivery, duration of stay, involvement in decision-making, the number of health workers, waiting time and consent were identified factors. Therefore, giving emphasis to creating awareness of care providers on the standards and categories of RMC, improving care provider-client discussion, monitor and reinforcing accountability mechanisms for health workers to avoid mistreatments during labor and childbirth were recommended.

Assessing Fuel Distribution in Urban Areas: Off-Hours Deliveries in the City of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract This article analyzes impact that initiatives for improving freight system performance can generate in fuel distribution in urban areas, especially in mega-cities. We propose a comprehensive methodology to identify initiatives with the most potential in terms of cost and efficiency for the fuel distribution process in urban areas, and then to assess impacts of such initiatives in terms of environmental and economic sustainability. Results indicated off-hours deliveries as having a higher potential to increase sustainability in fuel distribution within city borders. Therefore, an application of the proposed methodology is presented to assess results of a live experiment of off-hours deliveries held in a fuel-distribution process in a mega-city in comparison to daytime deliveries, which is companies’ standard practice. Several positive results were observed during off-hour deliveries, such as reduction in fuel consumption, reduction in the emission of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, reduction in travel time, increase in average operational speed as well as the possibility of carrying out two trips with the same vehicle per day leading to a reduction in expenses with drivers when there is an increase in daily truck deliveries. Although the case assessed was conducted during the Olympic Games of Rio de Janeiro, the method can be applied in any other mega-city.

Coverage and Capacity: Addressing the “Night &amp; Weekend Effect” in Obstetrics

(BJOG. 2018;125(7):892) Recently, there has been increased focus on the possible existence of the “night and weekend effect” in obstetrics, as it has been demonstrated in other medical specialties. A study from Reif and colleagues found that nighttime delivery was associated with increased risk (odds ratio: 1.35) of severe adverse neonatal events compared with daytime delivery in 10 centers in Austria. There was no significant difference in risk of adverse events between the weekday and weekends.

Avaliando a sustentabilidade alcançada por meio de entregas noturnas: o caso da distribuição de combustíveis na cidade do Rio de Janeiro

Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o impacto que a implantação de iniciativas para aumentar o desempenho do transporte de carga pode gerar na distribuição de combustíveis em áreas urbanas, em relação à sustentabilidade ambiental e econômica, bem como à eficiência da operação. Desta forma, o artigo propõe uma metodologia a ser ­ das iniciativas com maior potencial, em termos de custo e eficiência, para contribuir para o processo de distribuição de combustíveis em áreas urbanas, bem como para a avaliação do impacto de sua implantação, em termos econômicos e ambientais. O resultado apontou a entrega noturna como a prática com maior potencial de ganhos para o setor, de modo que a metodologia proposta é aplicada para avaliar os resultados de um experimento de entregas noturnas de combustíveis na zona Sul da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, em uma das maiores distribuidoras do Brasil. Os resultados do período de teste de entregas noturnas foram comparados em relação às entregas diurnas, prática padrão da empresa. Foram observados diversos resultados positivos durante o processo de entrega noturna, tais como:, 9% de redução no consumo de combustível; 66% de aumento na velocidade média operacional dos caminhões; redução média de 31% no tempo de viagem, possibilitando o aumento do número de viagens diárias por veículo com a utilização de um mesmo motorista; além da redução média de 13% na emissão de poluentes atmosféricos e gases de efeito estufa no meio ambiente.

The impact of time of delivery on gestations complicated by preterm premature rupture of membranes: daytime versus nighttime

Background: Perinatal death, in particular intrapartum stillbirth and short-term neonatal death, as well as neonatal short-term and long-term morbidity have been associated with the time of day that the birth occurs. Indeed, evening and nighttime deliveries were associated with an increased risk of an adverse perinatal outcome when compared to similar daytime deliveries. Impact of shift change, as well as time of day delivery have been extensively studied in the context of maternal and neonatal complications of cesarean delivery, however, no studies were previously performed on timing of delivery and its effect on the outcome of pregnancies complicated by preterm premature rupture of membranes.Objective: Our objective was to compare obstetric, neonatal as well as long-term outcomes between women delivered in the daytime versus nighttime, in singleton gestations whose pregnancies were complicated by preterm premature rupture of membranes.Study design: This was a secondary analysis of a trial of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network “A Randomized Clinical Trial of the Beneficial Effects of Antenatal Magnesium Sulfate for the Prevention of Cerebral Palsy.” For this analysis, the time of delivery was divided into the daytime, from 07:01 to 19:00, and the nighttime, from 19:01 to 07:00. Epidemiological, obstetric characteristics as well as neonatal and long-term outcomes were compared between deliveries occurring during the daytime versus the nighttime periods. Inclusion criteria consisted of singleton gestations diagnosed with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Multifetal gestations and pregnancies with preterm labor without preterm premature rupture of membranes were excluded.Results: A total of 1752 patients met inclusion criteria, 881 delivering during the daytime, while 871 during the nighttime. There were no differences in demographic maternal variables. There were no differences in the number of patients receiving steroids and the doses of steroids. Antibiotic prophylaxis was also equal in both groups. Postpartum endometritis, chorioamnionitis, and the latency to delivery were also equivalent between both the groups. Cesarean delivery for distress was the only different outcome, more prevalent in daytime deliveries (157 (44.7%) versus 108 (35.9%) of the nighttime ones p = .02). Neonatal adverse outcomes as well as long-term outcomes were similar between the two groups.Conclusions: In the setting of delivery at a tertiary care center, and in the era of universal use of steroids, and latency antibiotics for the management of preterm premature of membranes, there is no marked difference in pregnancy, neonatal as well as long-term outcomes for infants delivered in the daytime versus nighttime.

