Nano catalysed Biginelli type reaction in green reaction media

102-109Green chemical approach has been developed by using ionic liquid [MIM-H] CCl3 and TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)-one (DHPMs) derivatives 4a-r. The formed compounds have been characterised by IR, 1H and 13C NMR and mass spectrometry

Women as forest managers : the effect of men's outmigration

Das Programm der Gemeinschaftswälder in Nepal zielt darauf ab, die benachteiligten Bevölkerungsgruppen, wie z.B. Frauen, in Entscheidungen über die Bewirtschaftung der natürlichen Ressourcen einzubeziehen. Nach drei Jahrzehnten ist die Bilanz jedoch nicht so positiv wie erhofft. Empirische Erhebungen haben eine Reihe diskriminierender sozialer Strukturen identifiziert, die die aktive Beteiligung der Frauen einschränken. Derzeit wird in den mittleren Höhenlagen Nepals der Trend beobachtet, dass Männer auf Arbeitssuche auswandern. Die führt zu Änderung in den sozialen Strukturen, und kann neue Möglichkeiten für die aktive Beteiligung der Frauen in der Waldbewirtschaftung bieten. Die vorliegende Studie analysiert wie sich die soziale Dynamik, die durch die Auswanderung der Männer verursacht wird, auf die aktive Beteiligung der Frauen in die Entscheidungsprozesse zur Bewirtschaftung der Gemeinschaftswälder auswirkt. Im Rahmen einer Fallstudie wurden qualitative und quantitative Daten in vier Gemeinschaftswaldbenutzergruppen (community forest user groups, CFUG) in Nepal gesammelt. Es wurden Interviews mit Auskunftspersonen, eine umfangreiche mündliche Befragung, Tiefeninterviews mit Frauen und Fokusgruppendiskussionen abgehalten. Als theoretische Konzepte wurden feministische Theorien, Gendertheorien, Agency- und Strukturtheorien herangezogen. Die Ergebnisse aus der Fallstudie zeigen dass die Auswanderung der Männer die Beteiligung der Frauen in den Entscheidungsgremien der CFUG erhöhen kann. Jedoch hängt diese Beteiligung von einer Reihe Einflussfaktoren ab, allen voran die Familienstruktur (insb. die Anwesenheit erwachsener Männer). Im sozialen Kontext, der als dynamisch angesehen wird, verwenden Frauen eine Reihe mikrosozialer Prozesse um die Entscheidungen, die den Gemeinschaftswald betreffen, zu beeinflussen. Auch verwenden sie diese Prozesse um ihre Rechte und soziale Rolle schrittweise zu verändern. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass es wesentlich ist, die Beteiligung der Frauen nicht ausschließlich anhand von leicht messbaren Indikatoren zu beurteilen, sondern die Beteiligung als Prozess zu sehen, ein Prozess der die Rahmenbedingungen (z.B. die politischen Unruhen) berücksichtigt. Aus der Fallstudie wurden theoretische und methodologische Anregungen, sowie Politikempfehlungen abgeleitet.The community forestry programme of Nepal aims to strengthen the participation of disadvantaged communities, such as women, in the management of natural resources. However, even after three decades, women's active participation remains a challenge. Empirical studies point to various discriminating social structures and mechanisms as factors limiting women's participation. The current trend towards mens outmigration, as observed in the Mid-hills of Nepal, is changing these social structures and might offer new opportunities for womens engagement in community forestry. This research investigates how the dynamic social context brought about by mens outmigration affects womens participation in community forest management. Employing a case study approach, data were collected from four community forest user groups in the Mid-hills of Nepal, using key informant interviews, a survey, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Theoretical concepts such as feminism, gender, and the agency-structure debate were used to guide data analysis. The case study shows that mens outmigration can increase womens participation in community forest management. However, different structural factors, especially family composition, mediate this influence. In the social context, that is understood as dynamic, women use various microsocial processes to influence forest management decisions as well as shape their roles and rights. Moreover, the findings indicate the need of understanding womens participation as a transformative process that is adaptive and responsive to the changing social context. This process is not well captured by quantitative surveys or statistical data. To adequately assess the progress in women's participation, complementary qualitative methods need to be used. These findings allow deriving theoretical, methodological and policy recommendations to support womens empowerment and their effective participation in the management of community forests. Thus, a nuanced look at social processes is essential to ensure that increasing womens active participation in programmes like community forestry is achieved through a socially just change process that is both adaptive to the changing social context and transformative against discriminating power relations.Kalpana GiriAbweichender Titel laut Übersetzung der Verfasserin/des VerfassersZsfassung in dt. SpracheWien, Univ. für Bodenkultur, Diss., 2009OeBB(VLID)193184

