11 research outputs found
A community-based study on the prevalence of reproductive tract infections/sexually transmitted infections and their associated factors among married women of reproductive age in Delhi
No full textIntroduction: Reproductive tract infections/sexually transmitted infections (RTIs/STIs) and their sequelae are an important public health problem, particularly among women. Although high prevalence of RTIs has been reported by community-based studies in India, very few of them have included asymptomatic women. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of RTIs/STIs based on symptoms, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations and factors associated with it among married women of reproductive age in an urbanized village in Delhi. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among married women in the age group of 15–49 years, residing in an urban field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine of VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital from November 2017 to April 2019. The study was carried out using an interviewer-administered questionnaire in the field followed by clinical examination and sample collection for investigations conducted at urban health training center. Statistical Data Analysis: Data were entered into MS Excel and analyzed using licensed the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0. Results: The prevalence of RTI/STI based on symptoms was 53.7%, clinical 39.2%, and laboratory confirmed 36.7%. The prevalence of laboratory-confirmed RTI/STI among asymptomatic women was 21.6%. Women using cloth during menstruation (odds ratio [OR] = 2.242), having a positive history of abortion (OR = 2.373), not using condoms during last sexual intercourse (OR = 1.998), and washing genital area with only water during menstruation (OR = 1.929) had higher odds of having RTI/STI. Conclusions: The prevalence of laboratory-confirmed RTI/STI among married women was quite high even among asymptomatic women indicating the need for opportunistic screening for RTI/STI among women visiting hospitals or health centers for other health problems for its early diagnosis and management
Assessment of thermal performance and smoke toxicity of lightweight building polymers
No full textThe use of lightweight polymers in the building industry is rapidly increasing due to their flexibility and thermal insulation properties. However, their inherent flammability and the potential release of large amounts of toxic gases during combustion present significant safety concerns. While many studies focus primarily on thermal performance, smoke inhalation is responsible for the majority of fire-related fatalities. This dissertation investigates the smoke toxicity and thermal characteristics of lightweight building polymers through a comprehensive fire performance evaluation approach. It also examines the effectiveness of intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) coatings on polymers, the impact of weathering on their flame retardancy, and proposes an improved experimental framework for combustion gas analysis.
Fire hazard assessments of various lightweight building polymers, based on three key parameters, flashover propensity, total heat release, and smoke toxicity, identified polyurethane foam (PUF) as having the highest flashover risk and toxic hazard potential. Consequently, PUF was selected as the substrate for evaluating IFR coatings with mineral fillers. The results demonstrated that the flammability of coated samples was significantly reduced compared to neat PUF, with two IFR coatings incorporating aluminium trihydrate (ATH) completely preventing ignition. However, high levels of smoke production, particularly CO, were observed under smouldering conditions, underscoring the need to consider toxicological impacts across different combustion regimes. Furthermore, weathered samples exhibited a marked reduction in flame retardancy compared to non-weathered counterparts, attributed to surface degradation from photo-oxidation. To strengthen the evaluation of smoke toxicity, thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR) was introduced, enabling mechanistic insights into polymer degradation pathways and the identification of a broader spectrum of gaseous species, including NH₃, SO₂, and VOCs.
An improved APP–EG–Mel based IFR coating was subsequently developed, demonstrating enhanced flame retardancy and a significant reduction in smoke toxicity. Notably, cone calorimetry combined with an expanded FTIR spectral library confirmed reduced acetonitrile emissions in coated PUF. Together, these advancements establish a systematic and more comprehensive framework for assessing the fire hazards of lightweight polymers, offering valuable insights for the development of safer and more sustainable building materials
Knowledge, health seeking behavior and barriers for treatment of reproductive tract infections among married women of reproductive age in Delhi
Get PDFBackground: Reproductive tract infections including sexually transmitted infections are an important public health problem among women of reproductive age group in developing countries. The perceptions or taboos related to RTIs act as an obstacle for seeking treatment ultimately leading to complications. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, health seeking behavior and barriers for treatment of reproductive tract infections among married women of reproductive age in Delhi.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was undertaken in an urban field practice area of department of Community Medicine of VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi from November 2017 to April 2019. Sample size of 270 was collected using predesigned and pre- tested questionnaire by systematic random sampling.Results: Mere 16.6% of the women knew about symptoms of RTI/STIs. Out of 81 women having RTI/STI in past 3 months 30% did not seek treatment and out of 70% who took treatment for RTI, 30% did not complete treatment. Majority of the women who sought treatment preferred government hospital. The main barrier for seeking treatment was embarrassment, not considering it as an important health problem, lack of time.Conclusions: The overall knowledge about symptoms, mode of spread of RTIs/STIs was very poor among the study participants. Women seeking treatment are not completing it. Thus, there is need to emphasize on spreading knowledge about symptoms, mode of spread, need for treatment and its completion and clearing barriers related to RTI/STI among women.
Changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) During First Year among Undergraduate Students of a Medical College in New Delhi
No full textBackground: The transition from secondary school to university is a critical period in student’s life which can influence their nutri- tional status impacting health in later life. The study conducted to assess changes in BMI after 8 months of admission among first year undergraduate students of a Medical College.
