Women’s empowerment and food consumption:Evidence from female-headed households in Tanzania

Despite the growing recognition of women’s increasing role in the household and corresponding empowerment programs in sub-Saharan Africa,intensive research on the relationship between women’s influence and household food consumption is minimal.Using the most recent(2017-2018)national household survey data from Tanzania,this study examined the influence of women’s empowerment on household food consumption.First,we compared the monthly consumption of eight food categories between female-headed households(FHHs)and male-headed households(MHHs)using both descriptive statistics and the propensity score matching(PSM)method.Furthermore,we adopted the two-stage Linear Expenditure System and Almost Ideal Demand System model(LES-AIDS)to estimate income and price elasticities for the two household types.The results show that FHHs consume bread and cereals,fish,oils and fats,vegetables,and confectionery(sugar,jam,honey,chocolate,etc.)more than MHHs.Moreover,FHHs have a significantly higher income elasticity of demand for all food groups than MHHs.They are also more price elastic than MHHs in meat,fish,oils,fats,sugar,jam,honey,chocolate,etc.

The Three Principles of Institutional Safeguards for Women's Participation in Legislation in China

The participation of women in legislation is an important aspect and means of safeguarding women’s rights.Feminist theory,based on criticism of both the“citizenship identity theory as rights”and the“citizenship identity theory as responsibilities,”proposes the“citizenship identity theory as subjectivity.”Observing the current practice of women’s participation in legislation in China,two institutional safeguard principles can be summarized:the“minimum proportion”and the“influence evaluation.”However,each of these principles has its inherent limitations.Therefore,it is necessary to supplement them with the principle of“subjective participation”in a reflective manner.This principle requires women to participate substantively in the legislative process as subjects,express women’s needs and demands,input women’s perspectives and experiences,and reconstruct the distribution of rights and responsibilities in the existing legislation.The three principles complement each other and work together to comprehensively constitute the institutional structure of women’s participation in legislation,thereby promoting the reproduction of corresponding action structures.

A Historical Review of the Development of Women’s Higher Education in China (1908-2020): Stages, Explanations, and Trends

The development of women’s higher education in China can be divided into four stages:emergence(1908-1948);foundation(1949-1976);accelerating development(1977-2008);and the qualitative leap(2009-2020).This work considers the principal institutional mechanisms that contributed to this development.First,flexibly planned parenthood gradually promoted gender equality and openness in society facilitated by systematic“awards,grants,and loans”initiatives to support women’s higher education economically.Second,compulsory education ensured that left-out and migrant children had access to higher education.Third,effective connectivity across different education types bridged education gaps between those with different levels of education.Fourth,China made great efforts to invite and integrate international experiences that promoted the development of women’s higher education.Looking beyond these achievements,we also discuss the future trends of women’s higher education in China.

Life′s Simple 7干预减轻Her⁃2阳性乳腺癌患者化疗相关心血管系统损害的研究

目的探讨Life′s Simple 7(LS7)干预减轻Her⁃2阳性乳腺癌患者根治术后化疗相关心血管系统损害的作用。方法将120例Her⁃2阳性并接受标准化乳腺癌化疗的患者随机等量分为对照组及LS7组,对照组为标准化疗方案,LS7组为对照组基础上给予LS7干预12个月,后续通过比较两组治疗前后心血管系统损伤程度、焦虑、抑郁及生活质量等指标评价其对心血管系统损害的改善作用。结果相较于对照组,LS7组LS7总评分及7项心血管健康指标均优于对照组(P<0.05),LS7组LVEF较高(P<0.05)、NT⁃proBNP较低(P<0.05),焦虑和抑郁评分较低(P<0.05)、生活质量评分较高(P<0.05)。结论LS7干预可显著减轻Her⁃2阳性乳腺癌化疗相关心血管系统损害并改善乳腺癌患者的心理状况和生活质量,值得在临床推广。

