Holla 101: An Educator's Guide to Street Harassment

The purpose of this guide is to provide information and resources to staff, faculty, parents and students in New York City middle and high schools on street harassment: what it is, how young people are affected by it and what we can do about it. The phenomena of street harassment, or public sexual harassment, is widely experienced yet still under-recognized and underreported as a form of gender and sexual based violence

INTERFACIAL SOLVATION AND EXCITED STATE PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF 7-AMINOCOUMARINS AT SILICA/LIQUID INTERFACES

The properties of solutes adsorbed at interfaces can be very different compared to bulk solution limits. This thesis examines how polar, hydrophilic silica surfaces and different solvents systematically change a solute's equilibrium and dynamic solvation environment at solid/liquid interfaces. The primary tools used in these studies are steady state fluorescence spectroscopy and time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) -a fluorescence method capable resolving fluorescence emission on the picosecond timescale. To sample adsorbed solutes, TCSPC experiments were carried out in total internal reflection (TIR) geometry. These studies used total of six different 7 aminocoumarin dyes to isolate the effects of molecular and electronic structure on solute photophysical behavior. Fluorescence lifetimes measured in the TIR geometry are compared to the lifetimes of coumarins in bulk solution using different solvents to infer interfacial polarity and excited state solute conformation and dynamics. Steady state emission experiments measuring the behavior of the coumarins adsorbed at silica surfaces from bulk methanol solutions show that all coumarins had a similar affinity &delta G ads &sim &minus 25-30 kJ/mole. Despite these similar adsorption energetics solute structure had a very pronounced effect on the tendency of solutes to aggregate and form multilayers. Our finding suggests that hydrogen bonding donating properties of the silica surface plays a dominant role in determining the interfacial behavior of these solutes. The silica surface also had pronounced effects on the time dependent emission of some solutes. In particular, the strong hydrogen bond donating properties of the silica surface inhibit formation of a planar, charge transfer state through hydrogen bond donation to the solute's amine group. A consequence of this interaction is that the time dependent emission from solutes adsorbed at the surface appears to be more similar to emission from solutes in nonpolar solvation environments. To test the role of solvent identity on the photophysical properties of adsorbed solutes, additional experiments were carried out with a nonpolar solvent (decane), a moderately polar solvent (n decanol) and a polar aprotic solvent (acetonitrile). The results from these studies demonstrated that interfacial solvation depends sensitively on a balance of competing forces including those between the solute and substrate, the solute and solvent and the surface and adjacent solvent

In Search of the Golden Years: How Compulsory Licensing Can Lower the Price of Prescription Drugs for Millions of Senior Citizens in the United States

This article will show that compulsory licensing is the best remedy for the escalating cost of prescription drugs in the United States. Section II will provide a historical overview of American pharmaceutical patent law and will introduce the concept of compulsory licensing as a method to decrease the high cost of prescription drugs for senior citizens in the United States. Section III will look at the newly enacted Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act, and state and local government plans to import cheaper brand-name prescription drugs from Canada. Section IV will look at the United States\u27 international support for compulsory licensing, as seen with the signing of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. Next, this section will show that United States case law supports the implementation of compulsory licensing when a corporation has violated antitrust laws. Finally, this section will respond to arguments that have been made against compulsory licensing. Section V will propose the creation of a tripartite health care commission that will implement compulsory licensing in the United States and will sponsor legislation that responds to the health care crisis in the United States. Additionally, this section will propose that the multinational pharmaceutical companies license patents to, and enter into outsourcing agreements with, Indian pharmaceutical companies to reduce manufacturing costs, which will eventually balance the profit-making interests of pharmaceutical companies with the health care interests of the American public. Section VI will conclude this analysis and restate the idea that America\u27s elderly deserve better treatment from their country and that compulsory licensing and an alliance with the Indian pharmaceutical industry are effective remedies for bringing down the high costs of prescription drugs in America

