Nation, Gender and Representations of (In)Securities in Indian Politics

This article examines the relationship between gender, nations and nationalisms vis-a-vis the Indian state's nationalist identity and perceptions of (in)security. It explores how the postcolonial Indian state's project of nation-building — reflective of a western secular-modern identity (under the Congress Party) and a Hindutva-dominated identity (under the BJP) — incorporates gender, with continuities and discontinuities, to articulate divergent forms of nationalist/communalist identities, `cartographic anxieties' and nuclear (in)securities. The article contends that with the recent rise of the Hindu-Right BJP, guided by Hindutva ideology, the nature of representing the Indian nation, its women and (in)securities has changed from a geopolitical to a cultural perception — thereby necessitating a rereading of the Indian nation, nationalism, gender and its perceptions of (in)security

Synthesis of β-lactam fused enediynes by intramolecular kinugasa reaction: comparison of reactivity with monocyclic analogues

β-lactam fused enediynes have been successfully synthesized by intramolecular Kinugasa reaction in moderate yields. DSC studies indicated significant influence of the β-lactam ring upon the reactivity of enediynes. None of the β-lactam fused enediynes (under ring opening conditions) as well as the 11-membered monocyclic enediyne as the tosylate salt showed any cleavage of plasmid DNA. Interestingly, the 10-membered enediyne as the tosylate salt cleaved both single and double strands of plasmid DNA at micromolar concentration

Silymarin nanoparticle prevents paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity

Silymarin (Sm) is a polyphenolic component extracted from Silybum marianum. It is an antioxidant, traditionally used as an immunostimulant, hepatoprotectant, and dietary supplement. Relatively recently, Sm has proved to be a valuable chemopreventive and a useful antineoplastic agent. Medical success for Sm is, however, constrained by very low aqueous solubility and associated biopharmaceutical limitations. Sm flavonolignans are also susceptible to ion-catalyzed degradation in the gut. Proven antihepatotoxic activity of Sm cannot therefore be fully exploited in acute chemical poisoning conditions like that in paracetamol overdose. Moreover, a synchronous delivery that is required for hepatic regeneration is difficult to achieve by itself. This work is meant to circumvent the inherent limitations of Sm through the use of nanotechnology. Sm nanoparticles (Smnps) were prepared by nanoprecipitation in polyvinyl alcohol stabilized Eudragit RS100® polymer (Rohm Pharma GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany). Process parameter optimization provided 67.39% entrapment efficiency and a Gaussian particle distribution of average size 120.37 nm. Sm release from the nanoparticles was considerably sustained for all formulations. Smnps were strongly protective against hepatic damage when tested in a paracetamol overdose hepatotoxicity model. Nanoparticles recorded no animal death even when administered after an established paracetamol-induced hepatic necrosis. Preventing progress of paracetamol hepatic damage was traced for an efficient glutathione regeneration to a level of 11.3 μmol/g in hepatic tissue due to Smnps

Resistance Pattern of Levofloxacin against Uropathogens Causing Urinary Tract Infection in Selected Areas of Dhaka city, Bangladesh

A crucial public health problem in developing country like Bangladesh is resistance of antibiotics to different types of bacteria and the rates of these bacterial resistances are changing for various antibiotic therapy. Our aim was to assess the susceptible pattern of Levofloxacin a 3rd generation Quinolone antibiotic against uropathogens. A total of 12943 urine samples were collected in 2016 (Jan-Dec) and out of which 1236 (9.55%) were bacteriologically positive. Among the isolated uropathogens, 95.1% were gram negative and 4.9% gram positive organism. Male were found more prone to get UTI under 10 years and between 51-90 years of age and female were more affected in 10 to 50 years and over 90 years of age group. E. coli was the most prevalent (83.9%) isolate followed by Klebsiella spp. (6.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (2.6%), Pseudomonas spp. (2.2%), Enterococcus spp. (2.0%) and Proteus spp. (1.1%). The most predominant Levofloxacin sensitive organisms were found in male Enterobacter spp. (100%) and in female patients Serretia spp. (100%), Citrobacter spp. (100%) and Streptococcus Group B (100%). On the other hand the most predominant Levofloxacin resistant organisms were found in male and female both Acinetobacter spp. (100%). Around (61.7%) male and (46.9%) female were found resistant to E. coli. Keywords: Levofloxacin, Quinolone, UTI, Resistance, Uropathogen

Association of gestational diabetes mellitus with vitamin D status among women attending at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an important cause of maternal and perinatal morbidities. Vitamin D is associated with glucose metabolism. The present study was aimed to assess the association of maternal serum vitamin D level with GDM. This case-control study was conducted among 80 pregnant women at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka. Among the 80 patients, 40 were GDM patients (cases) and 40 pregnant women without GDM (controls). The serum vitamin D level was measured for all of them. The mean vitamin D level of the cases and controls were 18.8±5.5 ng/ ml and 22.1±7.3 ng/ml, respectively (P=0.025). There was significant difference regarding the vitamin D adequacy in between case and control groups (P= 0.006) and the respondents with vitamin D <30.0 ng/ml had 7.2 times more chances to have GDM compared to that of the respondents with vitamin D ≥30 ng/ml (OR=7.2; 95% confidence interval =1.5-35.1). There was a significant negative correlation between serum vitamin D level and plasma glucose level 2-hour after 75 gm glucose drink (r= -0.33, P= 0.004). In conclusion, serum vitamin D level was found low in patient with GDM compared to those without GDM. BSMMU J 2022; 15(3): 162-16

