Female Liver Research Articles

Differences in Quality of Female Nursing Work Life Based on Gender and Nursing Perspectives

The quality of a nurse’s work life is the degree of satisfaction regarding personal and organizational needs based on experience in a work organization. A nurse with a dual role is the nurse who acts as a mother and a professional nursing staff at the same time. The purpose was to determine differences in the quality of female nurses’ work life in gender and nursing perspective at Balung General Hospital and Kalisat General Hospital in Jember Regency. The research method uses a comparative study with a quantitative research type. The sampling technique in this research is random sampling with a total of 115 samples. Data collection was conducted by using questionnaires about the quality of nurses’ work life from the nursing perspective and questionnaires conflict with women’s dual role from the gender perspective. Data processing using the Mann-Whitney analysis test with a 95% significance level (α=0.05). The results using Mann-Whitney analysis showed that there is a difference between the gender perspective and the nursing perspective (p=0.000). The mean results showed that the nursing perspective () is higher than the gender perspective (). The conclusion shows that the quality of female nursing work life from the gender perspective needs to be improved. The hospital needed to review further regarding work schedules and shift time; the family needed to provide full support and good cooperation; and female nurses themselves must also have good coping control, time, and energy management. Apart from that, it is necessary to have a policy from the room head and team leader regarding the distribution of schedules for female nursing staff without reducing the feeling of unfairness for male health workers.

Healthcare access and equity in Nigeria

This study examines government health finance, which requires patients to pay out-of-pocket even in the presence of a universal healthcare program, and how it affects Nigerians' life expectancy. Numerous investigations have indicated that socioeconomic factors impact healthcare results as well as the dispersion of medical facilities and resources throughout Nigeria. Government spending and gender life expectancy were used as indices to look at healthcare access and equity among socioeconomic determinants in Nigeria. In order to determine the impact of government health expenditure on life expectancy in relation to healthcare and equity in Nigeria, time series data was sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin and World Population Prospects. A combination of descriptive statistics, Unit Root (ADF) test, Vector Regression (VAR), Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL), Bounds test and residual diagnostics and stability test were used in the analyses. The study demonstrated a long-term, statistically significant association between the independent factors, such as male and female life expectancy, and the dependent variable, government health expenditure. Recurrent and capital health expenditures in Nigeria have been greatly impacted by the insufficient financial allocation to healthcare. It is important to remember that any health system's capital expenditures will continue to be greatly impacted by the inadequate funding. It is important to reform the healthcare finance system, ensure smart resource allocation, and shift the focus away from out-of-pocket healthcare expenses in order to improve the lives of both sexes and extend the existing life expectancy.

Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency in Mice Sex-Dependently Affects Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in Offspring.

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is becoming a global issue and low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) plasma levels have been linked to hepatic steatosis in adulthood. Nevertheless, the impact of maternal VDD on lipid metabolism and hepatic steatosis remains poorly documented, especially under obesogenic condition. The goal of this study is to assess the effects of maternal VDD on hepatic lipid accumulation in adult offspring fed a normal or obesogenic diet. Several approaches are implemented including histology and lipidomics on the liver in both males and females. No major impact of high-fat (HF) or VDD is observed at histological level in both males and females. Nevertheless, in males born from VDD mice and fed an HF diet, an increase of total lipids and modulation of the relative lipid species distribution characterized by a decrease of triglycerides and increase of phospholipids is observed. In female no major lipid profile is noticed. Maternal VDD combined with a HF diet in male may predispose to hepatic hypertrophia, with a specific lipid profile. Such observations reinforce our knowledge of the impact of maternal VDD on hepatic programming in the offspring.

Protective Effect of Baicalin on Chlorpyrifos-Induced Liver Injury and Its Mechanism

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) plays a vital role in the control of various pests in agriculture and household life, even though some studies have indicated that CPF residues pose a significant risk to human health. Baicalin (BA) is a flavonoid drug with an obvious effect on the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. In this study, the protective effect of BA in vitro and in vivo was investigated by establishing a CPF-induced AML12 cell damage model and a CPF-induced Kunming female mouse liver injury model. The AML12 cell damage model indicated that BA had a good positive regulatory effect on various inflammatory factors, redox indexes, and abnormal apoptosis factors induced by CPF. The liver injury model of female mice in Kunming showed that BA significantly improved the liver function indexes, inflammatory response, and fibrosis of mice. In addition, BA alleviated CPF-induced AML12 cell damage and Kunming female mouse liver injury by enhancing autophagy and regulating apoptosis pathways through Western blotting. Collectively, these data suggest that the potential mechanism of BA is a multi-target and multi-channel treatment for chlorpyrifos-induced liver injury.

Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin (SERPINA6) Consolidates Sexual Dimorphism of Adult Rat Liver.

Produced by the liver, corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) regulates the plasma distribution and actions of glucocorticoids. A sex difference in pituitary growth hormone secretion patterns established during puberty in rats results in increased hepatic CBG production and 2-fold higher plasma corticosterone levels in females. Glucocorticoids control hepatic development and metabolic activities, and we have therefore examined how disrupting the SerpinA6 gene encoding CBG influences plasma corticosterone dynamics, as well as liver gene expression in male and female rats before and after puberty. Comparisons of corticosterone plasma clearance and hepatic uptake in adult rats, with or without CBG, indicated that CBG limits corticosterone clearance by reducing its hepatic uptake. Hepatic transcriptomic profiling revealed minor sex differences (207 differentially expressed genes) and minimal effect of CBG deficiency in 30-day-old rats before puberty. While liver transcriptomes in 60-day-old males lacking CBG remained essentially unchanged, 2710 genes were differentially expressed in wild-type female vs male livers at this age. Importantly, ∼10% of these genes lost their sexually dimorphic expression in adult females lacking CBG, including those related to cholesterol biosynthesis, inflammation, and lipid and amino acid catabolism. Another 203 genes were altered by the loss of CBG specifically in adult females, including those related to xenobiotic metabolism, circadian rhythm, and gluconeogenesis. Our findings reveal that CBG consolidates the sexual dimorphism of the rat liver initiated by sex differences in growth hormone secretion patterns and provide insight into how CBG deficiencies are linked to glucocorticoid-dependent diseases.

Characterization of emopamil binding protein (Cs-ebp) reveals its potential role in cholesterol biosynthesis and growth performance of Chinese tongue sole

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in Chinese tongue sole affects its annual yields and consequently hinders its sustainable aquaculture development. Females show faster growth rate than male from 6 month post hatch (m). Comparative transcriptome analysis suggested cholesterol biosynthesis as an important signaling pathway involved in Chinese tongue sole SSD. Emopamil-binding protein (EBP), identified as one of the differential expressed genes in females, is the key catalyzing enzyme in the final steps of cholesterol biosynthesis. In this study, Chinese tongue sole ebp (Cs-ebp) gene was characterized and its potential role in cholesterol biosynthesis and growth performance was assessed. Cs-ebp showed significant abundance in female ovaries and livers. Meanwhile, it was highly expressed in 6 m female ovaries compared to other developmental stages. Promoter analysis revealed that transcriptional factors JUNB (a subunit of the activating protein-1 transcription factor complex) and POU1F1α (Pou-homeodomain transcription factor) could promote Cs-ebp transcription. Cs-ebp gene knockdown triggered the down-regulation of its downstream genes in cholesterol biosynthesis pathway (sc5d, dhcr7, and dhcr24), and genes related to estrogen biosynthesis (cyp19a1a) and body growth (akt1 and bmp2b). All the results revealed that there might be crosstalk among Cs-ebp, PI3K/Akt, TGF-β/Bmp, and estrogen biosynthesis, eventually affected the growth performance of female Chinese tongue sole. Further investigation would provide us detailed information about the molecular mechanism beneath teleost SSD.

Unraveling immunotherapeutic targets for endometriosis: a transcriptomic and single-cell analysis.

