Environmental Imbalance Research Articles

Antioxidant treatment for oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and varicocele: a DBPC trial to evaluate the impact of age and body mass index.

Oxidative stress is one of the main mechanisms responsible for male infertility. Various conditions such as varicocele, obesity, advanced age, and lifestyle can lead to an increase in reactive oxygen species, causing an oxidative imbalance in the reproductive environment. Spermatozoa are sensitive to reactive oxygen species and require energy to carry out their main function of fertilizing the egg. Excessive reactive oxygen species can affect sperm metabolism, leading to immobility, impaired acrosome reaction, and cell death, thereby impairing reproductive success. This double-blind randomized study evaluated the effect of supplementation with L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, vitamins, and other nutrients on semen quality in 104 infertile patients with or without varicocele, while also investigating the impact of factors such as obesity and advanced age on treatment. Sperm concentration significantly increased in the supplemented group compared to the placebo group ( P = 0.0186). Total sperm count also significantly increased in the supplemented group ( P = 0.0117), as did sperm motility ( P = 0.0120). The treatment had a positive effect on patients up to 35 years of age in terms of sperm concentration ( P = 0.0352), while a body mass index (BMI) above 25 kg m -2 had a negative effect on sperm concentration ( P = 0.0110). Results were not showing a net benefit in stratifying patients in accordance with their BMI since sperm quality increase was not affected by this parameter. In conclusion, antioxidant supplementation may be beneficial for infertile patients and has a more positive effect on younger patients with a normal weight.

SECURE AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT TASK SCHEDULING IN CLOUD CONTAINER USING VMD-AOA AND ECC-KDF

Since the cloud storage system offers reliable storage services, it is facing an exponential shift towards lightweight containers due to advancements in technology. Nevertheless, for performing numerous applications, common access to the host Operating System (OS) in the container affected its security. Thus, this paper proposes an energy-efficient and secured scheduling approach. Primarily, multiple users send task requests to the resource manager by registering their details. Then, data are collected from the registered user; also, for removing the repeated requests, pre-processing takes place. Next, by employing the Levenberg-Marquardt Multi-Layer Perceptron Neural Network (LM-MLPNN) technique, the nature of the request from the user is checked to aid in the efficient utilization of container resources. By utilizing the Homography Transform-based K-Mode Algorithm (HT-KMA), the attributes are extracted from the normal user for the efficient clustering process. Then, by deploying the Weighted Round Robin (WRR) technique, the imbalance in the container environment is avoided. An optimal container is selected using the Variational Mode Decomposition-based Archimedes Optimization Algorithm (VMD-AOA) method based on the clustered tasks, and is effectively secured using Elliptic Curve based Key Derivation Function (EC-KDF) and transferred to the resource manager. To perform the required tasks, the resource manager in turn forwards the selected container to the corresponding user. As per the experimental outcomes, when analogized to other well-known algorithms, the proposed methodology achieves better performance.

Mottainai in civil engineering – A message from Japan

This article examines the impact of Japan’s mottainai concept on civil engineering practices, focusing on the waste of materials, financial resources, and harmonisation of structures with the environment. The authors highlight the global challenges of environmental and social imbalances in the context of global warming. The Japanese concept of mottainai is presented as the key to shaping the civil engineering approach. The inefficient use of raw materials was analysed in terms of material waste. A transition to a closed-loop economy is recommended, emphasising the need for resource efficiency. In the context of financial resources, the need for efficient budget allocation and project management is emphasised. The section on harmonising structures with the environment focuses on aesthetics, environment, sustainable mobility, and an integrated approach to urban planning. Civil engineering projects should combine functional efficiency with respect to the environment, and the mottainai concept can be a tool for achieving sustainability in civil engineering. Innovative solutions, such as intelligent energy management systems, are recommended to improve construction efficiency.

Parasites and Viruses in Callithrix in Brazil.

