Anemia prevalence and risk factors in pregnant women in an urban area of Pakistan

BACKGROUND: Anemia affects almost two-thirds of pregnant women in developing countries and contributes to maternal morbidity and mortality and to low birthweight. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of anemia and the dietary and socioeconomic factors associated with anemia in pregnant women living in an urban community setting in Hyderabad, Pakistan. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational study of 1,369 pregnant women enrolled at 20 to 26 weeks of gestation and followed to 6 weeks postpartum. A blood sample was obtained at enrollment to determine hemoglobin levels. Information on nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and practice and dietary history regarding usual food intake before and during pregnancy were obtained by trained interviewers within 1 week of enrollment. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia (defined by the World Health Organization as hemoglobin < 11.0 g/dL) in these subjects was 90.5%; of these, 75.0% had mild anemia (hemoglobin from 9.0 to 10.9 g/dL) and 14.8% had moderate anemia (hemoglobin from 7.0 to 8.9 g/dL). Only 0.7% were severely anemic (hemoglobin < 7.0 g/ dL). Nonanemic women were significantly taller, weighed more, and had a higher body mass index. Multivariate analysis after adjustment for education, pregnancy history, iron supplementation, and height showed that drinking more than three cups of tea per day before pregnancy (adjusted prevalence odds ratio [aPOR], 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 to 8.0), consumption of clay or dirt during pregnancy (aPOR, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.1 to 12.3), and never consuming eggs or consuming eggs less than twice a week during pregnancy (aPOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.5) were significantly associated with anemia. Consumption of red meat less than twice a week prior to pregnancy was marginally associated with anemia (aPOR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.8 to 1.8) but was significantly associated with lower mean hemoglobin concentrations (9.9 vs. 10.0 g/dL, p = .05) during the study period. A subanalysis excluding women with mild anemia found similar associations to those of the main model, albeit even stronger. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of women at 20 to 26 weeks of pregnancy had mild to moderate anemia. Pica, tea consumption, and low intake of eggs and red meat were associated with anemia. Women of childbearing age should be provided nutritional education regarding food sources of iron, especially prior to becoming pregnant, and taught how food choices can either enhance or interfere with iron absorption.     

Photocatalytic activity and radiation-attenuation ability of copper ions surface-doped dysprosium oxide

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Herein, Cu ions surface-doped Dy2O3 photocatalyst (Cu–Dy2O3) is synthesized utilizing hydrothermal technique to degrade methyl violet...     

Deep learning neural network for texture feature extraction in oral cancer: enhanced loss function

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The use of a binary classifier like the sigmoid function and loss functions reduces the accuracy of deep learning algorithms. This research aims to increase the...     

ENERGY DISTRIBUTION OF BACKSCATTERED ELECTRONS FROM HEAVY METALS

The full energy distribution of backscattered electrons from the elastic peak down to the true-secondaty electron peak for heavy metals, Ta, W, Pt and Au, in Auger electron spectroscopy in the EN(E) mode has been studied with a Monte Carlo simulation method, which includes cascade-secondary-electron production. The simulation model is based on the use of a dielectric function for describing inelastic scattering and secondary excitation, and on the use of Mott cross sections for elastic scattering. A systematic comparison between the calculated and experimental spectra measured with a cylindrical mirror analyzer has been made for primary energies ranging from 1 to 5keV. Excellent agreement was obtained for these heavy metals on the backscattering background at primary energies in the keV region. A significant contribution of cascade secondary electrons to the measured spectra on the low-energy side was found.     

MONTE CARLO SIMULATION OF SPIN-POLARIZED SECONDARY ELECTRONS FROM IRON

A Monte Carlo model considering the electron spin direction and spin asymmetry has been developed. The energy distribution of the secondary electron polarization and the primary energy dependence of the polarization from Fe are studied. The simulation results show that: (1) the intensity of the spin-up secondary electrons is larger thanvthat of thevspin-down secondary electrons, suggesting the secondary electrons are spin polarized; (2) the spin polarization of secondary electrons with nearly zero kinetic energy is higher than the average valance spin polarization, Pb=27% for Fe. With increasing kinetic energy, the spin polarization of the secondary electrons decreases to the value of Pu remaining constant at higher kinetic energies; (3) the spin polarization increases with an increase in the primary energy and reaches a saturation value at higher primary energy in both the Monte Carlo simulation and experimental results.     

Gut Microbiota Extracellular Vesicles as Signaling Molecules Mediating Host-Microbiota Communications

Over the past decade, gut microbiota dysbiosis has been linked to many health disorders; however, the detailed mechanism of this correlation remains unclear. Gut microbiota can communicate with the host through immunological or metabolic signalling. Recently, microbiota-released extracellular vesicles (MEVs) have emerged as significant mediators in the intercellular signalling mechanism that could be an integral part of microbiota-host communications. MEVs are small membrane-bound vesicles that encase a broad spectrum of biologically active compounds (i.e., proteins, mRNA, miRNA, DNA, carbohydrates, and lipids), thus mediating the horizontal transfer of their cargo across intra- and intercellular space. In this study, we provide a comprehensive and in-depth discussion of the biogenesis of microbial-derived EVs, their classification and routes of production, as well as their role in inter-bacterial and inter-kingdom signaling.     

Fluorimetric Determination of Aluminium using Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA): State of Our Art and Future Developments

Abstract

This paper describes some of our recent advances and proposed future work in the area of fluorimetric determination of Al using sequential injection analysis (SIA). A rapid, automated system was developed with turnover times for sample analysis of <2 min, and attainable limits of detection of <1 ng/mL. The method is cost‐effective and highly competitive. It utilizes three different approaches: (i) molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs); (ii) micellar enhanced treatment; and (iii) renewable surface application. The merits and limitations of each approach are discussed, and the optimum conditions of analysis are presented. The overall sensitivity achieved was more than adequate for general analysis. Proposed new developments involve greater signal enhancement, and improved analytical strategy. The facility is capable of routine application, and is highly beneficial to developing countries in need of cost‐effective techniques for analysis of environmental samples, body fluids, and foodstuffs.     

Assessment of organic acid-rich bio-sap to generate electricity

The study has focused on electricity generation from organic acid-rich bio-substrate like star fruit (Averrhoa carambola). The sap of star fruit was selected as an electrolyte due to the presence of significant amounts of organic acids such as citric acid and ascorbic acid. To preserve the sap, 2% phenol by volume was used to reduce the growth of microorganisms, and the addition of phenol did not affect the initial pH. It was observed that due to an increase in the electrode surface area, reaction rate and current generation had been amplified. Internal resistance also decreased rapidly because of the large electrode surface area. Furthermore, internal resistance was the significant barrier in electricity generation, which was also successfully controlled by the baffle flow agitation system. Moreover, the baffle flow agitation system reduces the formation of dead zones and increases the total dissolved solids inside the electrochemical cell compartments during operation.     

Low temperature preparation and characterization of nanospherical anatase TiO2 and its photocatalytic activity on Congo red degradation under sunlight

Nanospherical titanium oxide with anatase structure was obtained at low temperature and normal pressure using a simple method of preparation. The dilute titanium (III) chloride solution was stirred at room temperature for several hours, and then ammonium hydroxide with hydrogen peroxide was added. A yellow gel TiO₂·xH₂O was obtained with nanodot shape and amorphous structure. Heated at 300 °C, it crystallized to pure anatase structure with nanospherical shape. The anatase particles prepared show good adsorption and photodegradation of Congo red solution under the sunlight. Materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, transmission electron microscope and UV spectroscopy.