Search

Objective To estimate the relationship between household income and child health outcomes for male and female children, aged 0-5 years, in rural Pakistan. Method The study uses 2014 round of Pakistan Rural Household Panel Survey (PRHPS) and regression analyses to estimate the relationship between household income and child health outcomes for male and female children in rural Pakistan. Results and Policy Implications We find that increase in income is associated with an increase in child weight-for-age and weight-for-height z-scores, and reduction in the likelihood of a child being underweight or wasted. However, our results suggest that these gains associated with an increase in income are greater for male children as compared to female children. These differences in income-nutrition gradient can be explained by the gender-differences in consumption of health inputs (e.g., food intake, vaccinations, and nutritional supplements) associated with an increase in income. Our results indicate the need for policy instruments that can encourage an equitable resource allocation within households., Author(s): Haseeb Ahmed [sup.1] , Hina Khalid [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.420153.1, 0000 0004 1937 0300, Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United [...]

Urinary tract infections (UTIs), largely caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), are increasingly resistant to antibiotics and frequently recur. Using immunoinformatics, we designed a multiepitope peptide vaccine targeting UPEC virulence factors, including iron acquisition systems and adhesins. The construct features 12 cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes, six helper T lymphocyte epitopes, and six B-cell epitopes,and isoptimized for high antigenicity, immunogenicity, nontoxic, and low allergenic potential. Molecular docking and 0.4-µs molecular dynamics simulations revealed the molecular mechanism of theinteraction of the vaccine with Toll-like receptor 4 and a favorable binding energy of − 41.83 kcal/mol using an implicit solvation model. These promising in silico results suggest the potential efficacy of the vaccine in preventing UPEC infections and underscore immunoinformatics as a powerful tool for addressing antibiotic-resistant UTI pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the synthesis of monodispersed CaC2O4 particles of cubic and donut-shaped novel morphologies and the ultrasonic-assisted in-situ polymerization of PMMA/CaC2O4 in the presence of native CaC2O4 and commercial CaC2O4 particles (0.2–0.8 wt%). The current study explored that particle loading played its role in defining the optimal conditions, whereas the particle morphology, uniformity, concentration, and reaction parameters of the fillers greatly influenced the properties of the resin-based nanocomposites. These observations confirmed that the calcium oxalate filler nanoparticles had an obvious effect on the tribological and mechanical properties of the as-fabricated composite. The optimum concentrations of fillers for enhanced properties of the composite were 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 wt%, respectively for donut-shaped, cubic-shaped, and commercial calcium oxalate. The incorporation of donut-shaped particles showed enhanced properties as compared to nanocomposites consisting of commercial and cubic-shaped CaC2O4 particles. Enhancements in the properties of nanocomposites for different loadings of donut-shaped CaC2O4 as compared to blank PMMA are anti-wear = 51.02 ± 0.15%, COF = 66.60 ± 0.4%, and microhardness = 10.50x ± 0.06. These improved properties compared to the previous literature are essentially attributed to the particle morphology, size, uniformity, and uniform dispersion of CaC2O4 in the polymer matrix due to intense micro-convection generated by sonication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation for reading in English literature is multifaceted. In Pakistani context, a large part of curriculum consists of English literature. The students are motivated to read in English literature for not only success but also for numerous reasons. Therefore, this qualitative case study has been conducted among Six (6) Graduate students of Majoring English Literature of National College of Business Administration and Economics (NCBA&E) Lahore. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted to explore the motivation for reading in English literature. Thematic analysis has been made to identify various themes. The study has found that majority of the students are motivated to read in English Novels and Poetry for getting success and pleasure. Female students have been found more motivated than male students to read in English literature. The study also recommends that there is a need to read English literature including Novels a Poetry so far the students can be motivated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new period of science and technology implies control over the size and shape of materials. In determining the properties and potential application of materials the morphology variation plays an important role. The present study focuses on the fabrication of calcium oxalate (CaC2O4) in a nano range having uniform and novel particle morphology. The powder materials having monodispersed particles of plate-like and donut-shaped morphologies were successfully synthesized by a controlled precipitation method under extensively optimized experimental parameters. The morphology of the as-prepared uniform fine particle systems was studied by scanning electron microscope and the mechanical functional surface groups and crystallinity of the test material were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and (XRD) X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. The effect of different parameters on calcium oxalate particle morphology was also investigated. The observed results explored a significant effect of technological parameters on particle size, shape, and uniformity. Therefore, monodispersed unique particle systems of calcium oxalate were synthesized under a narrow set of experimental conditions through a reproducible recipe protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Risk, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Author(s): Hina Khalid [sup.1] , Erika G. Martin [sup.1] [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany-State University of New York, 0000 0001 2151 [...], Objectives Early childhood stunting adversely influences long-term cognitive and health outcomes. There is limited evidence on whether female empowerment within households could reduce its prevalence. We investigated this relationship in Punjab, Pakistan, which has high stunting rates and a sizeable proportion of female-headed households, and whether this relationship differed across three provincial regions with diverse cultural attitudes towards the role of women in society. Methods Using cross-sectional data from the 2011 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, we identified 13,412 children aged 1-4 from 8985 two-parent households in three culturally distinct regions in Punjab, Pakistan. Logistic regression models assessed whether the likelihood of stunting was associated with female-headed households, a proxy for female empowerment, and whether this relationship differed by region. Regressions controlled for child- and household-level covariates. Results Children had 26% lower odds of stunting among female-headed households (OR 0.74, CI 0.60, 0.90). The interaction term for female-headed households and child stunting by provincial region was not statistically significant, suggesting that the relationship holds across the three culturally distinct regions. Conclusions for Practice Female empowerment was associated with lower rates of stunting among young children, and the results did not vary by provincial region. This suggests that women can play important roles as agents of change, even in areas where females have limited freedoms. Greater investments in public education and awareness campaigns to improve health literacy might have important spillover effects for child health and improve the success of existing public health interventions targeting childhood stunting.