Book Review: Networks of rebellion: Explaining insurgent cohesion and collapse by Paul Staniland (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2014)

Insurgency and rebellion are often common lexicons appearing in scholarly works on conflict. Perhaps the reason for this could be the possible magnitude of impact of such events on overall humanity. The capability of rebellions to lead to collapse, destabilisation or change in the prevailing regimes has been elaborated innumerable times in the narration of human history, but how far are the dynamics of such phenomena understood. Paul Staniland’s book, Networks of Rebellion: Explaining Insurgent Cohesion and Collapse , is an attempt to bridge the gaps in existing research. The book begins by challenging the very ‘process of understanding’ which exists in studies on conflicts. Staniland argues that after the end of the Cold War, a significant amount of academic attention was riveted on scrutinising the ‘resource and finance’ aspects of wars, which also influenced the analysis on insurgent groups. He argues that such attempts, though effective, are mostly partial due to the improper importance accorded to the social and organisational characteristics of the insurgent groups. Staniland contends that an increasing number of academic contributions have provided prescriptive counsel to the state for handling rebels, thereby creating ‘the problem of causal heterogeneity [that] leads to platitudinous policy’ (p. 229)

Grievance in identity conflict: A review of Pembilai Orumai (Women's United) in Munnar

Identity conflicts are common features in heterogeneous societies. These conflicts are understood around the grievances that include the specific interests and the value-centric nature of identity. In such a backdrop, this commentary engages with the conditions around the formation of ‘Pembilai Orumai’ or ‘Women’s United’ as a gender identity group in the plantation dominant Munnar Gram Panchayat. Based on the ethnographic survey and focused interviews, the study finds that the formation of the group was bound on specific interests that were independent of the elements of ‘gender’ as symbolic in their name. The association of the group with the gender identity is relatable to the general popularity of gender movements, especially as a point of interest for the media. In the process, the group gained dominance through the help of media publicity, but in practice it innately nurtured the elements of subjugation of itself in the political space. This case highlights a dichotomous viewpoint around the assertion of gender identity in conflicts where identity is treated as an instrument

Depression and its Association with Housing conditions and Family among Pregnant Women of Rural Varanasi

Background: Depressive disorders were the second leading cause of years lost due to disability in 2010 after low back pain and leading cause of disability adjusted life years (WHO 2010). Gestational depression may lead to low birth weight, premature births etc. Housing and family are important aspects of one daily life which if are unsatisfactory can increase stress level of its members. Aims & Objectives: The aim of this study is to see the relationship of housing and family with depression among pregnant women. Material & Methods: This is a community based cross sectional study of 220 pregnant women in 10 randomly selected villages of Chiraigaon, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh during one year period; using predesigned, pretested and semi structured interview schedule for assessing housing and family conditions. Results: Depression was found to be more in women living in kutcha house, nuclear family and illiterate husband, husband as head of family and belonging to lower socio-economic status. Increasing number of female child also increases depression. Conclusion: Housing structure, education of husband, socio-economic status and number of daughters should be assessed in every pregnant woman as these affect depressive state of pregnant women which can adversely affect the outcome of pregnancy

EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HUMAN RESOURCES RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION

This study provides an empirical evaluation of AI's function in the field of human resources (HR) hiring and selection. Human resources departments may save time and effort by using sophisticated algorithms and machine learning to efficiently sort through piles of applicants and make well-informed decisions. The potential for AI to lessen the prevalence of unconscious bias in the recruiting process is an especially particular advantage. Furthermore, the incorporation of AI into the recruiting process has improved the candidate experience via the use of real-time interaction technologies such as chatbots. Despite its benefits, integrating AI into HR is not without its share of difficulties, most notably protecting employee data and avoiding becoming too dependent on digital tools. The research highlights the need of a unified strategy, which strikes a balance between the efficacy of AI and that of human judgment

ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET IN MODERN APPAREL: THE ROLE OF MACHINE LEARNING IN DRIVING SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION

The apparel industry is on the cusp of a significant transformation, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit that embraces innovative approaches and sustainable practices. This study investigates the incorporation of ML in the contemporary apparel industry, highlighting its potential to promote transformative sustainable practices. Focusing on garment firms, the study demonstrates how ML is being used to be Source eco-friendly materials, reduce waste ,improve energy efficiency, increase supply chain transparency. The study also draws on qualitative insights from industry experts to identify the possibilities and challenges of integrating ML within the apparel industry. Overall, the study highlights the paradigm shift underway in the apparel industry, driven by an entrepreneurial mindset and facilitated by ML technology. This study functions as a guiding light, directing policymakers, industry leaders, and academics towards the advancement of a balanced integration of ML and sustainable entrepreneurship in modern apparel practices

Abortion Law awareness and Abortion Services Utilization among reproductive age women of Inarwa municipality of Eastern Nepal

