Work and Timing of First Live Births in New Zealand

In this paper we have used data from a nationally representative sample survey of New Zealand women (N=2673) aged between 20 and 59 years. We employ life-table technique and proportional hazard modelling to assess the role of individual and group level variables in determining the timing of first live births. This study suggests that a woman's decision to work and to have children and when to have them are intimately linked. While the age at which women obtain their first job has not changed much over the generations the age of the mother when her first child was born has risen considerably over recent generations. The result has been a widening period of time between the first job and the first child (for both Maori and non-Maori). Our analysis suggests that the number of years a woman has worked is very closely associated with when she has her first child having worked increases the chances of having a child, but as the work experience lengthens so this chance declines

Persistent coherence of quantum superpositions in an optimally doped cuprate revealed by 2D spectroscopy

Understanding of the precise mechanisms of high-temperature superconductivity is elusive. In particular, in order to solve the puzzle of the pairing mechanism, it is important to understand the detailed nature of the excitations at energies around the superconducting gap. While measurements of the dynamics of excited electronic populations have been able to give some insight, they have largely neglected the intricate dynamics of quantum coherence. Here, we apply multidimensional coherent spectroscopy for the first time to a prototypical cuprate and report unprecedented coherent dynamics persisting for ~500 fs, originating directly from the quantum superposition of optically excited states separated by 20 - 60 meV. These results reveal the correlation between high and low energy excitations, and indicate that the interplay between many-body states on different energy scales conserves phase coherence. In revealing these dynamics we demonstrate that multidimensional coherent spectroscopy can address electronic correlations and interrogate many-body quantum systems in unprecedented ways

Diagnostic utility of MRS values in hippocampus formation of medically intractable temporal lobe epilepsy patients in HUSM

Background: Hippocampal formation analysis by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is useful for lateralization of seizure focus and diagnosis of medical intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). The present study assessed the diagnostic utility of MRS, MRI, and combinatorial MRI-MRS findings from hippocampal formation of MTLE patients. Methods: A total of 14 MTLE patients and 14 control subjects were underwent MRI and MRS examination on hippocampal formation. The patients were clinically diagnosed as MTLE patients and revealed unilataralization by electroencephalogram (EEG) examination. The patient was ensured seizure free for a minimum period of 24 hours before the analyses to avoid possible effect of acute post ictal changes. Results: There were significant (p<0.05) decrement in NAA/Cr and increment in Cho/Cr in ipsilateral hippocampal formation of MTLE patients compared to that of contralateral findings and control group, separately. In the evaluation of diagnostic utility of individual MRS value for detection of epileptic focus in hippocampal formation, only NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho revealed significant moderate and fair agreements with the EEG lateralization findings, respectively. Analysis by combinatorial MRS values or MRI alone revealed fair and moderate agreement with EEG lateralization findings, respectively. Analysis using combinatorial MRS+MRI showed substantial agreement with with EEG lateralization findings. The positive andnegative percentage agreements with EEG lateralization findings were 79% and 93%, respectively. Conclusion: Combinatorial MRS+MRI analysis improved the lateralization of epileptic focus and diagnosis of MTLE

Work and Timing of First Live Births in New Zealand

In this paper we have used data from a nationally representative sample survey of New Zealand women (N=2673) aged between 20 and 59 years. We employ life-table technique and proportional hazard modelling to assess the role of individual and group level variables in determining the timing of first live births. This study suggests that a woman's decision to work and to have children and when to have them are intimately linked. While the age at which women obtain their first job has not changed much over the generations the age of the mother when her first child was born has risen considerably over recent generations. The result has been a widening period of time between the first job and the first child (for both Maori and non-Maori). Our analysis suggests that the number of years a woman has worked is very closely associated with when she has her first child having worked increases the chances of having a child, but as the work experience lengthens so this chance declines

Chemical Modification on Reactive Dye Adsorption Capacity of Castor Seeds

Abstract: The roles played by four major functional groups (amine, carboxyl, azo, hydroxyl groups) in the biomass of castor seeds in adsorption of seven dyes were investigated. These functional groups in castor seeds were chemically modified individually to determine their contribution to the adsorption of ionic dyes. The dyes used were remazol red B, procino yellow, fast green FCF, brilliant cresyl blue, methylene blue, neutral red, red-141. It was found that hydroxyl group inhibited the adsorption of anionic dyes but it was major functional group in the adsorption of cationic dyes, hydroxyl group was important functional group in the adsorption of all seven dyes and the effect of methylation of amino group was not significant on the adsorption of seven dyes

A community-based study to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for osteoporosis among menopausal and pre-menopausal women

