Exclusive Rates Research Articles

Impact of Inhouse Human Milk Bank on Neonatal Mortality and Morbidities in VLBW Neonates in an Extramural Unit: An Observational Study

Introduction: Human Milk is considered the ideal nutrition for all babies especially in preterm and in low birth-weight babies. When mother’s milk is not available, the WHO recommends Pasteurised Donor Human Milk (PDHM) as the next best infant feeding alternative. Methodology: This observational study was conducted in a tertiary level NICU in India to assess the impact of Human Milk Bank (HMB) on mortality and morbidities in VLBW and ELBW neonates. The primary outcome was to compare the incidence of definite and advanced NEC and secondary outcomes were to assess death, exclusive breastfeeding at discharge, feed interruption and growth in both the groups. Pre-Human Milk bank and Post-human Milk Bank data were collected for a period of 24 months each. Results: The incidence of Definite and Advanced NEC was significantly lower in Post-HMB group (2;1.76%) than in Pre-HMB (10; 9.4%) (p=0.00). 43.4% of babies in Pre-HMB group and 19.5% babies in post-HMB group had NEC (Any stage); p=0.00. Neonatal deaths were higher in the Pre-HMB group 32 (30.2%) than in post-HMB group 22 (19.5%); (p=0.066). The exclusive breastfeeding rate was significantly higher in the post-HMB group 72.6% as compared to 30.2% in the pre-HMB group (p=0.00). Feed interruptions were significantly lower in the post-HMB group 29 (25.7%) as compared to Pre-HMB group 56 (52.8%) (p=0.00). Time to reach full feeds was significantly lower in the post-HMB group Median (IQR) 13 (7.25 – 25.75) days as compared to 10 (5 – 17) days (p=0.007). Time to regain birth weight was significantly lower in the post-HMB group (14.72 + 5.61) as compared to pre-HMB group (11.00 + 4.19) (p=0.00) Conclusion: Establishment of Human Milk bank can be a worthwhile quality improvement project that NICUs can launch as part of comprehensive plans to enhance preterm care.

Neuromonitoring-guided anesthesia depth versus four-minute anesthesia-to-stimulation time interval in electroconvulsive therapy for depressive disorders - A single-blinded, prospective, randomized and controlled study.

Anesthesia depth influences seizure quality in patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). EEG-based neuromonitoring has been shown to detect adequate anesthesia depth for ECT. Anesthesia depth-guided ECT management may therefore be a reliable alternative to the predetermined anesthesia-to-stimulation time interval. Patients with depressive disorders and a Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Score ≥ 18 were randomly assigned. The anesthesia depth-guided group received stimulation between Narcotrend™ index ratings of 41 and 64 and was compared to the control group with a predetermined anesthesia-to-stimulation time interval of four minutes. The primary endpoint was seizure quality. A total of 225 interventions were conducted in 30 patients. Significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding stimulation intervals (225.0 ± 34.2 s vs. 240.0 ± 0 s; p < 0.001) and the index before electric stimulation (45.0 ± 15.7 vs. 35.0 ± 13.0; p < 0.001). No significant differences in overall seizure quality were found between the groups. The midictal amplitude was higher in the anesthesia depth-guided group (209.2 ± 92.6 vs. 152.6 ± 80.0; p = 0.009). Because of inadequate anesthesia depth, 54 interventions were discontinued for safety reasons. The number of per protocol completed interventions is small due to high exclusion rate from protocol violations. Anesthesia depth-guided ECT management did not significantly improve overall seizure quality compared to a four-minute anesthesia-to-stimulation time interval.

