Nuclear Family Research Articles

Knowledge and Practices Regarding e-waste and its management among adults living in Siliguri: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: India is projected to be one of the largest consumers of electronics and producers of e-waste in the world. There is a dearth of literature regarding the knowledge and practices of the general Indian population regarding e-waste. The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices of the general populace of Siliguri regarding electronic waste. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the households of Siliguri, West Bengal. Consenting adults were interviewed using the questionnaire. A multi-stage sampling strategy was employed for the study to obtain a sample of 375. A researcher-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Results: The mean age of the head of the household was 50.2 ± 13.6 years. Most of the households were nuclear families (56.5%), and 34.4% of them belonged to the upper middle socioeconomic class. The households possessed a median of five devices. It was seen that 93.4% knew that e-waste was harmful to their health. The commonest practice regarding the disposal of e-waste was selling these items to recyclers (47.5%). However, 29.3% of the households reported that due to them not knowing what to do with broken electronics, they stored them at home. A majority (84.8%) of the households reported that they did not use any personal protective equipment while handling e-waste. Conclusion: While the households assessed knew about the harm of e-waste, their knowledge about e-waste disposal was varied. Furthermore, there was a knowledge-practice gap, leading to them either storing e-waste at home or having other improper handling and disposal practices.

Childhood Trauma and Dissociative Experiences: Moderating Role of Perceived Social Support among Adults

Purpose: Childhood trauma or adverse childhood experiences including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, and witnessing violence, often evokes fear and disrupts a child's sense of safety. These experiences can have long-lasting effects on behavior and lifestyle, leading to mental health challenges such as dissociation. As a coping mechanism, dissociation helps individuals detach from overwhelming emotions but can impair daily functioning and quality of life. Despite extensive research on childhood trauma and dissociation, there is limited understanding of how perceived social support may aggravate these effects. Therefore, the present research aims to fill this gap by investigating whether perceived social support moderate the relationship between childhood trauma and dissociative experiences among adults. Material and Methods: The study hypothesized that higher levels of perceived social support will weaken the relationship between childhood trauma and dissociative experiences and vice versa. Using cross-sectional study design and convenience sampling, the data for the study was collected from adults of twin cities using self-report measures. The participants (N=262) were asked to fill Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (Bernstein et al., 2003), Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (Carlson & Putnam, 1993) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988). Findings: The data analysis revealed satisfactory reliability for all scales and subscales used in the study. It showed a positive correlation between childhood trauma and dissociative experiences, indicating that trauma exposure leads to dissociation. Multiple regression analysis identified emotional abuse and physical neglect as key predictors of dissociative experiences. Males from nuclear families reported higher neglect and abuse. Social support, especially from friends and significant others, was found to reduce the impact of trauma on dissociation, while family support had no effect. These findings emphasize the protective role of social support and will inform therapeutic interventions to address the long-term effects of childhood trauma and reduce dissociative symptoms, enhancing mental health and quality of life. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study contributes to theory by highlighting the moderating role of social support and emotional regulation in the relationship between childhood trauma and dissociation. It informs practice by suggesting targeted therapeutic interventions that enhance social support and emotional regulation to reduce dissociative symptoms. Additionally, the study has policy implications, emphasizing the integration of emotional regulation and support systems into mental health strategies to address the long-term effects of childhood trauma.

Inherited non-syndromic polydactyly in a Berber and Arabian-Berber horse family.

Supernumerary digits, or polydactyly, have been described in various species including humans, wild and domestic animals. In horses, it represents the most common congenital limb malformation, which has only been described in isolated cases or nuclear families. Molecular aetiology has not been reported. To characterise the phenotype of a non-syndromic pre-axial polydactyly in a horse family and to decipher the inheritance pattern. Retrospective study. Forty-three members of the family including a previously reported polydactyl case were recruited. Available clinical and radiographical findings from the initial case and its family members were summarised and karyotypic examinations of the horses were performed. On clinical examination, eight horses (including the previously reported case) had one or two supernumerary digits on their forelimbs and one additional case was diagnosed using radiography. Additional digits were located on the medial side of the forelimbs in all nine polydactyl horses. Radiography highlighted variable expression of the defect, which was either unilateral or bilateral. Variations were observed in the number of supernumerary phalanges, the level of development of a rudimentary metacarpal bone, the individualisation of a supernumerary digit and the existence of a rudimentary hoof. All nine affected horses were related to a single stallion. Pedigree analysis revealed that the most likely inheritance pattern was autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. A more complex mode could not be ruled out. Restricted recruitment of the family members due to confidentiality constraints and to international dispersal of the relatives, quality of radiographs. We describe an equine preaxial polydactyly in a Berber and Arabian-Berber family most likely with autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance. This is the first description of an inherited non-syndromic polydactyly in horses.

