Short Term Investment in Agriculture: Is there a Gender Bias?

Most developing countries strive to improve agricultural productivity by relaxing credit constraints, supplying better inputs, improving marketing and distribution. However the efficacy of these reforms needs to be examined in the context of the behavioral responses of farming households. This study examines gender biases within households that affect short-term investments in agriculture. The study utilizes data from ICRISATs village level studies in India (1975-85) to highlight the effects of child gender on the use of agricultural inputs. The main finding is that households with boys tend to use purchased inputs such as fertilizers and insecticides more intensively compared with households with girls. In general, household with boys also tend to have larger land holdings, and use animal and human labor to a greater extent than household with girls.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Isotropic properties of the photonic band gap in quasicrystals with low-index contrast

We report on the formation and development of the photonic band gap in two-dimensional 8-, 10- and 12-fold symmetry quasicrystalline lattices of low index contrast. Finite size structures made of dielectric cylindrical rods were studied and measured in the microwave region, and their properties compared with a conventional hexagonal crystal. Band gap characteristics were investigated by changing the direction of propagation of the incident beam inside the crystal. Various angles of incidence from 0 \degree to 30\degree were used in order to investigate the isotropic nature of the band gap. The arbitrarily high rotational symmetry of aperiodically ordered structures could be practically exploited to manufacture isotropic band gap materials, which are perfectly suitable for hosting waveguides or cavities.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, submitted to PR

EFFECTS AND DETERMINANTS OF MILD UNDERWEIGHT AMONG PRESCHOOL CHILDREN ACROSS COUNTRIES AND OVER TIME

Research on malnutrition typically focuses on severe cases, where anthropometric status falls below or above an extreme threshold. Such categorization is necessary for clinicians since mild cases may not justify intervention, but researchers could find that changes in mild malnutrition convey valuable information about mortality risk and health status. This paper focuses on changes in both mild and severe underweight in young children, as measured by 130 DHS surveys for 53 countries over a period from 1986 to 2007. We find that counting variance in all forms of underweight provides closer correlations with aggregate health outcomes (the underfive child mortality rate), and is more closely correlated to several influences of malnutrition (national income, gender equality and agricultural output). We conclude that the full distribution of nutritional status deserves greater attention, including in this case the prevalence of mild underweight among preschool children in developing countries.Underweight, weight-for-height, wasting, child mortality, FGT measures, DHS data

INCIDENCE AND MANAGEMENT OF TREATMENT-RELATED SIDE EFFECTS FOR PATIENTS RECEIVING PLATINUM THERAPY IN AN OUTPATIENT ONCOLOGY CLINIC

  Objective: Platinum agents (PAs) are the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents, aiming to induce tumor cell death by cytotoxicity. This leads to have high potential for toxicity and adverse effects. The main objectives of this study were to describe the incidence of side effects caused by platinum therapy and to conclude the management of treatment-related side effects for patients receiving platinum therapy.Methods: A descriptive, retrospective study was carried out over a period of 9 months. Laboratory reports of 100 cancer patients were recorded. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0 and GraphPad Prism. A p<0.05 (95% confidence interval) was considered significantly throughout the study.Results: Among 100 patients 55% were male and 45% were female. A total of 70% (n=70) patients who received platinum compounds as chemotherapy regimen, among them 97.14% (n=68) patients appears to have anemia. Among the occurrence of adverse drug reactions, the incidence of anemia was found to be significant (n=68, 97.14%). Statistically significant difference was found in the incidence of anemia between PAs and non- PAs treated group (p=0.0001).Conclusion: Among PAs cisplatin-induced anemia and nephrotoxicity appears to be high in this study. There is a need to improve the management of anemia induced by PAs. Since anemia is preventable, this study emphasizes the need to improve the management of anemia induced by PAs

Race and Entrepreneurship: Reclaiming Narratives

This essay makes the case for engaging in counter-narratives and inclusive storytelling within the transactional clinic curriculum. The authors leverage lessons from Critical Race Theory to amplify the voices and experiences of underrepresented entrepreneurs and marginalized communities in both clinic seminar and selected casework. In doing so, we challenge hegemonic narratives of entrepreneurship and expose our law students to the presence and impact of interlocking systems of subordination that minimize the existence and contributions of entrepreneurs of color. We challenge our law students and ourselves to become more creative and thoughtful lawyers to a more inclusive and diverse set of client-entrepreneurs

Zika virus Concern and Preventative Behaviors During Pregnancy: Analysis of 2017 Georgia Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data

Background: Zika virus infection can cause severe health complications in pregnant women such as microcephaly and other congenital anomalies in the developing fetus but it can be prevented. It is imperative to develop an understanding of concern about Zika virus among pregnant women as this can influence their Zika virus preventative behaviors. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of Zika virus concern among women in Georgia with live births in 2017 and to examine the frequency of condom use among those who were sexually active during their most recent pregnancy. Methods: This cross- sectional study used secondary data collected by Georgia Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System in 2017. Descriptive analyses were performed on variables of interest. Chi squared tests examined associations between level of concern about Zika virus and socio-demographic variables. Results: A total of 955 women (age range 18-45) completed the survey. Less than half of the women (n =418,47.4%) reported they were concerned about Zika virus. Consistent use of condoms was not associated with the level of concern of Zika virus. Among the women, those of Hispanic race/ethnicity were more likely to consistently use condoms during their most recent pregnancy (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 11.37; 95%CI: 3.95-32.81) when compared to Non-Hispanic white women, and this association was found to be statistically significant (p\u3c0.0001). Conclusion: Consistent use of condoms by sexually active women in Georgia during pregnancy appears to vary by race/ethnicity for these women. Findings of this study point to opportunities for engagement on Zika virus awareness and help with refining risk messaging for prevention of Zika virus (or other diseases of global concern) to pregnant wome

HMPFIM-B: Hybrid Markov Penalized FCM in Mammograms for Breast Cancer

Mammography is an imaging tool which uses low dose low energy x-ray for early detection of tumours in breast. Currently there are number of image based software applications to assist radiologists for better screening. Segmentation is the best way for reliable diagnosis by reducing false rate. So here, we propose novel segmentation algorithm using fuzzy logic. This new approach uses penalized fuzzy c means clustering in mammographic image to give significant improved performance while screening mammogram. The real-time implementation of this paper can be implemented using hardware and software interface with the mammography systems

Preventing human immunodeficiency virus infection among sexual assault survivors in Cape Town, South Africa: an observational study.

We describe 131 South African sexual assault survivors offered HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). While the median days completed was 27 (IQR 27, 28), 34% stopped PEP or missed doses. Controlling for baseline symptoms, PEP was not associated with symptoms (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 0.66, 2.64). Factors associated with unprotected sex included prior unprotected sex (OR = 6.46, 95% CI = 3.04, 13.74), time since the assault (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.12, 1.57) and age (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.57). Trauma counseling was protective (OR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.05, 0.58). Four instances of seroconversion were observed by 6 months (risk = 3.7%, 95% CI = 1.0, 9.1). Proactive follow-up is necessary to increase the likelihood of PEP completion and address the mental health and HIV risk needs of survivors. Adherence interventions and targeted risk reduction counseling should be provided to minimize HIV acquisition