As a result of environmental imbalances of anthropogenic origin, the potential for transmission of parasites and viruses between different primates, including humans, might increase. Thus, parasitic studies have great relevance to primatology, which motivated us to conduct a literature review to synthesize the information available in American primates of the Callithrix genus. We carried out the bibliographic search on the main groups of parasites (protozoa, helminths, arthropods, ectoparasites) and viruses found in Callithrix in Brazil in search platforms and consider all manuscript that appeared in search engines, published between the years 1910 and December 2022. In each selected article, the following information was recorded: the host species; parasite taxa; scientific classification of the parasite; host habitat (free-living, captive); diagnostic technique; state; and bibliographic reference. Data were tabulated and arranged in a parasite-host table. Some endemic genera, such as Callithrix, are widely distributed geographically across Brazil and have characteristics of adaptation to different habitats due to their flexibility in diet and behavior. These factors can make them subject to a greater diversity of parasites and viruses in the country. Here, we identified 68 parasitic taxa, belonging to the clades protozoa (n = 22), helminths (n = 34), ectoparasites (n = 7), and viruses (n = 5). Out of this total, 19 have zoonotic potential. Of the six existing marmoset species, Callithrix jacchus was the most frequent in studies, and Callithrix flaviceps did not have reports. All regions of the country had occurrences, mainly the Southeast, where 54% of the cases were reported. In 46% of the reported parasites and viruses, it was not possible to identify the corresponding species. We conclude that in part of the works the identification methods are not being specific, which makes it difficult to identify the species that affects Callithrix spp. Furthermore, the studies present geographic disparities, being concentrated in the southeast of the country, making it impossible to have a more uniform analysis of the findings. Thus, it is observed that information about parasites and viruses is incipient in the genus Callithrix in Brazil.

Adult stem cell activity in naked mole rats for long-term tissue maintenance

The naked mole rat (NMR), Heterocephalus glaber, the longest-living rodent, provides a unique opportunity to explore how evolution has shaped adult stem cell (ASC) activity and tissue function with increasing lifespan. Using cumulative BrdU labelling and a quantitative imaging approach to track intestinal ASCs (Lgr5+) in their native in vivo state, we find an expanded pool of Lgr5+ cells in NMRs, and these cells specifically at the crypt base (Lgr5+CBC) exhibit slower division rates compared to those in short-lived mice but have a similar turnover as human LGR5+CBC cells. Instead of entering quiescence (G0), NMR Lgr5+CBC cells reduce their division rates by prolonging arrest in the G1 and/or G2 phases of the cell cycle. Moreover, we also observe a higher proportion of differentiated cells in NMRs that confer enhanced protection and function to the intestinal mucosa which is able to detect any chemical imbalance in the luminal environment efficiently, triggering a robust pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative response within the stem/progenitor cell zone.

Clinical observation of wild animals near the CRAS lake (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil) submitted to homeopathic treatment by a slow dispersion device: a possible indication of environmental balance.

Abstract The environmental imbalance in all its parts (land, plant, animal, man) is one of the most significant challenges of modern times due to the difficulty of a comprehensive, effective, and non-aggressive corrective approach. Due to its biophysical qualities, water seems able to propagate physicochemical signals capable of producing effects on living systems, as recently demonstrated by the method of solvatochromic dyes. For this reason, a slow dispersion device containing a solid base soaked in a homeopathic ingredient was developed to treat animals living in defined ecosystems. This work aimed to evaluate the behavior and clinical status of tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) and capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) that inhabit the neighborhood of a lake subjected to the device's action as indicators of a possible balance of the entire system. The area under study was CRAS (Center for the Recovery of Wild Animals), inserted in an urban forest in Campo Grande - MS, Brazil. The anamnesis carried out with the park managers revealed the occurrence of attacks and mutilations among the animals due to stress and the vast infestation of ticks (Amblyomma cajennense) in wild mammals and their larvae in humans that visited the trails, which caused the closure of the park for school excursions given the risk of spreading zoonoses. The device contained a solid base of hydrocolloid and calcium carbonate soaked in a homeopathic formulation containing Chamomilla 12 cH, Artemisia absinthium 12 cH, Calcarea carbonica 30 cH, Psorinum 12 cH, Sulphur 12 cH, Artemisia lerchiana 12 cH, and Apis mellifica 12 cH, indicated for the treatment of animals whose signs of stress are an increase in ectoparasites and misbehavior. The devices were installed at three points: at the source, 500 meters away from the lake, at the watercourse, 200 meters from the lake, and at the lake itself on 10/08/2021, repeating the placement on 12/10/2021. The animals observed were four tapirs and three capybaras. Fifteen days after the date of the 1st placement of the devices, the manifestation of natural animal behavior was observed, such as teaching puppies to swim, indicating well-being. Twenty days after installation, a gradual decrease in teleogynes (adult forms) and larvae was observed, with the disappearance of ticks in all animals after six months of the device installation without chemical intervention to control the parasites. Park employees who frequent the trails and surroundings report that they have not suffered any more attacks from larvae (so-called “micuins”), even in times of greater occurrence, such as the dry seasons. Thus, it is suggested that installing slow dispersion devices in natural springs, dams, and lakes could be used as a resource for ecological balance, and the clinical observation of resident animals could be a possible indicator of environmental recovery. More studies using this approach are needed to consolidate these findings. Keywords: Homeopathic complexes, ecosystems, environmental homeopathy.

