Factors that lead to the success of inner city Hispanic students in STEM dual enrollment: a mixed methods study

The United States has been struggling to maintain its authority in a technological world. Every year thousands of skilled STEM workers come to the United States to take jobs that are not filled by our college graduates. In order to uplift STEM education in the United States intermediation is required from the early years and also to encourage participation of Hispanic students in STEM majors and careers. Over the years the high school graduation rate for Hispanic youth has increased, and their enrollment in institutions of higher education have also increased, however, their participation in STEM majors has not yet seen the same increase. Besides advanced placement (AP) credits, dual enrollment credits have become a very important part of high school curriculum. Federal government and various other organizations have been funding STEM dual enrollment programs throughout the country to promote participation of Hispanic and other minority high school students in STEM majors and careers. Although several grants are working on promoting and encouraging STEM Dual enrollment among Hispanic students, only a very small percentage of Hispanic students successfully take advantage of these opportunities. This dissertation focuses on studying factors that support the success of Hispanic high school students from inner city school districts in STEM Dual Enrollment

HER2/neu immunohistochemical expression in gastric carcinoma

Background: Gastric carcinoma is a deadly disease with high mortality. A better understanding of the molecular basis of gastric cancer has contributed to the development of rationally designed molecular targeted therapies which will improve the survival rate. A genetic alteration that could help in targeted therapy and prognostication includes Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2/neu) overexpression in gastric carcinoma. The objective of the present study was to identify and evaluate the HER2/neu protein immunohistochemical expression in gastric cancer from biopsies and surgical resection specimens and to evaluate their correlation with histopathological features.Methods: Total/subtotal gastrectomy specimens and gastric biopsies from a tertiary care center in South India were included in the study and assessed by light microscopy and Immunohistochemistry (IHC).Results: HER2/neu overexpression was seen in 28.6% of gastric adenocarcinoma. HER2/neu overexpression was seen in 44.2% of intestinal-type and 20% of mixed type with none of the diffuse type exhibited HER2/neu positivity and this was statistically highly significant with p value of <0.01. HER2/neu positivity was found in 50% well-differentiated and 36.4% moderately differentiated tumors with none of the poorly differentiated tumors exhibiting HER2/neu positivity and this was statistically highly significant with p value of <0.01.Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of the identification of HER2/neu overexpression in gastric adenocarcinoma. This will help in prognostication and identifying patients suitable for novel therapeutic interventions which will help in prolongation of survival of patients with this deadly disease

Gaia DR2 Distances and Peculiar Velocities for Galactic Black Hole Transients

We report on a first census of Galactic black hole X-ray binary (BHXRB) properties with the second data release (DR2) of {\em Gaia}, focusing on dynamically confirmed and strong candidate black hole transients. DR2 provides five-parameter astrometric solutions including position, parallax and proper motion for 11 of a sample of 24 systems. Distance estimates are tested with parallax inversion as well as Bayesian inference. We derive an empirically motivated characteristic scale length of $L$=2.17$\pm$0.12 kpc for this BHXRB population to infer distances based upon an exponentially decreasing space density prior. Geometric DR2 parallaxes provide new, independent distance estimates, but the faintness of this population in quiescence results in relatively large fractional distance uncertainties. Despite this, DR2 estimates generally agree with literature distances. The most discrepant case is BW Cir, for which detailed studies of the donor star have suggested a distant location at >~25 kpc. A large DR2 measured parallax and relatively high proper motion instead prefer significantly smaller distances, suggesting that the source may instead be amongst the nearest of XRBs. However, both distances create problems for interpretation of the source, and follow-up data are required to resolve its true nature. DR2 also provides a first distance estimate to one source, MAXI J1820+070, and novel proper motion estimates for 7 sources. Peculiar velocities relative to Galactic rotation exceed $\sim$ 50 km s$^{-1}$ for the bulk of the sample, with a median system kinetic energy of peculiar motion of $\sim$ 5 $\times$ 10$^{47}$ erg. BW Cir could be a new high-velocity BHXRB if its astrometry is confirmed. A putative anti-correlation between peculiar velocity and black hole mass is found, as expected in mass-dependent BH kick formation channels, but this trend remains weak in the DR2 data.Comment: MNRAS in pres

Morphometric Analysis of Cranial Shape in Fossil and Recent Euprimates

Quantitative analysis of morphology allows for identification of subtle evolutionary patterns or convergences in anatomy that can aid ecological reconstructions of extinct taxa. This study explores diversity and convergence in cranial morphology across living and fossil primates using geometric morphometrics. 33 3D landmarks were gathered from 34 genera of euprimates (382 specimens), including the Eocene adapiforms Adapis and Leptadapis and Quaternary lemurs Archaeolemur, Palaeopropithecus, and Megaladapis. Landmark data was treated with Procrustes superimposition to remove all nonshape differences and then subjected to principal components analysis and linear discriminant function analysis. Haplorhines and strepsirrhines were well separated in morphospace along the major components of variation, largely reflecting differences in relative skull length and width and facial depth. Most adapiforms fell within or close to strepsirrhine space, while Quaternary lemurs deviated from extant strepsirrhines, either exploring new regions of morphospace or converging on haplorhines. Fossil taxa significantly increased the area of morphospace occupied by strepsirrhines. However, recent haplorhines showed significantly greater cranial disparity than strepsirrhines, even with the inclusion of the unusual Quaternary lemurs, demonstrating that differences in primate cranial disparity are likely real and not simply an artefact of recent megafaunal extinctions

