Suburban Localities Research Articles

Persistent Organic Pollutants and Suspended Particulate Matter in Snow of Eastern Siberia in 2009-2023: Temporal Trends and Effects of Meteorological Factors and Recultivation Activities at Former Industrial Area.

Suspended particulate matter (SPM), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCP) were studied in the snow cover at urban and suburban localities in the Irkutsk region, Eastern Siberia for their temporal variations in 2009-2023, daily deposition fluxes (DDFs), and effects of some meteorological factors, as well as the effects of different technogenic activities in the industrial area of the former organochlorine enterprises of Usol'ekhimprom. SPM loads at both stations were found to be at a low level of pollution. The levels of HCB, α + γ-HCH, and ∑p,p'-DDX were lower than Russian maximum permissible levels (MPLs) in drinking water, groundwater, and surface water for household drinking and cultural purposes. The sums of all organochlorine compounds studied in snow were higher than the MPL in freshwater water bodies for fishery purposes. The levels of the DDFs of HCHs, DDTs, and heptachlorinated PCB decreased, di- and trichlorinated PCB levels increased, and HCB levels changed at a polynomial line during 2009-2023. The change in the relative composition of PCBs was found as a result of recultivation activities at the industrial area of the former organochlorine enterprise of Usol'ekhimprom. The air humidity and temperature are the key meteorological factors affecting the DDFs of PCBs and OCPs.

Environmental acceptability of suburban sprawl around two differently sized Czech cities

ABSTRACT Suburbanization and suburban sprawl are natural processes in a certain period of development of the city and its hinterland. According to studies devoted to suburban sprawl, this sprawl has many negative impacts on the environment. But if suburban sprawl creates compact and mutually separated suburban settlements based on the original villages, suburban localities with a high population density and suburban localities on poor land, then these impacts are relatively small, acceptable in the period of suburbanization development. This paper focuses on (1) the acceptability of the location of suburban localities in terms of the required compactness of suburban settlements, (2) the acceptability of population density in suburban localities in relation to the population density in city neighbourhoods with detached single-family houses and (3) the acceptability of agricultural land occupations for suburban localities in terms of the lowest land quality in these occupations. The analyzes were carried out in suburban settlements around Prague and the regional city of České Budějovice. Acceptable locations of suburban localities prevail there, but population densities are usually lower in suburban localities than in mentioned city neighbourhoods. Unfortunately, the most valuable agricultural land is located in the immediate vicinity of settlements, where suburban localities are developing.

New concept regarding the selection of sewerage systems and natural treatment of municipal wastewaters

The article contains a review of methods and procedures of the municipal wastewater treatment, with the discussion of their specifics. A new concept is proposed related to the selection of municipal sewerage and wastewater treatment systems, considering the local/decentralized, semicentralized or centralized systems, especially those suitable to rural and suburban localities, in dependence on the advantages and disadvantages of these systems and local specifics. The concept of phytofilters is proposed for the biological treatment of wastewater in small towns. This technology is simple, inexpensive and requires relatively little maintenance. Biological ponds in the Republic of Moldova have proven to be very suitable for advanced wastewater treatment, being a cheap and natural purification system with a good potential for implementation. When choosing a sewer system, priority must be given to its functionality and practical considerations.

A prospective study on foreign bodies in the oropharyngeal/ nasopharyngeal pathways done in the ENT department of a tertiary care private medical college hospital in the year 2022

To do a prospective study on foreign bodies(FB) in the oropharyngeal (OP) / nasopharyngeal (NP) pathways done in the ENT department of a tertiary care private medical college hospital in the year 2022.To analyse, categorize, correlate the demographic data of patients presenting with FB in OP/ NP pathways with the nature of FB, clinical features, method of removal, duration of hospital stay in the ENT department of a tertiary care private medical college hospital in the year 2022.Study method: Prospective studyStudy centre: Saveetha Medical College, ThandalamStudy population: patients with nasopharyngeal foreign body attending the ENT departmentStudy duration: 8 months from January to August 2022Sample size: 50 1. Age more than 6 months 2. Both male and female subjects 3. Patients presenting to ENT department with oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal foreign body. 1. Age less than 6 months 2. Patients presenting to ENT department with diagnosis other than FB in the OP/NP pathways.OP/NP FB has been seen frequently in the males than females. Most of them were single in number in the OP pathway. Highest number of patients are seen in the 30-39yrs age group of LIG, MIG coming from urban and sub-urban population in our study when compared to other studies which showed highest frequency in children. Fishbone was the frequently encountered FB. Almost all of them are acute cases presenting within 24 to 48hrs. With regards to symptoms, all of them except the persons with NP FB presented with dysphagia. In children upto 4yrs the symptoms were incessant cry, refusal to feed and excess salivation were seen. All OP FB were treated with either IDL or DL scopy. All NP FB treated with FOB. Anaesthesia was either local or short GA depending on the merits of each case. The duration of hospital stay was mostly 24 to 48hrs, except 3 cases who were geriatric people with co-morbidities. In our study Foreign bodies in the OP pathway were common in the adult male population in the middle age unlike children in other studies. Fish and chicken bones were common and in the low and middle income group coming from urban and sub-urban locality. Further studies are needed with larger sample size and longer duration to generalize the results to wider population.