Effect of calcination on the physical, chemical, morphological, and cementitious properties of red mud

Red mud (RM), a by-product of aluminum production, poses environmental concerns with its disposal. This study explored calcining RM at 600 °C for 0–6 hours to utilize it as a cement substitute. Calcination up to 2 hours decreased particle size and increased surface area due to moisture loss, while further calcination reversed these effects. XRF analysis showed high Fe2O3, Al2O3, SiO2 contents. XRD revealed goethite transformed to hematite and gibbsite to alumina. SEM images displayed a loose then denser structure over time. 10% calcined RM incorporated into cement showed 2-hour calcined RM exhibited optimal properties, including high strength (46.27 MPa) and strength activity index (117.24%). SEM confirmed improved C-S-H gel formation with 2-hour calcined RM. In summary, calcining RM optimally at 600 °C for 2 hours allows its effective use as a sustainable cementitious material, providing environ- mental and technical benefits of RM utilization in cement composites.

Balanced Functioning of Socio-Economic Systems: Regional Perspective

Objective: This article presents a methodology to assess the balanced functioning of socio-economic systems (SES), focusing on Russia's Central Federal District regions. The aim is to develop a framework for evaluating SES balance, identifying potential imbalances, and understanding their causes. Methods: The methodology involves constructing models to analyze the relationship between Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and influencing factors in these regions, using data from two time periods (2007-2020 and 2007-2018) to track changes in model parameters. The study introduces the "coefficient of harmony" as an indicator for assessing subsystem balance within SES. Statistical analysis, including correlation coefficients, is used to identify subsystem relationships. Results: The analysis uncovers changes in model parameters, signaling shifts in regional economies. Relative coefficient changes reveal variations in influencing factors across sectors like manufacturing and real estate. Assessing balanced functioning highlights declining environmental subsystem balance in several regions, with causes like reduced real estate investment pinpointed. Statistically significant connections between subsystems shed light on their interactions and potential impact on overall system balance. Conclusion: This methodology is a valuable tool for evaluating SES balance, identifying areas of concern, and understanding imbalance drivers. It provides practical insights for regional development and policymaking. Addressing environmental subsystem imbalances and enhancing subsystem interactions are crucial for improving overall system efficiency and balance. This versatile methodology can be applied across government levels and to analyze processes with ecological and social implications.

The Matupiri amazon fish Tetragonopterus chalceus as a bioindicator of pollution

Oxidative stress is a biological condition in which imbalance occurs between the production of reactive oxygen species. The present study aimed to evaluate the hemoglobin (Hb), methaemoglobin (mHb) and Glutathione (GSH) contents as indicators of oxidative stress in Matupiri Tetragonopterus chalceus. Fish were collected in the port area of ​​Santana, AP and others in extensive aquaculture area in Amapá, AP, Brazil. Blood samples were collected, the samples were diluted in phosphate buffer and analyzed in a spectrophotometer. When evaluating Hb, mHb and GSH, significant increases of these components were observed in fish blood (P <0.05). This suggests that the analyzed port site presents an environmental imbalance due to the exposure of the organisms to high concentrations of ores, provoking possible oxidative stress which may compromise the site for fishing and aquaculture purposes.

