Most studies on intimate partner violence (IPV) and its drivers have focused on individual-and household-level characteristics of the victim. Recent studies have acknowledged that it is a ...community-level phenomenon, using spatial analytical methods to analyze community-level determinants of IPV and its geographic dimensions. Such studies provide mixed evidence on the impact of different factors and need to be supplemented by similar studies—particularly in South Asian countries where IPV is common. The present study examines district-level variations in the incidence of various forms of IPV and identifies its determinants in India, a fast-growing South Asian country with poor gender indicators. The study combines data from the National Family Health Survey, District Level Household Survey, and the decadal Census. It applies spatial analytical methods such as the Global Moran’s I, Getis-ord statistic, and Multivariate Local Geary to determine the nature of the spatial distribution of different categories of IPV. Spatial regression models are used to identify the community-level predictors of each category of IPV. The study finds non-random overlapping spatial clusters in the eastern part of India. The study also finds that neighborhoods characterized by low empowerment levels, and with a high child sex ratio, road connectivity, and proportion of socially marginalized groups are more likely to exhibit high levels of all types of IPV—although the impact of these determinants varies across districts. Furthermore, spill-overs in the incidence of IPV between neighboring districts are also observed. The study concludes by recommending the use of localized policies, rather than broad national or state policies, in reducing IPV.
Full text
Available for:
NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
•Bisphenol A induces oxidative stress mediated liver mitochondrial damage.•Bisphenol A induced damage is being protected when mitochondria are co-incubated with gallic acid.•Scanning electron ...microscopy of mitochondrial tomography supports the biochemical observations.•Gallic acid may be used as future remedial measure for the protection of bisphenol A induced damages of liver mitochondria.
Humans are often exposed to bisphenol A (BPA), the monomer of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, through BPA contaminated drinking water, beverages and foods, packaged in polycarbonate plastic bottles and cans coated with epoxy resins due to leaching. Several research groups have reported that BPA may cause damage of mitochondria in liver, kidney, heart and brain cells by inducing oxidative stress. The antioxidant efficacy of gallic acid (GA), a polyphenol compound obtained from plants, against different toxicants induced oxidative stress has been well established. The aim of the present study was to examine the protective efficacy of GA against BPA induced oxidative damages of the rat liver mitochondria ex vivo. In our study, we have found a significant decrease in the intactness of mitochondria; a significant increase (P ≤ 0.001) in the levels of lipid peroxidation end product (i.e. malondialdehyde) and protein carbonylation product; and also a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.001) in the reduced glutathione content; when mitochondria were incubated with BPA (160 μM/ml) only. These results indicate that BPA probably causes damage to the cellular macromolecules through oxidative stress. We have observed significant counteractions (P ≤ 0.001) against BPA induced alterations in mitochondrial intactness, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation products formation and reduced glutathione content when mitochondria were incubated with BPA and GA (20 μg/ml/ 40 μg/ml/ 80 μg/ml) in combination in a dose-dependent manner. Gallic acid also showed significant restorations (P ≤ 0.001) of the activities of antioxidant enzymes, Krebs cycle enzymes, respiratory chain enzymes and thiolase when mitochondria were incubated with BPA and dosage of GA (20 μg/ml/ 40 μg/ml/ 80 μg/ml) in combination compared to BPA incubated mitochondria. Furthermore, GA significantly (P ≤ 0.001) counteracted the BPA induced decrease in tryptophan and NADH auto-fluroscence levels in mitochondria. This result suggests that GA protects the mitochondria probably by reducing the oxidative stress. Besides, GA protects the mitochondrial surface from BPA induced oxidative damages as viewed under the scanning electron microscope. Considering all the results, it can be concluded that GA shows potent efficacy in protecting the rat liver mitochondria ex vivo from BPA induced oxidative stress mediated damages.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Introduction: Vitamin B12 (vit B12) deficiency is a preventable disorder and has dire consequences on the neurological development of the infant. The only source of vit B12 for exclusively breastfed ...newborns is their mother’s milk. So, determining the status of maternal vit B12 levels during early lactation is vital. In India, very few studies have documented vit B12 deficiency among lactating mothers, especially eastern region remains unexplored. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of vit B12 deficiency among healthy lactating mothers attending the postpartum clinic at six weeks at a Tertiary Care Hospital of West Bengal, India and also to compare the haematological values between vit B12 deficient and sufficient groups among the lactating mothers. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry in collaboration with postpartum clinic of Calcutta National Medical College, West Bengal, India. The study was carried out over a period of two months, from July 2022 to August 2022. Serum vit B12, serum ferritin and haematological parameters {Haemoglobin (Hb), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)} were measured in 121 apparently healthy lactating women attending the postpartum clinic for a regular check-up at six weeks. Detailed socioclinical history and dietary history was taken from each participant and these variables were compared between vit B12 deficient and sufficient groups. Pearson’s Chi-square test, Fisher’s-exact test, Mann-Whitney U test were applied to analyse the data. Results: The total study population comprised of 121 mothers with an average age of 25.65±3.71 years and 75% of them consumed non vegetarian diet. A prevalence of 19 (15.7%) deficiency of vit B12 was found among the lactating mothers at six weeks postpartum. Mothers who were vegetarian, multigravida and with complaints of paraesthesia were more associated to cobalamin deficiency. The vit B12 deficient mothers had significantly higher erythrocyte indices than the sufficient group but none of the values were in the megaloblastic range. Conclusion: The vit B12 deficiency was prevalent during early lactation in 19 (15.7%) lactating mothers. The first postnatal visit at six weeks might be the most feasible period to screen and supplement these women to prevent long term sequelae in both mother and child. Haematological parameters were of limited use in identifying vit B12 deficiency during lactation.