Analysis and Strategies to Improve Living Conditions of Elderly Living Alone in China: A Healthcare Context

Background: The shift toward nuclear family structures in China has resulted in a growing number of elderly individuals living alone, intensifying the imbalance between the supply and demand of elderly care services. Objectives: This study aims to systematically examine the care needs of elderly individuals living alone in China and propose practical strategies to enhance their quality of life. Methods: Using the Kano model and ERG theory, 22 care services were categorized into three types: essential (must-have), attractive, and future-focused (outlook) elements. Survey data were gathered from 230 elderly individuals living alone in Yan’an, Baoji, and Hanzhong, located in Shaanxi Province. To determine the factors influencing the intensity of demand for these services, multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis was applied. Results: The findings show that demand intensity for care services is significantly shaped by factors such as gender, age, marital status, education level, income, self-rated health, loneliness, and family support. The highest demand was observed for medical and mental health services, followed by life support services. Conclusions: To address the gaps in elderly care services, this study suggests standardizing institutional frameworks, diversifying service options, utilizing familial support networks, and integrating intelligent technologies. These measures are especially critical for reducing service disparities in rural and less developed regions, contributing to a fairer and more effective elderly care system in China.

Unmet Need of Family Planning among Urban Slum Women in Chattogram

Background: Unmet need for family planning is a contributory indicator for assessing reproductive health as well as family planning program. Despite targets are achieving more in urban than rural area, Chattogram city possesses the higher rate than others. This study is to determine the factor affecting unmet needs in urban slum of Chattogram. Materials and methods: It was a community based multi-centered descriptive cross sectional study following purposive sampling technique. Total 200 married women were interviewed as per inclusion criteria among 20 urban slums of Chattogram using a semi structure questionnaire from September 2022 to November 2022. Results: Mean age of the respondents was 30.29±7.44 years. Most of the respondents belong to nuclear family 72%. Most of the respondents (49%) had primary level of education and maximum were housewife (73.5%). More than half (56%) of the respondents had 2-5 living child. Although almost all respondents (93.5%) had knowledge about contraception but 139 (69.5%) respondents were using contraceptive methods where OCP (42.5%) was the commonest type followed by injectable contraceptive (22%). However, 3.5% were pregnant, which was intended, 6% were eager to conceive and 1.5% were sterile. Hence unmet need for family planning was 19.5%. Ignorance, non-cooperative husband, religious bar, lack of information, economic constraints, distance of health center from residence were the stated reasons did not allow them to use contraceptives. However, there was no significant association of unmet need with demographic factors like age, education, occupation, family type and number of living children. (p>0.05) Conclusion: Focusing on the narrated factors subject to unmet need odds, the problem could be mitigated by making proper action plan or strategies by stakeholders which ultimately improve the reproductive health and reach the goal of SDG. Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.23 (1); January 2024; Page 14-18

Exploring parenthood intentions and perceptions of infertility and assisted reproductive technology among 2SLGBTQIA + young adults in Ontario, Canada: a mixed methods study