In Search of the Golden Years: How Compulsory Licensing Can Lower the Price of Prescription Drugs for Millions of Senior Citizens in the United States

This article will show that compulsory licensing is the best remedy for the escalating cost of prescription drugs in the United States. Section II will provide a historical overview of American pharmaceutical patent law and will introduce the concept of compulsory licensing as a method to decrease the high cost of prescription drugs for senior citizens in the United States. Section III will look at the newly enacted Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act, and state and local government plans to import cheaper brand-name prescription drugs from Canada. Section IV will look at the United States\u27 international support for compulsory licensing, as seen with the signing of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. Next, this section will show that United States case law supports the implementation of compulsory licensing when a corporation has violated antitrust laws. Finally, this section will respond to arguments that have been made against compulsory licensing. Section V will propose the creation of a tripartite health care commission that will implement compulsory licensing in the United States and will sponsor legislation that responds to the health care crisis in the United States. Additionally, this section will propose that the multinational pharmaceutical companies license patents to, and enter into outsourcing agreements with, Indian pharmaceutical companies to reduce manufacturing costs, which will eventually balance the profit-making interests of pharmaceutical companies with the health care interests of the American public. Section VI will conclude this analysis and restate the idea that America\u27s elderly deserve better treatment from their country and that compulsory licensing and an alliance with the Indian pharmaceutical industry are effective remedies for bringing down the high costs of prescription drugs in America

Assessing the level of household Quality of Living (QoL) of Berhampore Town (City) in Murshidabad District, West Bengal, India

La qualitat de vida és un concepte multidimensional d’un individu o d’una societat. Ha estat influenciada per diferents factors com ara les condicions de l’habitatge, les condicions de salut, l’educació, els actius i altres serveis bàsics. Aquesta investigació tracta d’avaluar el nivell de qualitat de vida (QoL) de la llar de Berhampore Town (ciutat) al districte de Murshidabad a Bengala Occidental, Índia. La qualitat de vida de les llars es mesura a partir de vint indicadors. Aquests indicadors s’utilitzen com a dominis diferents com l’índex de capital humà, l’índex d’actius, l’índex de serveis bàsics i l’índex d’habitatge. La qualitat de les condicions de vida es determina a partir de puntuacions compostes. El resultat demostra que les condicions de vida difereixen en diferents punts d’aquesta població. Les condicions de vida de la part central són millors que les d’altres parts d’aquesta ciutat.Quality of living is a multidimensional concept of an individual or a society. It has been influenced by different factors such as housing conditions, health conditions, education, assets, and other basic amenities. This research deals with assessing the level of household Quality of Living (QoL) of Berhampore Town (city) in Murshidabad district in West Bengal, India. Household Quality of Living is measured based on twenty indicators. These indicators are used as different domains like Human Capital Index, Assets Index, Basic Amenities Index, and Housing Index. Quality of living conditions is determined based on composite scores. The result shows that living conditions differ in different parts of this town. The living condition of the central part is better than other parts of this city.La calidad de vida es un concepto multidimensional de un individuo o una sociedad. Ha sido influenciado por diferentes factores, como las condiciones de vivienda, las condiciones de salud, la educación, los bienes y otras comodidades básicas. Esta investigación trata de evaluar el nivel de calidad de vida (QoL) de los hogares de Berhampore Town (ciudad) en el distrito de Murshidabad en Bengala Occidental, India. La Calidad de Vida de los Hogares se mide a partir de veinte indicadores. Estos indicadores se utilizan como diferentes dominios como el índice de capital humano, el índice de activos, el índice de servicios básicos y el índice de vivienda. La calidad de las condiciones de vida se determina en base a puntuaciones compuestas. El resultado muestra que las condiciones de vida difieren en diferentes partes de esta localidad. La condición de vida de la parte central es mejor que otras partes de esta ciudad.Quality of living is a multidimensional concept of an individual or a society. It has been influenced by different factors such as housing conditions, health conditions, education, assets, and other basic amenities. This research deals with assessing the level of household Quality of Living (QoL) of Berhampore Town (city) in Murshidabad district in West Bengal, India. Household Quality of Living is measured based on twenty indicators. These indicators are used as different domains like Human Capital Index, Assets Index, Basic Amenities Index, and Housing Index. Quality of living conditions is determined based on composite scores. The result shows that living conditions differ in different parts of this town. The living condition of the central part is better than other parts of this city.Quality of living is a multidimensional concept of an individual or a society. It has been influenced by different factors such as housing conditions, health conditions, education, assets, and other basic amenities. This research deals with assessing the level of household Quality of Living (QoL) of Berhampore Town (city) in Murshidabad district in West Bengal, India. Household Quality of Living is measured based on twenty indicators. These indicators are used as different domains like Human Capital Index, Assets Index, Basic Amenities Index, and Housing Index. Quality of living conditions is determined based on composite scores. The result shows that living conditions differ in different parts of this town. The living condition of the central part is better than other parts of this city.Quality of living is a multidimensional concept of an individual or a society. It has been influenced by different factors such as housing conditions, health conditions, education, assets, and other basic amenities. This research deals with assessing the level of household Quality of Living (QoL) of Berhampore Town (city) in Murshidabad district in West Bengal, India. Household Quality of Living is measured based on twenty indicators. These indicators are used as different domains like Human Capital Index, Assets Index, Basic Amenities Index, and Housing Index. Quality of living conditions is determined based on composite scores. The result shows that living conditions differ in different parts of this town. The living condition of the central part is better than other parts of this city