Self‐help groups (SHGs) are used as instruments for changes in health‐related behaviour. We evaluated the impact of the Health and Nutrition Strategy of JEEViKA on the dietary practices of infants in ...rural areas of Bihar. Propensity score matching revealed that the probability of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months and starting complementary feeding after 6 months was higher by 5% and 3%, respectively, if the respondent was an SHG member. The average treatment effects on treated using attendance in meetings as the treatment variable found that the programme had increased breastfeeding only, with there being peer effects also. The study recommends encouraging attendance in SHG meetings.
Full text
Available for:
FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
•The outbreak of COVID-19 and the associated lockdown were widely expected to impact food security.•Dietary practices of women deteriorated, but that of their youngest child remained the same.•The ...ownership of ration cards or political contacts offered some protection.•A combination of Take Home Rations and Cash Transfer policies is necessary to guarantee food security to women and children during pandemics.
The outbreak of COVID-19, and the national-level lockdown to contain it, were expected to disrupt supply chains, lead to livelihood loss, and reduce household income. Studies anticipated a decline in food security in India, leading to a near famine-like situation. In this study, we examine the change in Dietary Score (number of food groups consumed out of a possible eight) and proportion of respondents complying with Minimum Dietary Diversity norms (consuming at least four food groups) among women aged 15–49 years and their youngest child (aged between 7 and 36 months) during the lockdown. The present study also analyses whether ownership of ration cards and contacts with the party in power locally helped the household to tide over the crisis. The data was collected through a two-phase primary survey undertaken in January-March 2020 (pre-lockdown period) and October-November 2020 (post-lockdown period). It was undertaken in six districts of Bihar, a state with a history of poor maternal and child health outcomes and dysfunctional delivery of health services. We find that dietary practices of women deteriorated, while that of children remained the same. The deterioration is less among households owning ration cards or having political contacts. The analysis suggests that, during pandemics or similar crisis periods, the need to supplement the supply of staple items through the Public Distribution System with a direct transfer of cash will allow households to maintain diversity in the consumption basket.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Human leucocyte antigen (HLA) represents one of the most highly polymorphic systems which plays a central role in the immune response. Genetic polymorphism of HLA in influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infected ...population may be an important factor in disease progression and severity that needs further probing. In this study, a total of 110 Influenza like illness patients were recruited from the population of Assam, Northeast India, from which 35 cases infected by A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses and 35 controls were typed for HLA‐A, B and DRB1 locus by PCR‐SSP method. A total of seven alleles of HLA‐A, 16 alleles of HLA‐B, and 11 alleles of HLA‐DRB1 locus were identified. The most common alleles within each locus in cases were HLA‐A*11 (85.71%, P = 0.046), HLA‐B*35 (25%, P = 0.0001), and HLA‐DRB1*15 (49.35%, P = 0.133) as compared to the controls, HLA‐A*11 (40.82%), HLA‐B*35 (0.00%), and HLA‐DRB1*15 (67.53%). The frequency of HLA‐A*11 and HLA‐B*35 were significantly higher in cases as compared to the controls. In DRB1 locus, HLA‐DRB1*10 was significantly higher in cases (20.78%, P = 0.005) than that of controls (0.00%). Whereas, HLA‐DRB1*15 showed a higher frequency in controls than in cases. In addition, HLA‐DRB3*01 (P = 0.053), DRB4*01 (P = 1.000), and DRB5*01(P = 0.591) were also identified along with HLA‐DRB1 haplotype. From this preliminary study, it is suspected that there may be a role of HLA‐A*11, HLA‐B*35 and HLA‐DRB1*10 in conferring susceptibility to influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infection in the study population. A larger extended study on HLA polymorphism may explain the association between HLA and influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infection and provide insights for HLA restricted peptide based vaccines.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
