Residential Areas Research Articles

Cultural Streetscape: Its Value-System, Space and Significance in Oyo Town, Nigeria

Cultural streetscape is a remarkable street scene that embodies the local culture. It helps in defining and defending urban forms, improves the physical, economic, and socio-cultural mechanisms of urban streets, provides street views for buildings, and shares communal activities and identities. Streetscape is a significant and multi-dynamic component of urban design that contributes to the success of cities and towns. However, as a result of constant urbanization and neglect, African streets that were previously sites of different cultural expressions and local beliefs are quickly turning into areas devoid of local values and meaning. More so, the significance of a cultural streetscape that facilitates ingenious street views, solves ecological challenges, and retains the local memory of places is becoming scarce in the literature. Through an in-depth interview, analysis of pertinent academic outputs, and firsthand observation of the core residential areas of Oyo town, this study revealed the value and significance of cultural streetscape in building, shaping, preserving and sustaining local place identity. Proper archiving and infusion of cultural streetscape elements into the old and new streets design are necessary to ensure Yoruba place identity does not completely become void.

Association between colchicine use and adverse cardiovascular events in patients with gout: a nationwide nested case-control study.

The association between colchicine use and the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the association between colchicine use and new development of ASCVD and ASCVD-related mortality in patients with incident gout. This nested case-control study utilized the nation-wide claims database of the Korean National Health Insurance System. Patients without a history of ASCVD who developed incident gout and were newly started on allopurinol as first-line therapy between 2011 and 2016 were initially screened. Individuals who experienced ASCVD event or ASCVD-related mortality during the follow-up period were matched with four controls for age, sex, income, residential area, co-morbidities, and medications. The main exposure was colchicine use, assessed by 1) the cumulative defined daily doses (cDDDs) and 2) the cumulative duration. For secondary analyses, the risk of ASCVD events and ASCVD-related mortality were examined, separately. Overall, 9,346 patients with ASCVD event or ASCVD-related mortality were matched with 35 070 controls. The patient population was predominantly male. Compared with non-users, a curvilinear relationship between higher cDDDs of colchicine and the odds of ASCVD event was observed; the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) were were 1.09 (1.04-1.15) for <90 cDDDs, 1.20 (1.07-1.33) for 80-179 cDDDs, and 1.21 (1.09-1.35) for ≥180 cDDDs. This association was similarly observed for ASCVD events and ASCVD-related mortality, respectively. Colchicine use was associated with an increased risk of ASCVD in patients with newly diagnosed gout who did not have a prior history of ASCVD.

PREDICTING LAND USE CHANGES USING MARKOV CHAIN ANALYSIS AND HIERARCHICAL ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC SERVICE CENTERS IN BANDA ACEH CITY

The city of Banda Aceh, as the center of development in its region, is faced with a series of complex problems, one of which is the lack of optimal distribution of public service centers throughout the city. Banda Aceh City Central Statistics Agency (BPS) documents 2012-2022 and Banda Aceh City Spatial Plan (RTRW) documents 2009-2029 related to this research. Data in tabulated and descriptive form includes geographical conditions of the research area, land use area, types of facilities and their numbers, population, and distance between areas, and maps related to the research. This study aims to see land use conditions using the markov chain method and provide an overview of the public service center system of Banda Aceh City using the Scalogram method, centrality index, and gravity. Based on Markov chain analysis, land use predictions indicate that residential areas, offices and trade, tourism, worship, and sports facilities will continue to increase, while water bodies, green open spaces (RTH), and non-green open spaces (RTNH) will continue to decline. Predictions until 2039 show that conditions have begun to stabilize. Scalogram analysis takes into account hierarchy based on the type of facilities available, centrality index that calculates hierarchy based on many available facilities, and gravitational interaction that takes into account the strength of interaction between sub-districts shows that Kuta Alam District has the potential to become a major service center in Banda Aceh City. This sub-district has the most complete facilities, supported by the highest interaction value.