A randomized controlled, trial on effects of mobile phone text messaging in combination with motivational interviewing versus standard infant feeding counselling on breastfeeding and child health outcomes, among women living with HIV

BackgroundDespite efforts to promote optimal breastfeeding practices, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding is low in South Africa. We conducted a trial to determine whether text messaging plus motivational interviewing prolonged exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life and improved child health outcomes.MethodsWe conducted a randomized parallel group-controlled trial between July 2022 and May 2024, at a secondary-level healthcare facility. Mothers living with HIV, 18 years or older, initiating breastfeeding, on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and their infants were enrolled. The primary endpoint was exclusive breastfeeding from birth through week 24, based on the consecutive 24-hour food recall interviews. We compared differences in exclusive breastfeeding rates using a proportion test. Mothers who completely stopped breastfeeding were asked an open-ended question on reasons for stopping breastfeeding.ResultsUsing block randomization mother-child pairs (n = 276) were randomly allocated to receive intervention (n = 138) or standard infant feeding counselling (n = 138), of whom 105 and 101 mother-child pairs in the intervention group and standard care group, respectively, completed all four study visits. Exclusive breastfeeding rate at 24 weeks in the intervention group was 6% (6/105) and 7% (7/101) in the standard care group, rate difference − 1% (95% CI -6–4%). Sixty-two of 276 mothers completely stopped breastfeeding, of whom 25% (34/138) and 20% (28) were in the intervention group and standard care group, respectively. The most common reasons for stopping breastfeeding were the mother needing to return to work or look for work, 66% (n = 41). We also found that early breastfeeding cessation increased risk of child hospitalization or death compared to any form of breastfeeding to week 24, 10% (5/48) versus 3% (5/158), p = 0.055.ConclusionsWe found no effect of the intervention on exclusive breastfeeding rates. Early cessation of breastfeeding was prevalent and maternal employment characteristics are important social determinants of breastfeeding behaviour. There is need for further research evaluating the effect of interventions that include financial incentives on breastfeeding practices among socioeconomically disadvantaged mothers. HIV services should reliably offer cART, consistently monitor viral load, and support mothers cART adherence, in settings where mixed feeding is common.Trial registrationThe trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05063240) and Pan African Clinical Trial Registries (PACTR202110870407786) before recruitment of the first subject.

Study on sorting accuracy of waste plastic bottles based on infrared and visible light dual-path sorter

ABSTRACT The wide range of materials and colors in waste plastic bottles makes the sorting process complex. This study investigates the reject rate of waste plastics using the GLP4 dual-path sorting machine, which utilizes both infrared and visible light. The recognition targets include blue and white PET bottles, green PET bottles, as well as other materials such as PC, PE and PP. Firstly, to optimize the air jetting process, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was utilized to simulate the impact of different nozzle diameters on the sorting efficiency. The results demonstrate that with a separator plate distance of 72 mm, the exclusion rate reaches 99.36%. Similarly, at an angle of 0°, the reject rate achieves 99.08%, while a nozzle diameter of 4 mm yields a reject rate of 99.58%. These findings validate the accuracy of our simulation results. Finally, by optimizing and adjusting HSV range values along with background saturation levels, we successfully reduce the omission proportion from 4.58% to 1.26% for PET white and blue plastic bottles; moreover, we decrease false recognition rates for white bottles made from PP (polypropylene), PC (polycarbonate) and PE (polyethylene) from 3.88% to 2.69%. Notably, there is no impact on false recognition rates for PE material which remains at an accurate recognition rate of 100%. For recognizing white, blue and green PET bottles specifically, the MSR color enhancement algorithm exhibits superior rejection performance with respective rejection rates reaching 94.8%, 95.83% and 90.29%. Overall, this research provides valuable insights for further development and application within waste plastic sorting.

Filtering failure: the impact of automated indexing in Medline on retrieval of human studies for knowledge synthesis

Objective: Use of the search filter ‘exp animals/ not humans.sh’ is a well-established method in evidence synthesis to exclude non-human studies. However, the shift to automated indexing of Medline records has raised concerns about the use of subject-heading-based search techniques. We sought to determine how often this string inappropriately excludes human studies among automated as compared to manually indexed records in Ovid Medline. Methods: We searched Ovid Medline for studies published in 2021 and 2022 using the Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy for randomized trials. We identified all results excluded by the non-human-studies filter. Records were divided into sets based on indexing method: automated, curated, or manual. Each set was screened to identify human studies. Results: Human studies were incorrectly excluded in all three conditions, but automated indexing inappropriately excluded human studies at nearly double the rate as manual indexing. In looking specifically at human clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the rate of inappropriate exclusion of automated-indexing records was seven times that of manually-indexed records. Conclusions: Given our findings, searchers are advised to carefully review the effect of the ‘exp animals/ not humans.sh’ search filter on their search results, pending improvements to the automated indexing process.

