5 research outputs found
Women Empowerment Status in India: Mathematical Modelling and Optimal Control Approach
No full textWomen’s empowerment is essential for the advancement of all women, yet the journey towards achieving it is often hindered by various challenges, such as violence, financial constraints, and cultural beliefs. In some cases, women, influenced by cultural beliefs, may unintentionally impede the progress of other women. Additionally, due to a lack of education, superstitious beliefs can lead to unethical practices within society. Among these, dowry remains a particularly significant issue for women in South Asia. Although dowry, the transfer of cash, jewellery, and other valuable assets from the bride’s family to the groom’s, is officially prohibited in India and Bangladesh and restricted in Pakistan, the practice continues to be prevalent across the region. In rural areas of India, the dowry system frequently discourages parents from supporting their daughters’ pursuit of higher education, thereby presenting a notable barrier to women’s progress and empowerment. In light of this, we propose a deterministic model to address women-related issues, dividing the population into four subclasses: common women, women facing hurdles, stressed women, and empowered women. The model identifies two equilibrium points: the hurdle-free equilibrium point and the non-trivial equilibrium point. We calculate a basic reproduction number and perform sensitivity analysis on key parameters. The local and global stability of these equilibrium points is assessed using the Routh-Hurwitz criteria and Lyapunov’s function. Additionally, we extend this deterministic model to an optimal control problem, determining the optimal control profile to achieve maximum impact within a specified time frame. To validate our model, we conducted a numerical simulation using dowry-related death data from NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau of India) publications for the years 2001-2022. This data is then fitted to our model to forecast dowry-related deaths in the coming years. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024.Science Citation Index Expande
Observational and Genetic Associations of Cardiovascular Risk Factors with Aortic Stenosis
No full textCardiovascular MRI Feature-Tracking Strain Rate for Assessment of Diastolic Function.
No full textPurpose To compare left ventricular (LV) peak early diastolic strain rate (PEDSR) and peak late diastolic strain rate (PLDSR) using cardiac MRI feature tracking (FT) across a spectrum of diastolic dysfunction and determine the association between diastolic strain rates and cardiac remodeling. Materials and Methods Between October 2008 and December 2022, cardiac MRI and echocardiography were performed in prospectively recruited cohorts with type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and severe aortic stenosis, as well as asymptomatic participants without diabetes. Diastolic dysfunction was classified using established echocardiography guidelines. Global circumferential and longitudinal PEDSR and PLDSR were measured at cardiac MRI. Linear regression was performed to identify independent associations between LV diastolic strain rates and remodeling. Results A total of 600 participants (mean age, 65.2 years ± 8.4 [SD]; 361 of 600 male participants [60%]) were included. Proportions of participants with normal diastolic function and those with grade 1, indeterminate, and grade 2 or 3 diastolic dysfunction were 92 of 600 (15%), 401 of 600 (67%), 85 of 600 (14%), and 22 of 600 (4%), respectively. Compared with participants who had normal function, PEDSR decreased in those with grade 1 dysfunction (circumferential PEDSR, 0.99 sec-1 ± 0.22 vs 0.81 sec-1 ± 0.24 [P -1 ± 0.19 vs 0.60 sec-1 ± 0.19 [P -1 ± 0.17 vs 0.82 sec-1 ± 0.23 [P -1 ± 0.18 vs 0.80 sec-1 ± 0.27 [P Keywords: Diastolic Dysfunction, Peak Early Diastolic Strain Rate, Peak Late Diastolic Strain Rate, Feature Tracking Supplemental material is available for this article. © The Author(s) 2025. Published by the Radiological Society of North America under a CC BY 4.0 license.</p
Association of FADS1/2 Locus Variants and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids With Aortic Stenosis.
No full textIMPORTANCE: Aortic stenosis (AS) has no approved medical treatment. Identifying etiological pathways for AS could identify pharmacological targets. OBJECTIVE: To identify novel genetic loci and pathways associated with AS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This genome-wide association study used a case-control design to evaluate 44 703 participants (3469 cases of AS) of self-reported European ancestry from the Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging (GERA) cohort (from January 1, 1996, to December 31, 2015). Replication was performed in 7 other cohorts totaling 256 926 participants (5926 cases of AS), with additional analyses performed in 6942 participants from the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium. Follow-up biomarker analyses with aortic valve calcium (AVC) were also performed. Data were analyzed from May 1, 2017, to December 5, 2019. EXPOSURES: Genetic variants (615 643 variants) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-6 and ω-3) measured in blood samples. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Aortic stenosis and aortic valve replacement defined by electronic health records, surgical records, or echocardiography and the presence of AVC measured by computed tomography. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the 44 703 GERA participants was 69.7 (8.4) years, and 22 019 (49.3%) were men. The rs174547 variant at the FADS1/2 locus was associated with AS (odds ratio [OR] per C allele, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.83-0.93; P = 3.0 × 10-6), with genome-wide significance after meta-analysis with 7 replication cohorts totaling 312 118 individuals (9395 cases of AS) (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.88-0.94; P = 2.5 × 10-8). A consistent association with AVC was also observed (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.83-0.99; P = .03). A higher ratio of arachidonic acid to linoleic acid was associated with AVC (OR per SD of the natural logarithm, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.09-1.30; P = 6.6 × 10-5). In mendelian randomization, increased FADS1 liver expression and arachidonic acid were associated with AS (OR per unit of normalized expression, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.17-1.48; P = 7.4 × 10-6]; OR per 5-percentage point increase in arachidonic acid for AVC, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.01-1.49; P = .04]; OR per 5-percentage point increase in arachidonic acid for AS, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.04-1.13; P = 4.1 × 10-4]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Variation at the FADS1/2 locus was associated with AS and AVC. Findings from biomarker measurements and mendelian randomization appear to link ω-6 fatty acid biosynthesis to AS, which may represent a therapeutic target