BackgroundAs Generation Z two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/trans, queer, intersex, asexual and others who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities (2SLGBTQIA +) enter adulthood, contemplation of family creation may be challenged by biological and/or social infertility. Despite some advances in societal acceptance of gender and sexual minorities, family planning and reproductive healthcare remain heteronormative. To explore reproductive decision-making and how future families are conceptualized across genders, we evaluated perceptions of Ontario, Canada non-parenting, 2SLGBTQIA + emerging adults.MethodsAn online survey, designed as mixed-methods with sex-and-gender-based analysis (SGBA +), was used to recruit childless, post-secondary students, aged 18–30 years, in May–October 2022. Survey questions were analyzed by descriptive statistics across gender groups. Open-text responses were analyzed by thematic and content analysis.ResultsParenthood intentions, conceptualizations of future family and perceptions of ART were described by 286 2SLGBTQIA + individuals, who were primarily Caucasian, cis women (69.2%), identified as bisexual-pansexual (66.4%), and belonged to Generation Z (85%). Only 33.9% of the sample definitively wanted children, with 33.6% unsure, and 32.5% preferring to remain childless. Themes describing participants’ future family visions included: (i) committed partners are family, (ii) family includes children (subtheme: adoption/fostering as options for family creation), (iii) family values include love and acceptance, (iv) chosen families, and (v) families can be childfree. ART was acceptable in the event of future infertility, with two major themes used to describe perceived barriers to ART: (i) treatment is expensive; and (ii) I may face discrimination due to my gender identity/sexual orientation. Trans men were significantly more worried about healthcare access to have a biological child (86.7%; χ2(3):16.805 p < .001) than other genders.Conclusions2SLGBTQIA + respondents expanded the rigid, heteronormative nuclear family model to envision families comprised of partners, biological and adoptive/foster children, friends and chosen family. Participants across genders recognized systemic 2SLGBTQIA + discrimination, with transgender/trans respondents particularly concerned about barriers to reproductive healthcare. A better understanding of reproductive decision-making by 2SLGBTQIA + individuals can contribute to more equitable and inclusive ART healthcare.

Seven up regulates reproductive diapause initiation via juvenile hormone biosynthesis in the cabbage beetle Colaphellus bowringi.

Reproductive diapause is an insect survival strategy in which reproduction temporarily halts in response to adverse environmental changes. This process is characterized by arrested ovarian development and lipid accumulation in females. A reduction in juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis is known to initiate reproductive diapause, but its regulatory mechanism remains unclear. Seven up (Svp), a transcription factor from the nuclear receptor family, plays a crucial role in various developmental processes in insects. In this study, using the cabbage beetle Colaphellus bowringi as a model, we observed higher expression of Svp in the heads of female adults under reproductive photoperiodic conditions (short-day [SD]) compared to diapause conditions (long-day [LD]). RNA interference-mediated knockdown of Svp in SD females induced typical diapause phenotypes, including ovarian arrest and lipid accumulation. The application of methoprene (ME), a JH receptor agonist, reversed these diapause phenotypes and restored reproduction, indicating that Svp's regulation of reproductive diapause is dependent on JH signaling. Additionally, Svp knockdown led to the downregulation of JH pathway genes and a reduction in JH titers. Further evidence suggested that Svp regulates the expression of JHAMT1, a critical gene in JH biosynthesis, which determines diapause entry in C. bowringi. These findings suggest that diapause-inducing photoperiods suppress Svp expression, blocking JH production and triggering diapause. This work reveals a critical transcription factor that regulates reproductive diapause initiation through modulating JH production, providing a potential target for controlling pests capable of entering reproductive diapause.

Prevalence of suicidal ideation and its associated factors among the geriatric population in Vyas Municipality, Tanahun District, Nepal: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundSuicidal ideation among the geriatric population is a pressing concern, particularly in regions such as Nepal where mental health resources are limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation and its associated factors among the geriatric population in Vyas Municipality, Nepal.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals aged 60 years and above in Vyas Municipality, Nepal. A total of 311 participants were selected using multistage sampling. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured interview schedule. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent variables associated with suicidal ideation.ResultsThe overall prevalence of suicidal ideation within the last twelve months among the geriatric population was 6.4% (n = 20). After adjustment for covariates in multivariate logistic regression analysis, living in a nuclear family (OR: 3.033, C.I. 95%:1.007–9.136), and experiencing depressive symptoms [(Mild depression:- OR: 5.358, C.I. 95%:1.548–18.539), (Moderate depression:- OR: 15.739, C.I. 95%:2.536–97.687), and (Severe depression:- OR: 17.423, C.I. 95%:2.218-136.878)] were found to be significant influencing factors for suicidal ideation.ConclusionThis study emphasizes the need to enhance mental health services and strengthen family and community support systems to address suicidal ideation among older adults in Nepal. Further research is required to identify additional determinants and evaluate interventions to mitigate this risk.