Content Analysis of Austrian Print and Online Newspaper Coverage of Breastfeeding Over Two Decades.

In the first 6 months, breastfeeding is the optimal nutrition for newborns, but the breastfeeding prevalence in Austria is still below the official WHO Guidelines (64% breastfeeding and 1.9% exclusive breastfeeding after 6 months). Exclusive breastfeeding rates in the first 6 months are low in the European Region but higher globally at 48%. Breastfeeding behaviour and the decision to breastfeed can be influenced by many factors, such as social norms, the social environment, health, commercial milk formula (CMF) marketing, and media reports. Therefore, it is important to understand how breastfeeding and CMF are presented in Austrian media and the possible impact these portrayals have on mothers and thebroader community. The aim of this study was to analyze print and online newspaper coverage in Austrian newspapers related to breastfeeding between 2002 and 2022 with a special focus on the valence of reporting on breastfeeding and CMF in different genres of online and print newspapers. For this analysis, more than 2500 unique articles were identified, coded, and analysed (e.g., main topic, valence towards breastfeeding, and valence towards CMF). The results showed that media coverage of breastfeeding has decreased slightly over the last 20 years, particularly with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Print and online newspaper coverage of breastfeeding was mostly neutral, with a focus on breastfeeding and its association with disease, health benefits of breastfeeding, and event announcements related to breastfeeding. The valence on breastfeeding was more positive than on CMF. Middle-market newspapers appear to report more about breastfeeding than tabloids and broadsheets. To normalise breastfeeding, informative, unbiased, and extensive media coverage is important. Collaboration between breastfeeding advocates and journalists could be beneficial in increasing positive coverage of breastfeeding in the long term.

Exclusive breastfeeding practices and factors affecting them in urban areas of Uttar Pradesh

ABSTRACT Background: Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months is the recommended infant feeding practice, with established benefits. In India, exclusive breastfeeding rates have seen some improvement, but Uttar Pradesh has experienced a decline. Various factors influence breastfeeding practices, such as socio-cultural beliefs, maternal knowledge, and support. Considering urbanization, industrialization, and a significant migrant population, it is crucial to understand the determinants of breastfeeding practices in urban Uttar Pradesh. This study aimed to fill these knowledge gaps by examining factors influencing breastfeeding practices in the region. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Sharda Hospital’s Pediatrics Outpatient Department (OPD) in Uttar Pradesh over 1.5 years from January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. The minimum sample size of 96 was determined for the study. Study participants included 200 mothers with children aged 6 months to 2 years attending the Pediatrics OPD. Data were collected through a 42-item questionnaire administered by trained interviewers who ensured privacy and comfort. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, including descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test for categorical variables (P &lt; 0.05). Results: The study involved 200 mothers with children aged 6 months to 2 years attending a Pediatrics OPD in Uttar Pradesh. Mothers aged 21–30 years (78%) were predominant. Among the children, 62.5% were male. Colostrum was given by 86% of mothers, and 40% introduced pre-lacteal feeds. Exclusive breastfeeding was practiced by 60% of mothers. The analysis did not show statistically significant differences based on socio-economic status, maternal education, or occupation (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, the findings from this study provide a comprehensive understanding of feeding practices among mothers in urban areas of Uttar Pradesh. While many mothers adhere to recommended practices, there is room for improvement in reducing pre-lacteal feeding and promoting exclusive breastfeeding.

Development of a Local Food-Based MPASI Kitchen Integrated with the Golden1000 Application to Enhance Skills of Cadres and Mothers of Infants Aged 6-12 Months in Stunting Prevention

Background : Bungursari Health Center led stunting cases in Tasikmalaya City in 2022 due to low exclusive breastfeeding rates and poor complementary feeding practices. This study addressed these issues through PMBA training, the Golden1000 app, and posyandu kitchen development. Contribution : PMBA training improved knowledge and skills in baby food preparation, promoted the Golden1000 app for 1000 HPK education, and fostered entrepreneurial posyandu kitchens. Metode : Training covered complementary food preparation, Golden1000 app use, and posyandu kitchen development. Results : The training and Golden1000 app usage improved knowledge and skills, leading to the formation of a posyandu kitchen. Conclusion : The program enhanced complementary food preparation skills and established a lasting posyandu kitchen initiative.