Pilot trial using mass field-releases of sterile males produced with the incompatible and sterile insect techniques as part of integrated Aedes aegypti control in Mexico.

BackgroundThe combination of Wolbachia-based incompatible insect technique (IIT) and radiation-based sterile insect technique (SIT) can be used for population suppression of Aedes aegypti. Our main objective was to evaluate whether open-field mass-releases of wAlbB-infected Ae. aegypti males, as part of an Integrated Vector Management (IVM) plan led by the Mexican Ministry of Health, could suppress natural populations of Ae. aegypti in urbanized settings in south Mexico.Methodology/Principal findingsWe implemented a controlled before-and-after quasi-experimental study in two suburban localities of Yucatan (Mexico): San Pedro Chimay (SPC), which received IIT-SIT, and San Antonio Tahdzibichén used as control. Release of wAlbB Ae. aegypti males at SPC extended for 6 months (July-December 2019), covering the period of higher Ae. aegypti abundance. Entomological indicators included egg hatching rates and outdoor/indoor adult females collected at the release and control sites. Approximately 1,270,000 lab-produced wAlbB-infected Ae. aegypti males were released in the 50-ha treatment area (2,000 wAlbB Ae. aegypti males per hectare twice a week in two different release days, totaling 200,000 male mosquitoes per week). The efficacy of IIT-SIT in suppressing indoor female Ae. aegypti density (quantified from a generalized linear mixed model showing a statistically significant reduction in treatment versus control areas) was 90.9% a month after initiation of the suppression phase, 47.7% two months after (when number of released males was reduced in 50% to match local abundance), 61.4% four months after (when initial number of released males was re-established), 88.4% five months after and 89.4% at six months after the initiation of the suppression phase. A proportional, but lower, reduction in outdoor female Ae. aegypti was also quantified (range, 50.0–75.2% suppression).Conclusions/SignificanceOur study, the first open-field pilot implementation of Wolbachia IIT-SIT in Mexico and Latin-America, confirms that inundative male releases can significantly reduce natural populations of Ae. aegypti. More importantly, we present successful pilot results of the integration of Wolbachia IIT-SIT within a IVM plan implemented by Ministry of Health personnel.

Transformation of Danube Recreational Sites

The purpose of the research was to verify models of sustainable urbanization of the Danube riverside landscape in the suburban surroundings of Bratislava. The research focused on landscape-ecological forms of suburban urbanization in the contact of the river Danube, in the context of meanders of the Danube branches with the formation of recreational localities. The implementation of ecological principles was based on the concept of regional structures with a vision of the renewal of the ancient branches of the Danube for the creation of the climatic envelope of Bratislava from the southwestern side. The completion of the Petržalka, Slnečnice, Južné Mesto, and rural structures near Jarovce, Rusovce, and Čuňovo, conditioned by ecological urbanization, will acquire more landscape elements and a system of blue and green infrastructure. The hierarchical transition of the city to the suburban localities is solved by creating zones of recreation and sports on the Danube. Variant case studies of the "Danubia Park" near the village of Čuňovo are located on the southwestern bank of the Hrušov Reservoir of the Danube, with access to the Wild Water sports zone and the Danubiana Gallery complex. The research followed up on the verification of the recreational function in the landscape and focused on the level of low occupancy, the integration of sports and recreational functions, accessibility by all modes of transport, the penetration of recreation into the open landscape. For the identity of the original landscape, freely modeled connections to the riparian zone, work with water flow in the area, port, pedestrian and cycling connections to the EuroVelo route, outdoor museums of the Danube meadows, lakes and wetland communities, workouts, and multifunctional playgrounds, forms of wellness, sauna world and natural swimming. Ecological recreation concepts in the landscape of the Danube floodplains on the banks of the Danube used the modeling of banks, watercourse lines, meandering of recreational areas, green axes, play areas, elements, and zones. They used lighthouses and lookout towers for accent and orientation. The hierarchy of the release of small urban structures and loose forms of sensitive urbanization with functional flexibility and attractiveness proved the justification and location in the landscape of the Danube meadows, in the contact zones of the protected landscape and the watercourse. In this way, the importance of the suburban landscape structure is beneficial for the city not only in terms of functional attractiveness but also in terms of landscape protection and the climatic influence of the city's hinterland on its compact structures.

HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT IN MUMBAI WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO MULUND

Across the world, incidences of conflicts between human beings and wildlife have been reported to have escalated significantly in recent times. The exponential growth of the human population and their consequently growing needs have resulted in mounting up of pressure on our natural resource base causing such scenarios of conflict. Instances of human-wildlife conflicts are common across various parts of India. The city of Mumbai has been witnessing its own share of human-wildlife conflicts, which have escalated tremendously in recent times. Therefore, in this study, the human-animal conflict in Mumbai is explored with an emphasis on the suburban locality of Mulund. The study in general explores the changing nature of human-wildlife interactions in Mumbai with special reference to the rise of the human- wildlife conflict in the western part of Mulund. Based on these, the study also reflects on plausible measures that can enable resolving the scenario of conflict. The methodology of the study is based on the use of secondary data published in various sources such as journals, governmental reports, news reports, etc. The results of the study expose the inherent problems of the growing urban population and indiscriminate urban expansion as the cause of the conflict.

Predictors of delayed sputum smear conversion among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: A retrospective cohort study.

Smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (SPPTB) is the major contributor to the spread of tuberculosis (TB) infection, and it creates high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the predictors of delayed sputum smear conversion at the end of the intensive phase of TB treatment in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.This retrospective study was conducted utilising data of SPPTB patients treated in 5 TB treatment centres located in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia from 2013 to 2018. Pulmonary TB (PTB) patients included in the study were those who had at least completed the intensive phase of anti-TB treatment with sputum smear results at the end of the 2nd month of treatment. The factors associated with delayed sputum smear conversion were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Predictors of sputum smear conversion at the end of intensive phase were evaluated.A total of 2641 patients from the 2013 to 2018 periods were included in this study. One hundred eighty nine (7.2%) patients were identified as having delayed sputum smear conversion at the end of the intensive phase treatment. Factors of moderate (advanced odd ratio [aOR]: 1.7) and advanced (aOR: 2.7) chest X-ray findings at diagnosis, age range of >60 (aOR: 2.1), year of enrolment 2016 (aOR: 2.8), 2017 (aOR: 3.9), and 2018 (aOR: 2.8), smokers (aOR: 1.5), no directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) supervisor (aOR: 6.9), non-Malaysian citizens (aOR: 1.5), and suburban home locations (aOR: 1.6) were associated with delayed sputum smear conversion at the end of the intensive phase of the treatment.To improve sputum smear conversion success rate, the early detection of PTB cases has to be fine-tuned so as to reduce late or severe case presentation during diagnosis. Efforts must also be in place to encourage PTB patients to quit smoking. The percentage of patients assigned with DOTS supervisors should be increased while at the same time ensuring that vulnerable groups such as those residing in suburban localities, the elderly and migrant TB patients are provided with proper follow-up treatment and management.

A comparative assessment on ant communities in three vegetation types located at Mfou Suburban locality of Yaoundé (Cameroon)

