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Socioeconomic impacts of adolescent pregnancy on education and future employment in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka
Get PDFBackground: Adolescent pregnancy remains a main concern in Sri Lanka, particularly in the Batticaloa District
where the rate is nearly double the national average. Adolescent pregnancy has leads to school dropout and long term socioeconomic disadvantage for teenage mothers. Because there has been minimal research done within a Sri
Lankan context, especially in rural area like Batticaloa, the research aimed to assess how social conditions, accessibility
of education, and accessibility of health affect the levels of education and the eventual work opportunities of
adolescent mothers.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional design was followed with a structured questionnaire being administered
among 107 adolescent mothers in Batticaloa who became pregnant between the ages of 15–19 years. The research
followed a deductive approach, and data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation
Modeling (PLS-SEM) with the help of SmartPLS. The model examined the influence of social support, access to
education, and access to health on educational attainment and its subsequent influence on labor outcomes.
Results: Findings indicated that low social support, lack of access to education, and lack of access to healthcare
significantly derailed the education of adolescent mothers. Level of education was found to be a significant mediator
between the three variables and future job opportunities. The majority of the participants had previously dropped out
of school by Grade 10, and merely 10.3% were employed, mostly at low-skilled jobs. Analysis confirmed that derailed
education directly limits job opportunities and continues to contribute to economic instability among adolescent
mothers.
Conclusion: The study brings to the forefront the need for comprehensive, context-sensitive interventions among
teen mothers. There has to be reintegration of education, adolescent-friendly healthcare, and vocational training.
Reducing stigma and economic and social protection can enhance education and labor market outcomes.
Intervention in these domains through a multi-sectoral approach is required to interrupt the inter-generational
transmission of poverty and promote the long-term well-being of teen mothers in Batticaloa and similar settings
Predicting regional and temporal incidence of RSV and influenza hospitalizations in a birth cohort of young Australian children
Get PDFWestern Australia (WA) experiences multiple climatic zones, influencing the epidemiology of respiratory viruses. We aimed to estimate the true incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza hospitalizations across these different climatic regions using predictive modelling. We conducted a population-based cohort study using linked perinatal, hospitalization and microbiological data of children aged < 5 years, born in WA between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2021. We used multivariable logistic regression to develop and validate predictive models for RSV and influenza hospitalizations in three climatic regions: southern temperate, northern tropical, and central desert. We compared laboratory-confirmed hospitalization rates with model-predicted rates and determined under-ascertainment fractions. Our cohort comprised 466,037 hospital admissions (257,960 children), with 33,106 tested for RSV (23.4% positive) and 33,511 for influenza (3.6% positive). True hospitalization rates for RSV and influenza were highest in the central desert and northern tropical regions. Among infants, RSV rates were 36.71 versus 20.00 per 1,000 child-years, and influenza rates were 444.59 versus 144.40 per 100,000 child-years in central desert compared to southern temperate areas. Routine laboratory testing significantly underestimated RSV (by 45–69%) and influenza (by 34–52%) hospitalizations. Unlike the southern and desert regions, the northern tropics lacked clear seasonal patterns. The study highlights high under-ascertainment of RSV and influenza hospitalizations from routine viral testing. The findings suggest immunization programs should consider viral circulation timing in different climatic regions. Prediction models demonstrated reliability in estimating RSV and influenza burden across varying climates, supporting localized decision-making beyond Australia
Developing an Intelligent Insolvency Prediction Model in the Australian Construction and Building Industry
Get PDFBusiness insolvency in the Australian construction industry is a critical issue, driven by high debt levels and poor profit margins. This study develops an intelligent insolvency prediction model using bidirectional LSTM and autoencoder techniques. The model incorporates financial and industry-specific indicators to enhance predictive accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms existing insolvency prediction approaches, offering a robust tool for risk assessment and early intervention in the construction sector
Peer workers as icing on the cake or re-defining the recipe? Outcomes from exploring peer work with social work students.
