Commercial gestational surrogacy: unravelling the threads between reproductive tourism and child trafficking

Narratives of commercial gestational surrogacy (CGS) as ‘baby-selling’ often conflate or interchange the transfer of children born via surrogacy with trafficking in children or the sale of children, two sometimes overlapping but nonetheless distinct offenses. Moreover, anti-trafficking laws have been used to police cross-border CGS. But when do CGS arrangements fall within the category of legitimate ‘reproductive tourism’ and when do they amount to child trafficking? In this paper I critically explore intersections between human trafficking laws and CGS, vis-à-vis the child, charting the relevant trafficking laws in the context of international surrogacy, and analysing whether trafficking laws are an appropriate mechanism through which to regulate CGS. I conclude that while child trafficking might occur via surrogacy, CGS in itself is not child trafficking under international law

Osjetljiva kinetička spektrofotometrijska metoda za određivanje kaptoprila

A simple and sensitive kinetic spectrophotometric method has been developed. The method is based on the reduction of Fe(III) with captopril. Fe(II) then reacts with potassium ferricyanide, resulting in the formation of a blue product. The reaction is followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the rate of change of absorbance at 730 nm. Thus, 1.23 × 10-3 mol L-1 FeCl3 and 3.04 × 10-4 mol L-1 potassium ferricyanide were used as optimum values for maximum concentration of captopril in the calibration graph. The initial rate is utilized for constructing the calibration graph, which was found to be linear in the range 4.60 × 10–6–5.06 × 10–5 mol L-1; detection limit is 1.99 × 10–7 mol L-1. The proposed method has been validated; the mean recovery ranges from 99.8–101.4% with RSD < 2%. Common excipients do not interfere with the determination. The point and interval hypotheses tests have been performed and confirmed that there is no significant difference between the proposed method and conventional spectrophotometric method. The experimental true bias of all samples is lower than ± 2.0%. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of captopril in bulk and dosage forms.Razvijena je jednostavna osjetljiva kinetička spektrofotometrijska metoda za određivanje kaptoprila. Metoda se temelji na redukciji Fe(III) u Fe(II) koji zatim s kalijevim fericijanidom daje plavo obojeni produkt. Nastajanje produkta praćeno je spektrofotometrijski na valnoj duljini 730 nm. Optimalne koncentracije FeCl3 i potassium ferricyanida bile su 1,23 × 10-3 mol L-1, odnosno 3,04 × 10-4 mol L-1. Početna brzina upotrebljena je za izradu baždarnog pravca. Linearnost je postignuta u koncentracijskom području od 4,60 × 10–6 do 5,06 × 10–5 mol L-1; granica detekcije bila je 1,99 × 10–7 mol L-1. Predložena metoda je validirana. Srednja vrijednost analitičkog povrata iznosila je 99,8–101,4% uz RSD < 2%. Uobičajeni ekscipiensi nisu smetali određivanju. Ispitivanja hipoteze točke i intervala potvrdila su da nema značajne razlike između predložene metode i opisane spektrofotometrijske metode. Stvarna eksperimentalna pogreška za sve uzorke bila je manja od ± 2%. Opisana metoda primijenjena je za određivanje kaptoprila kao čiste supstancije i u ljekovitom pripravku

Ovarian Steroid Cell Tumour: Correlation of Histopathology with Clinicopathologic Features

Ovarian steroid cell tumours (not otherwise specified) are rare neoplasms of the ovary and are classified under lipid cell tumours. Their diagnosis can be considered as one of exclusion. Histopathologically, the tumour should carefully be evaluated for microscopic features of malignancy, but it is essential for the clinician and the pathologist to remember that in these tumours, pathologically benign histomorphology does not exclude the possibility of clinically malignant behaviour. Our case study focuses on the comparative findings in a postmenopausal female diagnosed with an ovarian steroid tumour (not otherwise specified). A careful correlation between clinical and surgical evaluation and microscopic analysis is necessary, as is a regular followup

Quantitative assessment on remote code execution vulnerability in web apps

With the exponential increasing use of online tools, applications that are being made for day to day purpose by small and large industries, the threat of exploitation is also increasing. Remote Code Execution (RCE) is one of the top most critical and serious web applications vulnerability of this era and one of the major concerns among cyber threats ,which can exploit web servers through their functionalities and using their scripts/files. RCE is an application layer vulnerability caused by careless coding practice which leads to a huge security breach that may bring unwanted resource loss or damages. Attacker may execute malicious code and take complete control of the targeted system with the privileges of an authentic user with this vulnerability. Attackers can attempt to advance their privileges after gaining access to the system. Remote Code Execution can lead to a full compromise of the vulnerable web application as well as the web server. This chapter highlights the concern and risk needed to put under consideration caused by RCE vulnerability of a system. Moreover, this study and its findings will help application developers and its stakeholders to understand the risk of data compromise and unauthorized access of the system. Around 1011 web applications were taken under consideration and experiment was done by following manual double blinded penetration testing strategy. The experiments shows that more than 12% web application were found vulnerable with RCE. This study also explicitly listed down the critical factors of Remote Code Execution vulnerability and improper input handling. The experimental results are promising to motivate developers to focus on security enhancement through proper and safe input handling

Analysis of Crosstalk Noise for 2π RC Model considering Interconnect Parameters in Deep Submicron VLSI Circuit

