Indian Family Research Articles

A novel frameshift mutation in TRPV6 is associated with hereditary pancreatitis.

Introduction: Hereditary pancreatitis (HP) is a rare debilitating disease with incompletely understood etio-pathophysiology. The reduced penetrance of genes such as PRSS1 associated with hereditary pancreatitis indicates a role for novel inherited factors. Methods: We performed whole-exome sequencing of three affected members of an Indian family (Father, Son, and Daughter) with chronic pancreatitis and compared variants with those seen in the unaffected mother. Results: We identified a novel frameshift mutation in exon 11 of TRPV6 (c.1474_1475delGT; p.V492Tfs*136), a calcium channel, in the patients. Functional characterization of this mutant TRPV6 following heterologous expression revealed that it was defective in calcium uptake. Induction of pancreatitis in mice induced Trpv6 expression, indicating that higher expression levels of the mutant protein and consequent dysregulation of calcium levels in patients with chronic pancreatitis could aggravate the disease. Discussion: We report a novel frameshift mutation in TRPV6 in an Indian family with HP that renders the mutant protein inactive. Our results emphasize the need to expand the list of genes used currently for evaluating patients with hereditary pancreatitis.

Implementation and effectiveness of the Indian Child Welfare Act: A systematic review

This paper is a systematic review of studies that examined the implementation and/or effectiveness of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). ICWA was enacted in 1978 in response to the disproportionate number of American Indian children in non-American Indian out-of-home placements and to enhance the stability of American Indian families and tribes. Searches of 7 bibliographic databases and 3 advocacy organization websites yielded 408 studies completed since November 1978. Following duplicate removal and double-independent screening based on a priori inclusion criteria, 16 studies were included for review. Studies on the effectiveness of ICWA were mixed, though numerous positive results were found. Several studies found that children were placed with relatives or tribal affiliates in accordance with ICWA. One study also found active efforts to prevent the break-up of the family. Studies on the implementation of ICWA found limited capacity for many ICWA programs, improvements from cultural training, underfunding for many programs, lack of tracking systems, use of qualified experts, communication with tribes, and identification practices for American Indian children. Noteworthy facilitators of ICWA implementation included use of Child and Family Service plans and case worker training on ICWA. Barriers to ICWA included cultural differences between tribes and the child welfare system, lack of a specific unit dedicated to American Indian child welfare, and a lack of American Indian foster homes and tribal resources to respond to notices. Implications for practice, policy, and future research are discussed.

The role and decision-making power of working women in families in New Delhi (India) in the 1991-2022 period

Women in India from ancient to modern times, specifically before 1991, suffered from many disadvantages, prejudices, outdated customs and practices, gender inequality, child marriage, and prohibition of widows from remarrying, etc. However, since 1991, the Indian government has liberalized and restructured its economy, contributing to liberating and empowering women through some family policies. The role and status of women in the family and in society has thus been improved significantly. The article would like to analyze the changes in the role and status of working women in the family in New Delhi (India) in the 1991-2022 period through their decision - making participation in family matters. The article is based on the results of the survey conducted from February to June 2023, of 165 official and marginal female workers in public and private sectors in Delhi, India. The survey results show that the roles of women in the family have been confirmed through housework, full-or-part-time labor force participation, and community activity participation. Although working women are still in charge of household chores, there is a share of husbands and housekeepers in tasks, including cooking, cleaning the house, doing laundry, taking care of and educating children, and emotional connection between family members, which previously in patriarchal families, women had to be responsible for. Women are increasingly having a voice in the family and together with their husbands, they make decisions on all large and small tasks, act as the head of the household, have their names on real estate documents, and participate in community activities. Working Women become more independent in finance and participate in financial management in the family. Among the surveyed women, 78.1% are university degree holders. The survey results also show that 9.4% of them are the breadwinners (the main earners), and 12.7% of them have a higher income than their husbands’. The study has shown the changing role and status of women in the patriarchal families in New Delhi recently. The article contributes to identifying changes in the role and decision-making power of working women in the 1991-2022 period, thereby partly finding changes in the Indian family and society in New Delhi in the modern era.