A Study to assess the effectiveness of planned teaching program on knowledge regarding eating disorder among adolescents girls studying in 9th and 10th standard in selected school of Bilaspur (C.G.)

The objective of the study is to assess the pre-test and post-test knowledge score regardingeating disorder among adolescents girls, effectiveness of planned teaching program regardingeating disorder among adolescent girls and to find out the association between level ofknowledge with selected socio demographic variables of adolescent girls.Quantitative research approach using pre-experimental research design one group pre-testpost-test design. Purposive sampling technique was used. Self-structured questionnaire usedto assess knowledge score.Majority 98.33% (59) sample age ranges between 15-16 years, 88.33% (53) of sample reside in urbanarea, 36.67% (22) subjects were 8th pass, 78.33% (47) subjects belongs to joint family, 43.33% (26)subjects father is farmer, 55% (33) subjects has previous knowledge about eating disorder.The mean post- test knowledge score 10.05 is higher than the mean pre- test knowledge score 5.33,mean difference is 4.72. The calculated ‘t’ value = 3.2065 is higher than the table value of ‘t’ = 2.00hence, the research hypothesis H1 which indicate the planned teaching programme on knowledgeregarding eating disorder was significantly effective in increasing the knowledge of subject.There is no significant association between the pre -test knowledge scores of sample with the age,residential area, type of family and previous knowledge about eating disorder. There is significantassociation between the pre -test knowledge scores of sample with educational qualification andsocio-economic income .Hence H2 accepted.

Anti-HBs Seroprevalence in Blood Donors from Tyrol, Austria.

Background/Objectives: Antibodies against the hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) are a marker of immunity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. There is uncertainty about the anti-HBs seroprevalence in the general population of Austria. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis in blood donors from the Federal State of Tyrol in Austria (August-September 2023) to estimate anti-HBs seroprevalence and median antibody levels. Results: We enrolled 3935 blood donors (median age 47.6 years [25th-75th percentile: 33.3-56.6]; 40.7% female), who were hepatitis B surface antigen negative and had no detectable HBV-DNA. Overall seroprevalence was 51.4% (95% CI: 49.8-52.9%). Anti-HBs seropositivity decreased with higher age (p < 0.001), with 70.3% (66.1-74.3%) being seropositive among participants < 25 years of age and 30.2% (24.2-36.9%) in those aged ≥ 65 years. More females than males were seropositive (54.3% [51.8-56.7%] vs. 49.4% [47.4-51.4%]; p = 0.003). Seroprevalence was significantly higher in urban than in rural areas in participants aged 40 to <55 (p = 0.045) and ≥55 years (p = 0.001). Among 2022 seropositive participants, the overall median anti-HBs antibody level was 539.3 IU/L (25th-75th percentile: 116.3-5417.0). Furthermore, 5% of the participants had an anti-HBs antibody level between 10 and <20 IU/L, 18% between 20 and <100 IU/L, and 77% ≥100 IU/L. Conclusions: Anti-HBs seroprevalence in blood donors from Tyrol, Austria, was 51.4% between August and September 2023 and differed across age, sex, and residence area. Catch-up vaccination programs, especially targeting the elderly living in rural areas, are needed to close HBV immunity gaps.

Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in Children Aged 0-14 Years in Trentino-Alto Adige Region and Determinants of Onset with Ketoacidosis.

To assess the incidence and the temporal trend of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) during the period 2014-2023 in youths aged 0-14 years in the Trentino-Alto Adige region, Italy. A retrospective review of all incident cases of T1D diagnosed at the two Pediatric Diabetes Centers of Bolzano and Trento was matched with diabetes exemptions (No. 344). Demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic status (SES) data at first hospitalization were collected from subjects who agreed to participate (No. 272). The incidence of T1D was 21.5/100,000 person/years, with a peak of 31.1 in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mean age at the onset was 8.8 ± 3.9 years. Seventy-nine percent of the subjects were Italians, primarily residents in rural areas, and SES was equally represented. The mean incidence of DKA was 36.9%. The logistic regression analysis showed that the independent characteristics of the patients with DKA were of a younger age and displayed higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values. No relation of DKA with seasonality, ethnicity, or first-degree relative (FDR) with T1D or SES was detected. Our study revealed an incidence of T1D in the Trentino-Alto Adige region comparable to other areas in the North of Italy. The DKA rate negatively correlated with age; therefore, targeted prevention educational campaigns to increase awareness are needed.