Effect of Consuming Papaya Leaves, Almond Milk, Green Beans, Moringa Leaves, Ajwa Dates, Soy Milk, and Fennel Leaves on Breast Milk Production in Postpartum Mothers

Exclusive breastfeeding rates are often low due to suboptimal breast milk production, which impedes infants' nutritional needs. This issue is frequently attributed to poor maternal nutrition, unbalanced diets, and irregular food consumption. Breast milk production relies on hormonal changes, notably the dominance of prolactin over progesterone and estrogen during childbirth. To address this, a study was conducted to evaluate the impact of specific foods boiled papaya leaves, almond milk, green beans, moringa leaves, ajwa dates, soy milk, and fennel leaves—on breast milk production. Employing a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest approach, the study involved 56 postpartum mothers whose milk production was substandard. These participants were selected in March 2023 using purposive non-probability sampling. A paired t-test was performed for bivariate analysis. Results indicated a significant improvement in milk production, with a p-value of 0.000, demonstrating that the consumption of these foods positively affects lactation. Consequently, it is recommended that breastfeeding mothers incorporate these foods into their diet to enhance milk production and support exclusive breastfeeding. Regular consumption of these specific foods can help meet infants' nutritional needs more effectively.

Inicijativa svjetskih trendova u dojenju: izvješće za Republiku Hrvatsku

Aim: The World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) serves to assess implementation of national infant and young child feeding policies, programs and practices. Results of the assessment are published on the WBTi website. So far, 100 countries have produced a report, including Croatia in 2015 and 2024. In this paper we present the 2024 results for the Republic of Croatia. Methods: A multidisciplinary working group was formed from members of the Croatian Ministry of Health National Breastfeeding Committee. The ten policy and program indicators were scored from 0 to 10, whereas the practice indicators were presented as percentages or absolute numbers. A draft report was sent to 12 partner organisations with an interest in infant and young child feeding. Based on their feedback, the report was revised, translated into English and sent to the WBTi office for validation. Results: The Republic of Croatia received a total score of 66.5 of 100 for its infant and young child feeding policies and programs, placing it third in Europe. Highest scores were obtained for indicators 'National policy, governance and funding' and 'Maternity protection'. Lowest scores were obtained for indicators 'Infant feeding and HIV' and 'Infant and young child feeding during emergencies'. Positive practices related to the introduction of complementary foods and the initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth. Exclusive breastfeeding rates, avoidance of bottle feeding and median duration of breastfeeding were scored low. Conclusion: A 'Call to action' is needed in order to improve infant and young child feeding in Croatia.

Improving Classroom Engagement and Reducing Exclusionary Discipline: A Quasi-Experimental Study of the Inclusive Skill-Building Learning Approach During COVID-19

This study examined the impact of a classroom-level component of The Inclusive Skill-building Learning Approach (ISLA), an instructional and restorative alternative to exclusionary discipline, on student behaviors and school discipline practices in middle schools. Intervention implementation, classroom observations, and all other data collection took place once schools resumed in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus the study design was modified to a quasi-experimental design that included a control sample. Findings showed that focusing on classroom-level prevention alone increased students’ active engagement, decreased disruptive behaviors, and resulted in lower rates of exclusion from the learning environment for treatment schools.

Effects of a Smartphone-Based Breastfeeding Coparenting Intervention Program on Breastfeeding-Related Outcomes in Couples During First Pregnancy: Randomized Controlled Trial.