An Updated Mutation Spectrum of the γ-Secretase Complex: Novel NCSTN Gene Mutation in an Indian Family with Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Acne Conglobata.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a complex, chronic inflammatory skin disorder whose pathophysiology is poorly understood. Genetic studies have shown that HS is predisposed by mutations in the γ-secretase gene, but only a proportion of familial and partial sporadic cases have been shown to possess such mutations. HS has high genetic heterogeneity and is thought to be triggered by a combination of genetics and environmental factors. The study aimed to investigate the genetic causes of HS in a large cohort of patients and to update the mutation spectrum of γ-secretase complex genes. We conducted mutational screening of 95 sporadic HS cases and one large family with both HS and acne conglobata (AC) to identify mutations in the coding and splice junction region of γ-secretase complex genes (nicastrin (NCSTN), presenilin 1 (PSEN1), presenilin enhancer 2 (PSENEN), and aph-1 homolog B, gamma-secretase subunit (APH1B)). Our study identified a nucleotide substitution of 1876C>T in the NCSTN gene, which caused a stop codon (p.Arg626X) in the affected members of a large family with HS and AC. No pathogenic variants were detected in 95 sporadic cases of HS, indicating there is possible genetic heterogeneity. We report a new family with a nonsense mutation in the NCSTN gene that supports the role of the γ-secretase complex genes in HS with AC. The updated γ-secretase mutation spectrum for HS now includes 78 mutations.

The Opportunity Trap: High-Skilled Workers, Indian Families, and the Failures of the Dependent Visa Program by Pallavi Banerjee (review)

The Opportunity Trap: High-Skilled Workers, Indian Families, and the Failures of the Dependent Visa Program by Pallavi Banerjee (review)

ANALYSIS OF THE PSYCHE OF FEMALE CHARACTERS IN SUDHA MURTHY’S DOLLAR BAHU

This study explores the psyche of female characters in Sudha Murthy‟s 'Dollar Bahu.' 'Psyche' refers to the totality of elements forming the mind – all the elements that form a human mind are collectively called the psyche. To understand someone‟s psyche, we need to comprehend their thoughts, behavior, and personality. This paper aims to analyze the psyche of only the female characters in the novel 'Dollar Bahu.' Upon its publication, the book garnered significant success. Within its pages, Sudha Murthy skillfully portrays the Indian value system and family relationships. Sudha Murthy is a distinguished Indian writer who consistently addresses reallife incidents in her novels.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Assessment and Management of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Assessment and Management of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder.

Rift in Marriages: A study of Family Dynamics in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies

Jhumpa Lahiri is a writer of South Asian origin who was born and brought up in the United States. She debuted with her short story collection Interpreter of Maladies. The stories in this collection glance at the Indo-American diaspora. All the nine stories in this collection are aligned with the recurring patterns. The institution of marriage, romantic relationship and Indian family system vs American family pattern has been focused at length. The subtitle of the novel goes perfectly with the themes of the stories. Geetha Ganapathy- Dore’ notes that “Indian people, films, novels, beauty-queens, food and spirituality cross borders easily.” She adds that Lahiri’s collection was originally sub-titled ‘Bengal, Boston and Beyond’ (58) The three stories chosen for study reflect a modern world that witnesses the assimilation of different cultures and problem of immigrants while living in an ethnic group. “Temporary Matter”, “Sexy” and “Interpreter of Maladies” have been chosen to make the study specific. All of these emphasize on the life and circumstances leading to the rift in marriage and relationships deficit of love. This work also reflects the diaspora experiences of the Indian immigrants belonging to the first and second generation. The lucidity of language and expression are quite commendable.

A Study on Financial Literacy among Working and Non-working Women in Bangalore

A person’s ability to navigate the financial world and make wise investment decisions reduces the chances of them being misguided. Women in particular should be aware about it because they make many household decisions and are the lifeblood of every Indian family. Women are good at setting up budgets and managing home expenditure, but many of them hesitate to make significant financial decisions because they think their husbands, fathers, brothers, etc., are more qualified to handle such matters. The study’s findings would include the degree of financial literacy among various classes of women, the factors influencing that literacy, the sources of financial information, their savings habits, the difficulties they encounter, and their attitudes.