基于断裂力学的腐蚀钢丝疲劳S-N曲线研究

高强冷拔钢丝因其优异的力学性能被广泛应用于缆索承重结构,服役过程中钢丝腐蚀与断裂威胁着结构安全。钢丝腐蚀后表面的蚀坑因应力集中效应易产生疲劳裂纹,因此腐蚀钢丝剩余疲劳寿命主要取决于裂纹的扩展阶段,且裂纹扩展受到腐蚀程度(初始损伤)的显著影响。精确表征腐蚀程度并准确评估服役期钢丝腐蚀后的剩余寿命,仍是亟待解决的维修难题。首先采用蚀坑最大深度表征钢丝腐蚀程度,以应力强度因子幅作为裂纹扩展驱动力指标,基于断裂力学的Paris公式建立受拉钢丝裂纹扩展理论模型,进而推导腐蚀钢丝的疲劳S-N曲线。大量既有的腐蚀钢丝疲劳试验结果与理论预测值的比较验证了所提理论模型及疲劳S-N曲线的合理性和有效性。含多个蚀坑的钢丝裂纹扩展有限元模拟表明,等效单裂纹适用于多腐蚀坑钢丝疲劳寿命的简化分析。参数分析表明,蚀坑深度和腐蚀环境是腐蚀钢丝疲劳强度的关键影响因素,而应力比和疲劳加载频率影响较小,所提出的S-N曲线在钢丝常规服役条件下适用于评估其剩余寿命,可得到合理的预测结果。基于断裂力学所提的理论方法和疲劳S-N曲线可为腐蚀钢丝的疲劳强度和寿命评估提供参考。

Follow-Up Care of HIV-Positive Pregnant Women in North Central Nigerian: A 15-Year Review

Background: Pregnant women bear the greatest burden of people living with HIV in the West Africa sub-region, and the country requires continuous optimal follow-up care for their disease after delivery. Documentation of such very important services is rarely done in this high-burden environment, and hence the present study. Method: A 15-year retrospective review of medical records of HIV-positive pregnant women who attended antenatal care services from January 2006 to December 2020 at the prevention of the mothers-to-child transmission unit of the health facility was carried out to document the HIV service provided at the unit, and the follow-up care at the adult HIV special treatment clinic for the continuation of their HIV treatment. Results: Of the 1245 HIV-positive pregnant mothers reviewed during the period, 702 (56.4%) were between the ages of 26 - 35 years, 1043 (83.8%) were on HIV treatment before their index pregnancy, 202 (16.2%) were diagnosed of HIV infection during their last trimester and labor, while 878 (70.5%) continued their HIV services at adult HIV special treatment clinic after delivery. The predictors of continuous care include: maternal parity with [OR] 0.51 (0.35 - 0.73), p = 0.02, time of presentation in trimester with [OR] 1.54 (1.15 - 2.06), p = 0.003, duration on antiretroviral therapy [OR] 2.14 (1.57 - 2.9) p Conclusion: The high rate of optimal follow-up care of HIV-positive mothers after delivery in the adult special treatment clinic in this study speaks of the preparedness and good supportive services provided to these mothers in the health facility. However, the high rate of loss to follow-up among this cohort of women requires a more focused intervention during their postpartum period for a better outcome.

Influence of cultural factors on choice of childbirth place among women in Oyigbo Local Government Area,Rivers State,Nigeria

Objectives:This study aims to ascertain if cultural factors influence the childbirth place choice of women in Oyigbo.Materials and Methods:The study used a cross‑sectional study design using a self‑structured questionnaire as the instrument to collect data from 384 volunteers through simple random sampling,and these data were analyzed using frequency and percentage for descriptive statistics while Chi‑square was used for inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance.Results:The influence of cultural factors such as family traditions(χ^(2)=12.56,P=0.006),beliefs(χ^(2)=70.66,P=0.000),lack of confidence in health facilities(χ^(2)=367.83,P=0.000),and the presence of male skilled birth attendants(χ^(2)=50.85,P=0.000)were statistically significant to the choice of childbirth place,while patriarchal system(χ^(2)=2.99,P=0.393)was not statistically significant to the choices of childbirth places of women in Oyigbo.Religion had a statistically significant influence on childbirth place(χ^(2)=125.46,P=0.000).Conclusion:This study shows that religious and cultural factors have a significant influence on the childbirth place choices of women in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Dilemma of Women’s Voices in the Post-Epidemic Era:Misconceptions of Feminism on Digital Media Platforms-The Example of Sina Weibo

Weibo,one of China’s largest digital media platforms,has become a major platform for women’s voices to fight for equality.However,misconceptions of feminism on Weibo have become obstacles to women’s voices,for which the platforms did not post women’s views prominently.From the perspective of women themselves,this paper adopted a questionnaire to study the misunderstanding of feminism and its impact on women’s expression on Weibo.

