Empowerment of married women for social changes in a selected community of Kathmandu valley

Introductions: Empowerment of women is the process by which women gain power and control over their own lives and acquire the ability to make  choices and decisions. It influences the direction of social change and create a healthy life of self as well as for family. This study aimed to assess the level of empowerment of married women and association with demographic variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among married women with children and living with husband, at Kumbhesor ‘tole’ (community) in ward number 11 of Lalitpur Metropolitan City in Kathmandu valley, Nepal, during Jul-Aug 2017. Purposive sampling technique was used. Data were collected through interview using structured questionnaire by door to door visit in community. Results: Total 170 women were interviewed. High level empowerment (score >70%) was seen in 111 (64.5%) and low level empowerment (score ≤50%) in 9 (5.5%) women. Overall empowerment was 75.7±12.3, highest in the dimension of ‘health care decision making’ (82.3±10.5), lowest in ‘educational decision making’ 59.8±21.6. Family type, respondents’ and husband’s educational status had significant association with empowerment. Conclusions: The finding showed that most of the married women in urban community had high empowerment with highest decision making power on health care dimension. Family type and educational status of women and husband were associated factors. Keywords: decision making, empowerment, social change, wome

Uterine leiomyosarcoma: an unusual presentation

Uterine leiomyosarcomas are rare aggressive tumors, with high recurrence rates, even when confined to the uterine corpus at the time of diagnosis. It arises from smooth muscle of uterus and is a rare tumor that accounts for 2-5% of all uterine malignancies. These tumors typically spread hematogenously. Patients present with vague symptoms similar to those of patients with leiomyomas. Most patients are diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma postoperatively. Although prognosis remains dismal, various ongoing studies are investigating the role of advanced imaging, multimodality treatment, prognostic nomograms, and unique biomedical pathways to increase understanding of leiomyosarcoma and improve therapeutic options for patients. 46 years old para2 live2 postmenopausal (since 1.5 year) female presented to outpatient clinic with complaints of bleeding per vaginum, foul smelling discharge, unquantified weight loss and something coming out of vagina since 1.5 months. On abdominal examination, an irregular midline mass arising from pelvis corresponding to 20 weeks gestational size of uterus was present. On vaginal examination, 3 infected vaginal growths were present in vagina maximum 4x4cm. Intra-operatively, uterus was nearly 20 weeks size with irregular surface. A 3×3 cm subseroal fibroid with necrotic surface was present on posterior wall of uterus. Cut section of the operative specimen showed myohyperplasia which was compressing the uterine cavity, some necrotic areas were also present. Vaginal growths - 4×4 cm on left vaginal wall near introitus with necrotic surface, 3×3 cm on right vaginal wall, 1×1 cm on right upper vaginal wall present. Excision of vaginal growth was done and was sent for histopathology. Histopathologic examination of sections of uterus showed all features were suggestive of leiomyosarcoma uterus

Emamectin benzoate: Potential larvicide and antifeedant agent against cotton Boll worm Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Helicoverpa armigera, a global polyphagous pest, attacks a wide variety of crops causing huge agricultural loss. Overuse of conventional insecticides for Helicoverpa control has made Helicoverpa resistant to insecticides leading to more severe attacks on crops diverting interest of researchers to explore alternate control agents. Present study investigates the cidal and antifeedant potential of Emamectin benzoate; a semi-synthetic avermectin derived from the soil actinomycetes, Streptomyces avermitilis; against early IV instars of H. armigera. Larvae were fed on the castor leaf discs (3.5 cm diameter) dipped in different concentrations of Emamectin benzoate; ranging from 0.05 µg/mL-1.5 µg/mL. The leaf disc areas were measured pre-and post-larval feeding to estimate the antifeedant potential of compound. The effect of feeding was also assessed on the survival of larvae by scoring the larval mortality till 96 h. Our investigations showed significant larvicidal potential of Emamectin benzoate against H. armigera revealing respective LC50 values of 0.26 µg/mL, 0.095 µg/mL, 0.043 µg/mL and 0.027 µg/mL after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h feeding. Furthermore, a remarkable decrease of 93.59% was observed in larval feeding potential indicating significant antifeedant efficacy of Emamectin benzoate. A strong correlation between antifeedant index and the Emamectin benzoate concentration resulted in 1.48-fold index reduction with a decrease in concentration. Our results demonstrated efficacy of Emamectin benzoate as an effectual larvicidal and antifeedant agent against H. armigera. Employing selective insecticide can tackle issues of pest resistance and pest resurgence after ascertaining in the fields as Helicoverpa control agent and negating impact on non-target organisms.&nbsp

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF POLYHERBAL OINTMENT COMPRISING HARIDRA, MANJISTHA AND MOCHARASA

Even in areas where modern medicine is available, the interest on herbal medicines and their utilization have been increasing rapidly in recent years. Herbal formulations have recently attracted the interest towards versatile application as bioactive components of plants are natural source of medicines to heal various ailments. Herbal cosmetics are formulated, using different ingredients to form the base in which one or more herbal ingredients are used to cure various skin ailments. The present work is to formulate and evaluate the polyherbal ointment comprising Haridra (Curcuma longa), Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia) and Mocharasa (exudate from Salmali malabarica). These drugs have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antioxidant, wound healing properties etc. The aqueous extracts were prepared by using traditional method of maceration and Ghana kalpana. The neutral ointment base was prepared and formulation of ointment was done by incorporating the Ghana /extract in the base by Levigation process. Different trials in different proportion of extract and base were performed to obtain stable formulation by levigation and trituration method. Obtained stable formulation was evaluated for its Organoleptic Characters, physicochemical properties like state, color, odor, touch, ease of removal, pH, spreadability, solubility, Loss on Drying, Total ash, Water soluble extractive, Alcohol soluble extract. In toxicological Evaluation, determination of Heavy Metals and Microbial Analysis was done. In these studies, results are obtained within permissible limits and successful stable composition of extracts and base shows synergistic action and there was no evidence of phase separation or irritation and is safe for local application on skin