Gemykibivirus detection in acute encephalitis patients from Nepal

UNLABELLED: Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Nepal, Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) accounts for ~5-20% of AES cases, but ~75% of AES cases are of unknown etiology. We identified a gemykibivirus in CSF collected in 2020 from an 8-year-old male patient with AES using metagenomic next-generation sequencing. Gemykibiviruses are single stranded, circular DNA viruses in the family IMPORTANCE: Viral encephalitis is a devastating disease, but unfortunately, worldwide, the causative virus in many cases is unknown. Therefore, it is important to identify viruses that could be responsible for cases of human encephalitis. Here, using metagenomic sequencing of CSF, we identified a gemykibivirus in a male child from Nepal with acute encephalitis syndrome (AES). We subsequently detected gemykibivirus DNA in CSF or serum of 12 more encephalitis patients by real-time PCR. The virus genomes we identified are highly similar to gemykibiviruses previously detected in CSF of three encephalitis patients from Sri Lanka. These results raise the possibility that gemykibivirus could be an underrecognized human pathogen

Subtraction and Negative Numbers: Examining the Problem Size Effect in Mixed Formats. Technical Report 2006-02

Every simple subtraction problem can formally be stated that for any integers a and b, a – b = a + (-b). Therefore a simple subtraction problem can be stated equivalently by “adding the opposite.” Although, the problems are theoretically the same, the addition of negative numbers is assumed to be difficult to conceptualize. In the following experiment the authors have compared response times and error rates for corresponding additive and subtractive forms of single-digit arithmetic problems. The authors found that participants solved problems of the form a – b significantly faster than problems of the form a + (-b). Furthermore, there was no evident problem size effect and thus an interference theory was suggested

ROLE OF MULTI-SLICE SPIRAL CT IN EVALUATION OF NECK MASS WITH CYTOLOGICAL CORRELATION

Abstract: The swellings in the neck can be caused by innumerable pathological lesions arising from the various anatomical structures lying therein. Multi-Detector CT (MDCT) has now become the new standard in a radiological imaging modality. The utilization of MDCT has resulted in improved resolution and considerable reductions in scan acquisition and display time. Aim and Objective: This study is an effort to assess the role of MDCT in detection, characterization and diagnosing neck pathologies that correlate cytologically. Material and Methods: A study of 50 cases in a clinically suspected neck mass was studied for 1 year. Contrast-enhanced Ct neck was done and Specific CT criteria were used to characterize the mass so that a probable diagnosis could be made. MDCT diagnoses then compared with cytological results to conclude the efficiency of MDCT analysis of neck mass. Conclusion: Multi-detector computed tomography helps in precise anatomical localization and characterization of neck masses. Hence, it will be a method of choice for initial evaluation, preoperative planning, and biopsy targeting and postoperative follow-up. Key Words: Neck mass; Cervical lymph node; Computed tomography; Carcinoma

Worried about high energy bills, some Canadians risk discomfort, illness and even death

Almost one in 10 Canadian households spend more than 10 per cent of their income to heat and cool their homes, keep the lights on and to store or cook food. For these households, the high cost of energy, which includes electricity, natural gas, heating oil and propane, means they may ration their use, leading them to live in energy poverty. Energy, in its many forms, has a vital role in people’s lives. It can provide entertainment, nourishment and the ability to work, but it also supplies critical services, such as heating or cooling. Extreme weather events, like the 2021 heat dome in Western Canada, are expected to increase in frequency in the future and will amplify the need for these critical energy services. A household’s high energy burden could be a risk to the lives of everyone in that home. Our research shows that some households in Canada spend up to 16 per cent of their household budget on energy — almost five times more than those who do not live in energy poverty. It strongly suggests that many households in Canada are struggling to meet their basic energy needs

Engineered Andrographolide Nanosystems for Smart Recovery in Hepatotoxic Conditions

Andrographolide (AG) is one of the most potent labdane diterpenoid-type free radical scavengers available from plant sources. The compound is the principal bioactive component in Andrographis paniculata leaf extracts, and is responsible for anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activity. The application of AG in therapeutics, however, is severely constrained, due to its low aqueous solubility, short biological half-life, and poor cellular permeability. Engineered nanoparticles in biodegradable polymer systems were therefore conceived as one solution to aid in further drug-like applications of AG. In this study, a cationic modified poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid nanosystem was applied for evaluation against experimental mouse hepatotoxic conditions. Biopolymeric nanoparticles of hydrodynamic size of 229.7±17.17 nm and ζ-potential +34.4±1.87 mV facilitated marked restoration in liver functions and oxidative stress markers. Superior dissolution for bioactive AG, hepatic residence, and favorable cytokine regulation in the liver tissues are some of the factors responsible for the newer nanosystemassisted rapid recovery