Exploring Perceptions of Middle Class Urban Indian Women Regarding Socio-Cultural Deterrents Influencing Participation in Adult and Continuing Educational Programs

Unlike its childhood counterpart, adult and continuing education is a voluntary activity, where adult learners partake in educational programs for the sake of realizing some explicit or implicit goal. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between socio-cultural influences and deterrents to participation of middle class urban Indian women in adult and continuing educational programs. Darkenwald and Merriam’s (1982) theory of non-participation was selected as the theoretical lens used to guide this study. This study involved collecting qualitative data to analyze participant views and was collected through 16 semi-structured interviews to explore participants’ individual perceptions concerning socio-cultural deterrents influencing participation of middle class urban Indian women in adult and continuing educational programs. Qualitative data were analyzed to discover emerging themes and sub-themes. In the second phase of the study, a modified Deterrent to Participation Scale – General (DPS-G) was used to measure data collected from the surveys completed by participants, that included specific demographic questions. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the relationships between the demographic questions and the deterrent identified on the DPS-G. The interview and survey data were used convergently to understand the relationship between socio-cultural influences and deterrents impacting participant participation in adult and continuing educational programs. The findings of the study indicated that the biggest socio-cultural influence deterring participation among middle class urban Indian women in adult and continuing educational programs is marriage. It is an Indian social norm that comes with a set of pre-defined roles and expectations, and married women find themselves consumed by fulfilling the marital and familial expectations and responsibilities and participation in adult and continuing educational program is furthest from their mind. Middle class urban Indian women do realize the importance of educational pursuits, but do not feel that they can, after marriage. They are open, however, to pursuing adult educational programs in the form of short-term skill development programs leading to income generation, although they would lead primarily to home-based work enterprises

Epidermoid Cysts of Face: Clinicopathological Presentation and a report of four cases.

ABSTRACT: Epidermoid cysts represent the most common cutaneous cysts. While these may occur anywhere on the body, they occur most frequently on the face, scalp, neck and trunk. A report of four cases and their clinicopathological features are described in this article

Upright kneeling position during second stage of labor: a pilot study

Background: Women delivering in upright position have shorter labour due to efficient and stronger contractions with faster descent of foetal head. The present study aimed to find out effect of upright kneeling position in the second stage of labour on maternal and foetal outcome and assess patients’ satisfaction.Methods: The study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital of North India from October 2012 to February 2014. Low risk women admitted in early labour were divided into two groups, women delivering in kneeling position and in supine position. The outcome measures studied were, duration of second stage of labour, mode of delivery, 2nd degree perineal tears, Apgar scores at 5 minutes, NICU admission rate and patient satisfaction.Results: The mean duration of second stage of labour in kneeling group was shorter by 14.901 minutes. The rate of vaginal delivery was comparable for both primigravidas and multigravida in kneeling and supine groups, RR: 2.275, 95% CI (0.7872-6.5831) and RR: 1.633, 95% CI (0.393-6.775). Primigravidas had more 2nd degree perineal tears in kneeling group as compared to supine, RR 4.191, 95% CI (1.54 to 11.41). No difference in Apgar scores >7 at 5 minutes was observed in both groups, however, significantly lesser babies in kneeling group were admitted in NICU, RR 0.246, 95% CI (0.079 to 0.761). There was no difference on comparing satisfaction scores of primigravidas and multigravida in both supine and kneeling position.Conclusions: Kneeling position reduces the duration of second stage of labour and NICU admissions

Fever of Unknown Origin Attributable to Haematocolpos Infected with Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhi Resistant to Nalidixic Acid: A Case Report

The prevalence of nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella Typhi(NARST) infection is increasing worldwide. We are reporting an unusual case of infected haematocolpos presenting as urinary obstruction in a patient with fever of unknown origin (FUO). This case report highlights the importance of quinolone-resistant typhoid fever in the differential diagnosis of any acute febrile illness in countries, like India, where Salmonella infection is endemic

Structural and Functional Characterisation of TesA - A Novel Lysophospholipase A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

TesA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa belongs to the GDSL hydrolase family of serine esterases and lipases that possess a broad substrate- and regiospecificity. It shows high sequence homology to TAP, a multifunctional enzyme from Escherichia coli exhibiting thioesterase, lysophospholipase A, protease and arylesterase activities. Recently, we demonstrated high arylesterase activity for TesA, but only minor thioesterase and no protease activity. Here, we present a comparative analysis of TesA and TAP at the structural, biochemical and physiological levels. The crystal structure of TesA was determined at 1.9 Å and structural differences were identified, providing a possible explanation for the differences in substrate specificities. The comparison of TesA with other GDSL-hydrolase structures revealed that the flexibility of active-site loops significantly affects their substrate specificity. This assumption was tested using a rational approach: we have engineered the putative coenzyme A thioester binding site of E. coli TAP into TesA of P. aeruginosa by introducing mutations D17S and L162R. This TesA variant showed increased thioesterase activity comparable to that of TAP. TesA is the first lysophospholipase A described for the opportunistic human pathogen P. aeruginosa. The enzyme is localized in the periplasm and may exert important functions in the homeostasis of phospholipids or detoxification of lysophospholipids

Comparative Evaluation of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapy and Conventional Therapy Use for Musculoskeletal Disorders Management and Its Association with Job Satisfaction among Dentists of West India

