To Better Serve and Sustain the South: How Nineteenth Century Domestic Novelists Supported Southern Patriarchy Using the Cult of True Womanhood and the Written Word

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, American women were subjected to restrictive societal expectations, providing them with a well-defined identity and role within the male-dominated culture. For elite southern women, more so than their northern sisters, this identity became integral to southern patriarchy and tradition. As the United States succumbed to sectional tension and eventually civil war, elite white southerners found their way of life threatened as the delicate web of gender, race, and class relations that the Old South was based upon began to crumble. Despite their repressed status in southern society, most elite southern women chose to support the patriarchal system that had long controlled their lives, and were as devoted to the Confederate cause as elite southern men. For some women this support manifested as domestic novels, written by elite, white southern women for elite, white southern women. These novels, all published during the nineteenth century, heralded the traditions of the Old South. They pushed for continued support of the southern way of life, suggesting the best way for elite southern women do this was by becoming more virtuous, better educated, and less frivolous wives and mothers

Maternal and foetal outcome in women with neurological disorders

Background: Wide spectrums of neurological disorders are observed in pregnancy and puerparium. These disorders can alter the course of pregnancy and pregnancy can worsen them.Methods: This was a cross sectional observational study which included 154 patients in pregnancy and postpartum up to 6 weeks with neurological disorders admitted in department of obstetrics and gynecology, Government Medical College, Kottayam over a period of one year from December 2017. All patients underwent detailed general and systemic examination and were assessed by neurologist. After delivery maternal and foetal outcome and morbidity and mortality were observed.Results: Out of total 5202 deliveries, 154 patients presented in pregnancy and puerparium with neurological disorders amounting to 2.96 %. The age of patients ranged from 18-44. The commonest neurological disorder was epilepsy (60.4%). Other disorders were eclampsia (7.8%), cerebrovascular disorders (9.1%), brain tumors (4.5%), cranial nerve palsy (3.2%) and different types of other neurological disorders (14.9%). The most common presentation was generalized tonic clonic seizures (82.8%). 76.6% of patients had normal vaginal delivery and 13% underwent caesarean section. There were 5 cases of intrauterine death (3.2%), 5 cases of foetal anomalies (3.2%) and 3 cases of neonatal deaths (1.9%). One case of maternal mortality was there due to intra-cerebral hemorhhage.Conclusions: Epilepsy was the commonest disorder with good maternal and foetal outcome. Vascular disorders and eclampsia were associated with higher maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of laccase producing fungal isolates with dye decolourizing potential

Twenty six fungi were isolated and screened for their ability to produce laccase on solid medium containing guaiacol and ABTS. Among these, six isolates showed positive laccase activity. They were quantitatively screened and the best two cultures were selected for further investigation. The two cultures also exhibited good dye decolorization ability. Molecular characterization based on the ITS rDNA region were carried out for the two cultures. The strains were identified as Psathyrella candolleana LCJ 178 and Myrothecium gramineum (GenBank accession numbers KF414680 and KF414681) respectively. These cultures showed the highest laccase production under submerged fermentation. This paper for the first time reports the production of laccase using Myrothecium gramineum and its ability to degrade dyes

Multidisciplinary approaches to address food insecurity and nutrition among youth and their families

Our aim in publishing this issue of JARC on nutrition and food insecurity is to understand the factors associated with nutrition and food insecurity in the U.S. and around the world; to elucidate the potential consequences of food insecurity on physical and mental health; and to raise awareness and identify solutions to address this complex issue. We also aim to encourage collaboration across disciplines in order to frame initiatives that reduce these threats to child health, well-being and success

Flicker electroretinogram in newborn infants

PURPOSE To develop and validate a flicker electroretinogram (ERG) protocol in term-born neonates as a potential tool for assessing preterm infants at risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity. METHODS A custom flicker ERG protocol was developed for use with the hand-held RETeval® electrophysiology device. Feasibility of measuring flicker ERG through closed eyelids and without mydriasis was established in a pilot study enabling optimisation of the test protocol. Following this, healthy term-born neonates (gestational age 37-42 weeks) were recruited at the Neonatology clinic of the University Hospital Zurich. Flicker ERG recordings were performed using proprietary disposable skin electrodes during the first four days of life when the infants were sleeping. Flicker stimuli were presented at 28.3 Hz for a stimulus series at 3, 6, 12, 30, and 50 cd·s/m$^{2}$, with two measurements at each stimulus level. Results were analysed offline. Flicker ERG peak times and amplitudes were derived from the averaged measurements per stimulus level for each subject. RESULTS 28 term-born neonates were included in the analysis. All infants tolerated the testing procedure well. Flicker ERG recording was achieved in all subjects with reproducible flicker ERG waveforms for 30 and 50 cd·s/m$^{2}$ stimuli. Reproducible ERGs were recorded in the majority of infants for the weaker stimuli (with detectable ERGs in 20/28, 25/28, and 27/28 at 3, 6, and 12 cd·s/m$^{2}$, respectively). Flicker ERG amplitudes increased with increasing stimulus strength, with peak times concurrently decreasing slightly. CONCLUSION Flicker ERG recording is feasible and reliably recorded in sleeping neonates through closed eyelids using skin electrodes and without mydriasis. Flicker ERG amplitude decreases for lower luminance flicker but remains detectable for 3 cd·s/m$^{2}$ flicker in the majority of healthy term-born neonates. These data provide a basis to study retinal function in premature infants using this protocol

In vitro inhibitory activity of Acca sellowiana fruit extract on end products of advanced glycation

"Introduction Hyperglycemia plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, as it increases protein glycation, as well as the progressive accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are complex structures that produce fluorescence. The glycation reaction raises the levels of protein carbonyl, N ?-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), and fructosamine and decreases the level of thiol groups. Methods In the present study, the antiglycation activity was determined by fluorescence intensity using the bovine serum albumin (BSA)/glucose, CML method, and the level of fructosamine. The oxidation of proteins was determined by the carbonyl protein content and thiol groups. Results The results show that the hexane extract of Acca sellowiana (FOH) at different concentrations (0.30-5 mg/ml) significantly inhibited the formation of AGEs in the BSA/glucose model during the 4 weeks of the study. FOH reduced the levels of fructosamine and CML. Our results showed a significant effect of FOH in the prevention of oxidative damage of proteins, as well as an effect on the oxidation of thiol groups and carbonyl proteins. Conclusion The present study indicates that FOH is effective in inhibiting the glycation of proteins in vitro, so it can prevent or ameliorate the chronic conditions of diabetes associated with the formation of AGEs.