The Impact of Socioeconomic Status on College Students’ Experiences

This qualitative research project examines the role of socioeconomic status in shaping the experiences of students attending Pearson College, an elite liberal arts college in Southern California. One hour-long, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) students in order to better understand APIDA student experiences and their views on the college’s efforts to support class-based diversity and inclusion. Findings include insights into challenges faced by college students, how they understand privilege and identity, and where college students find support. These results have implications for Pearson College, and similar liberal arts colleges, to implement changes to better support students that are reporting significant mental health challenges and feelings of alienation. In addition, this work adds to the broader national conversation around income inequality and social mobility in higher education. As more and more young people across the country attend college, it is imperative to ask who “diversity and inclusion” college initiatives are truly benefiting

Influence of leptin on arterial distensibility - A novel link between obesity and cardiovascular disease?

Background-The mechanisms by which obesity increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) are poorly understood. In experimental models, leptin, a hormone produced by adipose tissue, has been shown adversely to affect vascular health. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that high leptin concentrations are associated with lower arterial distensibility, an index of circulatory function relevant to the atherosclerotic process.Methods and Results-Noninvasive, high-resolution, vascular ultrasound was used to measure brachial artery distensibility in 294 healthy adolescents (aged 13 to 16 years) who had a broad range of body mass indexes. Fat mass was measured by bioelectric impedance analysis; fasting serum leptin concentration by radioimmunoassay; and lipid profile, fasting insulin, glucose, and C-reactive protein concentrations by standard laboratory techniques. Higher leptin concentrations were associated with impaired arterial distensibility (regression coefficient, -1.3% change in arterial distension per 10% increase in leptin; 95% CI, -1.9% to -0.8%; P<0.001). This association was independent of fat mass, blood pressure, and C-reactive protein, fasting insulin, or LDL cholesterol concentrations.Conclusions-Elevation in leptin was associated with impaired vascular function, independent of the metabolic and inflammatory disturbances associated with obesity. Our observations are consistent with data from experimental models and suggest that high leptin concentration is an important mechanism for the adverse influence of body fatness on CVD

Pathways and LegislationTowards Hospital Wastewater Discharged Around Globe

In every section of the environment pharmaceuticals are now can be observed and detected. Hospitals are one of the major sources of pollution via either through environment or wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The treatment plants are not prepared for effective treatment of emerging contaminants (ECs). This paper further illustrates the lack of understanding of the ecotoxicity of certain large concentrations of pharmaceutical compounds in HWW (mg L-1). In order to expand this analysis, the ecotoxic risks associated with numerous pollution scenarios, particularly water-dilution and metabolite processing, particularly during transit inside WWPs, have now to be investigated. Furthermore, in hospitals, the average water demand is reported to be between 200-1200 L bed– 1 day–1. Water is consumed in the hospital system with equivalent wastewater discharge. There is also domestic waste disposal in hospital fluids from kitchens, washrooms, and toilets. This paper reviews about characteristics of hospital wastewater, legislation around the globe and its paths ways in biotics system. This review also provides an overview of the pathways of ECs and focused few of its characteristics in biological treatment

EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON GROWTH AND ESSENTIAL OIL CONTENT IN PALMAROSA (CYMBOPOGON MARTINII)

 Objective: The aim was to examine the responses viz., herbage yield, essential oil content and oil composition to varying levels of gibberellic acid(GA3), kinetin and indole acetic acid (IAA) in Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii).Methods: Essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and oils composition was analyzed by gaschromatography-mass spectrometry. Nitrate reductase (NR) activity was evaluated by in-vivo assay. Protein content was evaluated by Lowry method.Chlorophyll was estimated by Arnon method.Results: Plant growth was improved by GA3 significantly, and the increase was maximum at 100 ppm concentration in plant height, leaf area, tillernumber and herbage yield. Chlorophyll content, protein content, NR activity and oil content increased in the plants due to GA3 treatment comparedto untreated plants, and the increase was maximum at 100 ppm concentration. Effect of IAA and kinetin was similar to GA3 but maximum effect wasobserved at 50 ppm concentration. Geraniol content of the essential oil of Palmarosa increased due to GA3 and kinetin treatment while percentage ofgeranyl acetate decreased.Conclusion: On a comparative basis, among the three promotional hormones, GA3 was most effective in stimulating growth, essential oil content, leafarea, tiller number and metabolic parameters (protein content, chlorophyll content and NR activity).Keywords: Cymbopogon martinii, Essential oils, Plant growth regulators, Oil compositon.Â

Dealing naturally with stumbling blocks on highways and byways of TRAIL induced signaling.

In-depth analysis of how TRAIL signals through death receptors to induce apoptosis in cancer cells using high throughput technologies has added new layers of knowledge. However, the wealth of information has also highlighted the fact that TRAIL induced apoptosis may be impaired as evidenced by experimental findings obtained from TRAIL resistant cancer cell lines. Overwhelmingly, increasing understanding of TRAIL mediated apoptosis has helped in identifying synthetic and natural compounds which can restore TRAIL induced apoptosis via functionalization of either extrinsic or intrinsic pathways. Increasingly it is being realized that biologically active phytochemicals modulate TRAIL induced apoptosis, as evidenced by cell-based studies. In this review we have attempted to provide an overview of how different phytonutrients have shown efficacy in restoring apoptosis in TRAIL resistant cancer cells. We partition this review into how the TRAIL mediated signaling landscape has broadened over the years and how TRAIL induced signaling machinery crosstalks with autophagic protein networks. Subsequently, we provide a generalized view of considerable biological activity of coumarins against a wide range of cancer cell lines and how coumarins (psoralidin and esculetin) isolated from natural sources have improved TRAIL induced apoptosis in resistant cancer cells. We summarize recent updates on piperlongumine, phenethyl isothiocyanate and luteolin induced activation of TRAIL mediated apoptosis. The data obtained from pre-clinical studies will be helpful in translation of information from benchtop to the bedside