Identifying the Cultural Shifts and Societal Changes That Facilitated the Rise in Box Office Performance of Chinese Women’s Cinema in the 21st Century

With the gradual improvement of Chinese women’s status in the 21st century,gender studies and gender relations have become one of the hottest topics in Chinese society,which consequently prompted Chinese Women’s Cinema to attract the attention of larger audiences.With regard to the box office performance of Chinese Women’s Cinema,there seems to be a gap in research in finding an association between women’s status and the relevant films’box office performance.The purpose of this research is to outline the underlying reasons for the changes in gender roles and gender representation in the Chinese film industry over the past few decades in order to better understand this expansive social change in the 21st century.This study provides a comprehensive analysis through the use of questionnaires to better understand society’s attitude towards gender representation within the film industry.The questionnaire findings indicate that there is a direct correlation between people’s awareness of women’s changing status and gender equality and their acceptance of materials produced by Chinese Women’s Cinema.At the some time,it highlights that the Chinese government’s support and initiatives for gender equality have had a significant impact on the general popularity of Chinese Women’s Cinema.The significance of this research is to effectively popularize Chinese Women’s Cinema culture and the box office growth by understanding the social attitude towards gender representation in the Chinese film industry and to provide relevant information about the development direction and trend of Chinese Women’s Cinema.Furthermore,this research aims to provide foundational support for gender equality and help to understand the underlying factors that society needs to promote gender equality.

液压成形对液体火箭发动机多层增强S型波纹管结构疲劳寿命的影响

完善液体火箭发动机燃气摇摆装置中增强S型波纹管组件的疲劳寿命评估方法,提高其疲劳寿命预测精度,是发展可重复使用液体火箭发动机的重要课题之一。针对多层增强S型波纹管,为了计算其液压成形后的实际寿命数据,了解成形工艺对其疲劳寿命的影响,提出一种充分考虑成形制备过程对结构不同区域几何构型和材料力学性能造成差异化影响后的波纹管疲劳寿命分析方法。该方法基于成形仿真和材料拉伸试验结果,构建实际波纹管有限元模型并进行三维仿真分析,得到其在高内压和不同摆动工况下结构危险点的循环载荷信息,并根据波纹管结构的低周疲劳失效特点采用子午向应力应变数据,以及经过平均应力应变修正的Manson-Coffin(M-C)公式对波纹管的循环寿命进行估算和对比分析。结果表明:波纹管疲劳寿命薄弱点位置和大小均与循环摆角有关;在预测计算中考虑液压成形作用影响更接近实际场景,所得结构疲劳寿命大小和所在区域均与理论模型值存在差异,在结构设计、优化和健康监测中不应忽视其影响。

Do Chinese Women Face Subtle Discrimination in Job Hiring?

Gender discrimination has long been the problem that exists in the entire world,including China.However,as more and more people are focusing on the general gender discrimination,the group recognized an extension of such discrimination-pregnancy discrimination in job hiring(the discrimination that women who are pregnant or have the inclination to pregnancy receive in hiring).The possible subtle pregnancy discrimination may be one of the main causes that lead to the declining fertility rate in China.The group decided to conduct an experiment to determine whether women are receiving more subtle discrimination in job hiring due to their identity as mother than men with children,men without children,and women without children.Using the form of questionary and resumes,the team found that Chinese women are indeed enduring subtle discrimination in work hiring.The experiment highlights the importance to promote further equality among women.However,there are some confounding variables,like the level of patient of the HR who reads the resume,affecting the ultimate result of the study.Keywords:gender discrimination,women’s career,Chinese job market,pregnancy discrimination,fertility rate in China.

