A Contextual Analysis of the Feminization of Poverty in Urban Slums of Pakistan

The term “feminization of poverty” was coined by Diana Pearce in 1978 who claimed that women heads of households were the poorest of the poor (Pearce, 1978). This concept became very popular in the 1990s after the fourth United Nations Conference on Women. Yet, after a decade of research on the feminization of poverty, Sylvia Chant and many other researchers criticized the narrowness of the concept and highlighted the need of including the gender dimensions of poverty within the definition of feminization of poverty (Chant 2003; Moghadam 2005; Staveren & Odebode, 2007). The research on the feminization of poverty from 2010-2020 broadly focused on the poverty of women within men-headed households and highlighted intra-household gender inequalities when women are not given an equal share of the resources (Bradshaw, 2013; Bradshaw & Linneker, 2014; Chant, 2010; Gammage et al., 2016). The present research, therefore, focuses on the contextual notion of the feminisation of poverty, by viewing the poverty of women as a result of intra-household gender inequalities due to patriarchal structures. This paper looks at how the feminisation of poverty conceptualizes women living below poverty line, men living below the poverty line, and social welfare schemes carried out by the state, such as the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). We also question whether the feminisation of poverty has an effect on children (child education, child labor, and child marriage). The ontological and epistemological foundation of the present research is drawn from Standpoint Feminist Theory (SFT) coupled with the Social Relations Approach (SRA) associated with Kabeer (1994). The research is qualitative in nature, based on data from in-depth interviews, with women and men living in conditions of poverty. Data was also collected from selected employees of the Benazir Income Support Program

Dexamethasone Versus Ondansetron in Preventing Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting In Laparoscopic Surgery

Objective: To compare the efficacy of dexamethasone 8mg versus ondansetron 4mg in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy Methodology: This quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Holy Family Hospital from 29th July 2018 to 28th January 2019.  Anesthesia was induced with propofol (2mg/kg IV) and Atracurium (0.5 mg/kg IV) was given to facilitate tracheal intubation. Nalbuphine (0.2mg/kg) was used as analgesic.Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in Group A received 4mg ondansetron at end of surgery and Group B received 8mg dexamethasone at induction. Results: A total of 90 patients were included according to the inclusion criteria of the study. The mean age (years) in the study was 37.11+10.60 years. Frequency and percentage of nausea (up to 24 hours) among both the groups was 28 (62.2) and 28 (62.2) respectively (p-value = 1.0) while the frequency and percentage of vomiting (within 24 hours after extubation) was 28 (62.2) and 27 (60.0) respectively (p-value = 0.829) Conclusion: The study concluded that there was no significant difference dexamethasone and ondansetron in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting

Modelling and Simulation of a Manipulator with Stable Viscoelastic Grasping Incorporating Friction

Design, dynamics and control of a humanoid robotic hand based on anthropological dimensions, with joint friction, is modelled, simulated and analysed in this paper by using computer aided design and multibody dynamic simulation. Combined joint friction model is incorporated in the joints. Experimental values of coefficient of friction of grease lubricated sliding contacts representative of manipulator joints are presented. Human fingers deform to the shape of the grasped object (enveloping grasp) at the area of interaction. A mass-spring-damper model of the grasp is developed. The interaction of the viscoelastic gripper of the arm with objects is analysed by using Bond Graph modelling method. Simulations were conducted for several material parameters. These results of the simulation are then used to develop a prototype of the proposed gripper. Bond graph model is experimentally validated by using the prototype. The gripper is used to successfully transport soft and fragile objects. This paper provides information on optimisation of friction and its inclusion in both dynamic modelling and simulation to enhance mechanical efficiency

Residue Propensities, Discrimination and Binding Site Prediction of Adenine and Guanine Phosphates

Background: Adenine and guanine phosphates are involved in a number of biological processes such as cell signaling, metabolism and enzymatic cofactor functions. Binding sites in proteins for these ligands are often detected by looking for a previously known motif by alignment based search. This is likely to miss those where a similar binding site has not been previously characterized and when the binding sites do not follow the rule described by predefined motif. Also, it is intriguing how proteins select between adenine and guanine derivative with high specificity. Results: Residue preferences for AMP, GMP, ADP, GDP, ATP and GTP have been investigated in details with additional comparison with cyclic variants cAMP and cGMP. We also attempt to predict residues interacting with these nucleotides using information derived from local sequence and evolutionary profiles. Results indicate that subtle differences exist between single residue preferences for specific nucleotides and taking neighbor environment and evolutionary context into account, successful models of their binding site prediction can be developed. Conclusion: In this work, we explore how single amino acid propensities for these nucleotides play a role in the affinity and specificity of this set of nucleotides. This is expected to be helpful in identifying novel binding sites for adenine and guanine phosphates, especially when a known binding motif is not detectable

Residue propensities, discrimination and binding site prediction of adenine and guanine phosphates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adenine and guanine phosphates are involved in a number of biological processes such as cell signaling, metabolism and enzymatic cofactor functions. Binding sites in proteins for these ligands are often detected by looking for a previously known motif by alignment based search. This is likely to miss those where a similar binding site has not been previously characterized and when the binding sites do not follow the rule described by predefined motif. Also, it is intriguing how proteins select between adenine and guanine derivative with high specificity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Residue preferences for AMP, GMP, ADP, GDP, ATP and GTP have been investigated in details with additional comparison with cyclic variants cAMP and cGMP. We also attempt to predict residues interacting with these nucleotides using information derived from local sequence and evolutionary profiles. Results indicate that subtle differences exist between single residue preferences for specific nucleotides and taking neighbor environment and evolutionary context into account, successful models of their binding site prediction can be developed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this work, we explore how single amino acid propensities for these nucleotides play a role in the affinity and specificity of this set of nucleotides. This is expected to be helpful in identifying novel binding sites for adenine and guanine phosphates, especially when a known binding motif is not detectable.</p

IMPLEMENTATION OF FUZZY LOGIC CONTROLLERS AND SMES UNITS IN THE AUTOMATIC GENERATION CONTROL OF THREE-AREA INTERCONNECTED POWER SYSTEM

This paper provides an efficient method based on the fuzzy PID control scheme for the automatic generation control (AGC) of a three-area system. The model of hydel-thermal power system is established with the equations of dynamic behavior of the system. Control scheme is developed in Matlab-Simulink. Latest technology of super conducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) devices has also been studied as a supplementary energy source for the system. FLC theory together with the use of SMES units is the focus of our study for improved system dynamic response. Typical frequency and active power responses have been illustrated using the simulation techniques of the Simulink program. Results of FLC including SMES have been compared with the conventional PID controllers and it is proved that the system performance improves significantly.&nbsp

An Action Plan for Adaptation in Bangladesh Agriculture under Climate Change

This report is the outcome of a study titled 'An Action Plan for Adaptation in Bangladesh Agriculture under Climate Change', carried out with support from the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). This report prepared by the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) delineates an action plan to prioritize adaptation options after considering the inputs by experts and scrutiny by stakeholders. It aims to promote precision agriculture and commercialization of crop agriculture with strong institutional and financial footing to tackle climate change