As the technology enters into deep sub-micron region, signal integrity is becoming a very crucial parameter. In order to deal with the challenges associated with signal integrity problem, such as, crosstalk noise and delay, estimation and minimizing techniques should be addressed with great importance. Along with this, the peak noise amplitude and noise width values in the sensitive node must be verified and confirmed that they are below the certain threshold levels. Hence, for a particular range of frequency, an accurate and efficient crosstalk noise estimation model is necessary to confirm the signal integrity. Therefore, this work aims to analyse the crosstalk noise between two interconnect lines using 2π RC model, and considering its physical parameters, such as the parasitic capacitance, resistance and inductance and interconnect parameters, specifically the spacing between two interconnects, length, width, thickness, height from substrate in deep sub-micron VLSI circuit. In this paper, analytical expressions for peak noise amplitude and noise width in 2π model with RC interconnects for unit step input were derived, and then it was simulated in MATLAB and HSPICE software platform. The MATLAB based results represent that 2π model possesses less errors, and showed better performance compared to some other popular models by adjusting the interconnecting parameters for any certain range of operating frequency. The HSPICE simulation justifies the accuracy of the approach with full satisfaction

Mental health status of early married girls during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study in the southwestern region of Bangladesh

BackgroundDue to unemployment, the prolonged lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic caused panic and deepened poverty, especially among lower-class and marginal people. The related financial crises led to harmful practices such as the early marriage of adolescent girls, which deteriorated these girl’s mental state.AimsThis study attempted to assess the prevalence of mental health problems among early married girls and determine the associated predictors of the growing mental health burden.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey was conducted during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Dumuria Upazila in the Khulna district of Bangladesh. Data were collected purposively from 304 girls who were married off during the COVID-19 pandemic, this was carried out between 22 July and 31 August 2022 by administering a semi-structured interview schedule, with mental health measured by the depression, anxiety, and stress scale 21 (DASS 21). The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 25), and multiple linear regression was executed in order to predict mental health problems among early married girls.ResultsThe findings show that the overall prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among early married girls during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh was 60.9% (95% CI: 0.554–0.663), 74.7% (95% CI: 0.698–0.796), and 23.7% (95% CI: 0.189–0.285). The prevalence was relatively higher among girls from the Sanatan (Hindu) religion and younger girls than among Muslim and older girls, respectively. The multiple linear regressions indicate that age, age at marriage, duration of the marriage, spousal occupation, intimate partner violence (IPV), and subjective happiness were the critical predictors of mental health problems among early married girls.ConclusionEarly marriage, along with various adverse outcomes, i.e., IPV, maladjustment, and poor subjective happiness, has resulted in heightened mental health problems for young girls. Policymakers should implement coercive measures to prevent early marriage, especially during social, economic, political, and health crises; in addition, more research is recommended in order to explore the mechanisms that make early married girls psychologically vulnerable and thus formulate protective and preventive programs for addressing such vulnerabilities

Assembling and (Re)assembling critical infrastructure resilience in Khulna City, Bangladesh

Extreme Weather Events continue to cause shocking losses of life and long-term damage at scales, depths and complexities that elude robust and accountable calculation, expression and reparation. Cyclones and storm surges can wipe out entire towns, and overwhelm vulnerable built and lived environments. It was storm surges that was integral to the destructive power of Hurricane Katrina in the USA (2005), Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines (2013), as well as Cyclone Nargis (2008) and the 1970 Bhola Cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. This paper report on work which concerns itself with the question of, given what we know already about such extreme weather events, and their associated critical infrastructure impacts and recovery trajectories, what scenarios, insights and tools might we develop to enable critical infrastructures which are resilient? With several of the world’s most climate vulnerable cities situated in well-peopled and rapidly growing urban areas near coasts, our case study of Khulna City speaks globally into a resilience discourse, through critical infrastructure, disaster risk reduction, through spatial data science and high visualisation. With a current population of 1.4 million estimated to rise to 2.9 million by 2030, dense historical Khulna City may well continue to perform a critical role in regional economic development and as well as a destination for environmental refugees. Working as part of the EU—CIRCLE consortium, we conduct a case study into cyclones and storm surges affecting the critical infrastructure then discuss salient developments of loss modelling. The research aims to contribute towards a practical framework that stimulates adaptive learning across multiple stakeholders and organisational genres

Nanoremediation technologies for sustainable remediation of contaminated environments: Recent advances and challenges

A major and growing concern within society is the lack of innovative and effective solutions to mitigate the challenge of environmental pollution. Uncontrolled release of pollutants into the environment as a result of urbanisation and industrialisation is a staggering problem of global concern. Although, the eco-toxicity of nanotechnology is still an issue of debate, however, nanoremediation is a promising emerging technology to tackle environmental contamination, especially dealing with recalcitrant contaminants. Nanoremediation represents an innovative approach for safe and sustainable remediation of persistent organic compounds such as pesticides, chlorinated solvents, brominated or halogenated chemicals, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and heavy metals. This comprehensive review article provides a critical outlook on the recent advances and future perspectives of nanoremediation technologies such as photocatalysis, nano-sensing etc., applied for environmental decontamination. Moreover, sustainability assessment of nanoremediation technologies was taken into consideration for tackling legacy contamination with special focus on health and environmental impacts. The review further outlines the ecological implications of nanotechnology and provides consensus recommendations on the use of nanotechnology for a better present and sustainable futur