Methodology: A descriptive longitudinal study was conducted among 150 MBBS students of a Government Medical College, New Delhi, during April-May 2018 in which their weight and height were measured at the time of admission and at 8 months of follow up.
Results: There was significant decrease in mean BMI from the base- line (24.02 kg/m2) to follow-up (23.02 kg/m2) [t=-5.76, <0.001]. Compared to students with normal BMI at baseline, significant re- duction in BMI was noted among overweight [Mean change:-1.33 kg/m2; p=0.007] and obese students [Mean change:–2.21kg/m2; p<0.001]. The number of students who were overweight/obese had decreased from 71(47%) at baseline to 56 (37%) at follow up.
Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of overweight/obesity among the newly admitted medical students with a decrease in BMI at follow up, especially among the overweight/obese indi- viduals. Yet more than one third of the students were over- weight/obese at eight months follow up
Atypical Presentation of Recurrent Pterygium Leading to Blindness and its Successful Management: A Series of Three Cases
No full textRecurrence of pterygium is one of the main concerns in pterygium management. Recurrent pterygium is defined as the regrowth of fibrovascular tissue over the previously excised primary pterygium area, extending beyond the limbus and advancing towards the cornea. In most cases, it is characterised by increased conjunctival inflammation, fibroblast proliferation, and a faster progression towards corneal involvement compared to primary pterygium. This rapid regrowth can lead to irregular astigmatism, symblepharon, corneal fibrosis, severe vision impairment, and rarely, blindness. Incomplete removal of the primary pterygium, excessive suturing, the bare sclera technique, smaller conjunctival grafts, thicker conjunctival grafts with Tenon’s capsule, and
poor control of postoperative inflammation are some of the most common surgical factors contributing to recurrence. Among all surgical procedures, the bare sclera technique has the highest recurrence rate. In the present case series, the author presented three cases of atypical recurrent pterygium and their successful management. The first case involved recurrent double-headed
pterygium with severe symblepharon, resulting in lower fornix obliteration, shortening, diplopia, and corneal neovascularisation. The second case featured Grade-IV pterygium covering the pupillary area, and the third case involved a kissing type of doubleheaded pterygium. These cases were complications of the bare sclera technique, leading to blindness. Successful treatment of recurrent pterygium can improve visual and cosmetic outcomes. This case series aimed to highlight the burden and consequences of recurrent pterygium as a cause of avoidable blindness
Investigating Intumescent Flame-Retardant Additives in Polyurethane Foam to Improve the Flame Resistance and Sustainability of Aircraft Cabin Materials
No full textPolyurethane (PU) foam has a high flammability and is widely used in aircraft interiors, presenting a significant danger to occupants. This study analysed three composite intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) coatings for flexible PU foam; expandable graphite (EG), ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and alginate (AG). The coatings were prepared in concentrations of 5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 50 wt% with an acrylic binder. The coated samples were characterised using cone calorimetry, SEM, and mechanical testing. The findings showed peak heat release rate, total heat release, and carbon dioxide production from the 10 wt% triple-layer coating (EG:APP:AG) was 52%, 32%, and 58% less than the PU control. The char of the 10 wt% triple-layer sample effectively suppressed smoke release and inhibited the transfer of fuel and gas volatiles. Mechanical testing demonstrated a 3.4 times increase in tensile strength and a 15.4 times increase in compressive strength (50% compression) compared to the control PU with the 10 wt% triple-layer coating. A fire dynamics simulator model was developed that demonstrated large-scale flammability modelling for commercial aircraft. Future work can explore the integration of IFR coatings into computational analysis. These new bio-based coatings produced promising results for aircraft fire safety and flammability performance for PU polymers
An Energy Efficient Approach to Extend Network Life Time of Wireless Sensor Networks
No full textAbstractThe energy consumption in wireless sensor networks is a significant matter and there are many ways to conserve energy. The use of mobile sensors is of great relevance to minimize the total energy dissipation in communication and overhead control packets. In a WSN, sensor nodes deliver sensed data back to the sink via multi hopping. The sensor nodes near the sink will usually consume more battery power than others; consequently, these nodes will quickly drain out their battery energy and decrease in the network lifetime of the WSN. The presence of mobile sinks causes increased energy reduction in their proximity, due to more relay load under multi hop communication. Moreover, node deployment technique can also be used to improve the life time of the network. Performance comparisons have been done by simulations between different routing protocols and our approach show efficient results
Adaptation as a Strategic Issue in the Climate Negotiations. CEPS ECP Reports. No. 3, 9 November 2006.
Get PDFThis report examines the challenge of adequately addressing adaptation to climate change impacts in developing counties by means of international collaboration, and the reasons why it is in the interest of industrialised countries, including the EU, to do so. This is a topic that has been gaining prominence on the agenda of the international climate change negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as well as in other international forums. After analysing different approaches to the problem of adapting to climate change and reviewing current efforts to adapt to climate change, the report puts forward a range of options. The lead author, Sivan Kartha is Senior Scientist at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). Preety Bhandari is a researcher at The Energy & Resource Institute (TERI), New Delhi. Louise Van Schaik is a Fellow at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations 'Clingendael' in The Hague. Deborah Cornland is Director of the Climate Change Policy Research Programme (CLIPORE) at the Swedish foundation MISTRA. And Bo Kjellén is Senior Research Fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
