Isotope geochemistry and petrogenesis of peralkaline Middle Miocene ignimbrites from central Sonora: relationship with continental break-up and the birth of the Gulf of California

Middle Miocene peralkaline ignimbrites constitute a specific geodynamic marker of the early stage of opening of the Gulf of California, preserved either in central Sonora or the Puertecitos area, in Baja California. Very uniform ages (12-12.5 Ma) obtained on these rocks show that this volcanic episode corresponds to a specific stage in the tectonic evolution of the proto-gulf area. Field observations and slightly different Sr and Nd isotopic signatures support eruptions from several small volume magma batches rather than from a large-volume caldera forming event. Isotopic ratios help to constrain the petrogenesis of the peralkaline liquids by fractional crystallization of transitional basalts in a shallow reservoir, with slight contamination by Precambrian upper crustal material. Less differentiated glomeroporphyritic icelandites erupted at about 11 Ma, mark an increase in the magma production rate and highlight an easier access to the surface, illustrating an advanced stage in the weakening of the continental crust. The tilting of the Middle Tertiary sequences results from a major change in the tectonic regime, from E-W extension giving rise to N-S grabens, to NNW-SSE strike-slip motion that can be related to the transfer of Baja California from North America to the Pacific plate. The location of peralkaline volcanism coincides with the southern edge of the Precambrian crust and the southernmost extension of the California slab window at 12.5 Ma

Use of mixed methods designs in substance research: a methodological necessity in Nigeria

The utility of mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) is becoming increasingly accepted in health sciences, but substance studies are yet to substantially benefit from such utilities. While there is a growing number of mixed methods alcohol articles concerning developed countries, developing nations are yet to embrace this method. In the Nigerian context, the importance of mixed methods research is yet to be acknowledged. This article therefore, draws on alcohol studies to argue that mixed methods designs will better equip scholars to understand, explore, describe and explain why alcohol consumption and its related problems are increasing in Nigeria. It argues that as motives for consuming alcohol in contemporary Nigeria are multiple, complex and evolving, mixed method approaches that provide multiple pathways for proffering solutions to problems should be embraced

(Quantum) Space-Time as a Statistical Geometry of Fuzzy Lumps and the Connection with Random Metric Spaces

We develop a kind of pregeometry consisting of a web of overlapping fuzzy lumps which interact with each other. The individual lumps are understood as certain closely entangled subgraphs (cliques) in a dynamically evolving network which, in a certain approximation, can be visualized as a time-dependent random graph. This strand of ideas is merged with another one, deriving from ideas, developed some time ago by Menger et al, that is, the concept of probabilistic- or random metric spaces, representing a natural extension of the metrical continuum into a more microscopic regime. It is our general goal to find a better adapted geometric environment for the description of microphysics. In this sense one may it also view as a dynamical randomisation of the causal-set framework developed by e.g. Sorkin et al. In doing this we incorporate, as a perhaps new aspect, various concepts from fuzzy set theory.Comment: 25 pages, Latex, no figures, some references added, some minor changes added relating to previous wor

Bayesian spatial analysis of factors influencing neonatal mortality and its geographic variation in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Ethiopia is a Sub-Saharan country with very high neonatal mortality rates, varying across its regions. The rate of neonatal mortality reduction in Ethiopia is slow, and Ethiopia may not meet the third United Nations sustainable development target by 2030. This study aimed to investigate the spatial variations and contributing factors for neonatal mortality rates in Ethiopia. METHODS: We analysed data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS), which used a two-stage cluster sampling technique with a census enumeration area as primary and households as secondary sampling units. A Bayesian spatial logistic regression model using the Stochastic Partial Differential Equation (SPDE) method was fitted accounting for socio-economic, health service-related and geographic factors. RESULTS: Higher neonatal mortality rates were observed in eastern, northeastern and southeastern Ethiopia, and the Somali region had higher risks of neonatal mortality. Neonates from frequently drought-affected areas had a higher mortality risk than less drought-affected areas. Application of traditional substances on the cord increased the risk of neonatal mortality (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.07, 95% Credible Interval (CrI): 1.12 to 4.30) and getting health facility delivery services had a lower odds of neonatal mortality (AOR = 0.60, 95% CrI: 0.37, 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Residing in drought-affected areas, applying traditional substances on the umbilical cord and not delivering at health facilities were associated with a higher risk of neonatal mortality. Policy-makers and resource administrators at different administrative levels could leverage the findings to prioritise and target areas identified with higher neonatal mortality rates

Technology in Public Health Higher Education

© 2018 APJPH. Streamed and recorded lectures as well as audience response technology are increasingly used in public health tertiary education, to train practitioners to address Asia-Pacific region’s rapidly changing health needs. However, little is known about the impact on student performance, satisfaction, and understanding. This study aimed to assess postgraduate students’ perceptions and their use of technology in a large epidemiology subject at an Australian university in internal and external modes. The study used both routinely collected student data (n = 453) and survey data (n = 88). Results indicate that students accept and use technology-based learning tools, and perceive audience response technology as well as streamed and recorded lectures as useful for their learning (96.6%). Students have shown a preference to review recorded lectures rather than viewing streamed lectures. Analyses further suggest that the use of recorded and streamed lectures may be linked to better student performance for external students (passing, any use odds ratio = 3.32). However, these effects are not consistent across all student subgroups and externally enrolled students may profit more than those enrolled internally

Persistence of Gamma-H2AX Foci in Irradiated Bronchial Cells Correlates with Susceptibility to Radiation Associated Lung Cancer in Mice