Open to Interpretation: Whether Indian Family Law-Centric Legislations Must Use Open-Ended Expressions that Leave Room for Judicial Discretion and Bias

Open to Interpretation: Whether Indian Family Law-Centric Legislations Must Use Open-Ended Expressions that Leave Room for Judicial Discretion and Bias

Potryal of Gender Issues in Mahesh Dattani’s Tara

Mahesh Dattani examines the prevalent subject of discrimination and injustice towards women in his 1990 play Tara. This article will analyse and discuss the marginalisation of women in the play. The ongoing survival of patriarchal attitudes is largely attributable to the significant role women play in patriarchy. In an Indian family, a boy named Chandan is preferred over a girl named Tara. Despite being Tara's mother, Bharati utterly wrecks her daughter's life and suffers the consequences. Despite his scientific and technophilic qualifications, Dr. Thakkar commits an error here. When he declined to murder Tara, Bharati and her father gave him a parcel of land as compensation.

An Innovative Design and Fabrication of Indian Flatbread Making Machine

About 60 million Metric Tons (MMT) of wheat is processed to obtain Atta annually in India. It is consumed mainly in the form of Indian flatbread. Dough is prepared by mixing wheat flour with water, followed by sheeting the dough to form circular shape with small thickness. The flat circular sheet of dough is subjected to thermal treatment to get delicious and diet food as Indian Flatbread which is consumed by majority Indian peoples daily. Nowadays, flatbread making process is dying in Indian families because of busy life style and increased disposable income to fulfill the need of city life culture. It is evident that the Atta processing industry is showing the growth of more than 30% annually. But, there is an ever ending demand for ready-to-eat as well as easy-to-carry food as Indian flatbread which leads to the way for mechanizing flatbread making process with the aid of machineries. Hence, it is decided to make a detailed plan to fabricate low-cost Indian flatbread making machine that can yield high quality and traditional Indian flatbread. The machine designed consists of AC motor unit, plastic roller with handle which rotates smoothly by bearing and other maker parts. Design of Indian flatbread making machine was done by CATIA V5 R18 3D Modeling software. Fabrications of all the parts have been done with the assist of suitable machines. In this project work all the challenging parts are fabricated as per an innovative design followed by rigid fabrication as per need and the parts were assembled to perform indented function as flatbread sheet making process.

Family control, agency conflicts, corporate cash holdings and firm value

PurposeThis paper examines whether family control exerts any influence on corporate cash holdings in Indian listed firms. It also examines how this accumulated cash of family firms impacts firm value.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses dynamic panel data regression estimated using two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) on S&P BSE 500 firms during 2009–2018 for testing the repercussions of family control on the cash levels of a firm. Further, fixed effects regression has been employed for the valuation analysis.FindingsEstimation results showed that family control negatively impacts cash holdings in Indian firms. Further, the cash accumulation by family firms adversely affects the market valuation of the firm. These findings signal a principal–principal (P-P) agency conflict in Indian family firms, i.e. friction between family owners and minority shareholders' interests. Minority shareholders fear that a part of the cash reserves will be used by family members for personal benefits. Thus, they discount cash reserves in family firms.Originality/valueThe study adds to the determinants of corporate cash holdings in emerging markets. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study from India investigating family control as a determinant of cash policy. It sheds light on the P-P agency conflict in Indian family firms. P-P agency conflict is less researched in cash holdings literature as opposed to the principal–agent managerial disputes. Also, the study uses a more comprehensive definition of family control rather than just considering the ownership as used in prior cash holding research.

Impact of prepregnancy body mass index on adverse pregnancy outcomes: analysis from the Longitudinal Indian Family hEalth cohort study

