African American Students\u27 Perceptions of Influential Factors for Attendance in Doctoral Psychology

This study explores African American undergraduate students’ perceptions of factors influencing their decision to attend doctoral programs in psychology. There is a scarcity of literature examining perceptions held by specific minority groups in regard to influential factors used to make a significant step toward their career development. Eight undergraduate students interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology were interviewed. A semi-structured interview and two paper-pencil measures were used. Interviews were analyzed utilizing the consensual qualitative research (CQR) method. The following themes emerged: reasons for pursuing a doctoral degree, navigating the application process, factors influencing interest in psychology, perception of a program’s commitment to diversity, importance of ethnic minority representation in a program, financial concerns, family view of psychology, most important factor for attendance, and prior school experiences outside of psychology. The study found that issues related to African American representation and research, as well as the presence of financial aid, are highly relevant in students’ evaluation of which doctoral programs they prefer to attend. This information will pave the way for further studies focusing on how to increase the number of African American students in doctoral programs around the country

Formulation and evaluation of fast disintegrating tablets of metoprolol succinate using various superdisintegrants

The aim of present work is to develop a fast disintegrating solid oral dosage form of Metoprolol succinate. The concept of fast dissolving drug delivery system emerged from the desire to provide patient with more conventional means of taking their medication. Problems associated with conventional tablets can be resolved by means of fast dissolving tablets when put on tongue these tablets disintegrate and dissolve rapidly in saliva without need of drinking water. The faster the drug disintegrates in to solution, the quicker the absorption and onset of clinical effect. Preformulation results reveal that the flow properties of the active pharmaceutical ingredient were found to be excellent as per IP limits. To perform drug-polymer compatibility FT-IR studies were carried out and observed that there was no interaction between the APl and excipients. Eight formulations were prepared with varying super disintegrating agent ratios and were found that as the level of super disintegrating agent decreased the drug release rates were found to be increased. Amongst all the formulations, formulation containing CCS (F4) as super disintegrant is fulfilling all the parameters satisfactorily. It has shown excellent in-vitro disintegration, in-vitro dissolution compared to other formulations. The prepared tablets disintegrate within few minutes without need of water; thereby enhance the absorption leading to its increased bioavailability. It was concluded that Fast Disintegrating tablets of Metoprolol can be prepared successfully as it satisfies all the criteria as a dispersible tablet and would be alternative to the currently available conventional tablets. Prepared formulations were stable during 90 days storage period at controlled 40°C and 75%RH

Formulation and in-vitro evaluation of niosomal drug delivery system for aceclofenac.

In the past few decades, considerable attention has been focused on the development of new drug delivery system (NDDS). The NDDS should ideally fulfill two prerequisites. Firstly, it should deliver the drug at a rate directed by the needs of the body, over the period of treatment. Secondly, it should channel the active entity to the site of action. Conventional dosage forms including prolonged release dosage forms are unable to meet none of these. At present, no available drug delivery system behaves ideally, but sincere attempts have been made to achieve them through various novel approaches in drug delivery. The aim of present work is to develop a niosomal drug delivery system of aceclofenac. To perform drug-polymer compatibility FT-IR studies were carried out and observed that there was no interaction between the APl and excipients. 8 niosomal formulations are prepared by the thin film hydration method using the cholesterol as the phospholipid. Prepared niosomal formulations were characterized by vesicle size, shape, surface charge, entrapment efficiency, drug content and invitro drug release studies. The vesicle size, size distribution and zeta potential of the optimized formulation (F5) was found to be 65.6 nm and zeta potential was found to be -1.5mV. Size distribution curve confirms the normal size distribution of the vesicles. The % entrapment efficiency of niosomal vesicles formulations were found to be in the range of 54.18±0.59 to 92.71±0.56 and optimized formulation was found to be 92.71±0.56 and drug content of niosomes formulations (F1to F8) were determined to be in the range of 94.6 -97.8%. The pH of all topical niosomal gels were found to be in the range of 7.4±0.02 to 7.4±0.08.The best fit with higher correlation (r2> 0.99) was found with the Zero Order Release and follows Korsemeyer peppas equation for all the formulations, which means that release of Aceclofenac from the lipid bilayer vesicles were due to diffusion. The stability studies were carried out and there was no significant change found in the formulations

A case report of secondary cutaneous cryptococcosis in a retrovirus positive patient

Cryptococcosis is a systemic mycosis caused by the capsulated yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. Cryptococcus remains an important opportunistic pathogen in HIV positive patients. It is usually acquired through inhalation of spores and by invasion of the respiratory system, and then, the organisms may spread hematogenously to other viscera mainly central nervous system. Although there are some reports of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis, cryptococcal skin disease is a rare feature of disseminated cryptococcosis and has poor outcome if undiagnosed and untreated. We present a case of secondary cutaneous cryptococcosis in a 50-year-old male, who was diagnosed as a case of retroviral disease 3 years back but not on anti-retroviral therapy

The influence of menopause on urinary incontinence in the women of the community: a cross-sectional study from North India