HOW TEMPERAMENT, CHARACTER, FLOW STATE & MOTIVATION PLAY ROLE IN ADVENTURE & NON-ADVENTURE SPORTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Adventure Sports (AS) is mostly associated with high risk-taking behaviors, unlike Non-adventure sports (NAS). Still, the AS persons can be highly functional while risking their lives for their passion for adventure sports. Therefore, we assumed for this study that the psychological processes involved in participation in Adventure sports might be different. The study intended to identify the difference in dispositional factors, the experience of flow state and motivational factors of Adventure Sports persons as compared to Non-adventure Sportspersons. The sample consisted of trained persons/professionals of Adventure Sports (viz. mountaineering, kayaking, river rafting, etc.) (n = 21) and participants of Non-adventure outdoor sports (viz. cricketers, footballers, etc.) (n = 21). We used the Temperament and Character Inventory, Flow State Scale, and Motivational Factors Scale. The findings revealed that low harm avoidance could be a dispositional factor for choosing adventure sports whereas; to gain status could be a factor to select non-adventure games. Article visualizations

ASSESSMENT OF SECONDARY METABOLITES WITH RELATION TO THEIR ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF FUNGAL ENDOPHYTES ISOLATED FROM MEDICINAL PLANTS

Objective: The detection of fungal endophytes and assessment of their antioxidant activity isolated from two medicinally important plants, Calotropis procera (L.) R. Br. and Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. from parts of Burdwan district of West Bengal, India.Methods: Isolation of fungal endophytes was carried out following the standard methods in potato dextrose agar (PDA) media. Identification, determination of colonization frequency, fermentation and extraction was done as stated in the standard protocol. Qualitative assay of the bioactive compound has investigated by standard protocol specifically for them. Quantitative estimation of total phenol was done by spectrophotometric method using gallic acid as standard. The antioxidant activity of the cell-free extract was determined by phosphomolybdenum assay and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging method.Results: Three dominant endophytic fungi each from C. procera and C. roseus with high colonization frequency in Penicillium singorense 25% and Alternaria alternata 21.87 % respectively has isolated and identified. Qualitative detection of secondary metabolites revealed that Penicillium singorense isolated from both plants and Aspergillus neoflaviceps (from C. procera) were found to be able to produce all the functional metabolites so far tested. It is evident that highest phenol 27.65±1.2 mg/g and flavonoid 2.06±0.1 mg/g content was shown by Curvularia geniculata. Highest antioxidant activity was exhibited by C. geniculata in both phosphomolybdenum assay i.e., total antioxidant capacity 2.46±0.11 and % inhibition of DPPH radical 94.55±0.015%.Conclusion: Present study, therefore highlights the growing concept that the bioactive compounds produced by the endophytes not only established host endophyte relationship but also have an immense chance of an application in the field of medicine, agriculture and industry

