9 research outputs found
The Effect of Cancer on the Employment of Older Males: Attenuating Selection Bias using a High Risk Sample
No full textEstimating the unbiased effect of health shocks on employment is an important topic in both health and labour economics. This is particularly relevant to cancer, where improvements in screening and treatments have led to increases in survival for nearly all types of cancer. In order to address the issue of selection bias, I estimate the effect of cancer on employment for a high-risk cancer sample, male workers over the age of 65, thus attenuating the impact of many cancer risk factors. This identification strategy balances the covariates between the cancer and the non-cancer groups in numerous tests. Respondents who are diagnosed with cancer are 13.2 percentage points less likely to work than their non-cancer counterparts. The results also appear insensitive to omitted confounders
The legend of Diarmuid and Grania: its history and treatment by modern writers.
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityThe latter half of the nineteenth century saw the beginnings in Ireland of the Celtic revival, a literary movement which sent modern Irish writers who were using the medium of English back to the ancient Gaelic literature of their country for inspiration. Historians, translators, and linguistic scholars had uncovered, in their study of this Gaelic literature, a rich mine of myth and legend which the Anglo-Irish were quick to use in literary works of their own.
The old Irish literature can boast of two famous cycles. The first, called the Ulster cycle, centers around the heroes of the Red Branch who lived in north-eastern Ireland and includes the many tales of the mighty Cuchulain. The second cycle, the Fenian or Ossianic, celebrates the deeds of the popular Irish hero, Finn MacCool, and his Fenian warriors. In both cycles there are stories which modern Irish writers have found appealing enough to re-tell in English, the language which Ireland now uses.
Of the Fenian tales, one of the best-known and one that is still recited as folk-lore by Gaelic-speaking peasants is the legend of Diarmuid and Grania. It differs
from most of the stories in this cycle in its portrayal of Finn , not as the generous, wise , powerful leader of his men, but as a jealous , petty tyrant. The legend tells the story of Grania , the daughter of Cormac MacArt, the High King of Ireland , and Diarmuid, the handsomest man in the Fianna and nephew of Finn MacCool himself. Grania, who is betrothed to Finn, falls in love with the chivalrous Diarmuid and forces him to elope with her. They flee from the court at Tara and are pursued throughoutIreland by the jealous Finn. Eventually Finn succeeds in sending Diarmuid to his death and wins back to himself
the affections of the fickle Grania.[TRUNCATED]
The manner in which an author re-tells an old story and gives it creative treatment of his own is always of interest to t he student of literature. The several authors who were attracted to the legend of Diarmvuid and Grania have all handled the old story differently and with varying degrees of success.(Brief mention has been made in this study of the allusive and symbolical references to the legend in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake.) Although the central line of action is the same, the characterizations, the selection of episodes from the original versions, and the actual method of unfolding the narrative all differ in these modern re-tellings. That so many writers found the old story appealing enough to warrant their giving it literary treatment of their own points to the human appeal and enduring interest of this old Celtic love story
The Relationship Between Prenatal Stressful Life Events and Breastfeeding Initiation Among Mississippi Mothers
No full textBackground: Early initiation of breastfeeding increases the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding, which can be linked to improving both the mother’s and infant’s health. However, breastfeeding rates in Mississippi continue to be one of the lowest in the United States, with infant mortality and morbidity rates at the highest. Purpose: This study aims to explore the impact SLEs may have on initiating breastfeeding, as research is limited. Methods: Analyzed data from 2016 to 2021 Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS) was used to determine a correlation between life stressor experiences during pregnancy and initiation of exclusive breastfeeding with a sample size of n=6192. Results: The study found higher self-reported breastfeeding initiation rates among women identified as white and other races, married, insured, more educated, older, and in higher-income households. Over 70% of women reported at least one SLE during pregnancy. After controlling for maternal characteristics, women with any stressful life event (OR=1.31, p=0.003) were more likely to initiate breastfeeding, specifically, women with financial stress during pregnancy (OR=1.19, p=0.033) and women who experienced the death of someone close to them (OR=1.22, p=0.0370). Conclusion: Recommendations include tailoring prenatal visits by screening for stressful life events to identify barriers associated with breastfeeding initiation
Predicting the Impact of Coexistence-Guided, Genetically Modified Cropping on Irish Biodiversity: (2006-B-MS-46) STRIVE Report
No full textThis report is published as part of the Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for
the Environment (STRIVE) Programme 2007–2013.Author has checked copyrigh
Influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients: systematic review and meta-analysis from a public health policy perspective.