Intellectual Property Rights Regime in Green Technology: Way Forward to Sustainability

Climate change crises and environmental imbalances have been a significant concern globally in recent times. The climatic changes give rise to various issues such as global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, deterioration of natural resources, soil erosion, deforestation, and more. Many international and national agreements and policies have been created to protect the environment, from the UNFCCC to the recent Paris Agreement, aiming to control rising environmental issues. However, developed and developing countries must achieve desirable results in combating climate change. Industrial and technological developments are critical reasons for environmental pollution and degradation. Progress is necessary for planned developing countries, but growth and expansions shall also consider ecological sustainability. Technology shall be novel in adapting to the changes, considering the effects it can produce on the environment. Green technology combines technology with the environment, also called environmental technology, clean technology, or sustainable technology. It is a combination of science and technology together to mitigate climatic changes and protect the environment. Green technology is the modern sustainable solution to pressing environmental concerns. India is one of the countries globally showing rapid green technology developments. The authors of this paper have tried to highlight the dire need to modify technological developments vis-a-vis environmental sustainability to protect the environment. The research paper delves into and understands the interface between clean technology’s importance and relevance for ecological sustainability and the role of patent law, particularly in dealing with issues of the environment. The paper shall also establish a harmonious relationship between patent law and its role in ensuring environmental sustainability.

How bio-inspired solutions have influenced the built environment design in hot and humid climates

The rapid increase in the population, which has been concentrated mainly in urban areas, has caused an environmental imbalance over the years since the built environment developed as a foreign element to the ecosystem, which prevents having resilient environments capable of adapting to the challenges posed by climate change. This research aims to provide an updated knowledge base of bio-inspired strategies emulated in hot and humid climates to achieve an efficient built environment, restoring resources, and bringing nature closer to cities. A systematic review is conducted based on keyword selection to answer i) what has been achieved in built environments to be more efficient and sustainable (including tropical climates) and ii) how natural patterns, strategies, and models are mimicked. Implementing these strategies is very little in regions with hot and humid climates. Bio-inspired approaches are concentrated in those that try to emulate the functions of nature, followed by approaches that imitate the form of nature, biomimicry, and biomimetics being the most used approaches, leading to the development of efficient and resilient cities.

Imidazolate framework material for crude oil removal in aqueus media: Mechanism insight

Considerable amount of produced water discharged by the oil industry contributes to an environmental imbalance due to the presence of several components potentially harmful to the ecosystem. We investigated the factors influencing the adsorption capacity of Zinc Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) in finite bath systems for crude oil removal from petroleum extraction in synthetic produced water. ZIF-8, experimentally obtained by solvothermal method, was characterized by XRD, FTIR, TGA, BET and its point of zero charge (pHpcz) was determined. Synthesized material showed high crystallinity, with surface area equal to 1558 m2 g−1 and thermal stability equivalent to 400 °C. Adsorption tests revealed, based on the Sips model, that the process takes place in a heterogeneous system. Additionally, intraparticle diffusion model exhibited multilinearity characteristics during adsorption process. Thermodynamic investigation demonstrated that adsorption process is spontaneous and exothermic, indicating a physisorption phenomenon. These properties enable the use of ZIF-8 in oil adsorption, which presented an adsorption capacity equal to 452.9 mg g−1. Adsorption mechanism was based on hydrophobic interactions, through apolar groups present on ZIF-8 structure and oil hydrocarbons, and electrostatic interactions, through the difference in charges between positive surface of adsorbent and negatively charged oil droplets.

A Study on Time-Varying Synergy of Energy Consumption, Economic Growth, and CO2 Emissions in China

Since its reform and opening, the Chinese economy has witnessed unprecedented development. This long-term high-speed development has significantly impacted the environment. In the process of energy development and consumption, the environment has been severely polluted, and greenhouse emissions have increased. This has resulted in environmental imbalances such as global climate change, rising sea levels, and extreme weather. Using annual energy consumption (EC), economic growth (GDP), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in China from 1981 to 2021, this study employed the maximum likelihood estimation method to estimate the parameters of the nonlinear MS-VAR model. Cointegration tests, regimes analysis methods, and impulse response function analysis methods were adopted to explore the differences or similarities in the dynamics of the three under various regimes. The research results are as following. (i) The cointegration test findings demonstrate a long-term equilibrium relationship among EC, economic growth, and CO2 emissions. (ii) Regime analyses exhibit that there are three regimes: “low-level regime,” “medium-level regime,” and “high-level regime.” The three regimes have a mutual transfer transmission mechanism that exhibits nonlinear properties. (iii) Impulse response function analyses show that external EC and GDP shocks favorably impact the other two variables in all three regimes. EC in all three regimes is negatively impacted by external CO2 shocks. Moreover, in the “low-level regime,” the relationship between CO2 and GDP has an inverted U-curve, whereas in the other two regimes, the relationship has a negative association. This study can help China formulate reasonable and effective CO2 emissions reduction and energy policies and successfully achieve the emissions reduction goal of the 14th Five Year Plan as well as dual carbon goals.