Endometriosis (EMs), a common gynecological disorder, adversely affects the quality of life of females. The pathogenesis of EMs has not been elucidated and the diagnostic methods for EMs have limitations. This study aimed to identify potential molecular biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment ofEMs. Differential gene expression (DEG) and functional enrichment analyses were performed using the R language. WGCNA, Random Forest, SVM-REF and LASSO methods were used to identify core immune genes. The CIBERSORT algorithm was then used to analyse the differences in immune cell infiltration and to explore the correlation between immune cells and core genes. In addition, the extent of immune cell infiltration and the expression of immune core genes were investigated using single-cell RNA (scRNA) sequencing data. Finally, we performed molecular docking of three core genes with dienogest and goserelin to screen for potential drug targets. DEGs enriched in immune response, angiogenesis and estrogen processes. CXCL12, ROBO3 and SCG2 were identified as core immune genes. RT-PCR confirmed that the expression of CXCL12 and SCG2 was significantly upregulated in 12Z cells compared to hESCs cells. ROC curves showed high diagnostic value for these genes. Abnormal immune cell distribution, particularly increased macrophages, was observed in endometriosis. CXCL12, ROBO3 and SCG2 correlated with immune cell levels. Molecular docking suggested their potential as drug targets. This study investigated the correlation between EMs and the immune system and identified potential immune-related biomarkers. These findings provided valuable insights for developing clinically relevant diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for EMs.

Overactivation or Apoptosis: Which Mechanisms Affect Chemotherapy-Induced Ovarian Reserve Depletion?

Dormant primordial follicles (PMF), which constitute the ovarian reserve, are recruited continuously into the cohort of growing follicles in the ovary throughout female reproductive life. Gonadotoxic chemotherapy was shown to diminish the ovarian reserve pool, to destroy growing follicle population, and to cause premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Three primary mechanisms have been proposed to account for this chemotherapy-induced PMF depletion: either indirectly via over-recruitment of PMF, by stromal damage, or through direct toxicity effects on PMF. Preventative pharmacological agents intervening in these ovotoxic mechanisms may be ideal candidates for fertility preservation (FP). This manuscript reviews the mechanisms that disrupt follicle dormancy causing depletion of the ovarian reserve. It describes the most widely studied experimental inhibitors that have been deployed in attempts to counteract these affects and prevent follicle depletion.

Cardiac and hepatic side effects of fluoxetine in male and female adolescent rats.

Fluoxetine (FLX) is widely prescribed as an antidepressant medicine in the juvenile population. Although some adverse effects of FLX have been reported in adults, the present study aimed to investigate the side effects of FLX treatment during adolescence on the cardiac and hepatic systems. Male and female rats were gavaged with FLX (5mg/kg/day) on postnatal days (PND) 21 to PND 60. Following treatment, blood samples were collected and hepatic enzymes were evaluated. The specimens of the liver and heart of animals were subjected to histopathological assessment. Fluoxetine significantly raised serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in males, whereas the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level increased in both male and female animals. In the histopathological study, hepatic plates were more seriously affected, and the sinusoids were irregular in adolescent male rats. Degenerative changes were observed especially in the first and second hepatic zones of FLX-treated male rats. Signs of inflammation and accumulation of lymphoid groups were frequently observed in the portal triad of the hepatic lobules. These alterations were more severe in male livers. Minimum or nearly normal changes were observed in female liver slides. In addition, the histological assessment indicated that treatment with FLX during adolescence also increased the heart's weight and the wall thickness of the right and left ventricles (hypertrophy) in male and especially female animals. Our findings may provide new insights into the cardiac and hepatic adverse effects of FLX.

Development and reproduction of Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Acari: Tetranychidae) on transgenic insect-resistant cotton cultivars

Effects of transgenic insect-resistant Bt cotton Zhongkangza 5 and Lumianyan 23 and Bt + CpTI cotton sGK958 and Zhongmiansuo 45 on Tetranychus cinnabarinus growth and reproduction were compared with those of nontransgenic cotton (K836) under laboratory conditions. Developmental times of different T. cinnabarinus stages fed on transgenic Bt and Bt + CpTI cotton differed significantly from those fed on K836. Pre-oviposition (1.44 d) and oviposition (12.71 d) periods and female life span (14.11 d) were longer on K836 than on transgenic cotton. Maximum fecundity was 75.61 eggs per female on K836, while minimum fecundity was 54.68 eggs per female on sGK958. Net reproductive rate was highest with 55.00 female offspring on K836, whereas the lowest was 37.219 female offspring on Zhongkangza 5. The highest intrinsic rate of increase was 0.454 day−1 on K836, whereas the lowest was 0.246 day−1 on Zhongkangza 5. The highest finite rate of increase was 1.575 day−1 on K836, whereas the lowest was 1.278 day−1 on Zhongkangza 5. The shortest population doubling time was 1.526 d on K836, while the longest was 2.823 d on Zhongkangza 5. Thus, transgenic cotton inhibited T. cinnabarinus development and reproduction, indicating transgenic cotton could prevent damage by T. cinnabarinus or other pests.