No full textImmunocompromised patients are vulnerable to severe or complicated influenza infection. Vaccination is widely recommended for this group. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients in terms of preventing influenza-like illness and laboratory confirmed influenza, serological response and adverse events
Probiotics and prebiotics for severe acute malnutrition (PRONUT study): a double-blind efficacy randomised controlled trial in Malawi.
No full textBACKGROUND: Severe acute malnutrition affects 13 million children worldwide and causes 1-2 million deaths every year. Our aim was to assess the clinical and nutritional efficacy of a probiotic and prebiotic functional food for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition in a HIV-prevalent setting. METHODS: We recruited 795 Malawian children (age range 5 to 168 months [median 22, IQR 15 to 32]) from July 12, 2006, to March 7, 2007, into a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled efficacy trial. For generalisability, all admissions for severe acute malnutrition treatment were eligible for recruitment. After stabilisation with milk feeds, children were randomly assigned to ready-to-use therapeutic food either with (n=399) or without (n=396) Synbiotic2000 Forte. Average prescribed Synbiotic dose was 10(10) colony-forming units or more of lactic acid bacteria per day for the duration of treatment (median 33 days). Primary outcome was nutritional cure (weight-for-height >80% of National Center for Health Statistics median on two consecutive outpatient visits). Secondary outcomes included death, weight gain, time to cure, and prevalence of clinical symptoms (diarrhoea, fever, and respiratory problems). Analysis was on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN19364765. FINDINGS: Nutritional cure was similar in both Synbiotic and control groups (53.9% [215 of 399] and 51.3% [203 of 396]; p=0.40). Secondary outcomes were also similar between groups. HIV seropositivity was associated with worse outcomes overall, but did not modify or confound the negative results. Subgroup analyses showed possible trends towards reduced outpatient mortality in the Synbiotic group (p=0.06). INTERPRETATION: In Malawi, Synbiotic2000 Forte did not improve severe acute malnutrition outcomes. The observation of reduced outpatient mortality might be caused by bias, confounding, or chance, but is biologically plausible, has potential for public health impact, and should be explored in future studies. FUNDING: Department for International Development (DfID)
Efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of a booster regimen of Ad26.COV2.S vaccine against COVID-19 (ENSEMBLE2) : results of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial
No full textBackground Despite the availability of effective vaccines against COVID-19, booster vaccinations are needed to maintain vaccine-induced protection against variant strains and breakthrough infections. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine (Janssen) as primary vaccination plus a booster dose.
Methods ENSEMBLE2 is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial including crossover vaccination after emergency authorisation of COVID-19 vaccines. Adults aged at least 18 years without previous COVID-19 vaccination at public and private medical practices and hospitals in Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, the UK, and the USA were randomly assigned 1:1 via a computer algorithm to receive intramuscularly administered Ad26.COV2.S as a primary dose plus a booster dose at 2 months or two placebo injections 2 months apart. The primary endpoint was vaccine efficacy against the first occurrence of molecularly confirmed moderate to severe-critical COVID-19 with onset at least 14 days after booster vaccination, which was assessed in participants who received two doses of vaccine or placebo, were negative for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR at baseline and on serology at baseline and day 71, had no major protocol deviations, and were at risk of COVID-19 (ie, had no PCR-positive result or discontinued the study before day 71). Safety was assessed in all participants; reactogenicity, in terms of solicited local and systemic adverse events, was assessed as a secondary endpoint in a safety subset (approximately 6000 randomly selected participants). The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04614948, and is ongoing.
