Analyzing the Potential Moderating Effect of School SES on the Relationship Between Student Sexuality and Mental Health

Background: It is estimated 1 in 5 children in the United States of America have a diagnosable mental health disorder, with only 21% of these children receiving treatment (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2017). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT) youth mental health issues have been a consistent area of concern (Gonsiorek, 1988). The presence or absence of health-related resources and programs in schools has been shown to alter the health outcomes of students in their care (Leger, 1999). However, the extent to which a school can implement programs depends largely on a school’s socioeconomic status (SES). This study uses publicly accessible data from several sources to evaluate the moderating effect of school SES on the relationship between sexual orientation and mental health among primary and secondary students. Methods: Surveys were collected from 15,624 students in grades 9-12 through the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) (CDC, 2015). Data related to student sexuality and their mental health was extracted from this dataset. Students surveyed were also divided into 18 distinct large urban school districts and this was used to find the funding per student for each student surveyed in each district. A three variable cross tabulation analysis was conducted to assess the role of SES on the relationship between sexual orientation and mental health among the students surveyed. Discussion and Conclusion: The results of this analysis indicate that school socioeconomic status does not have a large moderating effect in the relationship between student sexuality and mental health. This finding is of particular interest because it suggests that school SES does not impact LGBT students’ mental health any more than their relatively mentally healthier peers. It may be worthwhile for schools with more funding available per student to direct efforts to specifically benefit groups who are disproportionately affected by mental health disorders, such as LGBT students

Estimating multiple linear regression parameters using term omission method

In this paper, we introduce a new method to estimate multiple linear regression parameters, namely Multiple Term Omission (MTO). Then, we compare its performance with other three methods: Ordinary Least Square (OLS), Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Model using several criteria, such as Mean Average Deviation (MAD), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and Root Mean Square Error standard (RMSE). MTO method has the finest consequences as compared to the other methods for the experimented data

Copyright: a roadblock to education in developing countries?

Copyright protection is intended to promote creativity by granting the creator of an original work, exclusive rights to its use for a limited time period. However, there has been a growing debate about whether copyright laws and their strict implementation, particularly in developing countries, could be detrimental to efforts by these countries to promote access to knowledge in general, and to educational material in particular. This debate, though not entirely new, is taking place in the context of intense policy discussions since the late 1990s about the impact of global intellectual property rules, such as those of the WTO TRIPS Agreement, on developing countries and about the extent to which such rules are supportive of public policy objectives in areas crucial to achieving sustainable development such as health, education and the environment. This paper examines the relationship between copyright protection and access to educational material. In this context, it looks, in particular, at the role of limitations and exceptions to copyright which in principle seek to reconcile both the interest of rights holders and public interest but whose implementation in practice has proved challenging in a number developing of countries. The paper seeks to identify options that will enable developing countries to formulate national copyright regimes that give priority to access to knowledge in the form of educational material

Photoperiod regulates the daily profiles of Tryptophan Hydroxylase-2 gene expression the raphe nuclei of rats

Tryptophan hydroxylase-2 mRNA (TPH, the rate limiting enzyme in 5-HT synthesis) expression levels display circadian variations in the median and dorsal raphe nuclei. This circadian pattern is under the control of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), the master clock. Photoperiodic cue is encoded by the SCN which convey the seasonal message to target sites. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of photoperiodic changes on the serotonergic neurones of the raphe nuclei. We have assessed the daily expression of TPH2 mRNA in both median and dorsal raphe nuclei of rats housed either under long photoperiod (18 h light/6 h dark cycle, LP18:6) or short photoperiod (SP6:18). Our results demonstrate that under LP18:6, TPH2 mRNA levels display a progressive decrease during the dark period and a maximal expression is reported at the beginning of the light period. The expression pattern of TPH2 mRNA under SP6:18 remains unchanged during the dark period and increases significantly before the day/night transition. This latter expression pattern is in line with the daily profiles of TPH2 mRNA reported previously under standard lighting regimen (12 h light/12 h dark cycle). The present results suggest that TPH2 mRNA expression pattern within DR and MR is affected by photoperiod which might in turn affect TPH content and 5­HT release within the circadian structures, but also in all the serotonergic projection areas of the brain

Photoperiod regulates the daily profiles of Tryptophan Hydroxylase-2 gene expression the raphe nuclei of rats

Tryptophan hydroxylase-2 mRNA (TPH, the rate limiting enzyme in 5-HT synthesis) expression levels display circadian variations in the median and dorsal raphe nuclei. This circadian pattern is under the control of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), the master clock. Photoperiodic cue is encoded by the SCN which convey the seasonal message to target sites. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of photoperiodic changes on the serotonergic neurones of the raphe nuclei. We have assessed the daily expression of TPH2 mRNA in both median and dorsal raphe nuclei of rats housed either under long photoperiod (18 h light/6 h dark cycle, LP18:6) or short photoperiod (SP6:18). Our results demonstrate that under LP18:6, TPH2 mRNA levels display a progressive decrease during the dark period and a maximal expression is reported at the beginning of the light period. The expression pattern of TPH2 mRNA under SP6:18 remains unchanged during the dark period and increases significantly before the day/night transition. This latter expression pattern is in line with the daily profiles of TPH2 mRNA reported previously under standard lighting regimen (12 h light/12 h dark cycle). The present results suggest that TPH2 mRNA expression pattern within DR and MR is affected by photoperiod which might in turn affect TPH content and 5­HT release within the circadian structures, but also in all the serotonergic projection areas of the brain

Transaction Management in Distributed Database Systems: The Case of Oracle’s Two-Phase Commit

