Environmental and behavioral risk factors for moderate or severe rotavirus diarrhea in children less than 24 months

On a global basis rotaviruses are the most important agents involved in childhood diarrhea. In developing countries they account for 6% of all diarrheas and 20% of all diarrhea related deaths of children under 5 years of age, with over 1 billion episodes and over 4 million deaths annually. Given the disease burden, there is a need for better understanding the risk factors involved in rotavirus disease, to identify areas of intervention. In order to provide this information, two areas were developed: a review of the literature, examining the causal evidence for rotavirus diarrhea and a case comparison study. The case comparison study analyzed two areas: identifying climate factors and, identifying environmental and behavioral risk factors. The literature review showed that few analytical studies have identified specific risk factors such as home environment, and a winter seasonal trend for temperate areas, but in key areas evidence is contradictory. The case comparison study for climate factors demonstrated that seasonality occurs in a tropical country like Venezuela and that a complex interplay between weather conditions contribute to the seasonal pattern. A positive association between rain fall (OR 4.1); dew point (OR 2.3) and temperature differential during the day (OR 1.4) and, an inverse association with temperature (OR 0.5) and relative humidity (OR 0.8) was found. This information is useful in understanding the seasonal pattern of rotavirus and for planning health care needs. The second analysis demonstrated that environmental variables such as crowding (OR 14.3), contact with someone with an infectious disease (OR 4.9) and animal ownership (OR 2.3) were important. Restricting the analysis to animal owners demonstrated that living In a rural settling (OR 13.8), defecating in inappropriate places (OR 7.2), crowding(4.2) and indoor animals (4.0) are of importance. Behavioral variables identified were: lack of breast feeding (OR 4.0) and visiting when someone was sick (OR 3.4). Biological and demographic variables of importance were: age, with a dose response relationship; undernurishment (OR 11.3) and household per capita monthly income less than US $ 16.30 (OR 8.5). Using a diarrhea compeer group we found that, although some of the previous variables were of importance, no major differences were found. These findings are important in identifying paths for prevention and further research. ^

Ethnic differences in adolescents' mental distress

Objectives. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to (1) examine differences among four ethnic groups of middle school students (Anglos, African Americans [AAs], Hispanics, and Asians) on (a) three indicators of mental distress (depression, somatic symptoms, suicidal ideation) (b) social stress (general social stress, process-oriented stress, discrimination) and resources (family relationships, coping, self-esteem) and (2) identify significant risk factors and resources for each ethnic group by examining the moderating effects of ethnicity. ^ Methods. Respondents included 316 students from three schools (144 Anglos, 66 AAs, 77 Hispanics, 29 Asians/Others) who completed self-administered questionnaires. Social stress and somatic symptoms were measured by using the SAFE-C and Somatic Symptom Scale, respectively. The DSD was used to assess depression and suicidal ideation. Resources were measured by using the FES, age-appropriate adaptations of two existing coping scales, and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale. For specific aims, descriptive statistics, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and logistic regression analysis were used. ^ Findings. No statistically significant ethnic group or gender differences were observed in depression and somatic symptoms, but the odds of experiencing depression symptoms were about 9.7 times greater for Hispanic females than for the referent group, Anglo males. Hispanics were also 2.04 times more likely to have suicidal ideation than Anglos ( P < 0.05). AAs and Hispanics reported significantly higher levels of stress than Anglos (OR: 2.2���4.3, 0.00 ≤ P ≤ 0.03). These findings imply that adolescents in these ethnic groups may be exposed to considerable amounts of stress even if they do not exhibit significant symptoms of mental distress yet. Negative moderating effects for ethnicity were found by the significant interaction between ethnicity and social stress in somatic symptoms among AAs and Hispanics. This finding indicates that AA and Hispanic adolescents may require higher levels of social stress to exhibit the same amount of somatic symptoms as Anglo adolescents. Observed ethnic differences in social stress and interaction between social stress and ethnicity in relation to somatic symptoms demonstrated a need for subsequent longitudinal studies, and provided a rationale for incorporating social stress as a critical component not only in research but also in culturally sensitive prevention programs. ^

What Does Height Really Mean? Part III: Height Systems

This is the third paper in a four-part series considering the fundamental question, “what does the word “height” really mean?” The first paper reviewed reference ellipsoids and mean sea level datums. The second paper reviewed the physics of heights culminating in a simple development of the geoid and explained why mean sea level stations are not all at the same orthometric height. This third paper develops the principle notions of height, namely measured, differentially deduced changes in elevation, orthometric heights, Helmert orthometric heights, normal orthometric heights, dynamic heights, and geopotential numbers. We conclude with a more in-depth discussion of current thoughts regarding the geoid.

Ms. Ff. Mus. 1144 - Dominica XII. post Trinitatis : Ich bin der Herr dein Artzt ; a canto, alto, tenore, basso, 2 hautbois, 2 violini, viola, violoncello, violono, bassono ed organo

di Telemann. [Textdichter: Gottfried Simonis]

Ms. Ff. Mus. 993 - Dominica V. post Trinitatis : a canto, alto, tenore, basso con i ripieni, 2 violini, 2 hautbois, viola, violoncello, violono, bassono ed organo

di Telemann. [Text: Erdmann Neumeister]

Ms. Ff. Mus. 826 - Dominica III post Trinit. : das ist je gewißlich wahr und ein theuer ; a canto, alto, tenore, basso, con i ripieni, 2 hautbois, 2 violini, viola, violoncello, violono, bassono ed organo

di Telemann. [Text: Gottfried Simonis]

Ms. Ff. Mus. 1044 - Festo SS. Trinitat. : Gelobet sey Gott u. der Vater unsers Herrn Jesu Christi ; à 2 hautbois, 2 violini, canto, alto, tenore, basso con i ripieni, violoncello, violono, bassono ed organo

par Telemann

Ms. Ff. Mus. 1257 - Dominica XXII. post Trin. : Mein Gott ich schäme mich und scheue mich p ; à canto, alto, tenore, basso, 2 hautb., bassono, 2 violini, viola, violoncello, violono ed organo

di Telemann. [Textverf.: Gottfried Simonis]

Ms. Ff. Mus. 1261 - Dom: XXI post Trinit. : Mein Kind verwirff die Zucht pp ; C. A. T. B., violino primo, violino secondo, oboe primo, oboe secondo, viola, violoncello em organo

del Sige. Telemann. [Textverf.: Gottfried Simonis]

Ms. Ff. Mus. 869 - Dom. XXIII. post Trinit. : der Gottlose ist wie ein Wetter, das überhin gehet p. ; à 2. hautbois, 2. violin, 1. viola, canto, alto, tenore, basso con i ripieni, violoncello, violino bassono ed organo

di Telemann. [Text: Gottfried Simonis]

Ms. Ff. Mus. 1442 - Dominica IX p. Trin. : Was hast du Mensch das du nicht empfangen hast ; a canto, alto, tenore, basso, 2 hautb., 2 violini, viola, violoncello, bassono ed organo

di Telemann. [Text: Gottfried Simonis]

Mus Hs 1163 - Offertorium de sanctissimo "O Salutaris Hostia" : canto, alto, tenore, basso, violino primo, violino secondo, Altviola, 2 cornua, 2 clarinis, 2 Clarinetten, tympano, violonone con organo

Auth. Fils