The nutritional status and problems among older adults in a selected rural community of kerala

Older adults are vulnerable to nutritional risk states due to low food intake and presence of chronic medical conditions. Thus, they require an extended nutrition assessment.: This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and identify the common nutritional problems present among older adults in the community. A quantitative approach was used with a convenience sampling method. The participants were 50 adults, both males and females, aged above 50 years and residing in a selected catchment area of the community in Kottayam district. Data collection was extracted from a larger survey carried out in this area which used a structured questionnaire. A majority of the participants were aged between 50- 55 years (n =28, 56%), males (n = 26, 52%), belonged to nuclear families (n= 33, 66%), had high school education (n= 17, 34%), were unemployed (n =18, 36%), and married (n=48, 96%). Regarding the nutritional status, nearly 24% of the participants were overweight (n 12) and 6% were obese (n = 3). Regarding the nutritional risk factors, a majority of them were following unhealthy diets (n=39, 78%), had irregular food habits (n=32, 64%), and had the habit of skipping meals (n=31, 62%). Consumption of sugar-rich foods (n = 11, 22%), with a low intake of milk and milk products (n =36, 72%), and an intake of fried foods (n =32, 64%) were reported by the participants. Moreover, 18% of them (n =9) had regular consumption of alcohol. Nutritional risk states were present in nearly 50% of them.The study results demonstrated the presence of various lifestyle-related nutritional risk factors and gave insight into the existing nutritional patterns among older adults and the problems associated with nutritional intake.The study results highlight the need for adopting a healthy lifestyle and the dietary and behavioral modifications required as an urgent measure to tackle the problems associated with chronic disease escalating at the fastest pace in Kerala. Further studies are required to assess the specific nutritional problems in a large sample of the population and long-term monitoring of the nutritional factors.

The prevalence and risk factors among people with diabetes mellitus in a selected rural community of kerala

The recent statistics of India in 2023 suggest a prevalence of 10.1 crores of diabetes in the community, with three in four adults with diabetes living in low- and middle-income countries, and half of them are unaware of their condition. This study aims to assess the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among people in a selected rural community and to identify the risk factors among people with diabetes mellitus.A quantitative research approach with a descriptive, cross-sectional study design was adopted. The participants were 824 adults, males, and females, aged above 21 years, and selected using a convenience sampling method. Data was collected from two selected wards of Athirampuzha panchayat, Kottayam, Kerala. Data were collected from a larger survey conducted in this area. The tool used was a structured questionnaire with three parts: a socio-demographic tool, lifestyle-related factors, and a specific part for collecting diabetes-related information. The results indicated that nearly 15.90% of the population had diabetes mellitus (n=131), and majority were above above 50 years. A majority of the diabetes-affected people were females (n 69, 52.67%), married (n= 104, 79.39%), unemployed (n =76, 58.02%), homemakers (n=72, 54.96%), and belonged to nuclear families (n=81, 61.83%). Most of them have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus for the past 5-10 years and are on treatment with oral hypoglycemic agents (n=107, 81.68%). About 32% of them had familial risk factors (n=42). Among the comorbid conditions, 41.98% (n= 55) had hypertension. A majority of the participants were having a BMI above normal (51.15%, n-= 67, BMI=25.0 -29.9) and were following sedentary lifestyle habits (n=113, 86.26%). : The study highlight the importance of targeting the lifestyle risk factors for preventing diabetes mellitus in the community at an early stage.

An analysis of the modality and flexibility of the inverse stereographic normal distribution

Circular data arises in various fields including robotics, biology, geology and material sciences. Modelling such data requires flexible distribution families on the hypertorus. Common choices are the von Mises and the wrapped normal distributions. In this work we investigate the inverse stereographic normal distribution as an alternative distribution family both from a theoretical and applied perspective. We first generalize unimodality results to arbitrary dimensions by proving that the inverse stereographic normal distribution is unimodal if and only if all eigenvalues of the covariance matrix are less than or equal to 0.5. We then analyze the flexibility by fitting mixtures of shifted inverse stereographic normal distributions via gradient descent to several examples of toroidal data.