A low breastfeeding rate causes an increased health care burden and negative health outcomes for individuals and society. Coparenting is an essential tactic for encouraging breastfeeding when raising a child. The efficacy of the coparenting interventions in enhancing breastfeeding-related outcomes is controversial. This study aimed to examine the effects of coparenting interventions on exclusive breastfeeding rates, exclusive breastfeeding duration, breastfeeding knowledge, parenting sense of competence, coparenting relationships, depressive symptoms in new couples at 1 and 6 months post partum, and the BMI of infants 42 days post partum. This was a randomized, single-blinded controlled clinical trial. Eligible couples in late pregnancy in a hospital in central China were randomly assigned to 2 groups. While couples in the control group received general care, couples in the intervention group had access to parenting classes, a fathers' support group, and individual counseling. Data were collected at baseline (T0), 1 month post partum (T1), and 6 months post partum (T2). Data on exclusive breastfeeding rate and exclusive breastfeeding duration were analyzed using the chi-square, Fisher exact, or Mann-Whitney U tests; coparenting relationships and the infant's BMI were analyzed using an independent samples t test; and breastfeeding knowledge, parenting sense of competence, and depressive symptoms were analyzed using a generalized estimation equation. A total of 96 couples were recruited, and 79 couples completed the study. The intervention group exhibited significantly higher exclusive breastfeeding rates at T1 (90% vs 65%, P=.02) and T2 (43.6% vs 22.5%, P=.02), compared with the control group. Exclusive breastfeeding duration was extended in the intervention group than in the control group at T1 (30, range 30-30 days vs 30, range 26.5-30 days; P=.01) and T2 (108, range 60-180 days vs 89, range 28-149.3 days; P<.05). The intervention group exhibited greater improvements in maternal breastfeeding knowledge (β=.07, 95% CI 0.006-0.13; P=.03) and maternal parenting sense of competence (β=5.49, 95% CI 2.09-8.87; P<.01) at T1, enhanced coparenting relationships at T1 (P<.001) and T2 (P=.02), paternal breastfeeding knowledge at T2 (β=.25, 95% CI 0.15-0.35, P<.001), paternal parenting sense of competence at T1 (β=5.35, 95% CI 2.23-8.47, P<.01), and reduced paternal depressive symptoms at T2 (β=.25, 95% CI 0.15-0.35, P<.001), and there was a rise in infants' BMI at 42 days post partum (β=.33, 95% CI 0.01-0.64, P=.04). An evidence-based breastfeeding coparenting intervention is effective in improving exclusive breastfeeding rate, prolonging exclusive breastfeeding duration within the initial 6 months post partum, enhancing parental breastfeeding knowledge, levels of parenting sense of competence and coparenting relationship, infant's BMI, and reducing paternal depressive symptoms. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2300069648; https://tinyurl.com/2p8st2p8.

Conditional and Unconditional Social Transfers, Early-Life Nutrition, and Child Growth

Rates of exclusive breastfeeding are declining despite the numerous benefits to mothers and their children. To assess the effectiveness of conditional and unconditional social transfers on exclusive breastfeeding rates and child growth. This is a prospective, parallel, 3-armed randomized clinical trial conducted between August 2022 and October 2023. The trial was conducted in 4 districts of Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Mothers identified from a large birth cohort were randomized into 2 intervention groups (conditional social transfer or unconditional social transfer) or a control group at a ratio of 1:1:1. Data analysis was conducted from December 2023 to January 2024. Two interventions were tested: (1) conditional social transfer, in which the mother received the social transfer only if still exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months, and (2) unconditional social transfer, in which the mother received the social transfer at 6 months regardless of breastfeeding status. Mothers in the control group received educational material only. The primary outcome was the proportion of women exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months post partum. Secondary outcomes included exclusive breastfeeding duration (in months) and child growth (height, weight, and head circumference). A total of 298 mothers (mean [SD] age, 27.2 [6.5] years) were identified from a large birth cohort and randomized into a conditional social transfer group (n = 100), an unconditional social transfer group (n = 97), or a control group (n = 101). The adjusted odds ratio of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months post partum was 4.60 (95% CI, 2.10-10.07; P < .001) for the conditional social transfer group and 2.51 (95% CI, 1.11-5.66; P = .03) for the unconditional social transfer group compared with the control group. The risk of early exclusive breastfeeding cessation was lower for participants who received the unconditional social transfer (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.68; 95% CI, 0.49-0.92; P = .02) or conditional social transfer (aHR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.44-0.83; P = .002) compared with participants in the control group. There were no significant differences between groups for child growth at 6 months post partum. The findings suggest that social transfers can substantially improve exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6 months post partum, with particularly large benefits for conditional transfers. Continued evaluation at 1, 2, and 3 years post partum will be conducted to assess the long-term outcomes of social transfers on complementary breastfeeding and child health and development over time. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05665049.

