Living Sexualities: Negotiating Heteronormativity in Middle Class Bangladesh

‘Living Sexualities’ is a study of erotic desires, practices and identities, lived within the heteronormative and marriage-normative socio-sexual structures of the urban middle class in contemporary Bangladesh. The study is based on two years fieldwork during which data was generated through 35 life histories and narratives, in-depth interviews, case studies, academic and popular literature and participant observation. Taking sexuality, gender, class and space as central concepts the lived experiences of sexualities of three non-normative groups are analysed: gay men, women in/interested in same sex relations, and single heterosexual women. Space – as a physical, social and symbolic category – weaves through the understanding of sexuality, showing that within hetero- patriarchal social structures of family and household, and the public and virtual worlds, there still exist spaces for ambiguity, plural identities and non-heteronormative performances of gender and sexualities

Perceptions of Indian women on hysterectomy

Background: Women who undergo hysterectomy face a multitude of physical and psychosocial problems. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of pre-operative education on post-operative psychosocial health.Methods: It was an interventional research in 96 women who were randomly divided into two groups; one received pre-operative education about surgery and the other given routine preoperative advice. With the help of a questionnaire the perceptions of women on hysterectomy were assessed.Results: Post-operation, 47 of the intervened patients and all the patients of control group were satisfied with the surgery, statistically insignificant; fisher's exact of 1. For 20 intervened patients and 6 patients of control group were very acceptable with the fact that the uterus was no longer present in the body post-surgery, statistically significant; fisher's exact of 0.001. 45 of the intervened group were not feeling depressed whereas 19 patients of the control group were feeling depressed, statistically significant; fisher's exact of 0.0005.Conclusions: Thus, there was a positive impact of pre-operative education on perceptions about hysterectomy. Women who underwent hysterectomy after receiving preoperative education were content with the results of surgery. Resuscitation in preeclampsia. Acute fetal distress in labour or neonatal nursery admission could not be predicted

Advancements in Machine Learning for the Diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) constitutes a significant global health issue, precipitating damage to the kidneys and stripping many individuals of their most productive years. Alarmingly, 40% of those affected by CKD remain oblivious to their condition, a stark contrast to many other diseases where early detection is more common. Unlike other conditions, CKD eludes cure unless identified promptly in its nascent stages. This research emphasizes the collection of critical indicators such as blood pressure and diabetes status to ascertain the presence of CKD in individuals. It proposes the employment of advanced machine learning techniques, including Random Forest, XGBoost, and Support Vector Machines, aiming to enhance early detection and thereby mitigate the disease's impact. Utilizing a CKD dataset, this study endeavors to predict the likelihood of CKD in individuals, offering a proactive approach to tackle this formidable health challenge

Effective Antimicrobial Activity of Green ZnO Nano Particles of Catharanthus roseus

In the present study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized using leaf extract of Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) under different physical parameters. Biosynthesis of ZnO NPs was confirmed by UV-Visible spectrophotometer and further, characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Photoluminescence study and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). We have also confirmed that several physical parameters such as pH, temperature, concentration of metal ions and reaction time were able to regulate shape and size of synthesized ZnO NPs. XRD and TEM analysis provided the information about the average size and hexagonal morphology of ZnO NPs. FTIR spectra analysis suggested that phenolic compounds played crucial role in the biosynthesis of ZnO NPs. The significant antibacterial activity of ZnO NPs was observed against Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 9760 (S. aureus), Streptococcus pyogenes MTCC 1926 (S. pyogenes), Bacillus cereus MTCC 430 (B. cereus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 424 (P. aeruginosa), Proteus mirabilis MTCC 3310 (P. mirabilis) and Escherichia coli MTCC 40 (E. coli). The synthesized ZnO NPs have shown antibacterial efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Synergistic effects of ZnO NPs and streptomycin showed increased efficacy as indicated by the increased zone of clearance in comparison to their individual effects (either ZnO NPs or streptomycin). Overall, the results elucidated a rapid, cost-effective, environmentally friendly and convenient method for ZnO NPs synthesis, which could be used as a potential antimicrobial agent against drug resistant microbes