Quality of life in women with cervical precursor lesions and cancer:a prospective, 6-month, hospital-based study in China

The overall survival of patients with cervical cancer has improved due to detection at an early stage and availability of comprehensive treatments in China. As patients' lives prolonged, it is important to understand their health-related quality of life(QoL) during and after treatment. We used the EQ-5D questionnaire to assess QoL of 194 patients with cervical lesions at Sichuan University West China Second Hospital between May 2010 and January 2011. Patients were surveyed before primary treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months after primary treatment. Results showed a consistent decline in EQ-5D scores in the spectrum of cervical lesions at each time point after treatment(all P < 0.05). For patients with precursor lesions, there was an increasing trend along the timeline of treatment(P < 0.01). For patients with early-stage cervical cancer, EQ-5D scores declined in the first month(P = 0.01) and gradually increased to higher levels at 6 months post-treatment than those before treatment(P < 0.01). EQ-5D scores followed a similar trend in patients with advanced cervical cancer(P = 0.04), though they did not statistically rebound after 6 months(0.84 ± 0.19 vs. 0.86 ± 0.11, P = 0.62). Regarding advanced cervical cancer, EQ-5D scores for women above 40 years of age appeared to recover more rapidly and reached higher levels than those for women below 40 years(P = 0.03). Caution and extra care are recommended in the early period of cervical cancer treatment given the slight deterioration in the QoL, and in particular, for younger cervical cancer patients. Our study implies that health care providers may need to improve the health-related QoL of cervical cancer patients.

Mechanisms and Associated Factors of Nocturia in Women Attending Two Urogynecology Clinics: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Nocturia has a multifactorial etiology, and its diagnostic approach involves, in addition to medical history and physical examination, the use of a bladder diary to define the pathophysiological mechanisms present in each case. Methods: This study investigated the prevalence of nocturia, its mechanisms, and associated factors in women with lower urinary tract symptoms attending two urogynecology clinics in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Anamnesis, physical examination, and a 24-hour bladder diary were conducted. Two definitions of nocturia were considered: one or more nighttime voids and two or more nighttime voids. Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests were used, with p-value ≤ 0.05 considered significant. Results: A total of 133 participants were included. The majority were aged 60 years or older (61.4%) and had three or more comorbidities (66.7%), with systemic arterial hypertension being the most prevalent (59.1%). Of the total participants, 54 (41.4%) completed the bladder diary. Among those with one or more nighttime voids (70.7%), the prevalence of nocturnal polyuria was 69.1%, reduced nocturnal bladder capacity was 17.3%, and global polyuria was 12.9%. Among participants with two or more nighttime voids (56.4%), the prevalences were respectively 68.2%, 19.1%, and 13.6%. Among the mechanisms, associations were found only with global polyuria, namely: use of insulin, body mass index and tobacco consumption. An association was also found between recurrent urinary tract infection and global polyuria in participants with two or more nighttime voids. Conclusions: The prevalence of nocturia was higher than that reported in general population studies and specialized services for lower urinary tract symptoms. Nocturnal polyuria was the most prevalent mechanism. Associations were observed between the use of insulin, body mass index, tobacco consumption, and recurrent urinary tract infection with global polyuria. No associations were found between any clinical or demographic variables and nocturnal polyuria or reduced nocturnal bladder capacity.

Factors influencing quality of life in Chinese patients with dementia: a systematic review