Improving early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding practice through PDSA framework: the experience at a private hospital in Tanzania

IntroductionOptimal breastfeeding can save the lives of over 800 000 children annually. WHO recommends that all babies initiate breastfeeding within first hour of life, exclusively breastfeed for the first 6...

Breastfeeding Support for All: Narrowing Inequalities for Nurturing a Future That Is Fair and Sustainable

Early initiation of breastfeeding, duration, and exclusivity are internationally recommended practices to maximize impact in preventing and reducing the double burden of malnutrition, reducing child mortality and other morbidities, improving child development, and reducing health costs. The protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding are also central to countries' commitments to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Global progress in breastfeeding rates has been reported in past years. However, many children are still left behind and are not receiving the numerous benefits of breastfeeding. There are also relevant inequities in breastfeeding rates across global regions and countries and between groups from different socioeconomic statuses and cultural backgrounds within countries. These inequities are also extended to the frequency and availability of comparable standardized indicators worldwide. In 2023, globally, only 39% of the countries provided information on exclusive breastfeeding rates to the age of six months, and 7% assessed their overall breastfeeding support programs in the past five years. The increase in the coverage and frequency of monitoring globally agreed breastfeeding targets and the assessment of the impact of breastfeeding programs are imperative to providing breastfeeding support for all and increasing breastfeeding prevalence equitably. Breastfeeding can be an equalizer in society; no one should be left behind. Only this way can breastfeeding mums be celebrated in all their diversity and journeys, attending the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week call.

Exclusive Breast-Feeding Practices in Bangladesh: An Observational Study

Exclusive breastfeeding practices contribute to the overall well-being and development of child. In spite of Bangladesh has National Breastfeeding Policy and also Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative the exclusive breastfeeding rate in Bangladesh remains below. However, establishing EBF remains a significant problem not only in Bangladesh but in other developing nations. The aim of the study was to observe the actual scenario of exclusive breast feeding (EBF) practices in Bangladesh. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 32 government health care facilities of Bangladesh for five months. Multi stage stratified sampling design was followed for selection of study places and mothers whom visited health care facilities having a child with below one year of age was selected purposively. Data collection was conducted by using a structured questionnaire by face-face interview. Data coding and analysis or statistical analysis done by SPSS version 26. Among 320 respondents, Socio demographic characteristics of respondents revealed 92.2% were house wife; most of them had primary to higher secondary level education. Among them 75.9% of the mother delivered their baby at hospital and mode of the delivery percentage was almost similar which was 50%. Two third of the mother exclusively breast fed their child (74%) and know about benefits of colostrum (78.1%). Foster multidisciplinary teamwork, continuous leadership support, and enforce national or institutional policies, focusing on the National Breastfeeding Policy and Regulation of Breast Milk Substitutes Act can increase the practices.

Posture Monitoring During Breastfeeding: Smart Underwear Integrated with an Accelerometer and Flexible Sensors.

The position that a woman adopts during breastfeeding is important for both infant and maternal health; however, many women experience musculoskeletal pain due to poor posture during breastfeeding, which is a known factor in low exclusive breastfeeding rates. Posture monitoring is an effective intervention, but existing wearable devices do not consider the ergonomics of nursing mothers and breastfeeding scenarios. In this study, nursing underwear was developed with posture monitoring and a real-time feedback system using accelerometers and flexible bending sensors targeting the neck and upper thoracic spine. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 Chinese mothers to identify key challenges and inform the design. After designing and producing the prototype, wear trials were conducted with two participants who tested both the prototype and a commercial sample while holding a 4 kg baby doll. Video recordings and questionnaires were used to assess the underwear's effectiveness. The results showed improvements in postural alignment and an increase in the frequency and duration of relaxation periods. Participants reported that the prototype surpassed the commercial sample in functionality, comfort, and aesthetics. These findings are significant for postpartum health and provide guidelines for future smart nursing garment development.