Genomic disturbance of vitellogenin 2 (vtg2) leads to vitellin membrane deficiencies and significant mortalities at early stages of embryonic development in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The specific functions and essentiality of type II vitellogenin (Vtg2) in early zebrafish development were investigated in this study. A vtg2-mutant zebrafish line was produced and effects of genomic disturbance were observed in F2 females and F3 offspring. No change in vtg2 transcript has been detected, however, Vtg2 abundance in F2 female liver was 5×, and in 1 hpf F3 vtg2-mutant embryos was 3.8× less than Wt (p < 0.05). Fecundity was unaffected while fertilization rate was more than halved in F2 vtg2-mutant females (p < 0.05). Hatching rate was significantly higher in F3 vtg2-mutant embryos in comparison to Wt embryos. Survival rate declined drastically to 29% and 18% at 24 hpf and 20 dpf, respectively, in F3 vtg2-mutant embryos. The introduced mutation caused vitelline membrane deficiencies, significant mortalities at early embryonic stages, and morphological abnormalities in the surviving F3 vtg2-mutant larvae. Overrepresentation of histones, zona pellucida proteins, lectins, and protein degradation related proteins in F3 vtg2-mutant embryos provide evidence to impaired mechanisms involved in vitellin membrane formation. Overall findings imply a potential function of Vtg2 in acquisition of vitellin membrane integrity, among other reproductive functions, and therefore, its essentiality in early zebrafish embryo development.

Unhealthy lifestyles and regional differences in life expectancy in Russia

ObjectivesThe study seeks to identify the impact of smoking, sports participation, and alcohol consumption on life expectancy of men and women in Russian regions. Study designWe use official data for 2014–2020 for 77 Russian regions. We estimate factors related to life expectancy separately for men and women to account for differences in their life expectancy and lifestyles. MethodsWe run fixed-effect models to estimate regional life expectancy depending on smoking, alcohol consumption, sport participation, healthcare characteristics, and demographical and economic factors. ResultsLife expectancy was negatively associated with alcohol consumption and smoking and positively with sport participation: a 1-L increase in alcohol consumption was attributed to a 1.6-month decrease in male life expectancy and to a 1.8-month decrease in female life expectancy. If the proportion of smoking women was halved, the increase in woman's life expectancy would be 4.6 months. If sports participation rates were doubled for men and women, the expected increase in their life expectancy would be 1 and 0.9 years, respectively. Other factors attributed to life expectancy were settlement type, income inequality, characteristics of regional healthcare systems, and the COVID-19 pandemic. ConclusionWe find significant variation in life expectancy across Russian regions that can be partly explained by unhealthy lifestyles. We suggest that policies aimed at improving national health in diverse countries such as Russia adjust healthy lifestyle measures to the needs of particular region.

The life table parameters of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) reared on nine rainfed barley cultivars

The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) attacks various cereals and causes serious damage during storage periods in many parts of the world including Iran. In this study, the impacts of nine rainfed barley cultivars namely Abidar, Ansar, Izeh, Fardan, Khoram, Mahoor, Nader, Nimroz, and Sararod were determined on the life table parameters of R. dominica in the laboratory, at 25 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 5% RH, and darkness, using the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. The different life table parameters of R. dominica were significantly influenced by tested cultivars. The incubation period of R. dominica was longest on Ansar (7.55 d) and shortest on Izeh (6.53 d). Among tested cultivars, developmental time of R. dominica immature stages was longest on Ansar (47.94 d) and shortest on Fardan (45.43 d). The total female life span for insects reared on Ansar (115.82 d) was significantly longer than other cultivars. The highest and lowest fecundities observed fed on Ansar (148.21 eggs) and Nader (81.78 eggs), respectively. Life expectancy (exj) for all stages of individuals reared on Ansar was highest compared to other cultivars. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) differed among tested cultivars and was significantly lowest on Mahoor (0.052 day−1) in comparison to other cultivars. The cluster analysis results indicated that Sararod, Nader, Nimroz, and Mahoor are relatively resistant cultivars for R. dominica performance and can be used in the integrated pest management program for this pest.