Introduction: Globally, reproductive health and quality of life among female population has been found to be unsatisfactory in developing world. Until 1963, Nepal’s 1854 legal code known as MulukiAin was revised numerous times that banned abortion exempting risk of women’s life. Enactment of New Abortion Policy from 2003 brought landmark reforms to the women’s choice in family planning methods and ended the sufferings of lengthy prison sentences for abortion crimes. This study was conducted to explore the level of awareness about abortion law with regard to health care utilization among women of reproductive age group along with its association with socio-demographic characteristics. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2014, in Inarwa Municipality among women of reproductive age group (16 to 49 years). Convenient sampling was done to collect data from households. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS 11.5 and presented in tabular form. Chi-square test was used to show association of awareness of abortion law and socio-demographic variables. Results: education, age at first marriage and age at 1st pregnancy was found to be significant (p value: <0.005). Conclusion: As media was the most used source of information, more education on awareness of abortion law and health care utilization should be disseminated through this medium

Phenotypic Characterization of Multidrug-resistant Escherichia Coli with Special Reference to Extended-spectrum-beta-lactamases and Metallo-beta-lactamases in a Tertiary Care Center

Introduction: The increasing reports on extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase and metallo-betalactamase producing Escherichia coli have addressed a potential threat to global health since it is found to be highly resistance to most of the currently available antibiotics including carbapenems. The present study was aimed to determine the antibiogram of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase and metallo-beta-lactamase producing MDR E. coli isolates from various clinical samples. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted over a period of seven months (December 2013 to July 2014) at bacteriology laboratory of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. A total of 250 clinical specimens (urine, pus, sputum, blood, body fluid, bile, tissue and central venous pressure line tip) were processed from inpatients, with multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli infections. Standard microbiological techniques were used for isolation and identification of the isolates. The presence of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase was detected by phenotypic confirmatory test recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and imipenem (IMP) /EDTA combined disc method was performed to detect metallo-beta-lactamase mediated resistance mechanism. Results: We found high level of beta lactamase mediated resistance mechanism as part of multidrug resistance. Among 250 MDR isolates, 60% isolates were extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase producers and 17.2% isolates were metallo-beta-lactamase producers. Co-existence of extended-spectrum-betalactamase and metallo-beta-lactamase identified in 6.8% isolates. Conclusions: Beta-lactamase mediated resistance mechanisms are accounting very high in the multidrug resistant isolates of E. coli. Therefore, early detection of beta lactamase mediated resistant strains and their current antibiotic susceptibility pattern is necessary to avoid treatment failure and prevent the spread of MDR.  Keywords: e. coli; extended-spectrum-β-lactamase; metallo-β-lactamase; multidrug-resistance

Targeting Apoptotic Pathway of Cancer Cells with Phytochemicals and Plant-Based Nanomaterials

Apoptosis is the elimination of functionally non-essential, neoplastic, and infected cells via the mitochondrial pathway or death receptor pathway. The process of apoptosis is highly regulated through membrane channels and apoptogenic proteins. Apoptosis maintains cellular balance within the human body through cell cycle progression. Loss of apoptosis control prolongs cancer cell survival and allows the accumulation of mutations that can promote angiogenesis, promote cell proliferation, disrupt differentiation, and increase invasiveness during tumor progression. The apoptotic pathway has been extensively studied as a potential drug target in cancer treatment. However, the off-target activities of drugs and negative implications have been a matter of concern over the years. Phytochemicals (PCs) have been studied for their efficacy in various cancer cell lines individually and synergistically. The development of nanoparticles (NPs) through green synthesis has added a new dimension to the advancement of plant-based nanomaterials for effective cancer treatment. This review provides a detailed insight into the fundamental molecular pathways of programmed cell death and highlights the role of PCs along with the existing drugs and plant-based NPs in treating cancer by targeting its programmed cell death (PCD) network

Polyphenols Sensitization Potentiates Susceptibility of MCF-7 and MDA MB-231 Cells to Centchroman

Polyphenols as “sensitizers” together with cytotoxic drugs as “inducers” cooperate to trigger apoptosis in various cancer cells. Hence, their combination having similar mode of mechanism may be a novel approach to enhance the efficacy of inducers. Additionally, this will also enable to achieve the physiological concentrations facilitating significant increase in the activity at concentrations which the compound can individually provide. Here we propose that polyphenols (Resveratrol (RES) and Curcumin (CUR)) pre-treatment may sensitize MCF-7/MDA MB-231 (Human Breast Cancer Cells, HBCCs) to Centchroman (CC, antineoplastic agent). 6 h pre-treated cells with 10 µM RES/CUR and 100 µM RES/30 µM CUR doses, followed by 10 µM CC for 18 h were investigated for Ser-167 ER-phosphorylation, cell cycle arrest, redox homeostasis, stress activated protein kinase (SAPKs: JNK and p38 MAPK) pathways and downstream apoptosis effectors. Low dose RES/CUR enhances the CC action through ROS mediated JNK/p38 as well as mitochondrial pathway in MCF-7 cells. However, RES/CUR sensitization enhanced apoptosis in p53 mutant MDA MB-231 cells without/with involvement of ROS mediated JNK/p38 adjunct to Caspase-9. Contrarily, through high dose sensitization in CC treated cells, the parameters remained unaltered as in polyphenols alone. We conclude that differential sensitization of HBCCs with low dose polyphenol augments apoptotic efficacy of CC. This may offer a novel approach to achieve enhanced action of CC with concomitant reduction of side effects enabling improved management of hormone-dependent breast cancer