Get PDFLived experience (peer) workers are increasingly employed across health and human service settings. Social workers often hold reservations and assumptions about peer workers, potentially contributing to peer worker harm, restricting opportunities for systemic transformation, and sitting in tension with social work’s remit of social justice. This article describes and presents an evaluation of a workshop provided for social work students mid placement which aimed to increase social work solidarity with peer work. Evaluation was completed using reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative survey data completed by twenty social work students. Findings established the value of the workshop, with students reporting a deeper understanding of peer work and that they were more likely to engage with, and advocate for, peer workers. However, there was also evidence of ongoing conceptualizations of peer workers as risky or at risk, with evidence of professional paternalism and an inability to imagine peer work beyond supporting a therapeutic social work function. We argue ongoing development of a social work curriculum that draws on lived expertise and critical theorizing is vital to unsettle entrenched beliefs about individuals who have had interactions with human service systems and the value of peer workers
Sedimentology and stratigraphy of the Tukau Formation, NW Sarawak, Malaysia
No full textThis study investigates the Tukau Formation in northwest Sarawak, revealing a fluvial to marine transition zone within a deltaic setting. Analysis of 28 outcrops identified diverse lithofacies, tidal influences, and quartz-rich sandstones. Palynology indicates mangrove-dominated vegetation under brackish conditions. Amber suggests Dipterocarpaceae sources, while ichnofossils reflect reduced salinity. A single shark tooth was recovered. Findings highlight complex depositional processes shaped by fluvial, tidal, and wave interactions during sediment accumulation
Integrating genomic and spatial datasets to investigate evolutionary and biogeographic patterns in Australasian dwarf monitor lizards (Varanidae: Varanus: subgenus Odatria)
No full textLarge datasets allow for accurate delineation of evolutionary and biogeographic patterns at both macroevolutionary and microevolutionary scales. The first chapter synthesises the current state of taxonomy, biogeography and character evolution of the Australasian dwarf monitors. The second chapter uses molecular and environmental datasets to investigate population structure and connectivity of three xeric Australasian dwarf monitors: V. brevicauda, V. eremius, V. sparnus. Each chapter concludes by identifying conservation implications of my findings as both fields depend on delineating evolutionary units
Integrity Monitoring of GNSS Real-time Precise Positioning for Ground Applications
Get PDFReal-time precise positioning is crucial for various modern applications that require not only
high accuracy but also robust integrity monitoring (IM) to ensure the estimated
positions meet predefined accuracy probabilities. However, implementing IM algorithms in
real time poses significant challenges due to the heavy computational load and the need to
maintain service continuity. This thesis tackles these challenges and proposes several
solutions to enhance the reliability and efficiency of real-time IM using different positioning
techniques.
Initially, IM for Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) is examined as a widely used and
stable positioning technique. RTK can be extended to operate in a Network RTK (NRTK)
approach, providing a more secure, cost-effective, and better coverage service. From an IM
perspective, the observation weighting matrix must accurately account for all potential
nominal error sources. To achieve this, overbounding (OB) techniques can be applied to
long-term residual data to characterize the error distribution conservatively. This involves
estimating a standard deviation (STD) and a bias that define a normal distribution
encompassing all observed nominal errors. These OB parameters can then be used to
construct the weighting matrix, ensuring that the stochastic model reflects the true
variability and bias in the observations under nominal conditions. However, a key issue
with RTK and NRTK is that the residuals obtained through double differencing are
correlated, complicating the OB process. To address this, two approaches were developed
to estimate OB parameters and calculate correlation coefficients using the Two-Step
Gaussian Bounding method. Enhancing the representativeness of the observations
weighting matrix can lead to more accurate protection levels (PLs).
In seeking alternative real-time positioning techniques, the thesis introduces a novel approach
to handle the increasing computational demands of the Fault Detection and Exclusion (FDE)
process in real-time positioning systems utilizing Precise Point Positioning-Real Time Kinematic (PPP-RTK). By leveraging PPP-RTK's undifferenced and uncombined
(UDUC) observation processing, the developed method allows for individual observation
exclusion rather than excluding entire satellites. This approach maintains observation
availability, strengthens the model, and reduces computational load. The
proposed methodology partitions fault detection responsibilities between the network
and user segments. Satellite-related faults are identified at the network level, while
user-specific faults are detected through a ratio-based analysis. This analysis compares
user observation residuals with those from the nearest reference station, enabling the identification of potential
faults without generating numerous subsets. The methodology was tested using two different
receiver types: a geodetic receiver tracking GPS legacy frequencies and a commercial receiver
observing dual-frequency multi-constellation GNSS. The results demonstrate
significant potential for enhancing computational efficiency in FDE processes, making it
particularly valuable for applications requiring real-time IM.
To improve IM in environments where multiple simultaneous location-dependent faults are
expected, a new approach was introduced that combines PPP-RTK as a positioning method
with an improved classification adaptive Kalman filter (CAKF) as a processing technique.
While PPP-RTK enhances IM availability by allowing UDUC observations, the CAKF
reduces FDE computational load by using a robustness test instead of traditional FDE
methods, improving the precision and availability of IM system. In addition, the robustness
test adjusts observation weights epoch-wise based on standardized residuals analyzed through t testing. A significant methodological contribution involves the implementation of an
adaptive unit weight variance (UWV) computation criterion using a sliding window approach
based on autocorrelation analysis. This method enhances the standardization process by
incorporating accumulated full-solution residuals from recent epochs rather than single-epoch
predicted values. This methodology aims to improve stochastic models, enabling more
representative PL estimation. The approach was assessed through three test scenarios
involving up to four simultaneous synthetic faults of different sizes in code and phase
observations. The testing criterion focused on the successful identification and de-weighting
of faults, as well as the computational efficiency of the proposed approach. The results
demonstrated that the CAKF successfully detected and de-weighted the vast majority of
faulty observations without additional iterations of the detection test. The results also showed
significant improvements in computational efficiency, with a reduction in the required
number of fully processed subsets compared to traditional FDE methods.