Findings Enrolment began on Nov 16, 2020, and the primary analysis data cutoff was June 25, 2021. From 34 571 participants screened, the double-blind phase enrolled 31 300 participants, 14 492 of whom received two doses (7484 in the Ad26.COV2.S group and 7008 in the placebo group) and 11 639 of whom were eligible for inclusion in the assessment of the primary endpoint (6024 in the Ad26.COV2.S group and 5615 in the placebo group). The median (IQR) follow-up post-booster vaccination was 36 center dot 0 (15 center dot 0-62 center dot 0) days. Vaccine efficacy was 75 center dot 2% (adjusted 95% CI 54 center dot 6-87 center dot 3) against moderate to severe-critical COVID-19 (14 cases in the Ad26.COV2.S group and 52 cases in the placebo group). Most cases were due to the variants alpha (B.1.1.7) and mu (B.1.621); endpoints for the primary analysis accrued from Nov 16, 2020, to June 25, 2021, before the global dominance of delta (B.1.617.2) or omicron (B.1.1.529). The booster vaccine exhibited an acceptable safety profile. The overall frequencies of solicited local and systemic adverse events (evaluated in the safety subset, n=6067) were higher among vaccine recipients than placebo recipients after the primary and booster doses. The frequency of solicited adverse events in the Ad26.COV2.S group were similar following the primary and booster vaccinations (local adverse events, 1676 [55 center dot 6%] of 3015 vs 896 [57 center dot 5%] of 1559, respectively; systemic adverse events, 1764 [58 center dot 5%] of 3015 vs 821 [52 center dot 7%] of 1559, respectively). Solicited adverse events were transient and mostly grade 1-2 in severity.
Interpretation A homologous Ad26.COV2.S booster administered 2 months after primary single-dose vaccination in adults had an acceptable safety profile and was efficacious against moderate to severe-critical COVID-19. Studies assessing efficacy against newer variants and with longer follow-up are needed. Funding Janssen Research & Development.
Copyright (c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd
Sablot (Litsea Glutinosa), Lour Rob., in the Continuing Preservation and Conservation of the Cultural Heritage of Ilocos (Philippines): A Historic and Technical Approach: -
No full textAbstract
Materials science and engineering improves crude tools and gadgets and enhances the productivity, effectiveness and efficiency of men. To do this, it discovers new sources of materials, Improves operations and performances at lower costs.
This study aimed to promote the use of sablot in the conservation and preservation of the heritage structures of Ilocos, Philippines, and to demonstrate the structural feasibility of sablot paste as cement substitute. Interviews with selected senior citizens knowledgeable of the construction methods were conducted to determine the proportion of the aggregates and the sablot paste. From the interviews, samples were constructed to replicate the proportion original formulation of the sablot paste and aggregates.
Records show that the churches of Ilocos were constructed earlier than the recorded date of invention of cement which was introduced to the world in 1824 by Joseph Aspdin, an English inventor. Indigenous materials were used for the construction of said Ilocos structures, like coral bricks made of sticky clay and molasses mixed with leaves and trunks of a tree called “sablot” soaked in water were used instead of cement. This fact then necessitates that in the preservation and conservation of the heritage structures, the original set of materials be used, thus, the need to replicate the mixtures done by the forefathers.
This research compares the strength of original mixtures vis-à-vis the present-day set of reconstituted materials against that of cement, which invite a highly feasible “genuine” preservation and conservation procedure for the aging structures, instead of using modern methods.
Keywords: Sablot, sablot paste, preservation, conservation, heritage
Introduction
Consciously or not, humans have to attribute their present convenience and progress from products, processes and inventions. It is materials science, also commonly known as materials science and engineering, that is responsible in improving crude tools and gadgets into things that would enhance the productivity, effectiveness and efficiency of mankind. Material science is an interdisciplinary field which deals with the study of matter and their properties well as the discovery and design of new materials. This relatively new scientific field involves studying materials through the materials paradigm (synthesis, structure,properties and performance). (http://www.wikepedia.en).