Mitigating errors in logical qubits

Quantum error correcting codes can enable large quantum computations provided physical error rates are sufficiently low. We combine post-selection with surface code error correction through the use of exclusive decoders, which abort on decoding instances that are deemed too difficult. For the most discriminating of exclusive decoders, we demonstrate a threshold of 50% under depolarizing noise (or 32(1)% for the fault-tolerant case), and up to a quadratic improvement in logical failure rates below threshold. Furthermore, with a modest exclusion criterion, we identify a regime at low error rates where the exclusion rate decays with code distance, providing a pathway for scalable and time-efficient quantum computing with post-selection. Our exclusive decoder applied to magic state distillation yields a 75% reduction in the number of physical qubits, and a 60% reduction in the total spacetime volume, including accounting for repetitions. Other applications include error mitigation, and in concatenated schemes.

Impact of varied feeding protocols on gastrointestinal function recovery in the early postoperative period following repeat cesarean section: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundWith the adjustment of China’s birth policy, the repeat cesarean sections raises concerns about potential gastrointestinal mechanical injuries and disturbances in gastrointestinal neurohormonal regulation, affecting the postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function. These affect maternal nutritional status, prolong recovery, extend hospitalization, increase medical costs, and lead to neonatal care challenges.This study is to examine the effects of different postoperative feeding protocols on the restoration of gastrointestinal function in women undergoing repeat cesarean section.MethodsA total of 103 women were randomly assigned to three groups: experimental group A (n = 35), experimental group B (n = 34), and a control group (n = 34). In group A, women without choking symptoms received a clear fluid diet postoperatively, followed by a pureed diet after 6 h, and a regular soft diet after passing flatus. In group B, women chewed gum postoperatively, followed by a clear fluid diet after 2 h, a pureed diet after 6 h, and a regular soft diet after passing flatus. The control group received a clear fluid diet, a pureed diet after passing flatus, and a regular soft diet after defecation. Outcomes measured included recovery of gastrointestinal function, blood biochemical markers, comfort level, exclusive breastfeeding rate, and newborn weight loss.ResultsThe baseline maternal data across the three groups demonstrated no significant differences (P > 0.05). Both experimental groups A and B showed earlier recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal function compared to the control group, though there was no significant difference between the two experimental groups (P > 0.05). Additionally, postoperative comfort levels were significantly higher in both experimental groups than in the control group (P < 0.05).ConclusionsEarly feeding is safe and effective for women who underwent repeat cesarean sections.It has been shown to accelerate gastrointestinal recovery, significantly improve maternal comfort and satisfaction.In cases where immediate postoperative oral intake is not feasible, chewing gum demonstrates a comparable promotive effect, providing a viable substitute in facilitating recovery.Trial registrationThis trial has been prospectively registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200065825) and the first registration date was 11/16/2022.

Scoping Review Peran Konteks Sosial dalam Pemberian ASI Ekslusif

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life has been proven to provide significant benefits, both in terms of health and developmental outcomes. However, in many countries, including Indonesia, the coverage of exclusive breastfeeding remains very low, contributing to high rates of malnutrition, including stunting. This scoping review was conducted to identify and analyze the social factors influencing the practice of exclusive breastfeeding, with the aim of informing more effective intervention strategies. The study employed a scoping review methodology, involving a comprehensive literature search across three major databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, covering publications from 2014 to 2024. Of the 401 articles identified, 7 were selected for analysis following a rigorous selection process. The review findings indicate that support from husbands, extended family, and the broader social environment are key factors in the success of exclusive breastfeeding. Identified barriers include a lack of family support, the influence of local cultural beliefs, misinformation about breastfeeding, and misconceptions regarding infant needs. These factors significantly affect mothers' decisions to practice exclusive breastfeeding. Furthermore, the role of healthcare professionals in providing accurate education to mothers and families is crucial in improving exclusive breastfeeding rates. In conclusion, to enhance the success of exclusive breastfeeding, a comprehensive approach involving the entire family and considering local cultural contexts is required. Policy support, intensive educational campaigns, and improved access to lactation counseling services should be prioritized to achieve higher exclusive breastfeeding rates in Indonesia.