Urban expansion in Cameroon and many other Congo basin countries, involves the destruction of natural habitat previously colonized by a rich and diversified invertebrate and vertebrate fauna. In order to understand the dynamic of transformation of natural landscape into urban area on ant communities, a study was conducted at Mfou, a suburban agglomeration of Yaoundé. We aimed to evaluate the variation in ant diversity and ant community structure in relation to the type of habitat. Ants were collected on the ground and trees in cocoa farms, secondary forests, and palm groves using visual catch, pitfall traps, quadrat, and baits. We recorded 144 species belonging to 39 genera and 6 subfamilies. Cocoa farms (S= 102; H’= 3.83; E=0.83) were richer and more diversified than secondary forests (S= 100; H’= 3.83; E=0.83) and palm groves (S= 70; H’= 3.61; E=0.85). Myrmicinae, Formicinae and Ponerinae were the richest subfamilies both at genus and species levels. Based on their frequency of occurrence, Myrmicaria opaciventris (18.6%), Crematogaster striatula (17.1%), Crematogaster gabonensis (14.9%) and Camponotus crawleyi Emery, 1920 (14.2%) species were numerically dominant. Strumigenys sp.1, Strumigenys sp.2, Strumigenys sp.3, and Strumigenys sp.4 species were found only in secondary forests, suggesting the relatively stability of this habitat despite anthropogenic disturbance. Camponotus brevicollis, Technomyrmex sp.2 and Tetramorium guineensis were the indicator species in cocoa farms. In the secondary forests, Camponotus wellmani, Hypoponera punctatissima and Pheidole pulchella were found as indicator species while in palm groves H. punctatissima was the only indicator species.

Abundance and Seasonality of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Two Suburban Localities of South Mexico, With Implications for Wolbachia (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae)-Carrying Male Releases for Population Suppression.

We conducted a baseline characterization of the abundance and seasonality of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762)—a vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika—in two suburban localities of Yucatan, Mexico, as the first step in the implementation of an integrated vector management (IVM) plan combining ‘traditional Aedes control’ (source reduction/truck-mounted ultra-low volume [ULV] spraying) and incompatible insect technique/sterile insect technique for population suppression in Yucatan, Mexico. Weekly entomological collections with ovitraps and BG-sentinel traps were performed in 1-ha quadrants of both localities for 1 yr. Three distinct periods/phases were identified, closely associated with precipitation: 1) a phase of low population abundance during the dry season (weekly average of Aedes eggs per ovitrap and adults per BG trap = 15.51 ± 0.71 and 10.07 ± 0.88, respectively); 2) a phase of population growth and greatest abundance of Aedes (49.03 ± 1.48 eggs and 25.69 ± 1.31 adults) during the rainy season; and finally 3) a phase of decline among populations (20.91 ± 0.97 eggs and 3.24 ± 0.21 adults) after the peak of the rainy season. Seasonal abundance and dynamics of Ae. aegypti populations suggest that it is feasible to develop and implement time-specific actions as part of an IVM approach incorporating integrating novel technologies (such as rear-and-release of Wolbachia-infected males) with classic (insecticide-based) approaches implemented routinely for vector control. In agreement with the local vector control program, we propose a pilot IVM strategy structured in a preparation phase, an attack phase with traditional vector control, and a suppression phase with inundative releases, which are described in this paper.

Value of simple clinical parameters to predict insulin resistance among newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes in limited resource settings.

BackgroundInsulin resistance (IR) has been considered as a therapeutic target in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Readily available, simple and low cost measures to identify individuals with IR is of utmost importance for clinicians to plan optimal management strategies. Research on the associations between surrogate markers of IR and routine clinical and lipid parameters have not been carried out in Sri Lanka, a developing country with rising burden of T2DM with inadequate resources. Therefore, we aimed to study the utility of readily available clinical parameters such as age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and triglyceride to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C) in the fasting lipid profile in predicting IR in a cohort of patients with newly diagnosed T2DM in Sri Lanka.Methods and findingsWe conducted a community based cross sectional study involving of 147 patients (age 30–60 years) with newly diagnosed T2DM in a suburban locality in Galle district, Sri Lanka. Data on age, BMI, WC, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentration, fasting insulin concentration and serum lipid profile were collected from each subject. The indirect IR indices namely homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and McAuley index (MCA) were estimated. Both clinical and biochemical parameters across the lowest and the highest fasting insulin quartiles were compared using independent sample t-test. Linear correlation analysis was performed to assess the correlation between selected clinical parameters and indirect IR indices. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was obtained to calculate optimal cut-off values for the clinical markers to differentiate IR. BMI (p<0.001) and WC (p = 0.01) were significantly increased whereas age (p = 0.06) was decreased and TG/HDL-C (p = 0.28) was increased across the insulin quartiles. BMI and WC were significantly correlated (p<0.05) with HOMA, QUICKI and MCA. Out of the clinical parameters, age showed a borderline significant correlation with QUICKI and TG/HDL-C showed a significant correlation only with MCA. The area under ROC of BMI was 0.728 (95% CI 0.648–0.809; p<0.001) and for WC, it was 0.646 (95% CI 0.559–0.734; p = 0.003). The optimized cut-off value for BMI and WC were 24.91 kg/m2 and 81.5 cm respectively to differentiate the patients with IR or ID. Study limitations include small sample size due to recruitment of patients only from a limited geographical locality of the country and not totally excluding of the possibility of inclusion of some patients with slowly progressive type 1 DM or Latent onset diabetes of adulthood from the study population.ConclusionsThe results revealed that there was a significant positive correlation between BMI, WC and HOMA while a significant negative correlation with QUICKI and MCA among the cohort of patients with newly diagnosed T2DM. The cut-off values of BMI and WC as 24.91 kg/m2 and 81.5 cm respectively could be used as simple clinical parameters to identify IR in newly diagnosed patients with T2DM. Our results could be beneficial in rational decision making in the management of newly diagnosed patients with T2DM in limited resource settings.