Ultimobranchial body of freshwater catfish Heteropneustes fossilis

0 presente estudo refere-se aos detalhes do corpo utimobranquial de Heteropneustes fossilis. A glândula está localizada no intersepto entre as cavidades pericárdicas e abdominais. A glândula geralmente consiste de um parênquimasólido o qual é composto de cordões celulares. Algumas vezes, foram vistos também folículos

CASE REPORT ON MOCHARASA (HAEMOSTYPTIC DRUG)- ACTION AND USES

Medicinal plants are resources of newer drug evolution and form the basis of all alternative medicine system. Mocharasa-reddish brown colored secondary metabolite in the form of exudate from Silk - Cotton Tree (Salmali malabarica) and is in demand in pharmaceutical industries for preparation of formulations used for bleeding disorders. Mochrasa is one of source for the life saving drug and known by synonyms like “Niryasa, Pichha, Pichhalsaar, Salmaliveshtaka, Mochsrava, Mochsaar denoting its sticky characteristic. Their therapeutic uses are well described in Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha literature in various bleeding disorders like menorragia, haemptysis, bloody dysentery, diarrhoea mainly. It has good potential of cooling, demulscent, haemostyptic and astringent nature. Due to its binding nature used to heal wounds, ulcers, inflammation and in skin disorders. It is well known for aphrodiasic action in traditional practices as well. It is mild in nature and can be used in pregnant women and children. In Shodhana process of Panchkarma, it is main content of “ Pichha basti †which is given per rectal route which proves its mild astringent and styptic action. Main chemical constituents are L-arbanose, gallic acid, tannic acid with other alkaloids. Various formulations containing Mochrasa are Sunisnaak Changeri Ghrita, Bilwaadi churna, Kutajastak avhleha, Sammangaadi Churna, Changeri Ghrita etc. Various newer trials for antioxidant, analgesic, hepatoprotective action etc. are going on the basis of properties to revalidate the ancient knowledge. Here is an attempt to through light on collection process, purification and availability of raw drug as well extracts in market by collecting data from various sources on every aspect of Mocharasa and their therapeutic and folklore uses

AJAMODA (APIUM LEPTOPHYLUM)- A NATURAL PAINKILLER

Ajamoda is an important drug of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine, which consists of umbelliferous fruits.  The drug to be used in the formulations are fruits of Apium leptophyllum. Apium is a genus of about 20 species of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae. Some species are edible, notably Apium graveolance, Apium leptophylum, which includes the commercially important vegetables celery, celeriac and chinese celery. It is grown extensively in the South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia. Its aromatic dried fruits, like its close relative ajwain, are often used in Bengali cuisine but are rarely used in the rest of India. The fresh leaves are used as an herb in Thailand and it is used medicinally in Myanmar. The small dried fruits, commonly referred to as seeds, are similar in appearance to those of ajwain, celery, and caraway. Because of their similarity in both appearance and flavor, it is often confused or substituted with celery seed. Ajamoda consists of dried, aromatic fruits of Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) F. V. M. ex Benth. (Fam. Umbelliferae); an annual herb cultivated in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka; collected by thrashing plants on a mat and dried in shade or in drying sheds. The oil of seeds of Ajamoda is also used in compounding Ayurvedic formulations. While, fatty oil of seeds is antispasmodic and nerve stimulant, seeds of celery are rich in vitamin-B

ConstraintFlow: A DSL for Specification and Verification of Neural Network Analyses

The uninterpretability of DNNs hinders their deployment to safety-critical applications. Recent works have shown that Abstract-Interpretation-based formal certification techniques provide promising avenues for building trust in DNNs to some extent. The intricate mathematical background of Abstract Interpretation poses two challenges: (i) easily designing the algorithms that capture the intricate DNN behavior by balancing cost vs. precision tradeoff, and (ii) maintaining the over-approximation-based soundness of these certifiers. General-purpose programming languages like C++ provide extensive functionality, however, verifying the soundness of the algorithms written in them can be impractical. The most commonly used DNN certification libraries like auto_LiRPA and ERAN prove the correctness of their analyses. However, they consist of only a few hard-coded abstract domains and abstract transformers (or transfer functions) and do not allow the user to define new analyses. Further, these libraries can handle only specific DNN architectures. To address these issues, we develop a declarative DSL -- ConstraintFlow -- that can be used to specify Abstract Interpretation-based DNN certifiers. In ConstraintFlow, programmers can easily define various existing and new abstract domains and transformers, all within just a few 10s of Lines of Code as opposed to 1000s of LOCs of existing libraries. We also provide lightweight automatic verification, which can be used to ensure the over-approximation-based soundness of the certifier code written in ConstraintFlow for arbitrary (but bounded) DNN architectures. Using this automated verification procedure, for the first time, we can verify the soundness of state-of-the-art DNN certifiers for arbitrary DNN architectures, all within a few minutes. We prove the soundness of our verification procedure and the completeness of a subset of ConstraintFlow