On December 21, 1999, Vigan, then the capital town of Ilocos Sur, became a UNESCO-inscribed heritage site. As such, the local government has to preserve and conserve its culture which is composed of tradition, as well as its existing structures by virtue of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, through the Department of Tourism, and the Government of Spain, through the Agencia Española Cooperacion Internacional, the . Presidential Commission for the Restoration, Conversion and Preservation of the Vigan Heritage Village. (http://tawidnewsmag.com/, by Tawid News Team, February 26, 2007)
The need to preserve and conserve applies to the built environment- the houses, the monuments, the churches, and all other constructs which reveal the culture and history of Vigan’s rich and glorious past. However, the act of preservation and conservation may be done using the materials of today’s technology, or by the same materials present before. If today’s technology will be used, the method of preservation and conservation shall be with the use of cement with its sand and gravel combination for dilapidated brick walls, and similar items. If the genuine preservation and conservation shall be adopted, then, the original material make-up of the structures should be used, which were sablot ((Litsea Glutinosa), molasses and lime, to paste bricks together.
This study desires to offer a genuine act of preservation and conservation by using the original binder of bricks, sand and lime; the sablot. The role of sablot , through a historic and technical approach, should be appreciated as it has once shaped the cultural heritage of Ilocandia, buried in its antique, baroque churches and structures. This study also aims to substantiate binding characteristics of sablot unexplained by the forefathers through initial, experimental studies to perpetuate its legacy in the conservation and preservation of the cultural heritage of Ilocandia, the land of frugal and caring Ilokanos of Northern Philippines
Literature Review
The researcher used the historical and experimental methods of research to undertake the study.
The historical type of research was used to recount the use of sablot (Litsea glutinosa) when it was used as binder for bricks and as a plaster to cover the brick surface over the centuries prior to the cement age. It was presented through documentation and interview to capture the cultural essence of the indigenous material.
The technical approach to this research utilized the conduct of experiments to reconstitute the sablot paste based from the interviews with senior Ilokano citizens. Through this, the researcher could formulate a first hand experience with the sablot paste described from the interviews.
Three (3) samples with sablot paste were extracted from a demolished antique fence. Their strength, measured by the ultimate compressive stress, fc’ were compared with the ultimate compressive strength of hollow blocks today.
Three (3) cylindrical concrete samples, 6” in diameter, 12” long, were prepared to compare how sablot fares with the same size as the concrete cylinders. The sablot samples, aside from comparing their strength with concrete, were also intended to determine the effect of the length of soaking time on their strength: five (5) samples (Group A) with the sablot paste three (3) days old, and five (5) samples (Group B) with the sablot paste six (6) days old. The age of the sablot paste is the duration of its soaking time in water.
Results and Discussion
The procedures discussed earlier yielded the following findings:
3.1. The Historical Approach
Paoay Church
The Paoay Church is one testimony of the use of sablot as binder. Started in 1704, and inaugurated in 1896 (192 years in the making), the Spanish friars supervised the construction. (Vigan museum).
Sta. Maria Parish Church
Msgr. Roque Reyes, Parish Priest of the St. Paul Parish, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur during the conduct of this research, and Archdiocesan Curator of Nueva Segovia, also attested that the sablot leaves soaked in water develop a sticky substance that blends well with the aggregates for grouting and plastering. He has witnessed the sablot paste in the repair of the Sta. Maria Church where he was once the parish priest. The Sta Maria church is one of UNESCO’s enlisted World Heritage Sites - a baroque church. He further attested that twenty one (21) churches of Ilocos Sur were built using the sablot as binder.
In the same interview with Mgsr. Reyes, the parish priest of Vigan during the conduct of this study, he claimed to have witnessed the repair of Sta. Maria church where was also a
parish priest. According to him, the binding capability of sablot reveals that the soaking period would take 3 to 7 days in big earthen jars at 5-8 cu ft capacity (burnays in Iloko). The leaves were stored inside the jars, half-filled with water. The sablot solution would be taken out from the burnays to mix with the sand and lime aggregates. A proportion was followed for uniformity: two parts sand, one part lime, 1 part barisangsang, or unprocessed sugar. If not enough, the water component would again be replenished as the original amount in the same duration before it could bind again. This was done for two to three times at most, depending upon the state of the leaves’ decomposition.
Almost all of the churches in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte were built using sablot paste as binder for bricks. Thick masonry walls ranging from 1.0m to 1.5m define the periphery of the structures.
Bantay Parish Church
St. Augustine Church, the Parish Church of Bantay, Ilocos Sur, was constructed in 1590.
Vigan Cathedral and Belltower
According to testimonies of popular local aficionados in preservation and conservation led by Archt Rey Florentino in 2000, he well documented that sablot leaves were used as binder together with lime and the aggregates in the construction of big structures in the Ilocos, including that of the Vigan, the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, in the early 1900š.
San Juan (Ilocos Sur) Parish Church
Some selected senior citizens of Ilocos Sur, confirm that sablot was used in the Ilocos Region as binder in building antique structures, particularly the churches which still stand today. They claim that centuries ago, old Ilocano builders used the solution where sablot leaves were soaked for days stored in old earthen jars called burnays, to bind bricks, sand, sugar and lime for grouting, then in plastering the bricks.
Laoag City Cathedral
Badoc Church
Sinait Parish Church
Indigenous materials were used for the construction. Coral bricks made of sticky clay and molasses mixed with leaves and tree trunks of a tree soaked in water or “sablot” were used instead of cement, granite or adobe stones. The mixture resulted in a sticky fluid which was then combined with lime from ashes of burnt shells. The bricks were pieced together with stucco, the mixture beaten to paste. All the labor was manual. http://www.philippinesmyphilippines.wordpress)
Candon Church
Sarrat Church
Among the antique churches shown, no one of them was constructed earlier than 1824, the year when Joseph Aspdin introduced cement to the world.
3.2. The Technical Approach
The technical approach used the experimental method of research. The composition of the sablot paste so described in the interviews was reconstituted and subjected to compressive strength tests so as to establish some first hand information about the construction material of the 16th century.
In Table 1, three sablot samples were extracted from an old fence, and they represent original sablot mixtures, while the concrete samples represent modern structures.
Table 1: Compressive Stress, Fc’ Values of Samples in MPa, using Sablot and Cement
# Sablot Cement
1 1-3/4”x2-1/2”x6” 4.87 10.51
2 2-3/4”x3-3/4”x6” 11.86 22.12
3 2-3/4”x3-1/2”x7 9.82 10.31
Average 10.89 12.27
The concrete cylinders paired with the debris samples were molded from ungraded mixed aggregates hauled from the riverbanks of Banaoang Santa, Ilocos Sur. This should explain why the compressive stress results were low in contrast to the lowest fc’ used for concrete which is 17 MPa. The use of ungraded mixed aggregates was used to capture country-side construction which usually use ungraded mixed aggregates to make small bungalows or one-storey residential houses.
When the strengths of the samples made of sablot paste were compared to the strength of the concrete samples, a t-value of 0.267 was computed less than the significant value of 0.802, making it not significant. This suggests that the fc’ values of the samples out of sablot paste are as strong as those of cement.
Table 2 shows the strengths in terms of the ultimate compressive stresses of the samples mixed by the 3-day old sablot paste
Table 2. Compressive Strength of Samples with 3 days soaking time (Group A)
Sample # Fc’, MPa (psf)
1 0.81 (16,884.6)
2 0.83 (17,301.5)
3 0.80 (16,676.2)
4 0.78 (16,259.3)
5 0.82 (17,093.0)
Average 0.808 (16,843.0)
Table 3 similarly reveals the strengths measured in terms of the ultimate compressive stress of the samples mixed with 6-day old sablot paste.
Table 3. Compressive Strength of Samples with 6 days soaking time (Group B)
Sample # Fc’, MPa (psf)
1 0.95 (19,802.9)
2 0.90 (18,760.7)
3 0.94 (19,594.5)
4 0.93 (19,386.0)
5 0.91 (18,969.0)
. Ave 0.926 (19,302.7)
The results of the compressive tests show that the samples in Group B resisted relatively higher stresses than those in Group A. Apparently, the length of soaking time affects the strength of the resulting mixture.
The samples of Group B were 244 days old. The sablot paste where the leaves were soaked in clean water was six (6) days old.