BACKGROUNDBoth high and low maternal prepregnancy body mass index can lead to suboptimal fetal growth and risk of pregnancy complications. In developed countries, nearly half of all women of childbearing age are either overweight or obese, and most data linking maternal body mass index and adverse pregnancy complications are limited to these populations. OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to prospectively evaluate the relationships between prepregnancy body mass index and adverse pregnancy outcomes using the Longitudinal Indian Family hEalth (LIFE) study. STUDY DESIGNWe modeled the relationships between prepregnancy body mass index and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birthweight, preterm birth, cesarean delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, miscarriage, and fetal death among 675 women aged 15 to 35 years with singleton pregnancies in the Longitudinal Indian Family hEalth study, a population-based prospective pregnancy cohort study conducted in Telangana, India. Prepregnancy body mass index was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared and was classified into 4 categories using the World Health Organization recommendations for Asian adults. Prepregnancy body mass index was assessed at a mean of 12.3 months before pregnancy. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of adverse pregnancy outcomes were modeled and adjusted for confounders. RESULTSObese women had a 3-fold increased risk of cesarean delivery (odds ratio, 3.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.56–6.29) compared with normal-weight women. Those who were overweight also had a marginally increased risk of cesarean delivery, albeit not statistically significant (odds ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.61–2.24). Underweight women had a modestly increased risk of low birthweight, compared with normal-weight women (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.71–1.77), although results were not significant. Conversely, obese (odds ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.28–1.77) and overweight (odds ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.24–1.51) women had a marginally decreased risk of low birthweight. CONCLUSIONOur data suggest that women with elevated prepregnancy body mass index may have a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, especially cesarean delivery. Although this study has limited generalizability, our findings are generalizable to rural to periurban regions of India. Further studies exploring the translatability of these findings to other populations are needed. In addition, targeted prepregnancy intervention studies and programs that include counseling on optimization of preconception health and lifestyle modification for improvement of subsequent pregnancy outcomes among overweight and obese women are needed.

Submission to Subversion: An Analytical Study of Meena Kandasamy's ‘When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife’

Meena Kandasamy tries to create an identity among the galaxy of Indian writers in English as a poet, novelist and translator. She deals with caste annihilation, feminism and linguistic identity. Meena Kandasamy's novel, 'When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife', deals with the suppression of women in the name of patriarchal society in educated families. She explains the story of a highly educated Indian woman from an affluent family who marries a respected college professor. He seems to be a man who is a social rights activist outside the home, but he abuses his wife at home. Kandasamy depicts a dreadful picture explaining her husband's strategies to keep her under his control. In this context, she delineates the emotions a woman undergoes while adjusting herself to the situation in the family. The writer attempts to develop the status of a woman by discussing more the turmoil she comes across in every part of her life. She wants to disclose to the world that a woman is a human being. She is wise enough to remain uncrushed and unperturbed despite challenges and hostilities. The novel vividly depicts the power game between men and women in Indian families and other societies.

Reflections of an Indian academic mother during COVID-19: An autoethnographic account

Motherhood during the COVID-19 pandemic has brought forward a host of parenting challenges to the forefront and crystallized the already existing invisible workload and stress on mothers. With the usual support system in the form of schools, day-care, extra-curricular activities all vanishing overnight since March 2020, the process of mothering has been affected with higher physical and emotional labour and a greater responsibility for managing care of the children and household while playing a multitude of roles – mother, partner, guardian, friend, employee and employer – ensuring everyone is safe! Unfortunately, the pandemic has adversely affected professionally employed mothers around the world, often making them rethink their careers with the increase in overall workload and juggling the demands of work and childcare and household chores. This chapter is an endeavour using an autoethnographic method towards understanding the lived experiences of performing motherhood through the eyes of an Indian academic mother. As an academic mother, there have been challenges towards dedicatedly engaging with teaching online, learning, research and publishing, and productivity demands while actively mothering a young child and making sure the house runs like clockwork, all played out in the unfamiliar ground of pandemic survival. Even though there have been advances made in the current Indian sociocultural landscape, there are still tropes of patriarchy present within the system, which further exacerbates the mothering challenges. Using a social-constructionist lens, this personal account will present a slice of change within the traditional Indian family system through the lens of gender equality – equal parenting and shared responsibility within the household. Along with this, how building elements of self-compassion and mindfulness practices in the author’s daily routine aided in skilfully manoeuvring the grips of COVID-19 fatigue will also be presented. I hope this personal narrative will extend support to fellow Indian academic mothers towards advocating for more structural changes both within themselves, while highlighting the need for self-care and grace as well as within their homes towards a more balanced and shared responsibility of performing motherhood through the pandemic.