Background:Dementia is a group of nervous system diseases characterized by progressive cognitive decline,leading to a loss of self-care ability and a decline in well-being.This places a significant burden on the global healthcare system,with Chinese patients accounting for approximately one-quarter of the world’s dementia cases.Therefore,it is crucial to identify factors that impact the quality of life(QOL)among elderly Chinese individuals with dementia.Method:To achieve this,we conducted a comprehensive search of several databases,including PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,the Cochrane Library,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Data,China VIP Database and China Biomedical Literature Database.We reviewed cross-sectional studies from the inception of these databases until March 27,2022.QOL outcomes were assessed using standardized scales in the studies included in this review.Results:The search yielded a total of 1,235 relevant articles,from which we finally included 21 cross-sectional studies and one longitudinal study after rigorous quality assessment.Among these,10 studies were classified as high quality,while 12 were classified as fair quality.Through our analysis,we identified 28 patient-rated QOL factors and 14 caregiver-rated QOL factors.These factors were categorized into three groups:patient,disease-related and caregiver.Factors commonly found to influence patient-rated QOL included age,education,marital status,depression,self-care ability,dementia severity,cognitive function,behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and caregiver burden.Similarly,factors commonly influencing caregiver-rated QOL included economic status,depression,self-care ability,dementia severity,cognitive function,behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and caregiving time.Conclusion:This review clarifies the factors that influence the QOL of Chinese individuals with dementia.When implementing interventions,it is crucial to consider the differences between patient-rated QOL and caregiver-proxy-rated QOL,as well as their respective influencing factors.

具有稚虫迁徙机制的S型自适应混沌蜉蝣算法

针对蜉蝣优化算法(MA)全局搜索能力较弱,对子代优秀个体有效信息利用不够充分的缺点,以及在计算中后期易陷入局部收敛,进而影响优化效果的问题,提出一种具有稚虫迁徙机制的S型自适应混沌蜉蝣优化算法(S-AMA)。S-AMA算法首先采用Logistic混沌映射产生蜉蝣种群,增加算法初期种群的多样性;随后,将蜉蝣生命周期进行数学建模,并引入S型生命系数替换原有的重力惯性系数,动态调整算法探索能力和开发能力间的平衡性;最后,根据蜉蝣在缺氧环境下的种群活动,引入稚虫迁徙机制强化子代优秀个体摆脱局部最优的能力,进而更加充分地搜索最优解附近的区域,以增强算法的收敛精度。实验部分将S-AMA应用于标准函数测试集,并分别进行优化对比实验、Wilcoxon秩和检验。结果表明:与对比算法相比,S-AMA算法具有更好的寻优能力、收敛速度及鲁棒性。

Analyzing the Influences on Women’s Upbringing and Their Educational Significance Using the Case of Estella,the Heroine of Great Expectations

This paper explores the influences on women’s upbringing and their educational significance by using the character Estella from Great Expectations as a case study.Through analyzing the impact of social environment,family education,and self-awakening,this article aims to promote gender equality and the construction of a feminist cognitive community.It delves into the class divisions of 19th-century England,the manipulative family education imposed on Estella by Miss Havisham,and Estella’s journey towards self-consciousness after her foster mother’s death.The study highlights the challenges faced by women in societal constraints,family expectations,and the importance of self-discovery in overcoming these limitations.

The Rise of China’s Women’s Basketball Team:An Exploration of Gender Equality in Professional Basketball

This article explores the rise of the Chinese women’s basketball team in professional basketball and its relationship to gender equality issues.In view of the gender differences in salary,market value,social status,and other aspects,the article proposes a series of strategies to promote the realization of gender equality for female basketball players in professional basketball.This article points out that the rise of the Chinese women’s basketball team will lead the process of gender equality and lay the foundation for a more equitable and inclusive future.To achieve this goal,this article highlights the importance of improving the competitive level of female athletes,improving basic education,promoting basketball culture,and promoting gender equality.

Association of Depression and Life Satisfaction with Low Resilience among Married Women of Karachi, Pakistan