This study examines the coverage and effect of cash transfers and food subsidies in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is based on a primary survey of rural women in the state of Bihar - an ...underdeveloped state with poor public delivery systems - undertaken in January-March and September-November 2020. Although the coverage of cash transfers was wider than that of food subsidies, respondents receiving cereals and pulses under the Public Distribution System reported a lower probability of suffering from food insecurity vis-à-vis cash subsidies. The study suggests that food subsidies may be more effective when supply chains break down.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, NUK, PILJ, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective: The probable toxic effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on different physiological functions have been reported in animal models. The role of BPA in mitochondrial oxidative stress has not been ...reported till date. The present study is aimed to elucidate dose- and time-dependent oxidative stress generation by BPA, respectively, in rat liver mitochondria in ex vivo model. Methods: The incubation mixture of BPA-treated groups containing mitochondria, 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), and different concentrations of BPA (20–160 μM/ml) (dissolved in 12% DMSO) in a final volume of 1.0 ml was incubated at 37°C in incubator for different time durations (30 min–2 h). Whereas, the incubation mixture of control group contained DMSO (12%), mitochondria and 50 mM potassium phosphatebuffer (pH 7.4).’ will be replaced by ‘Whereas, the incubation mixture of control group contained the same constituents except BPA. Result: We have observed significant decrease in mitochondrial intactness incubated with BPA in dose- and time-dependent manner under bright field and confocal microscopic study compared to control. Further, we have observed a decrease in mitochondrial reduced glutathione (GSH) content and increase in lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation levels in dose- and time-dependent manner in BPA-exposed mitochondria. We have found a significant increase in the activity of Mn-superoxide dismutase and decrease in the activities of GSH peroxidase, GSH reductase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, and other three enzymes of Kreb’s cycle dose and time dependently in BPA-exposed mitochondria. The results indicate that exposure to BPA leads to decrease in intactness of mitochondria and increase in oxidative stress in mitochondria isolated from rat liver in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the incubation of mitochondria isolated from rat liver with BPA, caused oxidative stress-mediated damages in mitochondria in both dose- and time-dependent manners.
Given the civic and social commitments of urban local bodies in developing countries, renovation and maintenance of all heritage buildings and sites is a financially non-viable proposition. Urban ...planners, therefore, need to take decisions on which heritage sites are to be protected (either in their original form, or with suitable modifications that permit commercial use without destroying their architectural integrity) and the sites to be pulled down, ensuring more efficient land use. Such selection can generate considerable dispute between policy makers and various stakeholders unless the selection process is transparent, consistent and incorporates views of stakeholders. The difficulty in creating an analytical framework to be used for grading is the multiple (often qualitative) attributes of heritage sites. How to combine the performances of heritage structures with respect to these attributes into an aggregative index is a major concern for urban planners and conservationists. This paper argues that the Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM) method may be a relevant method for grading heritage sites. The application of this method is illustrated for several heritage buildings in Calcutta, India.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Structural studies involving single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analysis have been performed on dehydrated coordination networks of the Ni x Co1–x (bpy)3LiCr(ox)3 series, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, (bpy = ...2,2′-bipyridine). The high-symmetry cubic 3D structure of these materials is formed by oxalate anions bridging alternating Cr3+ and Li+ ions into an anionic framework, which contains large cavities that incorporate the Ni x Co1–x (bpy)32+ cations. Irrespective of the Co/Ni ratio, all of the mixed samples are phase-pure and retain the high-symmetry cubic structure, with the lattice parameters gradually decreasing upon increasing Ni(II) concentration. The influence of the Ni(II) dilution on the magnetic behavior of these materials is substantial. For pure Co(bpy)3LiCr(ox)3, a gradual but incomplete thermal spin-crossover is evident due to the effect of the chemical pressure applied by the LiCr(ox)32– framework, which stabilizes the low-spin (LS) 2E state relative to the high-spin (HS) 4T1 state of the Co(II) ion. Upon increasing the Ni(II) content, the spin-crossover becomes even more gradual and incomplete and eventually is not observed for pure Ni(bpy)3LiCr(ox)3. The average spin-crossover temperature increases with the increasing Ni(II) content, suggesting a higher degree of chemical pressure applied by the oxalate framework manifested by changing the ΔE 0 HL toward positive values. The magnetic behavior of all these framework materials has been explained by the mechanoelastic model, considering different radii for Co and Ni molecules and different interactions between Co–Co sites and Co–Ni sites. The model reproduced the incomplete transition, with the HS residual fraction at 300 K decreasing with increasing Ni concentration, and provided microscopic snapshots of the systems, showing how the existence of impurities prevented the spreading of Co atoms in the HS state.
Full text
Available for:
IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
PDF
