WHY DO WE BLAME VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT?

Sexual assault is a formidable concern in American society with alarming rates of victimization among women and men. Based on the high prevalence of rape, some researchers have argued that America has a rape supportive culture (Burt, 1980; Wakelin & Long, 2003). The culture is particularly supported by the high incidence of victim blame that is commonly reported upon in research evaluating perceptions of rape victims. The purpose of the current study was to determine what types of variables are associated with victim blame and the theories which best explain why victim blame occurs. In particular, the current study evaluated various respondent and victim variables to determine if they correlated with victim blame. The theories of the just world belief and defensive attribution were also assessed to determine their impact on victim blame. Finally, the impact of knowledge of the rape law on victim blame was evaluated. Results revealed no significant association between belief in a just world and victim blame. The findings indicated that respondents endorsing more egalitarian attitudes tended to blame the victim less than those endorsing more traditional gender norms. Also, respondents who reported a history of sexual assault were found to be less blaming of the victim than other respondents. Rape myth acceptance was also noted to be associated with victim blame, with individuals endorsing high levels of rape myths also tended to blame the victim more than other participants. Lastly, results suggested that individuals with a better knowledge of the current rape law were less likely to blame the victim than those who provided an incorrect definition. Overall, the results provide more support for the defensive attribution theory than for the just world hypothesis. Also, the results highlight the types of variables that are particularly associated with victim blame. These results shed some light on how sexual assault education and awareness can be improved; in addition, they provide some insight into how clinical care of rape victims can be enhanced

The methuselah family of g protein coupled receptors

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are one of the largest class of transmembrane signaling proteins that regulate essential developmental and physiological processes in a cell. GPCR success is illustrated by their abundance across both invertebrate and vertebrate genomes. Phylogenetic analyses show that GPCR families have undergone a lot of gene gain and loss during insect evolution. In Drosophila melanogaster, the fifteen Methuselah/Methuselah-like (Mth/Mthl) genes are in fact an insect specific family of GPCRs. In our study, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis using receptor sequences from five Drosophila species and two related insects, including Tribolium and Anopheles to examine the evolution of this gene family. Clearly Mthl1, 5, and 14 form their own separate clades. The remaining Drosophila genes along with a single gene in Tribolium form a fourth clade defined by the presence of the Mth ectodomain. Expression patterns of the Tribolium gene and all Drosophila paralogs were determined by in situ hybridization. The Tribolium Mthl gene is expressed in the hindgut and mesodermal crystal cells of the embryo which is divided between Drosophila Mthl9 and Mthl10. Mthl10 also evolves other more specific expression patterns in both the embryo third instar larvae which is divided between the other Mthl genes. In summary, six genes (Mthl 1, 5, 9, 11, 13 and 14) are expressed in the embryo, four (Mthl3, 4, 6 and 8) in the larval CNS and imaginal discs and two (Mthl10 and Mth) in both embryos and larvae. We further show Mthl5 expression in the cardiac mesoderm of stage 11 embryos and later restricted to cardioblast cells of the aorta. Loss of mthl5 decreases pericardial-cardial cell association necessary to maintain cardiac intergrity. We show that mthl5 genetically interacts with Goa to increase the loss of cell-cell adhesion in the Drosophila aorta. Together these data clearly show the expansion of the Mth/Mthl family in insects and the evolution of novel gene functions required for organ morphogenesis

Inducing Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in C. elegans via Cavitation-Free Surface Acoustic Wave-Driven Ultrasonic Irradiation.

Mild traumatic brain injury is an all-too-common outcome from modern warfare and sport, and lacks a reproducible model for assessment of potential treatments and protection against it. Here we consider the use of surface acoustic wave (SAW) irradiation of C. elegans worms-without cavitation-as a potential, ethically reasonable animal-on-a-chip model for inducing traumatic brain injury in an animal, producing significant effects on memory and learning that could prove useful in a model that progress from youth to old age in but a few weeks. We show a significant effect by SAW on the ability of worms to learn post-exposure through associative learning chemotaxis. At higher SAW intensity, we find immediate, thorough, but temporary paralysis of the worms. We further explore the importance of homogeneous exposure of the worms to the SAW-driven ultrasound, an aspect poorly controlled in past efforts, if at all, and demonstrate the absence of cavitation through a change in fluids from a standard media for the worms to the exceedingly viscous polyvinyl alcohol. Likewise, we demonstrate that acoustic streaming, when present, is not directly responsible for paralysis nor learning disabilities induced in the worm, but is beneficial at low amplitudes to ensuring homogeneous ultrasound exposure