Background: Urinary incontinence is defined as the complaint of any involuntary loss of urine that is a social or hygienic problem.  Worldwide, over 200 million people are living with urinary incontinence and as the life expectancy of women is increasing, more number of women are bound to suffer from it. The aim of the present study is to find out the effect of menopause on the occurrence of Urinary Incontinence in women and to find out risk factors in post-menopausal women associated with Urinary Incontinence.Methods: It was a community based cross-sectional study involving post-menopausal women living in the urban and rural areas registered under Community Medicine, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh, India. A total of 530 women were taken for this study. Descriptive statistics as well as simple proportion were calculated with SPSS 20.0. Tests of significance and Binary Logistic regression analysis were used for analysis.Results: Significant differences were found in the association of Urinary Incontinence with increasing age groups and consequent years spent in menopause, rural area of residence, illiteracy, lower socio-economic class, inadequate housing standards, obesity, smoking, parity, history of hysterectomy, and co-morbidities such as Urinary Tract Infection and Pelvic organ prolapse.Conclusions: From a public health perspective, there is considerable opportunity to improve women's quality of life by increasing health education about urinary incontinence and its treatment by taking steps for life style modifications

Catechol estrogens stimulate insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells via activation of the transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) channel

Estrogen hormones play an important role in controlling glucose homeostasis and pancreatic β-cell function. Despite the significance of estrogen hormones for regulation of glucose metabolism, little is known about the roles of endogenous estrogen metabolites in modulating pancreatic β-cell function. In this study, we evaluated the effects of major natural estrogen metabolites, catechol estrogens, on insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells. We show that catechol estrogens, hydroxylated at positions C2 and C4 of the steroid A ring, rapidly potentiated glucose-induced insulin secretion via a nongenomic mechanism. 2-Hydroxyestrone, the most abundant endogenous estrogen metabolite, was more efficacious in stimulating insulin secretion than any other tested catechol estrogens. In insulin-secreting cells, catechol estrogens produced rapid activation of calcium influx and elevation in cytosolic free calcium. Catechol estrogens also generated sustained elevations in cytosolic free calcium and evoked inward ion current in HEK293 cells expressing the transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) cation channel. Calcium influx and insulin secretion stimulated by estrogen metabolites were dependent on the TRPA1 activity and inhibited with the channel-specific pharmacological antagonists or the siRNA. Our results suggest the role of estrogen metabolism in a direct regulation of TRPA1 activity with potential implications for metabolic diseases

Comparative behavioral ecotoxicology of Inland Silverside larvae exposed to pyrethroids across a salinity gradient

Pyrethroids, a class of commonly used insecticides, are frequently detected in aquatic environments, including estuaries. The influence that salinity has on organism physiology and the partitioning of hydrophobic chemicals, such as pyrethroids, has driven interest in how toxicity changes in saltwater compared to freshwater. Early life exposures in fish to pyrethroids cause toxicity at environmentally relevant concentrations, which can alter behavior. Behavior is a highly sensitive endpoint that influences overall organism fitness and can be used to detect toxicity of environmentally relevant concentrations of aquatic pollutants. Inland Silversides (Menidia beryllina), a commonly used euryhaline model fish species, were exposed from 5 days post fertilization (~1-day pre-hatch) for 96 h to six pyrethroids: bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, esfenvalerate and permethrin. Exposures were conducted at three salinities relevant to brackish, estuarine habitat (0.5, 2, and 6 PSU) and across 3 concentrations, either 0.1, 1, 10, and/or 100 ng/L, plus a control. After exposure, Inland Silversides underwent a behavioral assay in which larval fish were subjected to a dark and light cycle stimuli to determine behavioral toxicity. Assessment of total distanced moved and thigmotaxis (wall hugging), used to measure hyper/hypoactivity and anxiety like behavior, respectively, demonstrate that even at the lowest concentration of 0.1 ng/L pyrethroids can induce behavioral changes at all salinities. We found that toxicity decreased as salinity increased for all pyrethroids except permethrin. Additionally, we found evidence to suggest that the relationship between log KOW and thigmotaxis is altered between the lower and highest salinities

Determinants of Potato Prices and its Forecasting: A Case Study of Punjab, Pakistan

Potato figures among the principal crop in Pakistan. This paper describes the determinants of potato prices in Punjab, Pakistan. Annual data for the period 1998-2014 were analyzed to identify factors affecting the prices of potato. Results indicated that temperature and world oil prices were significantly affecting price. Seasonal variation of prices are also analyzed in this paper. This paper also use ARIMA and ARMA model to forecast the prices. These results suggest that temperature increase above the limit will lead to increase in prices and support prices also

Determinants of Potato Prices and its Forecasting: A Case Study of Punjab, Pakistan

Potato figures among the principal crop in Pakistan. This paper describes the determinants of potato prices in Punjab, Pakistan. Annual data for the period 1998-2014 were analyzed to identify factors affecting the prices of potato. Results indicated that temperature and world oil prices were significantly affecting price. Seasonal variation of prices are also analyzed in this paper. This paper also use ARIMA and ARMA model to forecast the prices. These results suggest that temperature increase above the limit will lead to increase in prices and support prices also