High risk for occupational exposure to HIV and utilization of post-exposure prophylaxis in a teaching hospital in Pune, India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The risk for occupational exposure to HIV has been well characterized in the developed world, but limited information is available about this transmission risk in resource-constrained settings facing the largest burden of HIV infection. In addition, the feasibility and utilization of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) programs in these settings are unclear. Therefore, we examined the rate and characteristics of occupational exposure to HIV and the utilization of PEP among health care workers (HCW) in a large, urban government teaching hospital in Pune, India.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Demographic and clinical data on occupational exposures and their management were prospectively collected from January 2003–December 2005. US Centers for Diseases Control guidelines were utilized to define risk exposures, for which PEP was recommended. Incidence rates of reported exposures and trends in PEP utilization were examined using logistic regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 1955 HCW, 557 exposures were reported by 484 HCW with an incidence of 9.5 exposures per 100 person-years (PY). Housestaff, particularly interns, reported the greatest number of exposures with an annual incidence of 47.0 per 100 PY. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used in only 55.1% of these exposures. The incidence of high-risk exposures was 6.8/100 PY (n = 339); 49.1% occurred during a procedure or disposing of equipment and 265 (80.0%) received a stat dose of PEP. After excluding cases in which the source tested HIV negative, 48.4% of high-risk cases began an extended PEP regimen, of whom only 49.5% completed it. There were no HIV or Hepatitis B seroconversions identified. Extended PEP was continued unnecessarily in 7 (35%) of 20 cases who were confirmed to be HIV-negative. Over time, there was a significant reduction in proportion of percutaneous exposures and high-risk exposures (p < 0.01) and an increase in PEP utilization for high risk exposures (44% in 2003 to 100% in 2005, p = 0.002).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Housestaff are a vulnerable population at high risk for bloodborne exposures in teaching hospital settings in India. With implementation of a hospital-wide PEP program, there was an encouraging decrease of high-risk exposures over time and appropriate use of PEP. However, overall use of PPE was low, suggesting further measures are needed to prevent occupational exposures in India.</p

LI-RADS: A Conceptual and Historical Review from Its Beginning to Its Recent Integration into AASLD Clinical Practice Guidance

The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS®) is a comprehensive system for standardizing the terminology, technique, interpretation, reporting, and data collection of liver observations in individuals at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). LI-RADS is supported and endorsed by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Upon its initial release in 2011, LI-RADS applied only to liver observations identified at CT or MRI. It has since been refined and expanded over multiple updates to now also address ultrasound-based surveillance, contrast-enhanced ultrasound for HCC diagnosis, and CT/MRI for assessing treatment response after locoregional therapy. The LI-RADS 2018 version was integrated into the HCC diagnosis, staging, and management practice guidance of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). This article reviews the major LI-RADS updates since its 2011 inception and provides an overview of the currently published LI-RADS algorithms

High Efficiency Colloidal Quantum Dot Infrared Light Emitting Diodes via Engineering at the Supra-Nanocrystalline Level

Colloidal quantum dot (CQD) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) deliver a compelling performance in the visible, yet infrared CQD LEDs underperform their visible-emitting counterparts, largely due to their low photoluminescence quantum efficiency. Here we employ a ternary blend of CQD thin film that comprises a binary host matrix that serves to electronically passivate as well as to cater for an efficient and balanced carrier supply to the emitting quantum dot species. In doing so, we report infrared PbS CQD LEDs with an external quantum efficiency of ~7.9% and a power conversion efficiency of ~9.3%, thanks to their very low density of trap states, on the order of 1014 cm−3, and very high photoluminescence quantum efficiency in electrically conductive quantum dot solids of more than 60%. When these blend devices operate as solar cells they deliver an open circuit voltage that approaches their radiative limit thanks to the synergistic effect of the reduced trap-state density and the density of state modification in the nanocomposite.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft