Like Mother(-in-Law) Like Daughter? Influence of the Older Generation’s Fertility Behaviours on Women’s Desired Family Size in Bihar, India

This paper investigates the associations between preferred family size of women in rural Bihar, India and the fertility behaviours of their mother and mother-in-law. Scheduled interviews of 440 pairs of married women aged 16–34 years and their mothers-in-law were conducted in 2011. Preferred family size is first measured by Coombs scale, allowing us to capture latent desired number of children and then categorized into three categories (low, medium and high). Women’s preferred family size is estimated using ordered logistic regression. We find that the family size preferences are not associated with mother’s fertility but with mother’s education. Mother-in-law’s desired number of grandchildren is positively associated with women’s preferred family size. However, when the woman has higher education than her mother-in-law, her preferred family size gets smaller, suggesting that education provides women with greater autonomy in their decision-making on childbearing

Prevalence of pfmdr1, pfcrt, pfdhfr and pfdhps mutations associated with drug resistance, in Luanda, Angola

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria is the infectious disease causing the highest morbidity and mortality in Angola and due to widespread chloroquine (CQ) resistance, the country has recently changed its first-line treatment recommendations for uncomplicated malaria, from CQ to artemisinin combination therapies (ACT) in adults, and sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (S/P) in pregnant women. Loss of SP sensitivity is, however, progressing rapidly in Africa and, in this study, were investigated a number of molecular markers associated to CQ and S/P.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Blood samples were collected from 245 children with uncomplicated malaria, admitted at the Pediatric Hospital Dr. David Bernardino (HPDB), Angola, and the occurrence of mutations in <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>was investigated in the <it>pfmdr1 </it>(N86Y) and <it>pfcrt </it>(K76T) genes, associated with CQ resistance, as well as in <it>pfdhfr </it>(C59R) and <it>pfdhps </it>(K540E), conferring SP resistance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The frequencies of <it>pfmdr1 </it>mutations in codon 86 were 28.6% N, 61.3% Y and 10.1% mixed infections (NY). The frequency of <it>pfcrt </it>mutations in codon 76 were 93.9% K, 5.7% T and 0.4% mixed infections (KT). For <it>pfdhfr </it>the results were in codon 59, 60.6% C, 20.6% R and 18.8% mixed infections (CR). Concerning <it>pfdhps</it>, 6.3% of the isolates were bearers of the mutation 540E and 5.4% mixed infections (K540E).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this epidemiologic study showed high presence of CQ resistance markers while for SP a much lower prevalence was detected for the markers under study.</p

Caenorhabditis elegans as an alternative in vivo model to determine oral uptake, nanotoxicity, and efficacy of melatonin-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules on paraquat damage