Why do captive pied tamarins give birth during the day?

Diurnal primates typically give birth at night, when it is presumed that they are safer at a very vulnerable time, and this is reflected in an overwhelmingly nocturnal pattern of delivery in most species of Callitrichidae. However, over half (51.1%) of 88 births to pied tamarins (Saguinus bicolor) at Durrell Wildlife Park occurred during the day (0800-1700), almost always in the afternoon. Nearly three quarters of breeding females (17/23) had at least one diurnal birth, including females from all generations in captivity from wild-caught to fifth captive-born generation, and from all six matrilines represented at Durrell. The proportion of diurnal births has remained relatively stable over time despite management changes. We used generalized linear mixed modeling to investigate several factors that we hypothesized could affect time of birth: maternal experience, season, female rearing history, and whether or not the group was on public display. We fitted all possible models to the data, but none explained more than 7.5% of the variation. Daytime delivery had few statistically significant detrimental effects, although infant survival was somewhat lower and parental rejection increased in diurnal births. Pied tamarins do not seem to fit any of the hypotheses previously put forward to explain exceptions to the typical primate circadian pattern of delivery. Zoo Biol. 35:487-494, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Business Case for Night Deliveries in the City of São Paulo During the 2014 World Cup

Events that mobilize large crowds, such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup, present challenging obstacles to operations attempting to deliver goods efficiently in major urban centers. This study presents a logistics business case that implemented a pilot project during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, which shifted delivery times to off-hour deliveries (10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.). The pilot project was implemented to identify the constraints and opportunities related to off-hour deliveries in São Paulo, Brazil. Additionally, the project was able to address the congestion and delays experienced during daytime deliveries. The study relied on a partnership forged among a logistics company, a sportswear company, and an academic center, and there was no government support for this case study or project.

Implementing Off-peak Deliveries in the Greater Toronto Area: Costs, Benefits, Challenges

Abstract Nestle Canada currently uses 32 routes that serve over 4,500 customers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). This study aims to quantify Nestlé's costs and benefits of modifying their ice cream supply chain to incorporate night-time deliveries, while providing a framework for the regulatory, conceptual, and inertial obstacles to implementation. Employing Nestlé's customer data set, we created routing software to determine the proportion of customers who must be willing to accept deliveries outside of normal working hours so that the change would be financially feasible. Based upon a literature review we found that, before proceeding, the following qualitative factors should be considered: safety, sustainability, regulatory concerns, truck noise, traffic, and congestion. Reduction of 3–10 percent in the number of routes may result from switching a suitable proportion of deliveries to night-time, achieving the minimum fleet size when 50–60 percent of locations are served on night routes. The operation of both night-time and daytime deliveries would enable an increase in truck utilization, thus decreasing the number of vehicles required. Recommendations for success of night-time deliveries include preparation of a safety plan, procurement of plate trucks, noise-abatement techniques, and the development of a noise-monitoring program.

Optimising daytime deliveries when inducing labour using prostaglandin vaginal inserts

Objective: To determine induction start time(s) that would maximise daytime deliveries when using prostaglandin vaginal inserts. Methods: Women enrolled into the Phase III trial, EXPEDITE (clinical trial registration: NCT01127581), had labour induced with either a misoprostol or dinoprostone vaginal insert (MVI or DVI). A secondary analysis was conducted to determine the optimal start times for induction by identifying the 12-h period with the highest proportion of deliveries by parity and treatment. Results: Optimal start times for achieving daytime deliveries when using MVI appear to be 19:00 in nulliparae and 23:00 in multiparae. Applying these start times, the median time of onset of active labour would be approximately 08:30 for both parities and the median time of delivery would be the following day at approximately 16:30 for nulliparae and 12:00 (midday) for multiparae. Optimal start times when using DVI appear to be 07:00 for nulliparae and 23:00 for multiparae. Using these start times, the median time of onset of active labour would be the following day at approximately 04:00 and 11:50, and the median time of delivery would be approximately 13:40 and 16:10, respectively. Conclusions: When optimising daytime deliveries, different times to initiate induction of labour may be appropriate depending on parity and the type of retrievable prostaglandin vaginal insert used.