Pharmacological activation of constitutive androstane receptor induces female-specific modulation of hepatic metabolism

Background & AimsThe constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) is a nuclear receptor that binds diverse xenobiotics and whose activation leads to the modulation of the expression of target genes involved in xenobiotic detoxification and energy metabolism. Although CAR hepatic activity is considered to be higher in women than in men, its sex-dependent response to an acute pharmacological activation has seldom been investigated. MethodsThe hepatic transcriptome, plasma markers, and hepatic metabolome, were analysed in Car+/+ and Car-/- male and female mice treated either with the CAR-specific agonist 1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]benzene (TCPOBOP) or with vehicle. ResultsAlthough 90% of TCPOBOP-sensitive genes were modulated in a sex-independent manner, the remaining 10% showed almost exclusive female liver specificity. These female-specific CAR-sensitive genes were mainly involved in xenobiotic metabolism, inflammation, and extracellular matrix organisation. CAR activation also induced higher hepatic oxidative stress and hepatocyte cytolysis in females than in males. Hepatic expression of flavin monooxygenase 3 (Fmo3) was almost abolished and was associated with a decrease in hepatic trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) concentration in TCPOBOP-treated females. In line with a potential role in the control of TMAO homeostasis, CAR activation decreased platelet hyper-responsiveness in female mice supplemented with dietary choline. ConclusionsMore than 10% of CAR-sensitive genes are sex-specific and influence hepatic and systemic responses such as platelet aggregation. CAR activation may be an important mechanism of sexually-dimorphic drug-induced liver injury. Impact and implicationsCAR is activated by many drugs and pollutants. Its pharmacological activation had a stronger impact on hepatic gene expression and metabolism in females than in males, and had a specific impact on liver toxicity and trimethylamine metabolism. Sexual dimorphism should be considered when testing and/or prescribing xenobiotics known to activate CAR.

Students’ Address and Reference Term Choices for Female versus Male Professors

Using four methodologies, with both students and professors as participants, we predicted and found that college students are more likely to address/reference female versus male professors by first name. The effect was not explained by perceptions of lower status/competence or greater warmth, but rather more student-professor interaction. When we made first-name-only references impractical, students actually used more formal reference terms for female than male professors. We discuss potential moderating variables and implications for female faculty work life.

Seasonal shifts in pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) diets under a new lens: Examining diet composition using a molecular technique.

Foraging is one of the most fundamental activities contributing to the maximization of an animal's fitness, and thus herbivores must optimize their diet selection and intake to meet their nutrient demands for survival, growth, and reproduction. Using plant DNA barcoding, we determined diet composition of five subpopulations of adult female pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) grazing rangelands in southern and southeastern Idaho, USA. Fecal samples were collected for two years (2018-2019), and across metabolically-important adult female life history stages (late gestation, early lactation, breeding season). Plant DNA barcoding yielded 137 detected species within pronghorn diets across subpopulations and sampling periods with forbs being the most abundant. Pronghorn dietary functional group composition ranged from 52.2-60.3% from forbs followed by shrubs (22.6-28.2%), graminoids (8.7-15.7%), and legumes (5.5-9.6%). Dietary protein intake was also highest from forbs and ranged from 32.4-62.4% followed by graminoids (1.2-43.1%), shrubs (18.7-21.3%), and legumes (2.6-7.4%). We found significant intra- and interannual differences in the mean number of genera-based plant detections in pronghorn diets. Dietary protein intake of cultivated legumes (e.g., alfalfa [Medicago sativa] and sainfoin [Onobrychis viciifolia]) was lower than expected, ranging from <1.0-30.8%, suggesting that even within an agricultural-dominated landscape, factors other than plant nutritional composition contributed to pronghorn diets. Although the plant DNA barcoding technique exhibits limitations, it demonstrated potential for elucidating pronghorn dietary species richness, particularly for plants consumed in small proportions, as well as for observing temporal fluctuations in functional group composition and dietary protein intake explained through the interplay between environmental factors, plant chemical composition, and the animals' physiological needs.

