Women Empowerment through Self Help Group: A Theoretical Perspective

Most of the great works accomplished in the human civilization can be attributed to the groups rather than a single individual. Group approach to decision making and programme implementation has long been employed in various areas including politics – almost all the difficult matters are referred to committees. Most of the successful functioning organisations be it at micro level ( a single firm ) or at macro level ( parliament, as for instance ) reinforce the significance of group approach to problem solving. This paper explores the impact of participation in Self Help Groups on the empowerment of women in the context of the great importance being given to the group approach while conceptualizing any programme for rural women. The present paper looks at various dimensions of empowerment – political, material, cognitive, perceptual and relational. Access to credit can help in expansion of material base of women by enabling them to start and expand small businesses, often accompanied by market access; the women also experienced ‘Power within’: feelings of freedom, strength, self- identity and increases in levels of confidence and self-esteem. However, gender discrimination is most deeply entrenched in the family, evident in bias attitudes towards the fairer sex. At the social level, an encouraging trend is that women have been able to challenge the norm of purdah. Besides, involvement in SHGs has enabled women to have a voice in the community affairs and they have been able to tackle problems which not only tend to impoverish the lives of women but the society in general.This paper sets the stage for argument and discussion that whether the SHGs can also be used as a tool to motivate the women to increase their role in political arena or not. Though women face handicaps to their involvement in politics, their participation in SHGs has a great potential to alter this trend and these women can be prospective leaders in the political field. Democracy has the greatest role to play but which role it continues to be vague. It may be comparatively easier to ensure material change than to cause a change in power structures and the ideologies and attitudes which accompany them. However, no milieu is static, and some of the recommendations for a way forward include providing a convergence of inputs, ensuring a proactive involvement of women in the program, changing social norms and perceptions and anchoring with wider movements of political and social change

ADVANCED APPROACH FOR TRICHROMY FORMULATION IN CONTINUOUS DYEING

Reactive dye fixation to color yield of dyed cellulosic fibre significantly depend on the dye diffusion extent into the fibre polymer matrix. In case of pad-dyeing process dye diffusion exerts more significant influence on dye fixation, consequently color yield takes place. Dye selection concepts based on performance tests requires tedious experimental work which remains always very difficult in continuous processes. In order to overcome this problem, this research work will provide an appropriate platform to understand and optimize the diffusion coefficient which plays important role in best trichromy selection by converting visual performance tests into data. The dye diffusion extent of reactive dyes into the fibre in pad dyeing using Kubelka-Munk equation is the correct for optimization and judicious dye selection. Dye diffusion index influences the dye fixation, ultimate color yield to color fastness of dyed fibre to digital color values. Various characterization techniques like affinity of different dyes by capillary test method, diffusion extent of individual dye by kubelka- munk equation method, drop test of individual dye its conversion into data form and dry migration of these dyes using disc method are used in this study

Solid Substrate Fermentation of Mycoherbicidal Agent Alternaria alternata FGCC#25

Optimization of suitable fermentation technology for mass production of mycoherbicides is the main aim of the present study and selection of suitable cheaper and easily available agro-waste substrate for the mass production of mycoherbicidal agent. Alternaria alternata FGCC#25 which is highly effective bionerbicidal agent against Lantana camara L is the main objective of this study. The out come of the study indicates that host leaf was most suitable solid substrate for the mass production of the mycoherbicidal agent Alternaria alternata FGCC#25 (1.36 x 108 spores/gm) for the effective managements of the weed Lantana camara L

Assessment of Carbon Storage and Biomass on Minelands Reclaimed to Grassland Environments Using Landsat Spectral Indices

This study investigated carbon (C) storage and biomass in grasslands of West Virginia reclaimed surface minesites. Mine-related disturbance and subsequent reclamation may be an important component of C cycling. Biomass and C storage generally increased for the first five years after reclamation, but then declined, suggesting a nonlinear pattern to vegetation recovery. Three 2007 Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper and Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus images were used to assess the potential to predict biomass from raw red and near infrared radiance, the tasseled cap transformation (TC), and four vegetation indices [normalized difference vegetation index, enhanced vegetation index (EVI), triangular vegetation index, and the soil adjusted vegetation index]. TC greenness and EVI were most strongly correlated with biomass and illustrate a modest potential for monitoring vegetation recovery in reclaimed minelands. Additionally, a number of regression models that included age since reclamation and spectral indices were statistically significant suggesting a temporal recovery pattern amongst minesites in this study

Bucky Tubes Induce Oxidative Stress Mediated Cell Death in Human Lung Cells

Unique physicochemical properties of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) have opened a new era for therapeutics and diagnosis (known as theranostics) of various diseases. This exponential increase in application makes them important for toxicology studies. The present study was aimed at exploring the toxic potential of one of the CNMs, that is, bucky tubes (BTs), in human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cell line. BTs were characterised by electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Flow cytometric study showed a concentration and time dependent increase in intracellular internalization as well as reduction in cell viability upon exposure to BTs. However, a significant increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was observed as evident by increased fluorescence intensity of 2',7' - dichlorofluorescein (DCF). BTs induced oxidative stress in cells as evident by depletion in glutathione with concomitant increase in lipid peroxidationwith increasing concentrations. Asignificant increase in micronucleus formation and apoptotic cell population and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) as compared to control were observed. Moreover, in the present study, BTs were found to be mild toxic and it is encouraging to conclude that BTs having outer diameter in the range of 7-12 nm and length 0.5-10 mu m can be used for theranostics