Understanding psychological distress among mothers in rural Nepal:A qualitative grounded theory exploration

BACKGROUND: There is a large burden of psychological distress in low and middle-income countries, and culturally relevant interventions must be developed to address it. This requires an understanding of how distress is experienced. We conducted a qualitative grounded theory study to understand how mothers experience and manage distress in Dhanusha, a low-resource setting in rural Nepal. We also explored how distressed mothers interact with their families and the wider community. METHODS: Participants were identified during a cluster-randomised controlled trial in which mothers were screened for psychological distress using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). We conducted 22 semi-structured interviews with distressed mothers (GHQ-12 score ≥5) and one with a traditional healer (dhami), as well as 12 focus group discussions with community members. Data were analysed using grounded theory methods and a model was developed to explain psychological distress in this setting. RESULTS: We found that distress was termed tension by participants and mainly described in terms of physical symptoms. Key perceived causes of distress were poor health, lack of sons, and fertility problems. Tension developed in a context of limited autonomy for women and perceived duty towards the family. Distressed mothers discussed several strategies to alleviate tension, including seeking treatment for perceived physical health problems and tension from doctors or dhamis, having repeated pregnancies until a son was delivered, manipulating social circumstances in the household, and deciding to accept their fate. Their ability to implement these strategies depended on whether they were able to negotiate with their in-laws or husbands for resources. CONCLUSIONS: Vulnerability, as a consequence of gender and social disadvantage, manifests as psychological distress among mothers in Dhanusha. Screening tools incorporating physical symptoms of tension should be envisaged, along with interventions to address gender inequity, support marital relationships, and improve access to perinatal healthcare

RS3PE revisited: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 331 cases.

OBJECTIVES: Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema (RS(3)PE) syndrome is a rare inflammatory arthritis, characterised by symmetrical distal synovitis, pitting oedema of the hands and feet, absence of rheumatoid factor, and favourable response to glucocorticoids. The aim of our study is to further delineate the clinical and laboratory features, and response to treatment. METHODS: We performed a systematic electronic search of Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, ACR and EULAR databases for case reports, case series, and related articles of RS(3)PE. Statistical analysis was done comparing categorical variables with Chi-square tests and frequencies of means via t-tests. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of erosions, recurrence, malignancy and rheumatologic disorders. RESULTS: 331 cases of RS(3)PE were identified from 121 articles. RS(3)PE was found in older patients (71±10.42 years) predominantly in males (n= 211, 63.36%), was symmetrical (n=297/311, 95.50%) involved the hands (n=294/311, 94.53%) A concurrent rheumatologic condition was reported in 22 cases (6.65%), and malignancy in 54 cases (16.31%). Radiographic joint erosions were found in 5.5%. Most patients responded to medium-dose glucocorticoids (16.12±9.5 mg/day). Patients with concurrent malignancy requiring non-significantly higher doses of prednisone (18.12 vs. 15.76 mg, p 0.304) and higher likelihood of recurrence of disease (OR 4.04, 95% CI 1.10-14.88, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The symptoms and unique findings that make up RS(3)PE appear to represent a steroid-responsive disease that may be a harbinger of an underlying malignancy. More study is needed to understand the molecular origins of RS(3)PE in order to determine whether it is a separate disease process. Patients with concurrent cancer tend to have more severe presentations and higher rates of recurrence

The effect of curcumin (turmeric) on Alzheimer's disease: An overview

This paper discusses the effects of curcumin on patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Curcumin (Turmeric), an ancient Indian herb used in curry powder, has been extensively studied in modern medicine and Indian systems of medicine for the treatment of various medical conditions, including cystic fibrosis, haemorrhoids, gastric ulcer, colon cancer, breast cancer, atherosclerosis, liver diseases and arthritis. It has been used in various types of treatments for dementia and traumatic brain injury. Curcumin also has a potential role in the prevention and treatment of AD. Curcumin as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipophilic action improves the cognitive functions in patients with AD. A growing body of evidence indicates that oxidative stress, free radicals, beta amyloid, cerebral deregulation caused by bio-metal toxicity and abnormal inflammatory reactions contribute to the key event in Alzheimer's disease pathology. Due to various effects of curcumin, such as decreased Beta-amyloid plaques, delayed degradation of neurons, metal-chelation, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and decreased microglia formation, the overall memory in patients with AD has improved. This paper reviews the various mechanisms of actions of curcumin in AD and pathology