When the fc’ values of the two groups of samples using the soaking time of 3 days and 6 days as variable were analyzed, the t-value computed (t = -9.329) was less than the significant value of t at .000. Therefore, the soaking time is significant.
This further suggests that the soaking time affects the strength of the samples. The samples in Group B molded using the sablot paste six (6) days old are stronger than those samples molded with sablot paste three (3) days old. It was observed further during the experiment that in three days time, the leaves soaked in water started to exude white sticky substances called latex. This reaction with water lasted only for seven (7) days, since all the latex are dissolved as the leaves start to disintegrate. The most sticky sablot paste occurred from the 3rd to the 6th day. When mixed with sand and lime the resulting mixture became fluid and plastic, similar in appearance and manageability as the present-day concrete mixture. After the 7th day, the sablot solution loses its binding power.
Economics of the Sablot Paste
A practical financial analysis is hereby conducted to convince the potential taker of this proposed technology. Being affordable and readily available are two of the major considerations in endorsing the sablot to solve housing problems for the rural poor. The proponent came up with the findings presented subsequently. A one square meter wall panel is taken as the subject of comparison. Its thickness is set to be uniform at one inch on both sides, internally and externally. The proportion of the concrete plaster and its area of coverage shall also be the wall coverage of the plaster using sablot as binder. The volume per mix is 0.085 cu.m. The coverage area for this volume of plaster is 1.8 sq.m. The sablot paste contains one part lime and two parts sand, practically yielding the same volume of mixture as the cement plaster and the same coverage of plastered area.
The cement plaster uses an approximate volume of 25-30 liters of water to mix the aggregates for every bag of cement. The same volume of water is also the same volume of sablot solution needed to mix the aggregates in the preparation of the sablot plaster.
By comparing estimates with the cement and sablot plaster, (refer to Table 4) the cement plaster incurs a total expenditure of P 264 for every one square meter of area plastered, while the sablot plaster only incurs a minimum expense of P171.50 for the same area, using current market prices during the conduct of this research.
Table 4. Comparative Estimate on the Use of Cement and Sablot as Wall Plaster
Qty
Unit Cost
Cement Plaster Compo-nents
Unit of Measure
Total
1
230
Portland Cement
bag
230
0.057
600
River Sand
Cu,m,
34
Total
264
Qty
Unit Cost
Sablot Plaster Compo-nents
Unit of Measure
Total
0.5
275
Lime
Bag
137
0.057
600
River Sand
Cu.m.
34
171.50
Conclusion
In view of the findings solicited from the study, the experiments conducted suggest that: a) the sablot paste is as strong as cement within ordinary loadings, b) the age of the sablot paste has a significant effect to its strength.
The Ilocos churches are testimonies of the capability of the sablot solution to bind the construction aggregates used during the pre-cement eras, Therefore, its use could be continued and adopted, to carry on a genuine preservation and conservation of the heritage structures.
Recommendation
There is a need to bring back the sablot to the locality not only of its potential as an alternative to cement but also due to its folkloric importance in the shaping of the Ilocano culture. The construction industry is never complete in itself by the present technology. It should also acknowledge the basic foundation provided by those of the past anchored in the old churches.
More experiments should be conducted to explore more possible uses of sablot as a construction material, e.g. its capability when used to resist moment, or shear. More studies be conducted to hasten its settling and curing time, as well as to formally establish its reaction and bond when mixed with cement. A modern technique of using sablot should be studied to make its use more adoptable.
Acknowledgment
The author is deeply grateful toDr. Edelyn Cadorna, Director, Research and Statistical Assistance Center (RSAC), University of Northern Philippines, Vigan City, for extending her technical expertise in the statistical analysis of this study.
References
http://www.philippinesmyphilippines.wordpress)
(http://tawidnewsmag.com/, by Tawid News Team, February 26, 2007)
(http://www.wikepedia.en).
Archt. Florentino, Rey, Documentation of Ilocos Churches during the inception of Vigan City as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, 2000
Vigan City Museum
Interviews with senior citizens
Interview with Msgr. Roque Reyes, Parish Priest of St. Paul Parish, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur and Archdiocesan Curator of Nueva Segovi
