Unbiased estimate of the epithelial cell number and epithelial cell nuclear volume in the bulbourethral (cowper) glands of holstein bulls - a stereological study

The bulbourethral gland (or Cowper"s gland) plays an important role for fertility. It is, therefore, essential to have quantitative data about the morphological and histomorphological structure of this gland in nonpathological conditions. In the present study, Holstein bull"s bulbourethral glands were collected, and the volume of the glands, total epithelial cell number and epithelial cell"s nuclear volume was estimated for the first time by stereological methods. The smooth fractionator technique for epithelial cell counting was used. Epithelial cell"s nuclear volume was estimated on vertical sections. The mean number of the epithelial cells (coefficient of error; CE) and the mean epithelial cell"s nuclear volume were found 322x107 (0.1) and 59.1 µm3 (SD=3.7) respectively. Finally, the present studies stereological findings are in the acceptable range

Under-Five Mortality in High Focus States in India: A District Level Geospatial Analysis

<div><h3>Background</h3><p>This paper examines if, when controlling for biophysical and geographical variables (including rainfall, productivity of agricultural lands, topography/temperature, and market access through road networks), socioeconomic and health care indicators help to explain variations in the under-five mortality rate across districts from nine high focus states in India. The literature on this subject is inconclusive because the survey data, upon which most studies of child mortality rely, rarely include variables that measure these factors. This paper introduces these variables into an analysis of 284 districts from nine high focus states in India.</p> <h3>Methodology/Principal Findings</h3><p>Information on the mortality indicator was accessed from the recently conducted Annual Health Survey of 2011 and other socioeconomic and geographic variables from Census 2011, District Level Household and Facility Survey (2007–08), Department of Economics and Statistics Divisions of the concerned states. Displaying high spatial dependence (spatial autocorrelation) in the mortality indicator (outcome variable) and its possible predictors used in the analysis, the paper uses the Spatial-Error Model in an effort to negate or reduce the spatial dependence in model parameters. The results evince that the coverage gap index (a mixed indicator of district wise coverage of reproductive and child health services), female literacy, urbanization, economic status, the number of newborn care provided in Primary Health Centers in the district transpired as significant correlates of under-five mortality in the nine high focus states in India. The study identifies three clusters with high under-five mortality rate including 30 districts, and advocates urgent attention.</p> <h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Even after controlling the possible biophysical and geographical variables, the study reveals that the health program initiatives have a major role to play in reducing under-five mortality rate in the high focus states in India.</p> </div