The risk of developing radiation-induced lung cancer differs between different strains of mice, but the underlying cause of the strain differences is unknown. Strains of mice also differ in their ability to efficiently repair DNA double strand breaks resulting from radiation exposure. We phenotyped mouse strains from the CcS/Dem recombinant congenic strain set for their efficacy in repairing DNA double strand breaks during protracted radiation exposures. We monitored persistent gamma-H2AX radiation induced foci (RIF) 24 hours after exposure to chronic gamma-rays as a surrogate marker for repair deficiency in bronchial epithelial cells for 17 of the CcS/Dem strains and the BALB/cHeN founder strain. We observed a very strong correlation R2 = 79.18%, P < 0.001) between the level of persistent RIF and radiogenic lung cancer percent incidence measured in the same strains. Interestingly, spontaneous levels of foci in non-irradiated strains also showed good correlation with lung cancer incidence (R2=32.74%, P =0.013). These results suggest that genetic differences in DNA repair capacity largely account for differing susceptibilities to radiation-induced lung cancer among CcS/Dem mouse strains and that high levels of spontaneous DNA damage is also a relatively good marker of cancer predisposition. In a smaller pilot study, we found that the repair capacity measured in peripheral blood leucocytes also correlated well with radiogenic lung cancer susceptibility, raising the possibility that such phenotyping assay could be used to detect radiogenic lung cancer susceptibility in humans

Geographical accessibility of emergency neonatal care services in Ethiopia: analysis using the 2016 Ethiopian Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Access to emergency neonatal health services has not been explored widely in the Ethiopian context. Accessibility to health services is a function of the distribution and location of services, including distance, travel time, cost and convenience. Measuring the physical accessibility of health services contributes to understanding the performance of health systems, thereby enabling evidence-based health planning and policies. The physical accessibility of Ethiopian health services, particularly emergency neonatal care (EmNeC) services, is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the physical accessibility of EmNeC services at the national and subnational levels in Ethiopia. METHODS: We analysed the physical accessibility of EmNeC services within 30, 60 and 120 min of travel time in Ethiopia at a national and subnational level. We used the 2016 Ethiopian Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care survey in addition to several geospatial data sources. RESULTS: We estimated that 21.4%, 35.9% and 46.4% of live births in 2016 were within 30, 60 and 120 min of travel time of fully EmNeC services, but there was considerable variation across regions. Addis Ababa and the Hareri regional state had full access (100% coverage) to EmNeC services within 2 hours travel time, while the Afar (15.3%) and Somali (16.3%) regional states had the lowest access. CONCLUSIONS: The physical access to EmNeC services in Ethiopia is well below the universal health coverage expectations stated by the United Nations. Increasing the availability of EmNeC to health facilities where routine delivery services currently are taking place would significantly increase physical access. Our results reinforce the need to revise service allocations across administrative regions and consider improving disadvantaged areas in future health service planning

Effect of Parent-Based Sexual Health Education on Parent-Adolescent Communication and Adolescent Sexual Behavior: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Parent-based sexual education interventions have a positive impact on adolescent sexual and reproductive health. However, despite these positive outcomes, there is a lack of comprehensive research to understand the effectiveness of these programs across different communities and demographics. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of databases from January 2013 to April 2023 and identified 51 published studies conducted globally on the effects of parent-based sexual education. We conducted meta-analyses to understand the pooled effect of interventions on parent-adolescent communication outcomes and adolescent sexual and reproductive behaviors. RESULTS: This review includes 51 studies. Most of the included studies (n = 36, 68.6%) were conducted in high-income countries; 17 (33.3%) involved only mothers, and 37 (72.5%) stated they were based on theoretical frameworks. The systematic review showed that interventions on sexual communication had mixed effects on parent and adolescent-related outcomes. The meta-analysis, however, showed positive effects on parent-reported sexual health communication frequency, adolescent-reported sexual health communication frequency, parental attitude, and parental self-efficacy, Cohen's d = 0.32, 0.26, 0.38, and 0.41, respectively. CONCLUSION: Parent-based sexual health education interventions positively impact various aspects of parent-adolescent sexual health communication and behavior, suggesting the effectiveness of the intervention in different social, cultural, and economic contexts. The lack of research in low- and middle-income nations and limited paternal participation highlights the need for further research

Personal, social, and environmental factors associated with lifejacket wear in adults and children: A systematic literature review

Objective: Drowning claims 7% of the global burden of injury-related deaths. Lifejackets are routinely recommended as a drowning prevention strategy; however, a review of related factors regarding lifejacket wear has not previously been investigated. Methods: This systematic review examined literature published from inception to December 2016 in English and German languages. The personal, social, and environmental factors associated with lifejacket wear among adults and children were investigated, a quantitative evaluation of the results undertaken, and gaps in the literature identified. Results: Twenty studies, with sample sizes of studies ranging between 20 and 482,331, were identified. Fifty-five percent were cross-sectional studies. All studies were scored IV or V on the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grading system indicating mostly descriptive and cross-sectional levels of evidence. Factors associated with increased wear included age (mostly children), gender (mostly female), boat type (non-motorised), boat size (small boats), role modelling (children influenced by adult lifejacket wear), and activity (water-skiing, fishing). Factors not associated or inconsistent with lifejacket wear included education, household income, ethnicity, boating ability, confidence in lifejackets, waterway type, and weather and water conditions. Factors associated with reduced lifejacket wear included adults, males, discomfort, cost and accessibility, consumption of alcohol, and swimming ability. Three studies evaluated the impact of interventions. Conclusion: This review identified factors associated with both increased and decreased lifejacket wear. Future research should address the motivational factors associated with individuals’ decisions to wear or not wear lifejackets. This, combined with further research on the evaluation of interventions designed to increase lifejacket wear, will enhance the evidence base to support future drowning prevention interventions