Probing on green long persistent Eu2+/Dy3+ doped Sr3SiAl4O11 emerging phosphor for security applications

Herein, a novel green emitting long-persistent Sr(3)SiAl(4)O(1)1:Eu2+/Dy3+ phosphor was synthesized in a single phase form using facile solid state reaction method under the reducing atmosphere of 10% H-2 and 90% N-2. The resulting phosphor exhibits hyper-sensitive strong broad green emission, peaking at 510 nm upon 340 nm excitation wavelength, which is attributed to the 4f(6)5d(1)-4f(7) transitions of emission center of europium (Eu2+) ions. Moreover, the incorporation of dysprosium (Dy3+) ions, which act as effective hole trap centers with appropriate depth, largely enhances the photoluminescence characteristics and greatly improves the persistent intense luminescence behavior of Sr3SiAl4O11:Eu2+/Dy3+ phosphor under ultraviolet (UV) excitation. In addition, with the optimum doping concentration and sufficient UV excitation time period, the as-synthesized phosphor can be persisted afterglow for time duration similar to 4 h with maximum luminescence intensity. Thus, these results suggest that this phosphor could be expected as an ultimate choice for next generation advanced luminescent materials in security applications such as latent finger-marks detection, photo-masking induced phosphorescent images, and security code detection

Recent advances made in the synthesis of small drug molecules for clinical applications : An insight

Over decades dependency of humans on the drugs has become indispensable and irreplaceable. Thus, each year many new drugs are licensed. Nonetheless, drugs undergo rigorous testing and analysis to be available globally in economic price for the suitability of patients with different age and physiological conditions. The testing of drugs include phase I clinical trial using small group of 20–100 healthy volunteers for safety, pharmacology and efficacy; phase II clinical trial using 100–500 volunteer patients to optimize effective dose, dose interval, safety analysis and mode of delivery such as oral or intravenous; phase III clinical trial using 1000–5000 in a larger population of patients globally at different international places to collect sufficient safety and efficacy data for patenting and licencing. Moreover, thousands of drugs fail to achieve these objectives. Therefore, this mini-review intends to critically examine and assimilate the clinical applications of selected complex repurposed small drug molecules which are in different phase of trials for treating viral infection including complications due to COVID-19: (a) Remdesivir, (b) Galidesivir, (c) Favipiravir, (d) Baricitinib, and (e) Baloxavir

Knock Down of Heat Shock Protein 27 (HspB1) Induces Degradation of Several Putative Client Proteins

Hsp27 belongs to the heat shock protein family and displays chaperone properties in stress conditions by holding unfolded polypeptides, hence avoiding their inclination to aggregate. Hsp27 is often referenced as an anti-cancer therapeutic target, but apart from its well-described ability to interfere with different stresses and apoptotic processes, its role in non-stressed conditions is still not well defined. In the present study we report that three polypeptides (histone deacetylase HDAC6, transcription factor STAT2 and procaspase-3) were degraded in human cancerous cells displaying genetically decreased levels of Hsp27. In addition, these proteins interacted with Hsp27 complexes of different native size. Altogether, these findings suggest that HDAC6, STAT2 and procaspase-3 are client proteins of Hsp27. Hence, in non stressed cancerous cells, the structural organization of Hsp27 appears to be a key parameter in the regulation by this chaperone of the level of specific polypeptides through client-chaperone type of interactions

Can community action improve equity for maternal health and how does it do so? Research findings from Gujarat, India

BACKGROUND: Efforts to work with civil society to strengthen community participation and action for health are particularly important in Gujarat, India, given that the state has resources and capacity, but faces challenges in ensuring that services reach those most in need. To contribute to the knowledge base on accountability and maternal health, this study examines the equity effects of community action for maternal health led by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) on facility deliveries. It then examines the underlying implementation processes with implications for strengthening accountability of maternity care across three districts of Gujarat, India. Community action for maternal health entailed NGOs a) working with community collectives to raise awareness about maternal health entitlements, b) supporting community monitoring of outreach government services, and c) facilitating dialogue with government providers and authorities with report cards based on community monitoring of maternal health. METHODS: The study combined qualitative data (project documents and 56 stakeholder interviews thematically analyzed) with quantitative data (2395 women's self-reported receipt of information on entitlements and use of services over 3 years of implementation monitored prospectively through household visits). Multivariable logistic regression examined delivery care seeking and equity. RESULTS: In the marginalised districts, women reported substantial increases in receipt of information of entitlements and utilization of antenatal and delivery care. In the marginalized and wealthier districts, a switch from private facilities to public ones was observed for the most vulnerable. Supportive implementation factors included a) alignment among NGO organizational missions, b) participatory development of project tools, c) repeated capacity building and d) government interest in improving utilization and recognition of NGO contributions. Initial challenges included a) confidence and turnover of volunteers, b) complexity of the monitoring tool and c) scepticism from both communities and providers. CONCLUSION: With capacity and trust building, NGOs supporting community based collectives to monitor health services and engage with health providers and local authorities, over time overcame implementation challenges to strengthen public sector services. These accountability efforts resulted in improvements in utilisation of public sector services and a shift away from private care seeking, particularly for the marginalised