EGCG mediated targeting of deregulated signaling pathways and non-coding rnas in different cancers: Focus on JAK/STAT, Wnt/\u3b2-catenin, TGF/SMAD, NOTCH, SHH/GLI, and TRAIL mediated signaling pathways

Decades of research have enabled us to develop a better and sharper understanding of multifaceted nature of cancer. Next-generation sequencing technologies have leveraged our existing knowledge related to intra-and inter-tumor heterogeneity to the next level. Functional genomics have opened new horizons to explore deregulated signaling pathways in different cancers. Therapeutic targeting of deregulated oncogenic signaling cascades by products obtained from natural sources has shown promising results. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has emerged as a distinguished chemopreventive product because of its ability to regulate a myriad of oncogenic signaling pathways. Based on its scientifically approved anticancer activity and encouraging results obtained from preclinical trials, it is also being tested in various phases of clinical trials. A series of clinical trials associated with green tea extracts and EGCG are providing clues about significant potential of EGCG to mechanistically modulate wide ranging signal transduction cascades. In this review, we comprehensively analyzed regulation of JAK/STAT, Wnt/\u3b2-catenin, TGF/SMAD, SHH/GLI, NOTCH pathways by EGCG. We also discussed most recent evidence related to the ability of EGCG to modulate non-coding RNAs in different cancers. Methylation of the genome is also a widely studied mechanism and EGCG has been shown to modulate DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and protein enhancer of zeste-2 (EZH2) in multiple cancers. Moreover, the use of nanoformulations to increase the bioavailability and thus efficacy of EGCG will be also addressed. Better understanding of the pleiotropic abilities of EGCG to modulate intracellular pathways along with the development of effective EGCG delivery vehicles will be helpful in getting a step closer to individualized medicines

Groundwater nitrate and fluoride profiles, sources and health risk assessment in the coal mining areas of Salt Range, Punjab Pakistan

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Springer via the DOI in this recordAvailability of data and material: Supplementary data are provided along with the manuscript.To assess the loading profiles of groundwater nitrate (NO3−) and fluoride (F−), their spatial distributions, geochemistry and associated health risks were determined for 131 groundwater samples from eastern (ESR), central (CSR) and Trans-Indus Salt Ranges (TSR) in Pakistan. Groundwater NO3− concentrations were 0.2–308 mg/L (mean 59 mg/L) in ESR, 2.7–203 mg/L (mean 73 mg/L) in CSR and 1.1–259 mg/L (mean 69 mg/L) in the TSR. Forty-one %, 57% and 36% of the ESR, CSR and TSR samples, respectively, exceeded the WHO and Pak-NEQs permissible limit of 50 mg/L NO3−. Likewise, groundwater F− concentrations ranged from 0.1–1.8 mg/L (mean 0.6 mg/L), 0.1–2.7 mg/L (mean 0.9 mg/L) and 0.3–2.5 mg/L (mean 1.6 mg/L) mg/L in the ESR, CSR and TSR sites, respectively. In this case, 3%, 17% and 27% of the ESR, CSR and TSR samples, respectively, exceeded the WHO and Pak-NEQs permissible limit of 1.5 mg/L F. Oxidation of coal and coal waste resulted in the release of NO3− to groundwater. By contrast, enrichment of F− in groundwater was due to dissolution and cation exchange processes. Elevated values of the Higher Pollution Index (PI) and Health Risk Index (HRI) reflect a non-acceptable carcinogenic risk for drinking water NO3− and F− which should be addressed on a priority basis to protect human health.Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakista

The development of a novel Wellness Assessment Instrument and its use in the assessment of wellness status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Aims:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disorder that affects health outcomes on multiple levels including overall wellbeing. More specifically, factors such as spiritual wellbeing, and psychological, mental and motivational status which may be at least as important as others, have been rarely studied. This article reports the method of validating a new wellness assessment questionnaire and the status of several wellness domains in patients with COPD.Methods:The study consisted of two phases: first, the development of a new Wellness Questionnaire with the help of focus groups; second, the validation and use of the questionnaire in a cohort of patients with COPD. For focus groups, healthy people ⩾45 years of age with no known comorbidity as well as people with a clinical diagnosis of COPD were invited to participate in the study.Results:Thematic analysis of findings from focus groups and original cohort respondents highlighted some factors that appear to influence wellness status. Five domains were explored as potential markers of wellness in patients with COPD. Quantitative analysis with Spearman correlation demonstrated a significant correlation between Physical/Personal Wellness and other markers of COPD progression such as Global Initiative Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD; 0.006), force expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%; 0.01), health-related quality of life (0.009), multidimensional BOD score and quartile (0.003 and 0.02).Conclusion:The findings suggest that a combination of personal, physical, emotional, mental and other psychological factors is responsible for negative COPD outcomes. While there is a need to validate this new wellness questionnaire in further research, it incorporates new markers of wellness that could benefit management of COPD