Notes on the foraging of spiders by marmosets (Primates: Callitrichidae) in an urban environment in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Callithrix penicillata, the marmosets, were introduced in several areas of Brazil and established themselves as invaders causing environmental imbalance in the native fauna. The diet of marmosets is quite broad and includes small arthropods, such as spiders, which play a fundamental role in the ecosystem. To capture web spiders, marmosets have been observed to exhibit two main strategies that are clearly learned and perfected with age.

Analysis of friction and wear performance of eco-friendly basalt filler reinforced polylactic acid composite using the Taguchi approach

The main goal of this research is to utilize sustainable and eco-friendly basalt materials for the fabrication of bio-based thermoplastic composites. This will help to keep up with ecologically balanced factors. There have been several studies on natural fiber reinforced with different polymer matrices during the past 10 years. As a result, the academics and experts expressed concern about the environmental imbalance. By keeping these points, an attempt was made to fabricate basalt fillers reinforced polylactic acid composites with the maximum weight ratio (30 wt %), and the tribological study is conducted for the fabricated composites. In this study, the Taguchi and analysis of variance (ANOVA) approaches have been used to analyze the coefficient of friction (COF) and specific wear rate (SWR) of polylactic acid composite reinforced with constant 30 wt% basalt fillers. The morphology, particle size, and elemental composition of the basalt fillers are examined using scanning electron microscopy, a particle size distribution analyzer, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, respectively. The tribology tests are conducted with Pin-on-Disk Tribometer following the ASTM G99 standard, following the L18 orthogonal array design, which was developed using the statistical program MINITAB-19. The selected parameters for the analysis are basalt (wt %), load (N), speed (rpm), and distance (m) under dry conditions. For PLA samples, the optimum parameters in response to COF is found to be 0 wt% basalt, 3 N load, 100 rpm speed, and 100 m distance; for the SWR output, the optimum parameters are 30 wt% basalt, 6 N load, 100 rpm speed, and 150 m distance. The consistent observation is that adding basalt fillers has not significantly reduced COF but has contributed more to SWR reduction with PLA composite. The best COF value for PLA samples is obtained with low sliding distance. The typical observation across all COF graphs is that the COF value first seems to be lower due to a smoothened polymer surface, rises throughout an experiment, and then stabilizes with very little variance. Regardless of the processing parameters, the depth of wear steadily increases with increasing load as observed in 2D depth profiles. The neat PLA polymer morphology that gives the illusion of deep grooves and many tracks dispersed over a single worn surface shows how the maximum parameter influence is more obvious on the surface of the sample. Overall, the results suggest that thermoplastic composites are feasible for the manufacturing of paper mill rollers.

Studying the Impact of Urban Management Strategies and Spatiotemporal Dynamics of LULC on Land Surface Temperature and SUHI Formation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

This study focuses on examining the historical trends of the surface urban heat island (SUHI) in relation to land use/cover (LULC) changes in Jeddah City from 2013 to 2022 using Landsat data. To achieve this, various parameters were analyzed, including LULC changes, normalized difference built-up index (NDBI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and LST. During this timeframe, Jeddah City underwent a comprehensive development initiative aimed at demolishing informal and illegal settlements and improving the overall quality of life, aligning with the Kingdom’s 2030 vision. This provides an interesting opportunity to investigate the effect of these urban transformations on the variation, presence, and intensity of SUHIs. Based on the results, a significant positive correlation between the density of built-up and LST was found, while a negative relationship was noticed between NDVI and LST for all time points. Furthermore, a remarkable observation in 2022 was the complete absence of the SUHI phenomenon following the removal of old informal settlements from the city. The outcomes of this study highlight the impact of urban development and hold the potential to uncover environmental imbalances and contribute to the development of strategies to mitigate the negative effects of LULC changes, thereby restraining the rise in LST.

Diet Traps during Eating Disorders among Dentate Patients at an Oral Health Glance.