Extensions of Riordan Arrays and Their Applications

The Riordan group of Riordan arrays was first described in 1991, and since then, it has provided useful tools for the study of areas such as combinatorial identities, polynomial sequences (including families of orthogonal polynomials), lattice path enumeration, and linear recurrences. Useful extensions of the idea of a Riordan array have included almost Riordan arrays, double Riordan arrays, and their generalizations. After giving a brief overview of the Riordan group, we define two further extensions of the notion of Riordan arrays, and we give a number of applications for these extensions. The relevance of these applications indicates that these new extensions are worthy of study. The first extension is that of the reverse symmetrization of a Riordan array, for which we give two applications. The first application of this symmetrization is to the study of a family of Riordan arrays whose symmetrizations lead to the famous Robbins numbers as well as to numbers associated with the 20 vertex model of mathematical physics. We provide closed-form expressions for the elements of these arrays, and we also give a canonical Catalan factorization for them. We also describe an alternative family of Riordan arrays whose symmetrizations lead to the same integer sequences. The second application of this symmetrization process is to the area of the enumeration of lattice paths. We remain with the applications to lattice paths for the second extension of Riordan arrays that we introduce, which is the interleaved Riordan array. The methods used include generating functions, linear algebra, weighted compositions, and linear recurrences. In the case of the symmetrization process applied to Riordan arrays, we focus on the principal minor sequences of the resulting square matrices in the context of integrable lattice models.

Marital Adjustment Among Working and Non-Working Women: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

This qualitative study to explore the marital adjustment among working and non-working women in Pakistan. Using purposive sampling strategy, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six married women, including four working women and two non-working women living in nuclear and joint family system. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis method, fourteen themes were derived as self-negation, work load, financial stability, challenges, intimacy of relationships, coping strategies, family strength, independence, dual responsibility, demand for perfection, sense of guilt, enhance strength, increasing exposure and sense of completion. The results revealed that working women experienced dual responsibility, financial stability, and a sense of independence, which positively impacted their marital adjustment. However, they also reported feeling overwhelmed, guilty, and distant from their spouses. Non-working women reported feelings of financial dependence, lack of recognition, and limited social freedom. The study highlights the importance of considering the impact of occupational status on marital adjustment and the need for support systems for women in both nuclear and extended family settings. The study can also contribute in social psychology as it challenges the stereotypical thinking of working women not being able to justify their familial roles.

Pelatihan Pembuatan Pupuk Kompos pada Ibu-ibu PKK Desa Tanjung Barepan Cawas Klaten

The majority of PKK mothers in Tanjung Barepan Cawas village are housewives, they need additional income. In the dry season, soybean waste in Cawas is abundant and is only used as animal feed, it can be processed into compost, as an alternative family income. The purpose of this service is to provide training in making compost. Providing skills in applying compost to planting media. The methods used are lectures, questions and answers, and practice. The target of this training is to increase understanding of how to make compost by 20%, and the results of the skills are very good. The results of the training can be concluded, there was an increase in understanding of the process of making organic compost from an average value of 38.23 to 89.14, (153.04%). The value of skills in making compost and its application to media and plants was 88.92 and 88.71, meaning that all participants are skilled in making fertilizer and its application to plants. Compost making activities and the like still need to be carried out, because they have many benefits for residents in increasing skills and family income.

A Study of Sociodemographic Determinants of Consistent and Correct Condom Use among Homosexual Males Aged 18–24 Years in a Metropolitan City

Background: One of the biggest problems faced by the homosexual population is the high prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases including human immunodeficiency virus which can be attributed to inconsistent and incorrect use of condom. Condom usage among homosexuals is affected by many factors which may have a positive or negative impact on it. This study aimed to find out the different sociodemographic determinants that were associated with consistent and correct condom use among homosexual males aged 18–24 years. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 240 homosexual (including bisexual) males aged 18–24 years living in the Metropolitan city for minimum 1-year duration at the outreach sites of an NGO. Data pertaining to sociodemographic variables and consistent and correct condom use were obtained and analyzed in SPSS using the Chi-square test to find out the association between condom use and sociodemographic profile. Results: Only 43.3% of participants were using condoms consistently and correctly. Consistent and correct use of condom was observed among participants who were younger (p =&lt;0.001), more educated (p =&lt;0.001), belonging to a higher socioeconomic class (p =&lt;0.001) with a high per-capita income (p =&lt;0.001), living in a nuclear family (P = 0.004), unmarried (P = 0.0071), and staying with the family (p =&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Sociodemographic determinants do have an impact and play a vital role in the consistent and correct use of condoms among homosexual males.