Artificial light at night as a driver of urban colonization by an avian predator

Urbanization and artificial light at night (ALAN) are major drivers of local biodiversity losses causing community alterations, disruption of predator-prey interactions, and ultimately, promotion of cascading effects. However, some species can colonize urban environments. We explore the role of ALAN as a driver of the colonization of urban environments by a nocturnal avian predator, the burrowing owl Athene cunicularia. We studied in a suburban locality in La Pampa, Argentina: (1) prey availability with pitfall traps under streetlights and control sites; (2) diet by analyzing pellets; (3) space use by deploying GPS data-loggers to breeding owls; (4) nesting habitat selection by comparing environmental variables at nest and random locations; and (5) productivity by correlating environmental variables with the number of fledglings. First, streetlights altered the invertebrate availability, attracting them to illuminated areas. Second, the owl diet was more similar to the invertebrate taxa trapped at pitfall traps under streetlights than that in control traps. Third, owl space use was determined by streetlights. Owls spent more time around light sources, particularly during the nighttime. Fourth, the most important habitat feature influencing the nesting habitat selection was the distance to streetlight. Owls selected areas close to streetlights for nesting. Finally, productivity was not explained by any of our habitat variables. We demonstrate that ALAN alters the availability of invertebrates and plays a role in the diet, space use, and occupation of urban burrowing owls. Streetlights increase foraging efficiency for owls due to the clumping of prey attracted to lights. This predator-prey relationship might be only supported in suburban environments where low urbanization levels let burrowing owls nest in bare ground areas, and invertebrates are attracted to ALAN from surrounding wilder areas.

Wolbachia in Native Populations of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) From Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

This study reports the results of a molecular screening for Wolbachia (Wb) infection in Aedes albopictus (Skuse) populations recently established in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. To do so, collections of free-flying adults with BG traps and emerged adults from eggs after ovitrap field collections were performed in three suburban localities of the city of Merida, Yucatan. Overall, local populations of Ae. albopictus present a natural Wb infection rate of ~40% (18 of 45). Wb infection was detected in both field-collected adults (76.5%, 13 of 17) and eggs reared (17.8%, 5 of 28) and in 37.9% (11/29) of females and 43.7% (7/16) of male Ae. albopictus mosquitoes. An initial screening for Wolbachia strain typing showed that native Ae. albopictus were naturally coinfected with both wAlbA and wAlbB strains. The knowledge of the prevalence and diversity of Wolbachia strains in local populations of Aedes mosquitoes is part of the baseline information required for current and future Wolbachia-based vector control approaches to be conducted in Mexico.

A Review of the Role of Thoracic Imaging in Clinical Practice in a Tertiary Care Centre in Eastern India

Background: The wide availability of Computed tomography (CT) imaging facility in recent years, even in district or sub-district level, has demanded proper evaluation of the trend of its utilisation and assessment of benefit in diagnosis of different diseases. Material &amp; methods: It is a retrospective analytic study of CT thorax images along with its medical records in a tertiary care hospital in sub-urban locality of a metropolitan city over a period of one year. Minitab software (version 15.1.0.0) used for statistical analysis. Result: 226 CT thorax images reviewed; 71% referred from pulmonary Medicine department and mostly from Pulmonary Medicine out-patient department (60.6%). Overall, the final diagnosis obtained with CT imaging remained unaltered in 62.8% of cases. However, among those with discordant radiological diagnosis, normal CT images were the most common finding (29.8%); infective aetiology was the most common pre test provisional diagnosis among these patients. Conclusion: CT imaging is immensely helpful for critical decision making regarding management. However, it should be utilised more judiciously specially when dealing with suspected pulmonary infections, especially in resource constrained set-up.