Assessment of Phytochemicals, Antioxidant Activity and Enzyme Production of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Medicinal Plant Sources

Endophytic fungi are mitosporic and meiosporic ascomycetes that asymptomatically reside in the internal tissues of plants beneath the epidermal cell layer, where fungi colonise healthy and living tissue via quiescent infections. Endophytes are important components of microbial diversity. Endophytic fungi isolated from medicinal plants more likely exhibit pharmaceutical potentials. These plentiful natural products isolated from endophytes represent a huge reservoir which offers an enormous potential for exploitation for medicinal, agricultural and industrial uses. There has been a great interest in endophytic fungi as potential producers of novel, biologically active products. Endophytes are believed to carry out a resistance mechanism to overcome pathogenic invasion by producing secondary metabolites. Globally, there are at least one million species of endophytic fungi in all plants which can potentially provide a variety of structurally unique natural products such as alkaloid, benzopyranones, chinones, flavanoids, phenols, steroids, xanthones and others. Therefore, there is an ample opportunity to unearth novel and interesting endophytic microorganisms with significant therapeutic efficacy. The objectives of our current study are to isolate endophytic fungi from specific medicinal plants found locally and carry out their characterization and isolation, followed by qualitative and quantitative assessment of secondary metabolites produced by them and study their antioxidant and enzyme activities. The present study, therefore would highlight the growing concept that the bioactive compounds produced by the endophytes not only establishes host endophyte relationship but also have an immense chance of application in the field of medicine, agriculture and industry

An insight into the molecular basis of salt tolerance of L-myo-inositol 1-P synthase (PcINO1) from porteresia coarctata (Roxb.) tateoka, a halophytic wild rice1

The molecular basis of salt tolerance of L-myo-inositol 1-P synthase (MIPS; EC 5.5.1.4) from Porteresia coarctata (Roxb.) Tateoka (PcINO1, AF412340) earlier reported from this laboratory, has been analyzed by in vitro mutant and hybrid generation and subsequent biochemical and biophysical studies of the recombinant proteins. A 37-amino acid stretch between Trp-174 and Ser-210 has been confirmed as the salt-tolerance determinant domain in PcINO1 both by loss or gain of salt tolerance by either deletion or by addition to salt-sensitive MIPS(s) of Oryza (OsINO1) and Brassica juncea (BjINO1). This was further verified by growth analysis under salt environment of Schizosaccharomyces pombe transformed with the various gene constructs and studies on the differential behavior of mutant and wild proteins by Trp fluorescence, aggregation, and circular dichroism spectra in the presence of salt. 4,4'-Dianilino-1,1'-binaphthyl-5,5-disulfonic acid binding experiments revealed a lower hydrophobic surface on PcINO1 than OsINO1, contributed by this 37-amino acid stretch explaining the differential behavior of OsINO1 and PcINO1 both with respect to their enzymatic functions and thermodynamic stability in high salt environment. Detailed amino acid sequence comparison and modeling studies revealed the interposition of polar and charged residues and a well-connected hydrogen-bonding network formed by Ser and Thr in this stretch of PcINO1. On the contrary, hydrophobic residues clustered in two continuous stretches in the corresponding region of OsINO1 form a strong hydrophobic patch on the surface. It is conceivable that salt-tolerant MIPS proteins may be designed out of the salt-sensitive plant MIPS proteins by replacement of the corresponding amino acid stretch by the designated 37-amino acid stretch of PcINO1