Abuse and its associated factors among elderly population of Kamalamai Municipality of Sindhuli District, Nepal.

The global rise in the elderly population brings attention to the pressing issue of elder abuse, categorized into physical, psychological, neglect, financial and sexual abuse. According to the World Health Organization (2022), one in six individuals aged 60 and older has experienced some form of abuse in community setting necessitating increase in awareness and support for older people. This study aimed to assess abuse and its associated factors among elderly population of Kamalamai Municipality of Sindhuli District, Nepal. We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods. We collected data from June 15 to September 15, 2023. The study involved 398 elderly participants (≥60 years). Stratified sampling techniques was used to select participants. For the qualitative study we utilized purposive sampling technique which included two key informant interviews, one in-depth interview and two focus group discussions. We analyzed quantitative data using IBM SPSS version 20 applying bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis at a 95% confidence interval. For qualitative data, thematic analysis was done. The mean ± SD age of the elderly participants was (70.8± 8.08) years. Among the total of 398 study participants, (64.1%) participants reported experiencing different forms of abuse. The study found that neglect (46.0%), psychological abuse (42.5%), and financial abuse (24.4%) were the most common while physical abuse (4.8%) and sexual abuse (2.8%) were less common. Living in a nuclear family (AOR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.67-4.51) and lower socio-economic status (AOR: 5.42, 95% CI: 2.28-12.92) were significantly associated with increase risk of elder abuse. Qualitative findings revealed mistreatment, vulnerability, negligence, economic factors, family dynamics, loneliness, financial exploitation, food withholding, physical abuse, and emotional attachment as key aspects of elder abuse. This study highlights neglect and psychological abuse were the most common forms of elder abuse. These findings emphasize the urgency of implementing programs at the municipal level such as financial support system for elderly individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and education programs for both elderly individuals and their families and caregivers. These initiatives aim to control and reduce the incidence of elder abuse and ensure comprehensive well-being of elderly population.

Depression among people living in rural and urban areas of Thailand: A cross-sectional study.

Depression has a growing trend in the population worldwide. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the prevalence and associated factors of depression among individuals residing in rural (Ban Luang district, Nan Province) and urban (Lak Si, Bangkok) areas of Thailand. Understanding the differences in depression between these two settings can provide insights for specific targeted interventions and mental health policies. The multistage stratified random sampling was applied to select the study participants. We recruited participants from rural and urban communities in Thailand using a structured survey questionnaire through either face-to-face interviews or in paper or electronic form. We collected data on depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) tool and sociodemographic characteristics and conducted descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. Of 867 survey participants, 420 were from rural areas (Nan) and 447 were from urban areas (Bangkok). Participants' mean age was 55.9±9.5 years in rural areas and 56.0±12.0 years in urban areas. Most participants in urban areas were women, married, and had lower education levels (71.1%, 50.3%, 58.8%, respectively). The overall prevalence of depression across both settings was 18.6%. We found a higher prevalence of depression in the urban (31.8%) than the rural (4.5%) setting. In multiple logistic regression analysis, urban residence was significantly associated with higher rates of depression compared with rural residence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 9.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.08-17.52). Nuclear family and using social media were associated with lower levels of depression in urban areas (AOR 0.50 and 0.43, 95% CI 0.27-0.93 and 0.22-0.84, respectively). Higher education level was significantly associated with higher levels of depression in rural areas (AOR 3.84, 95% CI 1.19-12.42). This study emphasized the difference in depression and related factors between rural and urban areas of Thailand, highlighting a greater prevalence in urban areas. To help prevent depression, it is important to address specific challenges in each setting, such as those faced by highly educated individuals living in rural areas with high depression rates, exploring social media use patterns in urban populations, and understanding dynamics of the nuclear family. Our findings can inform the development of public health policies aimed at effectively mitigating the burden of depression and improving overall mental well-being in specific settings.

Analysis of nuclear receptor expression in head and neck cancer.