A STUDY ON THE MAGNITUDE OF HUMAN RESOURCE IN SUN AND RANBAXY MERGER

Sun Pharmaceutical is a trailblazer in Indian pharmaceutical sector, and one of the foremost competitors in the generic drug market sets its eye onRanbaxy. Sun pharmacy which was established in 1983 listed from 1994 has its upper hand in product development. Ranbaxy was incorporated in1973, and Daiichi Sankyo, a Japanese firm, got a controlling share from 2008. This amalgamation between Sun Pharmacy and Ranbaxy would get profitable transaction for the former. The process of the coalition was a cloak and dagger affair until April 6, 2014. Before mergers and acquisitions, a company has to create an urgency call among the employees which will result in better understanding of the whole scenario. The aspects are about how financial motives and non-financial motives play a major role in mergers. This case deals with the human resource issues and complexities faced by the two players in the same business.Keywords: Merger, Acquisition, Change management, Human resource, Employee engagement, Corporate strategy

A review on pharmacology and phytochemistry of syzygium cumini

To encourage a disease free healthy life Mother Nature has gifted mankind medicinal plants. The world craves new ideas and looks to the Far East and Asia for inspiration and innovation. There is a wealth of technical data to support the safe use of this plant and this review will produce the data to justify the use of this plant in a wide range in the field of ayurveda. Syzygium cumini belongs to the family Myrtaceae. Commonly it is known as a amblang, Jambul, Jambolan and Kala Jamun in India. The seed is used as an alternative natural healing system in the Ayurvedic, Unani and Chinese medicines. It is effective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, inflammation, ulcers and diarrhea and preclinical studies have also shown it to possess chemoprotective, radioprotective and antineoplastic properties. The present review has been primed to describe the existing data on the information on traditional and medicinal use of the Syzygium cumini plant

DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE MEDICATIONS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, SOUTH INDIA

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess drug use pattern of antihypertensive medications in hypertensive patients. Methods: It is a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in the outpatient dispensary, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram for the period of 6 months from January 2019 to June 2019. About 500 prescriptions of patients visiting outpatient dispensary with an antihypertensive prescription were enrolled for the study. Drug use patterns of different classes of antihypertensive medications were analyzed from individual prescriptions. Results: A total of 500 patients were included in this study, among which 281 were male (56.2%) and 219 (43.8%) were female. In 500 patients, 133 patients were treated with monotherapy. In that 42.1% of patients were treated with amlodipine, 28.57% of patients were treated with losartan. In combination therapy most commonly used was double therapy (42.8%) followed by triple therapy (24.2%). Calcium Channel Blockers (56.2%) was most prescribed class of drug followed by Angiotensin Receptor Blockers. Conclusion: This study reveals that calcium channel blockers as most prescribed class of antihypertensive and Amlodipine was the most prescribed antihypertensive. In our study, most of the patients were treated with combination therapy in that double drug therapy was most common. There is a chance of various medication errors, development of adverse drug reaction as majority (290) of patients belong to age above 60 and chances of getting error also increases as combination therapy is most used. Therefore close monitoring is required for such patients

Knowledge, attitude and belief about contraception in post-partum and post abortal women in a tertiary care centre

Background: In this modern era where women have achieved the highest positions in politics, corporate world and conquered the moon, on the other side she is still fighting for her right, i.e. health. For this the women should become economically independent. The concept of waiting for a son preference by the society should be discouraged. Postpartum and post abortal period are very crucial for a women especially for many of those belonging to the villages as this may be the only time she comes in contact with a health personnel. Hence counseling should be given to all patients at this time.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the department of obstetrics and gynecology of sir Sunder Lal hospital between August 2013 to October 2013. 230 post-partum and post abortal women were interrogated and counseled about various methods of contraception. Awareness about emergency contraception pill and MTPill was also noted.Results: Only 69% had heard about various methods of contraception. IUCD and OCP were known to most patients. Most patients knew about contraception from television and doctors. After counseling 97% patients wanted contraception. Most patients opted for IUCD, Barrier method and DepoProvera. 20% patients knew about emergency contraception pill and 34.4% patients about MTPill.Conclusions: There is lack of awareness of contraception, emergency contraception and medical abortion in women under study. Regular counseling is a must to all post-partum and post abortal women. Information should be provided about various methods and patients should be given a choice to choose the method of contraception

Perceptions of fecal microbiota transplantation for Clostridium difficile infection: factors that predict acceptance.

BackgroundDespite the effectiveness of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating recurrent Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection, some patients are reluctant to accept this therapy. Our study examined attitudes towards FMT and factors that contribute to patients' acceptance of this treatment.MethodsWe distributed patient surveys at a Veterans Affairs hospital, a public hospital, and an academic faculty practice. Multivariable logistic regression was performed, adjusting for factors associated with FMT acceptance on univariate analysis and prior experience with C. difficile infection.ResultsOf 267 patients, only 12% knew of FMT prior to the survey, but 77% would undergo the procedure if medically indicated. On multivariable analysis, those with children and with college degrees or higher were more likely to agree to FMT (odds ratio [OR] 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-4.35; OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.11-4.60 respectively). Sixty-five respondents (71%) chose colonoscopy as the preferred vehicle for FMT, while nasogastric tube was least preferred. Disease transmission was the most common concern (30%, n=242), and FMT success rate was the least selected concern (9.1%).ConclusionsMost patients in a diverse sample of gastroenterology clinics had no prior knowledge of FMT, but were receptive to the procedure. Having children and higher education levels were predictors for FMT acceptance. Our findings suggest that barriers to FMT utilization may be overcome with counseling about safety concerns. More data on the risk of transmitting diseases or clinical characteristics, such as obesity, through FMT are needed and will be important for the acceptance of this procedure