ABSTRACTMusculoskeletal problems have become a significant issue in the profession of dentistry. There are currently no recommended effective disease-preventing and modifying remedies. High prevalence rates for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among dentists have been reported in the literature. Complementary and alternative medicine can be helpful in managing and preventing the MSDs. The purpose of this study was to determine if dentists in the western part of India are using complementary and alternative medicine therapies for MSDs, and also to find if those who use complementary and alternative medicine therapies have greater job/career satisfaction compared to conventional therapy (CT) users. Dentists of western India registered under the Dental Council of India (N=2166) were recruited for the study. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses and logistic regression. A response rate of 73% (n=1581) was obtained, of which 79% (n=1249) was suffering from MSDs. The use of complementary and alternative medicine or CT was reported by 90% (n=1124) of dentists with MSDs. Dentists using complementary and alternative medicine reported greater health (P<0.001) and carrier satisfaction (P<0.001) and were able to work as many hours they wanted (P<0.001) compared to CT users. Complementary and alternative medicine therapies may improve the quality of life and enhance job satisfaction for a dentist who suffers from MSDs

A membrane-bound esterase PA2949 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa is expressed and purified from Escherichia coli

Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 1001 produces an esterase (EstA) that can hydrolyse the racemic methyl ester of b-acetylthioisobutyrate to produce the (D)-enantiomer, which serves as a precursor of captopril, a drug used for treatment of hypertension. We show here that PA2949 from P. aeruginosa PA01, a homologue of EstA, can efficiently be expressed in an enzymatically active form in E. coli. The enzyme is membrane-associated as demonstrated by cell fractionation studies. PA2949 was purified to homogeneity after solubilisation with the nonionic detergent, Triton X-100, and was shown to possess a conserved esterase catalytic triad consisting of Ser137–His258–Asp286. Our results should allow the development of an expression and purification strategy to produce this biotechnologically relevant esterase in a pure form with a high yield

The Structure of the Polar Core Mutant R175E and Its Functional Implications

Mutation of arginine 175 to glutamic acid (R175E), a central residue in the polar core and previously predicted as the ‘phosphosensor’, leads to a constitutively active arrestin that is able to terminate phototransduction by binding to non-phosphorylated, light-activated rhodopsin . Crystal structure of a R175E mutant arrestin at 2.7 Å resolution reveals significant differences compared to the basal state reported in full-length arrestin structures. Most striking differences are disruption of hydrogen bond network in the polar core , and three-element interaction (between β-strand I, α-helix I, and the C-tail), including disordering of several residues in the receptor-binding finger loop and the C-terminus (residues 361–404). Additionally, R175E structure shows a 7.5° rotation of the amino and carboxy-terminal domains relative to each other. Comparison of the crystal structures of basal arrestin and R175E mutant provides insights into the mechanism of arrestin activation, where the latter likely represents an intermediate activation state prior to formation of the high-affinity complex with the G protein-coupled receptor

Structural evidence for the role of polar core residue Arg175 in arrestin activation

Binding mechanism of arrestin requires photoactivation and phosphorylation of the receptor protein rhodopsin, where the receptor bound phosphate groups cause displacement of the long C-tail ‘activating’ arrestin. Mutation of arginine 175 to glutamic acid (R175E), a central residue in the polar core and previously predicted as the ‘phosphosensor’ leads to a pre-active arrestin that is able to terminate phototransduction by binding to non-phosphorylated, light-activated rhodopsin. Here, we report the first crystal structure of a R175E mutant arrestin at 2.7 Å resolution that reveals significant differences compared to the basal state reported in full-length arrestin structures. These differences comprise disruption of hydrogen bond network in the polar core, and three-element interaction including disordering of several residues in the receptor-binding finger loop and the C-terminus (residues 361–404). Additionally, R175E structure shows a 7.5° rotation of the amino and carboxy-terminal domains relative to each other. Consistent to the biochemical data, our structure suggests an important role of R29 in the initial activation step of C-tail release. Comparison of the crystal structures of basal arrestin and R175E mutant provide insights into the mechanism of arrestin activation, where binding of the receptor likely induces structural changes mimicked as in R175E

2 Learning Behind Bars: Exploring Prison Educators ’ Facilitation of Inmates ’ Self-directed Learning through Garrison’s Model

Abstract: Formal education programs in prisons have had success in reducing recidivism, but the introduction of informal learning can have additional benefits and longer lasting effects. This paper addresses recidivism and its effects on inmates and society at large and how prison educators can facilitate self-directed learning in prisons through Garrison’s model. On any given day more than 2 million people are incarcerated in the United States. Within three years of their release, 67 % of them are rearrested among which 52 % are reincarcerated (Bureau of Statistics, 2011). This re-offensive behavior is known as recidivism. Recidivism costs taxpayers almost $60 billion a year (Bureau of Statistics, 2011). Internal violence, overcrowding, poor medical and mental health care, and numerous other failings plague America&apos;s 5,000 prisons and jails. Ninety-five percent of inmates are eventually released back into society, ill-equipped to lead productive lives (Bureau of Statistics, 2011). The effect of prison or jail sentences on recidivism concerns public safety and the cost-effectiveness of putting convicted offenders back in prisons. Opinions are divided between those advocating longer sentences in the interest of public safety and those advocating shorter sentences with th