Why the firstborn is more likely to succeed in life

Physical height is an important economic variable reflecting health and human capital. Puzzlingly, however, differences in average height across developing countries are not well explained by differences in wealth. We cannot close the malnutrition gap without addressing the social norms and economic rationales that deprive girls and younger siblings of the resources they nee

Heterotopic pregnancy: a catastrophic event

Heterotopic gestation, although common with assisted reproductive techniques, is very rare in natural conception. A high index of suspicion can help in timely diagnosis and appropriate intervention. We report a case of heterotopic pregnancy in a 25-year-old woman presenting with hemoperitoneum from ruptured tubal pregnancy with live intrauterine gestation at 12 weeks of amenorrhea, diagnosed on ultrasound examination

Au\u3csub\u3e60\u3c/sub\u3e\u3csup\u3e–\u3c/sup\u3e: The Smallest Gold Cluster with the High-Symmetry Icosahedral Core Au\u3csub\u3e13\u3c/sub\u3e

Among coinage metal nanoclusters with 55 atoms, only Ag55– and Cu55– are the geometric magic-number clusters, as both exhibit icosahedral symmetry. Au55–, however, exhibits much lower symmetry due largely to the strong relativistic bonding effect. In this study, we collect a much larger population (\u3e10,000 isomers) of low-energy isomers of Au55– to Au60– by using the combined density-functional theory and basin-hopping global optimization method. We also include the spin−orbit effect in the density-functional theory computation to achieve simulated photoelectron spectra in quantitative fashion. Remarkably, we uncover that the Au13 core with the highest icosahedral (Ih) symmetry emerges at the size of Au60–. Stability analysis suggests that Au57– with 58 valence electrons, an electronic magic number, is the relatively more stable cluster in the size range considered. Overall, in this size range we reveal a compromise between the trend toward having a perfect icosahedral 13-atom core and the strong relativistic bonding effect

Uterine inversion: a shocking aftermath of mismanaged third stage of labour

Background: To study the incidence, causes, clinical presentations, management and maternal morbidity and mortality associated with acute puerperal inversion of uterus.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur, from March 2008 to March 2013. All the women who developed acute puerperal inversion of uterus either in or outside our hospital were included in the study.Results: Majority of women presenting with inversion belonged to age group 20-35 years, were multigravida (68.2%), came from rural set-up (81.4%) and were unbooked (81.8%). Majority of deliveries complicated by inversion took place at home (50%), delivered by dais (46%). Mismanaged 3rd stage of labour proved to be an important factor (36.4%) leading to inversion uterus followed by atonicity of uterus. 90% of women suffered due to delay in management at PHC and CHC, 68%women succumbed to delay in diagnosis at the place of delivery by untrained staff, whereas 45% women suffered due to delay in transport facility. 13.63% women suffered from sepsis in post-operative period, 22.72% from renal failure whereas 18.18% died.Conclusion: Proper education and training regarding active management of third stage of labour, diagnosis and management of uterine inversion should be imparted to traditional birth attendants, so that this potentially life-threatening obstetric emergency could be averted

Structural Evolution of Gold-Doped Bismuth Clusters AuBi\u3csub\u3e\u3ci\u3en\u3c/i\u3e\u3c/sub\u3e\u3csup\u3e–\u3c/sup\u3e (\u3ci\u3en\u3c/i\u3e = 4−8)

The structures of gold-doped bismuth clusters, AuBin− (n = 4−8), are investigated through a joint photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) study. Well-resolved photoelectron spectra are obtained at several photon energies. Global minimum searches coupled with DFT calculations yield low-lying structures, whose relative energies are further evaluated by single-point energy calculations at the CCSD(T) level of theory. Vertical detachment energies are calculated with the inclusion of spin−orbit effects to compare with the experimental data. Three-dimensional structures are found to be dominant in this size range, while a planar low-lying isomer is observed only for AuBi4−. The AuBi6− cluster possesses a “bow-tie-like” global minimum structure. Major isomers of the other clusters studied here can all be viewed to possess this structural motif. The gold dopant favors increasingly higher coordination with bismuth in AuBin− (n = 4−8). Chemical bonding analyses are performed to understand the geometric and electronic structure evolution of these bimetallic clusters. The gold atom interacts with neighboring bismuth atoms via localized σ bonds at low-coordination sites but via delocalized σ bonds at high-coordination sites. Greater charge transfer from Bi to Au is found for higher-coordinated Au. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the assigned global minimum of AuBi7− is a highly stable structure, whereas the minor isomer of AuBi7− displays a fluxional behavior

Reaction mechanism between small-sized Ce clusters and water molecules: An ab initio investigation on Ce\u3csub\u3e\u3ci\u3en\u3c/i\u3e\u3c/sub\u3e+H\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eO

Reactions of small-sized cerium clusters Cen (n = 1–3) with a single water molecule are systematically investigated theoretically. The ground state structures of the Cen/H2O complex and the reaction pathways between Cen + H2O are predicted. Our results show the size-dependent reactivity of small-sized Ce clusters. The calculated reaction energies and reaction barriers indicate that the reactivity between Cen and water becomes higher with increasing cluster size. The predicted reaction pathways show that the single Ce atom and the Ce2 and Ce3 clusters can all easily react with H2O and dissociate the water molecule. Under UV-irradiation, the reaction of a Ce atom with a single H2O molecule may even release an H2 molecule. The reaction of either Ce2 or Ce3 with a single H2O molecule can fully dissociate the H2O into H and O atoms while it is bonded with the Ce cluster. The electronic configuration and oxidation states of the Ce atoms in the products and the higher occupied molecular orbitals are analyzed by using the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis method, from which the high reactivity between the reaction products of Cen + H2O and an additional H2O molecule is predicted. Our results offer deeper molecular insights into the chemical reactivity of Ce, which could be helpful for developing more efficient Ce-doped or Ce-based catalysts. Includes supplementary materials

The Role of Sustainability in WSP Group’s Long-Term Strategy and Competitive Advantage

Sustainability is a part of the global system, it is not an isolated section of any one of the entities within it. Globalization, despite its positive potential has contributed to immense social distress. The growth in population coupled with rising economic developments is primarily responsible for the progressive degradation of the earth's resources. The construction industry in particular is responsible for extracting materials directly from natural resources. A few engineering consultants like WSP are trying their best to mitigate some of its worst effects by providing end to end sustainable solutions, based on local regulations, requirements and standards, to their clients by replacing the legacy of non-sustainable infrastructure with increasingly more sustainable processes, systems and technologies. This dissertation aims at researching the long-term needs of clients of WSP Group as well as analysing the company’s position on sustainability, relative to its competitors, with the aim of identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation in order to help WSP achieve sustainable competitive advantage. Business ethics is a core principle of WSP’s sustainable business and is an integral part of the company’s sustainability strategy, which condemns corrupt and fraudulent practices. This dissertation also assesses how the company is living up to its values and how effectively the company’s business ethics policy is implemented across the organization, in order to meet compliance requirements, as well as stakeholders’ expectations