Socioeconomic disparities in reception of limb-sparing surgery versus amputation for lower extremity sarcoma

BackgroundIn lower extremity sarcoma treatment, limb salvage approaches present superior alternatives to amputation due to reduced postoperative morbidity and improved quality of life. This study provides a novel analysis of socioeconomic disparities that may affect reception of limb-sparing surgery. MethodsPatients with lower extremity bone or soft tissue sarcoma who received either limb-sparing surgery or amputation from 2007 to 2021 were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Demographic, socioeconomic, and oncologic variables were collected for each patient. Multivariate binary logistic regression was conducted to assess preoperative demographic and oncologic risk factors for amputation (p < 0.05). ResultsA total of 6465 patients were identified in the final cohort, 586 (9.1%) of whom received amputation. After controlling for tumor size, stage, and neoadjuvant therapy administration, non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaskan Native race/ethnicity predicted the highest odds of amputation (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.12–2.85, p = 0.015). Nonmetropolitan residence (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.43–2.00, p < 0.001) also conferred higher risk of amputation compared with residence in a large metropolitan area. Overall, amputation was associated with a higher risk of ten-year cancer-specific mortality (p < 0.001) even when controlled by sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. ConclusionsThere are significant disparities in limb-sparing surgery and amputation rates in lower extremity sarcoma management, even when accounting for differences in baseline oncologic characteristics. Further study into socioeconomic drivers of these trends will allow the development of initiatives that improve disparities in reconstructive outcomes.

Exploring the regional cooling efficiency of urban residential vegetation using scenario simulation

The study of the cooling efficiency of vegetation in urban residential areas at a micro-scale is important for improving the thermal environment of those areas. The quantitative analysis of the effect of the layout of different building patterns on the cooling efficiency of green space is particularly crucial. This study takes a typical residential area with a row-column arrangement in Jiangning District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, China, as the research object. Using the ENVI-MET model used for numerical simulation, 15 simulation scenarios were designed based on building orientation, height, and density. The research proposes the methodology of the regional cooling efficiency (RCE) of urban residential vegetation, reveals the daily variation characteristics of the RCE of vegetation in a residential area, and analyzes the factors influencing of regional cooling efficiency. The results showed that the daily variation in RCE for vegetation in the residential area exhibited a single-peak trend. The minimum and maximum RCE values appeared at 6:00 and 14:00, respectively. The average air temperature and building density in the residential area had a significant positive correlation with RCE, while average relative humidity had a negative correlation. Average wind speed, average building height, and average sky view factor showed nonlinear correlations with RCE, and the importance ranking of each factor's effect on RCE was air temperature > relative humidity > building density > wind speed > building height > sky view factor. This study will provide theoretical support for improving the thermal environment in urban residential areas during the urban planning process.

Assessment of the public health risk caused by exposure to atmospheric emissions from an aluminum plant

Introduction. Aluminum production is accompanied by emissions of pollutants that can negatively affect the environment and public health. The study aims to determine the impact of atmospheric emissions from an aluminum plant on the health of the population of the city of Novokuznetsk based on a risk assessment. Materials and methods. The volume of maximum permissible emissions of the Novokuznetsk Aluminum Plant was used in the work. Experts calculated the maximum and average concentrations of substances at 40 exposure points. The maximum permissible concentrations of substances were determined in accordance with SanPiN 1.2.3685-21. The authors calculated the carcinogenic risk and the risk of non-carcinogenic effects in accordance with the Guidelines 2.1.10.1920-04. They carried out the classification of risk levels based on methodological recommendations 2.1.10.0156-19. 2.1.10. Results. The authors have selected pollutants were for risk assessment: inorganic dust with a SiO2 content of &lt;20%, sulfur dioxide, benz(a)pyrene, hydrogen fluoride, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, suspended solids, nitrogen oxide, carbon (soot). The maximum concentrations were 0.1–3.77 MPC for inorganic dust (SiO2&lt;20%), 0.1–2.64 MPC for hydrogen fluoride and 0.05–1.74 MPC for sulfur dioxide; average concentrations were up to 9.16 MPC for benz(a)pyrene. The hazard indices for acute exposure are at an acceptable level; For chronic exposures, they correspond to alarming and high levels, reaching the highest value (13.469) at a point located closer to the sources of emissions. Hazard indices for critical organs and systems in acute exposures are at acceptable or minimum (target) levels, in chronic exposures they correspond to alarming and high-risk levels. The respiratory and immune systems are most affected. The total individual carcinogenic risk ranges from 4×10–7 to 8×10–6, without exceeding the upper limit of the permissible risk. Residents of the Kuznetsk district of the city are most affected by emissions. Limitations. The main limitation in the work carried out was the use of calculated concentrations of pollutants for risk assessment without the use of in-kind indicators. Conclusion. Elevated concentrations of pollutants were detected in the atmospheric air of residential areas adjacent to the territory of the aluminum plant, which determine alarming and high levels of non-carcinogenic risk to public health. Ethics. This study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.

Sociodemographic factors associated with the level of citizen insecurity in the Peruvian population

Introduction: Citizen insecurity is a complex, multidimensional and multi-causal social problem, defined as the spaces where people feel insecure mainly due to organized crime in all nations that suffer from it. Objective: To analyzes the sociodemographic factors associated with public insecurity in a Peruvian population. Methodology: The research employed a non-experimental, quantitative design with a descriptive and cross-sectional approach. A total of 11,116, citizens participated, ranging from 18 to 85 years old (young adults, adults, and the elderly), of both sexes, and with any occupation, education level, and marital status. The study employed purposive non-probability sampling to select the participants. Results: More than 50% of the population feels unsafe, in public and private spaces. All analyzed sociodemographic variables (p &lt; 0.05), showing distinctions in the perception of citizen insecurity based on age, gender, marital status, occupation, area of residence, and education level. It was determined that young, single students, who had not experienced a criminal event and reside in urban areas, regardless of gender, perceive a greater sense of insecurity. Contribution: The study is relevant due to the generality of the results in a significant sample, demonstrating that the study contributes to understanding how various elements of the socioeconomic and demographic context can influence the way in which individuals perceive insecurity in their communities, likewise, the perception of citizen insecurity directly affects the general well-being and quality of life of residents, influencing their behaviors and attitudes towards coexistence and public policies; which will help implement more effective actions in the sector to reduce crime rates.

Object-based change detection (OBCD): a case study for measuring retail led regeneration

ABSTRACT The Canadian retail landscape experienced a defining shift in the 1990s with the emergence of “big box” retailers and the proliferation of power centers nationwide. Within this context, the Ontario Stockyards neighborhood in Toronto, Canada, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past three decades. It has evolved from a predominantly meat-packing industrial hub into a versatile urban environment featuring a mix of retail and residential spaces. This research seeks to elucidate the dynamics of commercial/industrial and residential area changes within this evolving landscape. The study spans a 23-year period, during which the distribution of land use categories undergoes notable fluctuations. This study sheds light on the intricate relationship between retail-driven urban regeneration, commercial/industrial transformations, and residential development. This paper uses the Stockyards neighborhood as a case study, to demonstrate the practical application of Object-Based Change Detection (OBCD) in real-world contexts. Through this case study, the potential and effectiveness of OBCD as a valuable tool for analyzing complex urban development is presented. The findings underscore the significance of integrated urban development strategies that leverage the transformative potential of retail-led initiatives.

Identification of Residential and Commercial Area using Convolutional Neural Network

Abstract— Image classification of land use using aerial scene classification has become increasingly common around the world. Utilizing the power of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), identification of various city township areas using satellite imagery has become more efficient compared to the previous manual labeling. The objective of this research is to build a convolutional neural network model for residential and commercial area identification. In the research, we also adopted Inception V3 and VGG16 to develop two transfer learning models for the identification system. The Inception V3-based model achieved the highest overall accuracy value of 100%, showing its effectiveness in accurate residential and commercial area identification. The proposed CNN model achieved an accuracy of 99%, while the VGG-16 model with all configurations being frozen achieved 99% accuracy.

Access to dental services and use of toothpaste with optimal fluoride content in Peruvian children

BackgroundLeading international health organizations advise using toothpaste that contains at least 1,000 parts per million of fluoride, emphasizing that this practice should begin with the eruption of the first primary tooth.AimTo determine the association between access to dental services and the use of toothpaste with 1,000 ppm fluoride or more in Peruvian children under twelve years of age.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2021 Demographic and Family Health Survey. The main variable studied was the use of toothpaste containing a fluoride concentration of 1,000 ppm or more. Additionally, the access to dental care, the time elapsed since the last dental visit, and the type of healthcare facility were analyzed. Multilevel regression was applied to examine the relationship between variables and the dependent variable, with Peru's 24 regions serving as the analytical level.ResultsAccording to the bivariate analysis, the natural region, area of residence, place of residence, wealth index, and age were associated with the use of fluoride toothpaste with 1,000 ppm or more. In the multilevel analysis, the access to dental services was not associated with the use of fluoride toothpaste with 1,000 ppm or more (p = 0.454); similarly, the time elapsed since the last dental visit also showed no association (p = 0.676), as did the type of healthcare facility (p = 0.752, p = 0.896, p = 0.983).ConclusionAccessing dental services, the time elapsed since the last dentist visit, and the location where that care was received were not associated with the use of toothpaste containing 1,000 ppm or more of fluoride among Peruvian children during the year 2021.

The effects of resident-tourist interaction quality on residents’ pro-environmental behaviour through improved relationships: a combination of symmetric and asymmetric analysis

Cultivating residents’ pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs) is crucial for tourism destinations to promote sustainable development. While residents’ PEBs has become a popular area of research, limited consideration has been given to whether and how interactions between residents and tourists influence residents’ PEBs, leaving this research domain underexplored. Based on self-determination theory and complexity theory, this research explores how social antecedents affect residents’ PEBs by conducting Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) analyses. An empirical survey was conducted among 535 residents of the West Lake Scenic Area, a major tourism destination in China. The PLS-SEM results demonstrated that high-quality resident-tourist interaction facilitated residents’ closeness with tourists and their attachment to the destination, which, in turn, contributed to residents’ active engagement in PEBs. The results from fsQCA indicated that relying exclusively on PLS-SEM may be insufficient for achieving a comprehensive understanding of the proposed research model. According to fsQCA, this study identified 11 distinct solutions that sufficiently explain high levels of residents’ PEBs, demonstrating how various antecedents work in unison to facilitate residents’ PEBs. This research concluded by proposing theoretical and practical implications of facilitating residents’ PEBs.

Common hamster (Cricetus cricetus, Cricetidae, Rodentia) in the Simferopol city: Population dynamics and survival outlook

In the Simferopol city, the numbers of Common hamsters began to grow since the early 1970s and reached a peak in the mid-1990s. The abundance was kept at a high level until 2014–2015 and then began to decline. In multi-storey residential development areas, steady settlements of hamsters have now virtually disappeared, and even in large green areas (the City Park and Botanical Garden), the numbers dropped almost tenfold. One of the possible causes for this decline was cutting down shrubs and hedges, which began since 2016–2017. However, the population has also severe declined in areas with no such activities. Thus, the fate of the Simferopol hamster population is worrisome. Obviously, we are dealing with a multi-factor process which requires special studying, without which no estimating of population viability or developing of conservation measures are possible.