Variation in common blackbird (Turdus merula) nest characteristics in urban and suburban localities in Crimea

Blackbird Turdus merula is a model species for studying the impact of environmental factors on the form and structure of nests. In the middle of XX, this species began to expand its range into the artificial forests of the Ukrainian steppe zone. This expansion may have led to changes in bird behaviour, including changes in nest construction choices (e.g., nest shape, size, location and building materials). In this study, we investigated Blackbird nest diversity (i.e, size, volume, and composition) in the park of Simferopol (a city in Crimea, South Ukraine) and in an artificial forest located nearby. We found a significant inverse relationship between nest placement height and external nest diameter. External nest depth was greater in the forest than in the park. This difference reflects the variation in plant life form between the sites. More specifically, nests in trees have significantly greater external depth than the nests located on shrubs. Most nests in both urban and suburban localities contained natural and anthropogenic materials; there was no significant difference in component types between sites. In general, the anthropogenic materials played a decorative role and also served as camouflage.

Estimation of Urinary Delta Aminolevulinic Acid (δ-ALA) Levels in Students of Age Group 15 to 25 Years as an Index of Lead Exposure

Background: Lead poisoning is a serious and sometimes fatal condition. It occurs when lead builds up in the body. Students exposed to lead by eating junk foods wrapped in newspaper, the licking of fingers for turning the photocopies, book pages, printout etc. and use of same fingers for eating purpose. Additionally young population get exposed to lead by use of Kohl or Kajal eyeliners, some traditional ethnic medicines, time spent at firing ranges and some hobbies like wall paintings or jobs related to plumbing and soldering. Damage caused by lead poisoning cannot be reversed. Lead inhibits necessary enzymes required for heme synthesis, and this result in increased levels of delta-aminolevulinic acid (δ-ALA) excretion through urine.&#x0D; Aim: To Estimate the urinary δ-ALA levels in the students of age group 15 to 25 years as an index of lead exposure.&#x0D; Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study in Mumbai from a suburban locality.&#x0D; Methodology: The study was done on 70 students of age group between 15 years and 25 years with their brief history related to lead exposure. Their urine samples were analyzed for δ-ALA by using Ehrlich reagent.&#x0D; Results: According to our observation, out of 70 students 46 student’s (65.71%)urine samples shown δ-ALA level above reference level and remaining 24 (34.28%) were considered as below reference level.&#x0D; Conclusion: The prevalence of lead exposure among our study population is 65.71%.&#x0D; Clinical Significance: We conclude that there is high prevalence of lead exposure in students of age group 15 to 25 years in Mumbai and necessary precautions need to be taken to avoid detrimental effects of lead poisoning.

Establishment of diabetes association to enhance peer-education and self-management: perceptions of residents from Ogwashi-Uku and Ubulu-Unor communities in Delta state, Nigeria

Background: Diabetes epidemic is an evolving phenomenon in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. Most African governments are showing strong desire to reversing the current trend. However, information on the perception and readiness of rural and suburban community dwellers towards managing this disease need to be gathered.Methods: This was mixed methods including descriptive observational study and survey regarding establishment of a diabetic network in the rural and suburban localities. Quantitative screening data were collected to assess prevalence of diabetes or prediabetes, as well as investigate the perceptions of diabetic and non-diabetic residents. Establishment of diabetes register was initiated. 180 complete questionnaires were included for analysis, though 199 consented to participate. In the qualitative phase of the research, a convenience sampling questionnaire and focus group discussion on their perception about diabetes association or network. Their perceived response and opinions were then documented.Results: Among the participants, approximately 12% prevalence of diabetes and 10% prediabetes were observed. 19/25 cases of diabetes were entered in the register. Over 43% of the population never heard about diabetes association/network, but 72% of the diabetes cohort are willing to join diabetes network. A greater fraction of the suburban patients seems more aware, but willingness to accept diabetes is higher in the rural community.Conclusions: Most of the persons living with diabetes, and their relatives, are willingly to join diabetes network as well as encourage such organisation in their communities. Given the level of unawareness, there is need to establish diabetic association and advance the benefits.