Effect of premenstrual syndrome on school absenteeism and academic performance amongst female secondary school students in Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria

The commencement of menstruation is the hallmark of female pubertal development and active reproductive life. It may be associated with somatic and psychological symptoms of premenstrual syndrome which may affect school attendance and performance. This study was conducted to determine the effect of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) on school absenteeism and academic performance among female secondary school students in Kaduna State, Nigeria. It was a nested case-controlled study conducted on 300 female students enrolled in secondary schools in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria in March 2021. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 with p &lt; 0.05 considered as significant. Results generated indicate that the mean age of participants was 16.2 ± 1.6 years. The prevalence of premenstrual syndrome was 226 (75.3%). One hundred respondents (44.2%) were absent from school at any point of time as a result of the PMS. Generally, there was a significant association between the presence of PMS and school absenteeism (p = 0.001, OR = 3.346). Among the symptoms of PMS, there was a significant relationship between the presence of tension (p = 0.043) and mood swings (p = 0.048) and the occurrence of school absenteeism. Furthermore, PMS was perceived to affect reading, homework and test grades of respondents. The self-reported prevalence rate of PMS among respondents was 76.1%. This disorder was significantly associated with school absenteeism and low performance grades among affected respondents. There is need to make policies that will encourage school girls to attend schools during their menses.

Sex Differences in Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

This review aims to summarize the existing research on sex differences in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) across the lifespan. From childhood onward, total- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in girls are higher than those in boys with FH. By the age of 30 years, women with FH have a higher LDL-C burden than men. In adulthood, women are diagnosed later than men, receive less lipid-lowering treatment, and consequently have higher LDL-C levels. An excessive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk is reported in young female compared to male FH patients. The periods of pregnancy and breastfeeding contribute to treatment loss and increased cholesterol burden. Earlier initiation of treatment, especially in girls with FH, and lifelong treatment during all life stages are important. Future research should aim to recruit both women and men, report sex-specific data, and investigate the impact of the female life course on cardiovascular outcomes. Future guidelines should include sex-specific aspects.

If you can't fix the problem change the standards.

Over the last few months, established data systems in India have been the target of heated dispute, chiefly by members of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, ranging from the inflation numbers [1], to the sampling frame for surveys done by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSS), the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) and the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)[2], haemoglobin cut-offs for anaemia [3] and childhood growth standards, female labour force participation rate and life expectancy at birth [4]. The attempts to revise economic data systems has invited a raging debate [5, 6], prompting the government to set up a panel to review the NSS's methodology. However, the arguments being made in favor of downward revision of nutritional standards have received much less scrutiny, except for a recent editorial which comments on the general problem of drawing up standards [7]. This is despite the fact that these proposals have already caught the fancy of the government. A policy decision has already been taken to discontinue gathering of data on Hb-levels as part of the quinquennial National Family Health Surveys, which would now be collected as part of a new Dietary and Bio-markers Survey. Neither the rationale for such a move, nor the details of the methodology of the new survey, or the time-frame within which such data would be released have been made available for public deliberation. Similarly, discussions have been initiated on devising "indigenous" growth standards for children [8]. Hence, it becomes imperative to examine the basis of these renewed calls for revision of existing standards.

Socioeconomic factors affecting female labor force participation: A Case study of Lahore district

Labor-force participation analysis is important for developing employment and human resource development policies. Females represent approximately fifty percent of the entire population of Pakistan and play a vital role in the country. This paper aims to quantify the numerous factors affecting female labor force participation in Lahore district. The study is based on cross-sectional data gathered through questionnaires. The technique of logit regression on 450 observations is used to estimate the factors affecting female labor force participation. The empirical results show that educational attainment levels, marital status have a positive and significant effect on female labor force whereas female lives in joint family system and urban region less likely to participate in labor force market. Household head participation in economic activities decrease the female labor force participation. Paper also shows that in Lahore weak women empowerment exist. If female alone decides about her job, her participation in labor market decreases.