Predictors of Care Home Admission and Survival Rate in Patients With Syndromes Associated With Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration in Europe.

Data on care home admission and survival rates of patients with syndromes associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are limited. However, their estimation is essential to plan trials and assess the efficacy of intervention. Population-based registers provide unique samples for this estimate. The aim of this study was to assess care home admission rate, survival rate, and their predictors in incident patients with FTLD-associated syndromes from the European FRONTIERS register-based study. We conducted a prospective longitudinal multinational observational registry study, considering incident patients with FTLD-associated syndromes diagnosed between June 1, 2018, and May 31, 2019, and followed for up to 5 years till May 31, 2023. We enrolled patients fulfilling diagnosis of the behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), primary progressive aphasia (PPA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) or corticobasal syndrome (CBS), and FTD with motor neuron disease (FTD-MND). Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox multivariable regression models were used to assess care home admission and survival rates. The survival probability score (SPS) was computed based on independent predictors of survivorship. A total of 266 incident patients with FTLD were included (mean age ± SD = 66.7 ± 9.0; female = 41.4%). The median care home admission rate was 97 months (95% CIs 86-98) from disease onset and 57 months (95% CIs 56-58) from diagnosis. The median survival was 90 months (95% CIs 77-97) from disease onset and 49 months (95% CIs 44-58) from diagnosis. Survival from diagnosis was shorter in FTD-MND (hazard ratio [HR] 4.59, 95% CIs 2.49-8.76, p < 0.001) and PSP/CBS (HR 1.56, 95% CIs 1.01-2.42, p = 0.044) compared with bvFTD; no differences between PPA and bvFTD were found. The SPS proved high accuracy in predicting 1-year survival probability (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.789, 95% CIs 0.69-0.87), when defined by age, European area of residency, extrapyramidal symptoms, and MND at diagnosis. In FTLD-associated syndromes, survival rates differ according to clinical features and geography. The SPS was able to predict prognosis at individual patient level with an accuracy of ∼80% and may help to improve patient stratification in clinical trials. Future confirmatory studies considering different populations are needed.

Study On Real Estate Location Based on GIS Technology

Through a review of relevant literature,this study categorizes factors affecting real estate site selection into three main categories: environmental, social, and economic, termed as the "triple bottom line." Based on the "triple bottom line," a PUM (Portfolio Underwriting Model) model was constructed. Meanwhile, GIS technology was utilized to identify the locations of public transportation stations, medical institutions, schools, and fire stations within Xiamen City. Additionally, different regions were delineated into suitable residential areas based on slope, aspect, land type, and per capita GDP. Combining the PUM model with GIS technology ultimately aids in real estate market site selection. The research findings indicate that integrating the PUM model and GIS technology for real estate site selection allows for a more scientific and comprehensive evaluation of various site selection factors, thereby providing important decision-making support for developers and investors.

Individually Perceived Parameters of Residential Infrastructure and Their Relationship with Cardiovascular Risk Factors

In modern medicine, studies devoted to the assessment of the parameters of residential infrastructure and the population’s attitude towards them have become quite large-scale. Objectives: The aim of the study was to establish associations between individually perceived parameters of residential infrastructure and the main modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, obesity, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism disorders) in one of the subjects of the Russian Federation. Methods: The epidemiological study “Study of the influence of social factors on chronic non-communicable diseases” started in 2015 and ended in 2023. The sample was formed by using the stratification method based on the assignment to a medical organization. The study included 1598 respondents aged 35 to 70 years (491 rural residents). The study of infrastructure parameters was conducted based on the subjective opinions of respondents using the neighborhood environment walkability scale (NEWS) questionnaire, divided into eight scales. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify associations between infrastructure parameters and cardiovascular risk factors; the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval were evaluated. Results: Individually perceived infrastructure parameters of the scale B, reflecting the accessibility of infrastructure facilities, were associated with hypertension [OR = 1.33], obesity [OR = 1.40], and abdominal obesity [OR = 1.59]. Elements of the social infrastructure of the scale C, describing the streets in the residential area, increased the likelihood of developing obesity [OR = 1.42] and visceral obesity [OR = 1.43]. The characteristics of the residential area, represented by the scale D that evaluates pedestrian infrastructure, were associated with all major cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension [OR = 1.65], obesity [OR = 1.62] and abdominal obesity [OR = 1.82], and disorders of lipid [OR = 1.41] and carbohydrate metabolism [OR = 1.44]). Conclusion: Social factors represented by various aspects of infrastructure have become important criteria for determining cardiovascular health. Environmental conditions affect cardiovascular risk factors through behavioral patterns that shape the respondent’s lifestyle. Interventions in urban planning—increasing accessibility to infrastructure facilities for the population, developing a pedestrian-friendly urban environment, improving physical activity resources in areas, planning recreation areas, and landscaping—can become the most important concept for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