Places as fuzzy locational categories

This paper offers a new way of considering places as special types of categories, in human cognition of larger-scale environments. This may provide an explanatory cognitive model for a range of known phenomena from environmental psychology and human geography - notably places' semantic salience and vague, unstable boundaries. Using such a model to apply suitable classification approaches may enhance geographic information (GI) for key public-facing users, such as emergency services and planners. Two empirical studies confirmed that a spatially extended place (e.g., suburban locality or neighborhood) may be stored as a category whose exemplars are memorable individual locations or scenes. Using a questionnaire-based method to partly replicate key findings from the semantic memory literature (Barsalou, 1985; Lynch et al., 2000), the studies tested the relevance to such places of known semantic memory phenomena including graded membership, typicality versus ideals, expertise and context effects. The discussion considers the link between semantic and spatial vagueness of places.

A Qualitative Synthesis of Algebra Intervention Research

Completion of a quality Algebra course by 8th grade is a prerequisite for successful entry into STEM majors; thus best practices in this critical course must be as equitable as possible to support STEM recruitment and retention. However, if the research base for Algebra is under-examines some populations of students, structural inequity may be unintentionally built into evidence-based practices. The purpose of this synthesis is to examine the ways in which qualitative Algebra strategy research did –or did not- account for equity issues including gender, SES, rural students, special education status, ethnicity, and native language through theoretical and participant choices. This synthesis used qualitative research integration techniques to provide a summary of fifty-eight qualitative investigations of Algebra 1 teaching strategies. The majority of studies specified constructivism, social constructivism, and situated cognition theoretical frameworks or did not specify a theoretical framework. The majority of research questions addressed the effectiveness of a particular pedagogical technique or intervention. Results suggest that the majority of study participants were Caucasian students from suburban localities and did not include sufficient detail necessary for replication.

New comprehensive approach for airborne asbestos characterisation and monitoring.

High concentrations of airborne asbestos in the ambient air are still a serious problem of air quality in numerous localities around the world. Since 2002, elevated concentrations of asbestos minerals of unknown origin have been detected in the ambient air of Pilsen, Czech Republic. To determine the asbestos fibre sources in this urban air, a systematic study was conducted. First, 14 bulk dust samples were collected in Pilsen at nine localities, and 6 bulk samples of construction aggregates for gravel production were collected in a quarry in the Pilsen-Litice district. The quarry is the largest quarry in the Pilsen region and the closest quarry to the built-up urban area. X-ray diffraction of the asbestos minerals revealed that monoclinic amphibole (MA, namely actinolite based on subsequent SEM-EDX analysis) in the bulk samples accounted for < 1-33% of the mass and that the highest values were found in the bulk dust samples from the railway platform of the Pilsen main railway station. Simultaneously, 24-h samples of airborne particulate matter (PM) at three localities in Pilsen were collected. Actinolite was identified in 40% of the PM samples. The relationship between the meteorology and presence of actinolite in the 24 PM10 samples was not proven, probably due to the long sampling integration time. Therefore, highly time-and-size-resolved PM sampling was performed. Second, sampling of size-segregated aerosols and measurements of the wind speed (WS), wind direction (WD), precipitation (P) and hourly PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 were conducted in a suburban locality near the quarry in two monthly highly time-resolved periods (30, 60, 120min). Three/eight PM size fractions were sampled by a Davis Rotating-drum Uniform-size-cut Monitor (3/8DRUM) and analysed for the presences of asbestos fibres by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Asbestos fibre detection in highly time-resolved PM samples and current WD and WS determination allows the apportionment directionality of asbestos fibre sources. The number of critical actinolite asbestos fibres (length ≥ 5μm and width < 3μm, 3:1) increased with the PM1-10/PM10 and PM2.5-10/PM10 ratios, WS > 2ms-1 and precipitation < 1mm. Additionally, the number of critical actinolite asbestos fibres was not related to a specific WD. Therefore, we conclude that the sources of airborne critical actinolite asbestos fibres in Pilsen's urban area are omnipresent. Frequent use of construction aggregates and gravel from the metamorphic spilite quarries in the Pilsen region and in many localities around the urban area is a plausible explanation for the omnipresence of the critical actinolite asbestos fibres concentration in Pilsen's ambient air. Mitigation strategies to reduce the concentrations of critical actinolite asbestos fibres must be developed. Continuous monitoring and performing SEM-EDX analysis of highly time-and-size-resolved PM samples, correlated with fast changing WS and WD, seems to be a strong tool for efficiently controlling the mitigation strategies of critical actinolite asbestos fibres.