Background: To determine the prevalence of osteoporosis among pre and post menopausal women using quantitative ultrasound of calcaneal bone and to identify the risk factors associated with osteoporosis.Methods: This prospective community based epidemiological study was conducted during 2019 in a suburban area attached to Sri Muthu Kumaran Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai. 305 subjects met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Using a structured questionnaire, demographic details, obstetric, gynaecological and medical history were collected. Quantitative ultrasound of the calcaneal bone was used to calculate the bone mineral density. Using statistical methods, risk factors for osteoporosis were analysed.Results: The mean age of the participants was 52.67±9.41 years, 62.2% were post menopausal and 37.38% were premenopausal. The BMD ‘T’ score was normal in 29.8%, osteopenia was diagnosed in 38.4% and osteoporosis in 31.8% of participants. 14% of premenopausal women and 42.4% of postmenopausal women were osteoporotic. Age, menopausal status, duration of menopause, and previous history of fractures emerged as significant risk factors for osteoporosis.Conclusions: The prevalence of osteoporosis is high among both pre-menopausal and menopausal women, but the awareness is limited. This study highlights the need for screening all women after the age of 40 years which is feasible using portable and easily available technology such as quantitative ultrasound of peripheral bones

Mycobacterial lipoarabinomannans modulate cytokine production in human T helper cells by interfering with raft/microdomain signalling

Abstract.: Lipoarabinomannans (LAMs) are major lipoglycans of the mycobacterial envelope and constitute immunodominant epitopes of mycobacteria. In this paper, we show that mannose-capped (ManLAM) and non-mannose- capped (PILAM) mycobacterial lipoglycans insert into T helper cell rafts without apparent binding to known receptors. T helper cells modified by the insertion of PILAM responded to CD3 cross-linking by decreasing type 1 (IL-2 and IFN-γ) and increasing type 2 (IL-4 and IL-5) cytokine production. Modification by the mannose-capped ManLAMs had similar, but more limited effects on T helper cell cytokine production. When incorporated into isolated rafts, PILAMs modulated membrane-associated kinases in a dose-dependent manner, inducing increased phosphorylation of Src kinases and Cbp/PAG in Th1 rafts, while decreasing phosphorylation of the same proteins in Th2 rafts. Mycobacterial lipoglycans thus modify the signalling machineries of rafts/microdomains in T helper cells, a modification of the membrane organization that eventually leads to an overall enhancement of type 2 and inhibition of type 1 cytokine productio

Knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer prevention and HPV vaccination among medical and nursing students in a tertiary care hospital

Background: This study was done to assess the level of knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer and its prevention among medical and nursing students. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted during 2022 in a tertiary care hospital in Chennai. The study included 407 subjects; 224 medical students, and 183 nursing students and consent was obtained from each participant prior to the study. A questionnaire survey was used to assess their knowledge on cervical cancer and its prevention. Results: Out of the 407 participants, 95.5% of the medical students and 30.6% of the nursing students knew that HPV virus causes cervical cancer. Medical students had more knowledge on risk factors. 84.38% of medical students and 43.72% of nursing students were aware that vaccine is available for the prevention of cervical cancer. Overall nursing students had limited knowledge on cervical cancer and its prevention. 51.79% of the medical students and 27.87% of the nursing students acquired their knowledge about HPV vaccine through social media. The uptake of HPV vaccine was very low among both medical and nursing students. Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrate that there is a need for creating more awareness about cervical cancer and its prevention among medical and nursing students

Effects of fiber loadings and lengths on mechanical properties of Sansevieria Cylindrica fiber reinforced natural rubber biocomposites

© 2023 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/In this present investigation, Sansevieria cylindrica fiber was used as a reinforcement in a natural rubber matrix. Various biocomposite samples with different fiber contents (lengths and loadings) were fabricated, using compression molding process and vulcanizing technique by maintaining the temperature around 150 °C. From the results obtained, mechanical properties: tensile strength, modulus elongation at break and tear strength of 10.44 MPa, 2.36 MPa, 627.59% and 34.99 N respectively, were obtained from the optimum composite sample with length and loading of 6 mm and 20 wt% composition, respectively. The maximum hardness was observed at 76.85 Shore A from the composite sample of 6 mm and 40 wt%. The optimum properties can be attributed to the presence of strong interfacial adhesion between the Sansevieria cylindrica fiber and the natural rubber matrix. The mechanisms of failure of the biocomposites at their interfaces were examined and analyzed, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The micrographs obtained from SEM further confirmed that the Sansevieria cylindrica fibers were surrounded with more amount of natural rubber which can exhibit strong interfacial bonding between fiber and matrix. The optimal composites of this work can be used in general, abrasion resistant conveyor belt.Peer reviewe