Background: The concept of resilience is very crucial in promoting positive psychological well-being. However, this construct was never looked among married women of Karachi, Pakistan. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and the associated risk factors of resilience in Pakistan. Methods: It was a cross-sectional survey, using the Wagnild Resilience Scale (RS) to assess resilience, Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) for measuring depression and Trait Wellbeing Inventory for determining Life Satisfaction. Systematic sampling was employed to enroll 636 participants of aged 20 to 40 years living in two urban squatter settlements of Karachi, Pakistan. Prevalence ratio was computed with their 95% confidence interval. Results: A total of 636 married women participated in the study. The average age of females with low resilience was 29.8 (5.7) whereas the mean age of females with high resilience was 31.1 (5.7). Around 90% of all the participants could speak in Urdu. The prevalence of low resilience among women was 21.9%. Moreover, the prevalence of depression among low resilience group was 43.9% whereas the mean life satisfaction score among females with low resilience was lower than females with high resilience. The females who had low resilience were younger and had no formal/informal education as compared to their counterparts. After controlling for other variables, the prevalence of low resilience was 1.78 times more among depressed females as compared to the non-depressed with a 95% CI: (1.27-2.51). Moreover with every one unit increase in the life satisfaction scores, the prevalence of low resilience decreased 9%. Furthermore, age and informal schooling were also found to be significantly associated with resilience. Conclusion: Depression and life satisfaction are the potential modifiable risk factors for resilience and hence we can improve resilience through interventions that may focus on reducing depression and improving satisfaction towards life. Our study also recommends that health care professionals should be educated about these modifiable risk factors to bring about a change in the society and reduce the mental health illness by promoting constructive adaptation.

Being a Woman in the 1950s and the 1960s:Women and Everyday Life in Ginger and Rosa

The present study aims to focus on the relationship between gender and everyday life and reflect on the meanings of being a woman in the 1950s and the 1960s over Sally Potter’s film Ginger and Rosa(2012a).The 1950s and the 1960s are marked with significant changes and transformations in terms of the social statuses and everyday lives of women in many countries all around the world.Women began to question their gendered roles and performances,resist“doing gender”and speak out“the problem that has no name”in these years,which would then evolve into the second-wave feminist movement—a significant historical period in women’s history.Therefore,an analysis of this specific period is considered significant to understand the relationship between gender and everyday life.Thus,the present study first addresses the relationship between gender and everyday life in general terms,discussing the social construction of gender and how we are taught to do gender through socialization.Then,it examines women’s practices,performances,relationships,conflicts,and resistances in their everyday lives throughout the 1950s and the 1960s over the film Ginger and Rosa.Considering the historical,social,and political developments at the time,this study tries to explore significant issues within feminist studies such as the relationship between mothers and daughters,and female friendship/sisterhood through the characters in the film,and comprehend what it meant to be a young girl,a woman,a wife,and a mother in both private and public spheres in these years based upon the director’s own experiences and memories.

A Systematic Literature Review of the Impact of Climate Change on Menopause: Altering the Age, Severity of Symptoms and Long-Term Effects

Objective: This systematic review investigates the impact of climate change on menopause, focusing on the correlation between geographical location—considering altitude, temperature, humidity, and annual temperature range—and women’s menopausal experiences. This study aims to interpret how these environmental factors influence the age of onset, severity of symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats, and other long-term effects of menopause. Understanding these relationships addresses a significant gap in current knowledge and could guide future public health strategies. Methods: Through a comprehensive analysis of three cross-continental studies involving 1500 postmenopausal women from Spain, South American countries (Ecuador, Panama, Chile), various climates in Türkiye (Black Sea, Mediterranean, Continental), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this review evaluates diverse environmental impacts. Studies were selected based on their methodological rigor, geographical diversity, and focus on the unique and personal experiences of menopause. Data was collected via questionnaires and routine medical checkups, analyzing demographic, lifestyle, mood, symptom severity, and onset age variables. Results: Preliminary analysis indicates that 52.5% of participants from Spanish-speaking countries and the UAE reported vasomotor symptoms, with those in higher temperatures and lower altitudes experiencing exacerbated symptoms. Notably, Mediterranean climates were associated with an earlier menopause onset. Seasonal changes had minimal impact across all regions, suggesting lifestyle and other environmental factors play a more significant role. Conclusions: The findings highlight a clear link between climate-related geographical factors and the menopausal experience. Women in warmer, lower-altitude regions suffer more severe symptoms, while those in Mediterranean climates face earlier onset. The absence of significant seasonal variations across the studies underscores the predominance of lifestyle and environmental factors over purely climatic conditions. These insights pave the way for targeted interventions and support the need for further public health research into the complex interactions between climate change and menopause.