Lastly, the thesis tackles the challenge of computational load in PL estimation as per the
method of Advanced Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (ARAIM). PL estimation is
computationally intensive, requiring the processing of numerous subsets based on the number
of considered satellites and fault modes. To mitigate this, an established approach using
Woodbury matrix identity and Gershgorin circle theorem is explored to compute upper
bounds (UBs) for the STDs of subset solutions, drastically reducing the number of required
fully processed subsets for each fault-tolerant mode to only one subset. However, this can
result in overly conservative PL estimates, negatively impacting availability. To address this,
a novel method was proposed that categorizes subsets of each fault-tolerant mode
into clusters based on their normalized geometry mapping coefficients, allowing for multiple
UBs per fault-tolerant mode. This segmentation method mitigates UB computation failures
arising from geometries with excessively correlated observations and produces more
representative UBs, enhancing IM availability and providing tighter PLs while
maintaining the necessary level of conservatism. The methodology was tested using a
network of continuously operating reference stations (CORS) employing dual-frequency
multi-constellation GNSS data. The results demonstrated that the segmentation method
achieves better IM availability compared to the classical single UB approach while
maintaining computational efficiency
The Presence, Extent, and Impact of Impaired Pragmatic Communication in Parkinson's
No full textThis thesis examined pragmatic communication impairments in Parkinson’s disease across four empirical studies using self-report, informant-report, and behavioural assessments. Individuals showed measurable difficulties interpreting sarcasm, lies, and emotional cues. Communication partners reported greater impairment than participants themselves, suggesting reduced insight. Theory of mind predicted emotion recognition and informant ratings, while self-reported difficulties were associated with psychological distress and reduced quality of life. Results highlight the need for improved assessment and support strategies that address not only individual performance, but also relational dynamics in everyday communication
Home birth and associated factors in Nigeria: A comparative study of rural and urban settings—Analysis of national population-based data
Get PDFIntroduction
Nigeria currently has the highest maternal mortality ratio and one of the highest neonatal mortality rates worldwide. Home birth—childbirth outside health facilities, often without skilled attendance or timely access to emergency obstetric care—may contribute to these disproportionate and avoidable adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. National estimates often mask substantial sub-national disparities. This study examines the prevalence of home birth and associated factors across national, rural, and urban settings in Nigeria.
Methods
We analysed data from the nationally representative cross-sectional Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018, guided by Andersen’s Behavioural Model. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the associations between home birth and various predictor variables at the national level, as well as separately for rural and urban areas in Nigeria.
Results
Nationally, 58.1% (95% CI: 56.5, 59.7) of mothers gave birth at home, with prevalence twice as high in rural areas (72.4%, 95% CI: 70.7, 74.0) compared to urban areas (36.1%, 95% CI: 33.6, 38.7) (p < 0.001). The North-West region had the highest home birth prevalence both nationally (83.6%, 95% CI: 81.5, 85.6) and in rural (89.4%, 95% CI: 87.6, 91.0), and urban (66.6%, 95% CI: 60.5, 72.2) areas (p < 0.001). The South-East recorded the lowest prevalence in rural areas (16.2%, 95% CI: 11.0, 23.3), while the South-West had the lowest in urban areas (16.7%, 95% CI: 14.1, 19.7) (p < 0.001). At the national level and across all settings, factors such as low maternal and husband’s education, poor household wealth, fewer than eight antenatal contacts, higher birth order, Hausa-Fulani ethnicity, and limited exposure to media (radio and television) and the internet were associated with higher odds of home birth. In rural areas, additional predictors included difficulty obtaining permission, distance to health facilities, limited decision-making autonomy, and significant regional disparities, especially in the North and South-South regions. In urban areas, young maternal age, Islamic religion, financial barriers, and poor or middle household wealth were uniquely associated with higher odds of home birth.
Conclusion
Home birth remains highly prevalent in Nigeria, particularly in rural settings and in the northern and South-South regions, where prevalence is disproportionately high. Reducing home births requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the interplay of factors identified in this study. From a social justice and health determinants perspective, these factors are interconnected and can influence both access to and use of services. In rural areas, policies should enhance women’s decision-making autonomy, reduce distance barriers, and address region-specific challenges (e.g., insecurity in northern regions). In urban areas, it is essential to address financial barriers, support young mothers, and provide culturally and religiously sensitive care. Nationally, efforts should focus on improving education, expanding and strengthening antenatal care, and increasing access to media and the internet. From an equity perspective, interventions must be tailored to specific contexts to reduce unsafe home births and ensure that all mothers, regardless of location, have equitable access to skilled, respectful, and high-quality childbirth care