ASSESSMENT OF JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS VACCINATION STATUS IN TRIBAL AREAS OF THE MAYURBHANJ DISTRICT OF ODISHA – A COMMUNITY-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Objectives: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a vector-borne viral disease that primarily infects swines, equids, and humans. Outbreaks of JE-acute encephalitis syndrome were reported from September to November 2012 and 9th September to 2nd December 2016 in Malkangiri district, Odisha. Due to the paucity of studies on JE transmission, causation, and prevention in tribal areas, the present study was undertaken to assess the JE vaccination status of children between 12 and 36 months in the Mayurbhanj district and to determine the association between sociodemographic characteristics of study participants with JE vaccination status. Methods: To estimate the JE vaccination coverage, a cluster sampling method was adopted to conduct survey in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha by selecting 45 clusters. Twenty children aged 12–36 months were selected from each cluster, and their mothers were interviewed about JE vaccination. House-to-house survey was conducted in selected villages. Mothers were interviewed about the knowledge on JE vaccination. Results: A total of 900 children were surveyed, of which a majority were born in government hospitals. The association between the literacy status of mothers and awareness regarding JE is found to be statistically significant. Furthermore, it was found that the association between vaccination coverage and area of residence of the beneficiaries in relation to session sites is statistically significant. Conclusion and Recommendation: The association of maternal literacy status with JE vaccination coverage was not significant, whereas the association with the awareness regarding JE was statistically significant. Four key messages of immunization should be delivered to every mother during vaccination.

Composition and Antioxidant Status of Human Milk of Women Living in Bydgoszcz (Poland).

The aim of this study was to compare cortisol concentrations, nutritional composition, and the antioxidant status of human milk of women living in Bydgoszcz (Poland), taking into account maternal factors (fertility, area of residence, economic activity, and breastfeeding period). The basic composition of human milk was evaluated using the MIRIS HMATM analyzer. The level of cortisol was determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent method. In order to determine the antioxidant activity, the DPPH radical method was used. It was observed that the concentration of cortisol in human milk in the group of women living in the city center was higher compared to the milk of women living on the outskirts of the city. In the group of women breastfeeding from 3 to 5 weeks after childbirth, the concentration of cortisol in milk was higher compared to the group of women breastfeeding less than 12 months of age and compared to the group of women lactating over 12 months of age. The antioxidant status of human milk was highest in the group of professionally active women and in the group of breastfeeding women from 3 to 5 weeks after childbirth. The basic composition and the caloric value of human milk differed statistically significantly in the study groups. Based on this study, it can be concluded that the composition and antioxidant status of human milk depends on maternal factors (fertility, professional activity, area of residence, and breastfeeding period). Higher cortisol concentrations in breast milk are probably determined by the area of residence (city center and associated higher noise/sound and stress levels) and lactation period (hormonal imbalance, fatigue, and postpartum period). Milk from economically active women shows greater protection against reactive oxygen species compared to milk from inactive women, protecting against the occurrence of diseases of civilization. Milk from breastfeeding women over 12 months of age also shows protection against reactive oxygen species, despite the fact that the highest level of antioxidant status of human milk occurs in the initial period of lactation.