Studies of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) have demonstrated the importance of nuclear receptors and their associated coregulators in the development and treatment of HNSCC. We sought to characterize members of the nuclear receptor super family through interrogation of RNA-Seq and microarray data. TCGA RNA-Seq data within the cBioportal platform comparing HNSCC samples (n = 515 patients with RNA-Seq data) to normal tissue (n = 82 patients) was interrogated for significant differences in nuclear receptor expression. Affymetrix microarray analysis of HNSCC tumors relative to normal oral mucosa (41 tumor, 13 normal) was analyzed. Of the 48 NR genes and 19 NR cofactors examined, 99 % of tumor samples in the TCGA had some form of NR gene 'alteration' compared to normal tissue. These alterations predominantly encompass expression changes. NR genes (PPARG) and (RORC), and the NR cofactor, (NCOA1), were differentially expressed and downregulated in tumors compared to normal tissue. We have discovered significant decreases in PPARG expression with co-occurring changes in genes involved with lipid metabolism and cell cycle progression in HNSCC. We are targeting PPARγ with thiazolidinediones in a series of clinical trials to restore normal signaling via differentiation to hopefully reverse carcinogenesis. We also observed several receptors with differential expression associated with clinical factors that may become the focus of interest in future targeting efforts. These data provide evidence for nuclear receptors playing a role in the dysregulation of gene expression in HNSCC and illustrate the utility of current bioinformatic tools for interrogating complex, high throughput data sets.

Factors influencing chopstick use and an objective identification of traditional holding techniques in children.

The acquisition of chopstick skills is considered essential for child development and etiquette in many Asian cultures. However, a decline in chopstick education has been observed in Japan, and the underlying causes of this phenomenon remain elusive. This study aims to investigate children's chopstick skills and develop an objective method to evaluate them using a hand posture estimation model. In this study. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 165 first-grade elementary school students (aged 6-7) and their parents to investigate factors influencing chopstick proficiency. To complement this, video analyses were performed using a hand posture estimation model to assess the accuracy of chopstick grip classification. The findings showed that children's chopstick-holding styles could be classified into four categories: four-finger prehension (64 participants), three-finger prehension (49 participants), palm prehension (20 participants), and others (32 participants). Despite the fact that over 80% of parents reported teaching their children how to use chopsticks, a mere 9.7% of children exhibited correct chopstick-holding technique. Interestingly, factors such as intergenerational cohabitation with grandparents and child's age significantly influenced chopstick proficiency. These results indicate that a gap exists in the intergenerational transmission of chopstick skills, with parents potentially lacking sufficient knowledge to teach their children. The hand posture estimation model had a high accuracy rate of 85%, precision of 83%, and recall of 88% to identify whether children use chopsticks traditionally. While chopstick education is predominantly conducted within Japanese households, the increasing prevalence of nuclear families and dual-income households suggests a decline in intergenerational transmission of chopstick education. To address this issue, it is imperative to develop web applications that can integrate chopstick education into school curricula and promote chopstick skills among students.

Frequency, Etiology and Risk Factors of Infant Burn Injuries

Background: Pediatric population in Pakistan is exposed to alarming consequences of burn injuries. Infants have a higher risk of fatality from burns than adolescents and adults. Merely few burn centers across the country are equipped with the resources and trained doctors/paramedical staff who can cater well to the neonatal and infant burn patients. We studied the frequency, etiology and risk factors of infant burn injuries to call attention and bring in public policy for its prevention and awareness among public. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Burn Unit, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan from September 2023 to August 2024. All patients being admitted with burn injuries who were 12 months old or younger were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was filled by the duty doctor after interviewing the parents/guardians. Results: Total 2638 children presented with burns. Out of 867 admissions 75 were infants with male predominance. Mean age was 9.4+3.4 months ranging from 11 days to 12 months. 62 were scalds, 12 flame burns and one electric burn. Mothers were primary caretakers in 89% cases and 97% mothers were house wives. 71% lived in nuclear families. 64 out of 75 were kitchen accidents. All families faced major disruption in natural gas supply in their homes. Majority accidents occurred in winters and 62.6% in January and February alone. Conclusion: Infant burns can be prevented by close surveillance, keeping infants away from kitchen, support system for mothers at home and keeping stove and hot items on shelves away from reach. Provision of hot running water and infrastructure for adequate power and gas supply along with awareness/prevention campaigns by government bodies are needed to save vulnerable infants from this adversity.