Importance of Socioemotional Wealth in Indian Family Business Group: The Case of Tata Group

This article tests the application of the socioemotional wealth concept in an Indian family-owned business group. The focus of the study is the Tata Group and the events that led to the dismissal of its chairman Mr Cyrus Mistry in 2016. Using the case research method, the article analyses the reasons for the abrupt removal of the chairman, who was not from the Tata family. The data were collected from official filings/letters by group firms/officials and articles on the Tata Group. FIBER scale is used to explain the socioemotional wealth of the Tata Group. The analysis establishes that the leadership change initiated by family patriarch Mr Ratan Tata was because of socioemotional wealth reasons, rather than financial performance. Hence, the article provides evidence that the Indian family-owned business groups consider socioemotional wealth more important than financial interests.

The New Millennium Family Functioning and Health of Generation Z: From a Socioconstructivist Perspective

Background: From whichever culture a family belongs to, scientific evidence shows the role of family functioning and relationships on the child’s health and well-being. A family can either be a source of an issue or a resource for preventing the problem, especially in a diverse country like India. The foremost step to understanding these aspects is to develop an awareness of the transitional nature of family functioning in the new millennium. Objectives: The study proposes to explore the dynamics of family functioning from the conceptualization of parents of Generation Z and intents to analyze the subsequent outcomes on the health of children and adolescents, presenting it as qualitative network construction. Methods: Rich descriptive data was collected from 60 parents by a semi-structured interview schedule consisting of 4 predecided questions. The analyses were done by ATLAS.ti7 version 7.5.16, Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS). Results: As an upshot, 2 structural networks were constructed. One network depicts the 3 aspects of family functioning, cohesion, flexibility, and communication, studied according to Indian families of the new millennium. The psychological, socioemotional, and physical impact of the functioning accumulated in the second network. The study revealed the underlying aspects, the level, and quality of all the 3 dimensions and the thought-provoking aftermath for Generation Z. Conclusion: The study offers intriguing information about the Indian family functioning of the new millennium and its descriptive association with the health of children and adolescents.

19.3 Never Have I Ever...Seen Families Like Mine Navigate Mental Health on Screen

South Asian American (SAA) youth face challenges elevating risk for mental illness yet underutilize mental health services. Parent-child dynamics related to differential levels of acculturation, peer relationships, and mental health–related stigma in South Asian families have been identified as culturally specific stressors for SAA youth. This presentation demonstrates how a television program can serve as a tool to promote cultural humility in engaging Indian American children and families in mental health treatment.

Trends in air pollution emissions in the contiguous United States from 1970 to 2010: an environmental justice analysis

Background: Air pollution emissions have substantially decreased in the US since the 1970 Clean Air Act. We examined racial and economic disparities in emissions reductions from specific pollution sources. Methods: We evaluated racial/ethnic and economic disparities in emissions reductions from six pollution sectors [industry (SO2), energy (SO2), agriculture (NH3), commercial (NOx), residential (organic carbon), and on-road transport (NOx)] across the contiguous US from 1970–2010. We used the CEDGBD-MAP emissions inventory to estimate the average relative emissions change from one decennial to the following and its link to demographics (percent White, Black, Asian, American Indian Hispanic, family income, property value, poverty, and unemployment) at the county level. We constructed hierarchical models with the relative emissions change as the dependent variable and demographics as independent variables. We modeled each pollutant and demographic variable separately, adjusting for potential confounding, and tested for nonlinearities. Results: On average, national emissions decreased from 1970 to 2010 except in the agriculture and the residential sectors. The largest reductions across the study period were in industry and energy SO2 emissions (-66% and -89%, respectively) and on-road transport NOx (-59%). Although average emissions decreased nationally, trends varied across counties. We found racial disparities in industry, energy, and agriculture emissions. An increase in % American Indian, Hispanic, or Asian was associated with increases in industry SO2, agriculture NH3, and energy NOx. We also found economic disparities: an increase in median family income was associated with decreases in emissions from all sectors except agriculture, and increases in unemployment or poverty were associated with increases in industry and energy SO2 emissions. Conclusion: Although air pollution emissions, on average, decreased since 1970, the trends in emissions varied across counties. On average, low-income and communities of color have experienced smaller improvements or a relative increase in emissions despite the nationwide downward trends.