Distributed database systems (DDBS) pose different problems when accessing distributed and replicated databases. Particularly, access control and transaction management in DDBS require different mechanism to monitor data retrieval and update to databases. Current trends in multi-tier client/server networks make DDBS an appropriated solution to provide access to and control over localized databases. Oracle, as a leading Database Management System (DBMS) vendor employs the two-phase commit technique to maintain consistent state for the database. The objective of this paper is to explain transaction management in DDBS and how Oracle implements this technique. An example is given to demonstrate the step involved in executing the two-phase commit. By using this feature of Oracle, organizations will benefit from the use of DDBS to successfully manage the enterprise data resource

Tranexamic Acid Intravenous Overdose Administration in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: Case Report

Background: Topical application of tranexamic acid (TXA) to bleeding wound surfaces reduces blood loss in patients undergoing some major surgeries, without systemic complications. TXA decreases blood loss and, therefore, may minimize pain. Objective: To know the efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid intravenous overdose administration in primary total knee arthroplasty. Case study: We reported a 53 years old Saudi female ambulatory with no assisting aid and was not known to have any medical illnesses, presented to the orthopedic clinic complaining of bilateral knee pain and difficulty to ambulate for long distances for the last 5 years. This complain gradually worsened since last 2 years with no history of trauma prior to presentation or even after the follow up. The pain was localized at the knee joints and it was sharp in nature. The pain used to improve with rest and paracetamol intake and aggravated while standing or walking for long period of time. She was treated surgically by total knee arthroplasty, however during the operation by mistake she was given 4000 mg of tranexamic acid through IV route instead of topical application. Conclusion: Administration of 4000 mg of tranexamic acid through IV route is unusual but it seems to be safe without side effect on the patient in the early postoperative period

Fecal incontinence after single-stage Soave’s pull-through: abdominal versus transanal endorectal pull-through

Purpose To compare the postoperative fecal continence and bowel functions between patients who underwent a single stage - Soave’s endorectal pull through operations whether via the classic abdominal endorectal pull through approach (TAPT) or trans-anal endorectal pull through approach (TERPT).Patients and Methods This retrospective study was performed on 50 HD consecutive patients who had undergone surgery during a period of 5 years from January 2002 to January 2007. They were two equal groups; group I (n=25) including patients who underwent TAPT; group II (n=25) including patients who underwent TERPT. Demographic, clinical data, preoperative investigations, operative records, postoperative outcome were studied. Post operative fecal continence score rate (FCSR) was assessed in children over the age of 4 years. Moreover, those with poor FCSR were further investigated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Electromyography (EMG) and anorecatal manometery (AM) were also used in follow-up.Results Twenty six patients (52%) had an excellent FCSR and eighteen patients (36%) showed good FCSR. However, 5 patients (10%) had a fair FCSR and only 1 patient (2%) suffered of a poor FCSR. There was no statistical significant difference between the two groups in neither anal manometry nor EMG. MRI did not show any abnormalities on pelvic floor and anal muscle complex on those patients who had fair or poor FCSR.Conclusion The incidence of fecal incontinence is very low after Soave’s pull-through operations whether TAPT or TERPT approaches with no statistical significant difference.Keywords: fecal continence, Hirschsprung’s disease, Soave’s operation, transanal endorectal pull-throug

Analytical Spectrometric Study For Determining Dapagliflozin Propanediol Monohydrate Individually Or In Presence Of Metformin Hydrochloride In Tablets Formulation

First simple spectrophotometric method was developed and applied to determine Dapagliflozin Propanediol  Monohydrate by Zero Spectrophotometry and First Derivative Spectrophotometric method for determining of Dapagliflozin Propanediol Monohydrate (DAPA) in the presence of Metformin Hydrochloride (MET). Zero spectrophotometric (ZS) was applied for the determination of (DAPA) at 223.5 nm. Linearity range was (2.61– 31.23) µg/mL. Regression analysis showed a good correlation coefficients R2 = 0.9989. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were to be 0.569 µg/mL and 1.724 µg/mL, respectively. Derivative spectrophotometric (1DS) was applied for the determination of (DAPA) in the presence (MET). (DAPA) was determined at 233 nm (1D233).  Linearity ranges were (5.21 – 41.64) µg/mL for (DAPA). Regression analysis showed a good correlation coefficients R2 = 0.9994. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were to be 0.732 µg/mL and 2.218 µg/mL for (DAPA). The proposed Zero spectrophotometry method was applied to analysis individual (DAPA), and the derivative (1D233) method was applied to analysis (DAPA) individually or with (MET) combination in Syrian trademark drugs

Dialogue games and trust for communicating agents

Multi-agent applications are primarily based on agent interactions, which are constrained by the trust of participating agents. Two important issues in these applications are how agents can communicate in a flexible and efficient way and how an agent can authenticate information conveyed by other agents in the system. In this thesis, we present a new communication framework and trust model addressing these issues by considering three factors. The first factor is about the flexibility, complexity, soundness, and completeness of the communication protocol. The second factor is about the classification of agents from a trust point of view using direct interactions. The third factor is related to the categorization of the agent's chains through which the information is transmitted. Such a categorization is based upon the reliability of the agents in the chain. The model aims to examine all available data in order to determine the trustworthiness of agents as transmitters of information. This approach is the first attempt in multi-agent systems towards classifying agents in order to accomplish trust. We also propose a thorough set of criteria and policies to assign different degrees of trustworthiness to each agent and consequently to the chains in which they appear. Agents are considered autonomous and they interact flexibly using a set of logical rules called dialogue games. Termination, soundness, and completeness results of the communication protocol are proven and its computational complexity is addressed. The proposed approach is also evaluated. Keywords: Trust, Dialogue Games, Multi-Agent Systems, Agent Types, Agent Characteristics, Chain of Agent