What does women’s empowerment have to do with malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa? Evidence from demographic and health surveys from 30 countries

Background: The reduction of childhood malnutrition has been identified as a priority for health and development in sub Saharan African countries. The association between women’s empowerment and children’s nutritional status is of policy interest due to its effect on human development, labour supply, productivity, economic growth and development. This study aimed to determine the association between women’s empowerment and childhood nutritional status in sub Saharan African countries. Methods: The study utilized secondary datasets of women in their child bearing age (15–49 years) from the latest Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in 2011–2017 across 30 sub Saharan Africa countries. The outcome variable of the study was childhood nutritional status while the exposure variable was women’s empowerment indicators such as decision making and attitude towards violence. Analyses were performed at bivariate level with the use of chi square to determine association between outcome and exposure variables and at multivariate level with the use of regression models to examine the effect of women’s empowerment on childhood nutritional status. Results: Women’s socio-demographic and other selected characteristics were statistically significantly associated with childhood nutritional status (stunted and underweight) at p < 0.001. These characteristics were also statistically significantly associated with empowerment status of women (Decision-making, Violence attitudes and Experience of violence) at p < 0.001 except for child age and sex. The association between childhood nutritional statuses and women’s empowerment (all three empowerment measures) was significant after controlling for other covariates that could also influence childhood nutrition statuses at p < 001. Two of the empowerment measures (attitudes towards violence and experience of violence) showed positive association with childhood nutritional statuses while the third (decision-making) showed negative association. Conclusion: There is an independent relationship between childhood nutrition status and women’s empowerment in sub Saharan African countries. Women’s empowerment was found to be related to childhood nutritional status. Policies and programmes aiming at reducing childhood malnutrition should include interventions designed to empower women in Sub-Saharan Africa

Book Review: Supply Chain’s Flexibility – A Real Options Approach

This book contains of the investigation is about the process of decision making in supply chain management using a real options analysis framework. Specifically, the authors address issues regarding the optimal inventory level to hedge against demand uncertainties; the timing for equipment capacity implementation under market product mix complexity; the timing for workforce capacity reinforcement aiming market service requirements; and the decisions between integration and outsourcing in an uncertainty environment. Discrete and continuous time methodologies were used to identify the optimal value and timing of the options to adopt, when the demand is stochastic. Additionally, the effect of market requirements, such as product mix complexity and service level, were also taken into consideration. The demand is modeled under different stochastic processes; the impact of unexpected shocks is also explored, which enhances the generalization of the models to different business conditions. The applicability of the models enables the diversification and enrichment of the literature on the real options approach, within supply chain concept. Flexible inventory levels and the flexible capacity are supply chain features that can be used to deal with demand uncertainty

Patterns of Physical Activity and Self-rated Health Among Adult Populations in South Asia

Introduction: Although South Asians are considered to be at high risk for cardiovascular diseases, research evidence on the health impacts of physical activity (PA) remains very limited. In this study we aimed to explore the patterns of PA and to investigate whether engaging in regular PA is associated with better Self-Rated Health (SRH) among South Asians.Methods: Cross-sectional data on population health were drawn from the World Health Survey of WHO. Subjects were 28,020 male and female South Asians (from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) aged 18 years and above. Data were analysed using descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses.Results: The proportion of the sample population reported good SRH was 44.3%, 58.7%, 37.7%, and 73.7% in Bangladeshis, Indians, Nepalese, and Sri Lankans, respectively. Regular engagement in moderate PA was highest in Nepal (69.7%) and lowest in Bangladesh (37.4%). Vigorous PA was highest in India (29.9%) and lowest in Bangladesh (17.9%). In  Bangladesh, compared to those never engaged in MPA, those who engaged for 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, or 7 days a week were 30% [AOR=1.306; 95%CI 1.085-1.572], 33% [AOR=1.326; 95%CI 1.093-1.609], 39% [AOR=1.389; 95%CI 1.125-1.716], and 46% [AOR=1.459; 95%CI 1.249-1.705] more likely to report being in good health, respectively.Conclusions: We found that self-reported engagement in physical activities varies in South Asian countries. Since engaging in PA may help improve subjective and objective health status, health policy makers need to focus on designing exercise-friendly neighbourhoods in an attempt to promote population health

Mutation-Induced Conformational Changes and Energetics for Binding of FMN Ligand in Flavin Mononucleotide Riboswitch by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Riboswitches are the type of regulatory elements present in the untranslated region of mRNA and specifically bind to the natural ligand to regulate gene expression. This binding specificity can be affected by even single point mutation incorporated in the core of the riboswitch. In this work, we have examined the mutations at the binding site residue in Flavin Mononucleotide (FMN) riboswitch structure with 30ns molecular dynamics simulations. The interaction of ligand (FMN) with riboswitch has been characterized using root mean square deviation, hydrogen bonding analysis, and the calculated binding affinities. Mutation at A48G and G62U show the enhanced binding energy however, the mutation at A85G, are energetically unfavorable compared to the wild type. This work gives valuable insight into the structures and energetics of the mutated FMN riboswitch to design new hits for biological applications. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Solvent Effects on the Stereoselectivity of Reaction of Methyl Acrylate, Methyl Methacrylate and Methyl trans-Crotonate with Cyclopentadiene: A Computational Study

The stereoselectivity of reaction of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and methyl transcrotonate with cyclopentadiene was studied with ab initio RHF/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-31G* levels of theory. The stereoselectivities predicted for methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate with cyclopentadiene in the gas phase were found to be in good agreement with experimental results. The preference of endo selectivity in solvents was more pronounced for methyl acrylate, however, the preference for the exo-addition for methyl methacrylate was predicted to be reduced in solvents. The solvent calculations predicted the endo- preference for methyl trans-crotonate in agreement with the experimental observations. The lower endo selectivity for methyl trans-crotonate with cyclopentadiene seems to be governed by the degree of asynchronicity of endo- and exo-transition states in water. B3LYP/6-31G* calculated activation enthalpy was found to be in good agreement with the observed activation enthalpy for methyl acrylate and cyclopentadiene, however, this method does not predict the stereoselectivities correctly in all cases. The hydrogen bonding between water and polarized transition states seems to be important for rate acceleration in wate

Redesigned ITESCM Model: An Academic SCM for the Universities

This exploratory research addresses the academic supply chain which consists of educational supply chain and educational management as the major constituents of the ITESCM (Integrated Tertiary Educational Supply Chain Management) model for the universities. The study revealed four main activities; includes education development, education assessment, research development, and research assessment; in the educational management. Four aspects of each main activity, namely Programs Establishment, University Culture, Faculty Capabilities, and Facilities were investigated at three decision levels. The original ITESCM model was developed based on the secondary data, i.e. analysis of the literature, and primary data, i.e. interviews with stakeholders of tertiary academic institutions. Model structures were defined and confirmed by 493 respondents, representing University administrators of leading tertiary educational institutions around the world, faculty and staffs, employers, and graduates. The resulting model was subsequently evaluated for accuracy and validity by multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis and the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. The redesigned model is the revised form of original ITESCM, that would be easily understandable and research equations are more user friendly for practical field applications. The research model and equations provide a novel approach for prospective investors or current administrators of the tertiary academic institutions to review and appraise their performance toward fulfillment of ultimate goals, i.e. producing high-competent graduates and significant research outcomes for the betterment of the consumer, i.e. the society