Gender and climate change framework for analysis, policy & action

"This paper by Jyoti Parikh provides a framework to anlayse gender and climate change concerns keeping in view the strengths and vulnerability of poor ‐ women in particular. The author also provides policy recommendations for policies and actions.

Violence against women in Corregidora, Mexico: the disconnect between women experiences and stakeholders' views

There is a paucity of official data on violence against women (VAW) in Mexico. Two-hundred and seventy-two household surveys and seven focus group discussions with 50 women were conducted to explore women’s experiences of VAW in public spaces in Corregidora, Mexico. Seven semi-structured interviews with stakeholders were carried out to understand their knowledge of VAW and reduction measures through infrastructure delivery and urban planning. Results showed that the most common and recurring type of VAW was catcalling, and 39 per cent of survey participants experienced at least one type of VAW. Government stakeholders appeared either unaware of the extent of VAW or were dismissive of its impact. The disconnect between women’s experiences and stakeholders’ views has implications for the design and implementation of safety measures for women

Carboplatin in BRCA1/2-mutated and triple-negative breast cancer BRCAness subgroups: the TNT Trial

Germline mutations in BRCA1/2 predispose individuals to breast cancer (termed germline-mutated BRCA1/2 breast cancer, gBRCA-BC) by impairing homologous recombination (HR) and causing genomic instability. HR also repairs DNA lesions caused by platinum agents and PARP inhibitors. Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) harbor subpopulations with BRCA1/2 mutations, hypothesized to be especially platinum-sensitive. Cancers in putative ‘BRCAness’ subgroups—tumors with BRCA1 methylation; low levels of BRCA1 mRNA (BRCA1 mRNA-low); or mutational signatures for HR deficiency and those with basal phenotypes—may also be sensitive to platinum. We assessed the efficacy of carboplatin and another mechanistically distinct therapy, docetaxel, in a phase 3 trial in subjects with unselected advanced TNBC. A prespecified protocol enabled biomarker–treatment interaction analyses in gBRCA-BC and BRCAness subgroups. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). In the unselected population (376 subjects; 188 carboplatin, 188 docetaxel), carboplatin was not more active than docetaxel (ORR, 31.4% versus 34.0%, respectively; P = 0.66). In contrast, in subjects with gBRCA-BC, carboplatin had double the ORR of docetaxel (68% versus 33%, respectively; biomarker, treatment interaction P = 0.01). Such benefit was not observed for subjects with BRCA1 methylation, BRCA1 mRNA-low tumors or a high score in a Myriad HRD assay. Significant interaction between treatment and the basal-like subtype was driven by high docetaxel response in the nonbasal subgroup. We conclude that patients with advanced TNBC benefit from characterization of BRCA1/2 mutations, but not BRCA1 methylation or Myriad HRD analyses, to inform choices on platinum-based chemotherapy. Additionally, gene expression analysis of basal-like cancers may also influence treatment selection

The response to violence against women and fear of violence and the coping strategies of women in Corregidora, Mexico

This paper explores women's perceptions of sources of vulnerability to Violence Against Women (VAW) in urban public spaces and their response to this violence. The urban space of Corregidora municipality in Querétaro, Mexico was used as a case study. First-hand data on different types of VAW was gathered through 7 focus group discussions held with 50 women. The Socio-Ecological Framework (SEF) was used to analyse VAW at different levels, using a Social Construction of Space lens as a supportive conceptual framework to explore women's experience of VAW in public spaces. A Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design approach was used to develop targeted recommendations at each level of the SEF. The results show that improvements in infrastructure could be a way forward to prevent VAW in public spaces, such as the provision of lighting, reducing narrow access routes, sidewalks improvement and prioritisation of pedestrian mobility, rather than leaving the burden of responsibility of personal safety and protection to women

September 2013 The Impacts of Diesel Price Increases on India’s Trucking Industry

In the fiscal year 2011–12, under-recoveries 1 incurred by Indian oil-marketing companies for diesel rose to an all-time high of INR81,192 crore (US$15 billion) (Government of India, 2012a). Diesel constitutes 38 per cent of all petroleum products consumed in India, some 65 per cent of which are used in transportation activities (Anand, 2012)