Mariele Feiffer Char&atilde;o,1,2 Caroline Souto,2 Nat&aacute;lia Brucker,1,2 Anelise Barth,1,2 Denise S Jornada,1,3 Daiandra Fagundez,4 Daiana Silva &Aacute;vila,4 Vera L Eifler-Lima,1,5 Silvia S Guterres,1,3 Adriana R Pohlmann,1,6 Solange Cristina Garcia1,21Post-Graduate Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Pharmacy Faculty, 3Department of Production and Control of Drugs, Pharmacy Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, 4Research Group in Biochemistry and Toxicology in Caenorhabditis elegans (GBToxCE), Federal University of Pampa &ndash; UNIPAMPA, Uruguaiana, 5Laboratory of Medical Synthesis Organic (LaSOM), Pharmacy Faculty, 6Department of Organic Chemistry, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilAbstract: Caenorhabditis elegans is an alternative in vivo model that is being successfully used to assess the pharmacological and toxic effects of drugs. The exponential growth of nanotechnology requires the use of alternative in vivo models to assess the toxic effects of theses nanomaterials. The use of polymeric nanocapsules has shown promising results for drug delivery. Moreover, these formulations have not been used in cases of intoxication, such as in treatment of paraquat (PQ) poisoning. Thus, the use of drugs with properties improved by nanotechnology is a promising approach to overcome the toxic effects of PQ. This research aimed to evaluate the absorption of rhodamine B-labeled melatonin (Mel)-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules (LNC) by C. elegans, the application of this model in nanotoxicology, and the protection of Mel-LNC against PQ damage. The formulations were prepared by self-assembly and characterized by particle sizing, zeta potential, drug content, and encapsulation efficiency. The results demonstrated that the formulations had narrow size distributions. Rhodamine B-labeled Mel-LNC were orally absorbed and distributed in the worms. The toxicity assessment of LNC showed a lethal dose 50% near the highest dose tested, indicating low toxicity of the nanocapsules. Moreover, pretreatment with Mel-LNC significantly increased the survival rate, reduced the reactive oxygen species, and maintained the development in&nbsp;C. elegans&nbsp;exposed to PQ compared to those worms that were either untreated or pretreated with free Mel. These results demonstrated for the first time the uptake and distribution of Mel-LNC by a nematode, and indicate that while LNC is not toxic, Mel-LNC prevents the effects of PQ poisoning. Thus,&nbsp;C. elegans&nbsp;may be an interesting alternative model to test the nanocapsules toxicity and efficacy.Keywords: C. elegans, nanotoxicology, rhodamine B-labeled polyme

Multisite observations of surface structures on AB Doradus in 1994 November

We present time-resolved optical spectroscopy and broad-band photometry of the rapidly rotating southern K0 dwarf star AB Doradus, obtained during 1994 November. The data were obtained as part of a collaboration dedicated to MUlti-SIte COntinuous Spectroscopy (MUSICOS), and entailed coordinated observations on three continents to obtain the fullest phase coverage possible subject to Limitations of local weather conditions. The Doppler images from the three consecutive nights of the run show excellent mutual agreement, with a dark polar cap and numerous intermediate- and low-latitude features. Simultaneous optical photometry showed numerous short-duration U-band flares, and two longer duration optical flares with durations of the order of hours. The latter produced broad-band continuum enhancements throughout the optical spectrum. Where simultaneous spectroscopy was available, both types of flare were seen to have counterparts in H alpha and the Ca II H line. Simultaneous time-resolved ultraviolet spectroscopy from the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) aboard the Hubble Space Telescope, reported elsewhere, shows that at least one of the short-duration U-band flares was also observed in Cry with the GHRS, Time-series H alpha spectra showed significant evolution of the circumstellar prominence system over five consecutive stellar rotations, One prominence underwent a dramatic increase in distance from the stellar rotation axis. We speculate that this event may have been associated with one of the long-duration flares.</p

Multisite observations of surface structures on AB Doradus in 1994 November

We present time-resolved optical spectroscopy and broad-band photometry of the rapidly rotating southern K0 dwarf star AB Doradus, obtained during 1994 November. The data were obtained as part of a collaboration dedicated to MUlti-SIte COntinuous Spectroscopy (MUSICOS), and entailed coordinated observations on three continents to obtain the fullest phase coverage possible subject to Limitations of local weather conditions. The Doppler images from the three consecutive nights of the run show excellent mutual agreement, with a dark polar cap and numerous intermediate- and low-latitude features. Simultaneous optical photometry showed numerous short-duration U-band flares, and two longer duration optical flares with durations of the order of hours. The latter produced broad-band continuum enhancements throughout the optical spectrum. Where simultaneous spectroscopy was available, both types of flare were seen to have counterparts in H alpha and the Ca II H line. Simultaneous time-resolved ultraviolet spectroscopy from the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) aboard the Hubble Space Telescope, reported elsewhere, shows that at least one of the short-duration U-band flares was also observed in Cry with the GHRS, Time-series H alpha spectra showed significant evolution of the circumstellar prominence system over five consecutive stellar rotations, One prominence underwent a dramatic increase in distance from the stellar rotation axis. We speculate that this event may have been associated with one of the long-duration flares.</p