Persons suffering from eating disorders (ED) may often experience a recurrence/persistence symptoms despite the completion of psychiatric therapy. In most cases, their general health status is linked to current nutritional behaviors. Medical professionals, general practitioners (GPs), dieticians, and dentists may see those patients in their practices. At the same time, due to low sense of illness, some patients may delay or never seek professional medical care. The aim of this article is to analyze the main ED types according to dietary behaviors causing oral health problems and discuss oral health complications in affected dentate patients. The second objective is to update oral preventive measures and technological innovations together with active agents for oral hygiene care that might effectively support oral health maintenance during the presence of long-term symptoms. The research method involved a review of clinical reports as a synthesis of the electronic research in the Pubmed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Based on the research, ED patients were found to present related incidences of oral complications. Studies have reported that the possible course of an ED and comorbidities may be an imbalance in the oral environment. The results showed an association between biological (malnutrition, etc.), behavioral (binge eating episodes, vomiting, acidic diet, poor oral hygiene), and pharmacotherapeutic (addiction, hyposalivation) factors that may threaten oral health. Early diagnosis of the past and present symptoms is essential to eliminate and take control of destructive behaviors. Oral changes need to be tackled with medical insight, and additionally, the perception of dietary interactions is recommended.

An agent‐based model to evaluate agricultural vulnerability and risk facing climate change in strawberry production

AbstractHuman activity has created an environmental imbalance, which is reflected in climate change and resulting temperature variations, harmful levels of air quality, and more frequent and more intense meteorological phenomena, thus having significant consequences on the agricultural sector, for example, changes in soil, climate, and water characteristics as well as in available resources for agricultural production. This paper presents an agent‐based model (ABM) to evaluate the behavior of the strawberry's (Fragaria × ananassa) agricultural system in Veracruz, Mexico, to determine the degree of existing vulnerability through a dynamic assessment of agricultural risk. Development of the ABM allows the evaluation of variations in the active entities (critical variables of the model) to determine the factors that present a better crop yield. The research showed that temperature and precipitation are determining factors in strawberry quality, as they have a direct relationship with the growth and different phenological stages of the crop from an early age to a stage of greater maturity from the budding, flowering, and fruiting stages of the strawberry.

Quality journalism and advocacy in raising climate awareness: The case of The Guardian

The Anthropocene era describes human activity as the decisive factor in creating environmental imbalance on the planet. This emergency is intensifying the need for journalism to raise readers’ awareness about the climate crisis. This study concentrates on the coverage generated by the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27). Using a mixed quantitative and qualitative method, The Guardian’s international digital version was analysed to find out the scope of journalistic quality on the climate issue, applying the variables accredited with the Journalistic Value Added (JVA) analysis technique to the sample (N = 238). The results show that the editorial policy of commitment to the climate emergency taken on by The Guardian coincides with essential criteria of quality journalism, making the medium a point of reference, although misproportion still persist such as gender representation among the sources.

Does Gender Based Representation Matters in Fostering Political Inclusion of Women in Local Governments? A Case of India

How does the legally established gender quota in local self-government bodies affect the level of representation of women in power? How does the representation of women in power increase effective political participation? Previous studies were devoted to studying the consequences of gender quotas in the authorities and management, but the issue of the model of gender political participation remained neglected. The introduction of gender quotas as a mechanism for ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women in politics and the decision-making process increases women’s political participation and political leadership. The success or failure of planning and decision-making largely depends on the level of political participation. The issues of this work correspond to Goal 5 of Sustainable Development, which provides equal opportunities for women’s leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The paper analyzes the representation of women in the authorities and management in different regions of the world. The study’s main goal is to determine the relationship between the representation of women in rural local self-government bodies and the consequences of this representation. The data sources were the results of local elections, reports of government ministries and agencies, United Nations reports on gender equality and the empowerment of women, as well as surveys of women representatives of political power in three Indian states (Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra ) — state election data analyzed over the past three decades. The results of this study show that the level of female representation increases annually, although this is not entirely related to political participation. Women’s electoral participation indicates that despite growing women’s participation in local elections, the expression remains unchanged within the established gender quota of 33 to 50 percent. Addressing the gender imbalance in the political environment of three states in India is a result of the introduction and enforcement of gender quotas in politics. The results of this study have practical value for local self-government bodies when developing state gender policy.