Development and Validation of Stability Indicating Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for estimation of Donepezil HCl from bulk drug

Stability of Donepezil Hydrochloride(DONE) was investigated using stability indicating Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) utilizing C-18 column and mobile phase containing Acetonitrile:Water (pH 3.5)  in ratio of 40:60 at flow rate of 1 ml min-1. Peaks of donepezil and degradation products were well resolved at retention times < 7 min. Stability was performed in 0.1N hydrochloric acid, 0.1N sodium hydroxide, 3 % hydrogen peroxide, neutral, photolytic and dry heat conditions. Fast hydrolysis was seen in alkaline condition as compared to oxidative and neutral conditions. Methods was validated with respect to linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity and robustness LOQ and LOD. It was also found to be stability indicating, and therefore suitable for the routine analysis of Donepezil hydrochloride in the pharmaceutical formulation

Synthesis of new 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromen derivatives as potential anticancer agents

874-880The synthesis of some new heterocyclic derivatives comprising imidazothaidiazole, diaryl ketone and chromen as starting compound has been reported. The new series of chromen analogues have been synthesized. The reaction has been monitored by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) using suitable mobile phase. The Rf values have been compared and the melting points of derivatives determined. Further, these derivatives have been characterized and confirmed by IR, 1H NMR and mass spectral (MS) studies. All the selected compounds submitted to National Cancer Institute (NCI) for in vitro anticancer assay have been evaluated for their anticancer activity

Synthesis of new 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromen derivatives as potential anticancer agents

The synthesis of some new heterocyclic derivatives comprising imidazothaidiazole, diaryl ketone and chromen as starting compound has been reported. The new series of chromen analogues have been synthesized. The reaction has been monitored by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) using suitable mobile phase. The Rf values have been compared and the melting points of derivatives determined. Further, these derivatives have been characterized and confirmed by IR, 1H NMR and mass spectral (MS) studies. All the selected compounds submitted to National Cancer Institute (NCI) for in vitro anticancer assay have been evaluated for their anticancer activity.

Treatment outcomes of patients with isoniazid resistant tuberculosis under National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme in Ahmedabad city: a retrospective study

Background: Drug resistance tuberculosis remains major public health problem worldwide. In India, the incidence of any isoniazid-resistant TB is 11.6% in new tuberculosis patients, while in previously treated patients, incidence is 25%. For isoniazid resistant cases management 6-9 months duration of H mono regimen containing rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol and levofloxacin is available under national tuberculosis elimination programme. We present a retrospective study on outcomes of patients of H mono regime in years 2019 and 2020 in Ahmedabad city.Methods: Retrospectively we collected data about age, sex, co-morbid conditions, resistance level (high/low level isoniazid resistance) and treatment outcome of patients put on H Mono regimen under programme from January 2019 to December 2020 in Ahmedabad city from Ni-kshay, an online web-based portal.Results: We have collected data of 251 patients (147 in 2019, 104 in 2020). Out of 251, 188 were males and 63 females. Out of 251, favourable outcome seen in 57.4% patients and unfavourable outcome seen in 42.6% patients. Favourable outcome was significantly higher among females compared to males.Conclusions: Management of drug resistance tuberculosis according to drug sensitivity helps in better patient outcome. Early diagnosis of drug resistance and its treatment, timely diagnosis of treatment failure and management, better patient compliance and patient education about disease help in decrease in the unfavourable outcome

Maturational patterns of left ventricular rotational mechanics in pre-term infants through 1 year of age

BACKGROUND: Pre-mature birth impacts left ventricular development, predisposing this population to long-term cardiovascular risk. The aims of this study were to investigate maturational changes in rotational properties from the neonatal period through 1 year of age and to discern the impact of cardiopulmonary complications of pre-maturity on these measures. METHODS: Pre-term infants (\u3c29 weeks at birth, n = 117) were prospectively enrolled and followed to 1-year corrected age. Left ventricular basal and apical rotation, twist, and torsion were measured by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography and analysed at 32 and 36 weeks post-menstrual age and 1-year corrected age. A mixed random effects model with repeated measures analysis was used to compare rotational mechanics over time. Torsion was compared in infants with and without complications of cardiopulmonary diseases of pre-maturity, specifically bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pulmonary hypertension, and patent ductus arteriosus. RESULTS: Torsion decreased from 32 weeks post-menstrual age to 1-year corrected age in all pre-term infants (p \u3c 0.001). The decline from 32 to 36 weeks post-menstrual age was more pronounced in infants with cardiopulmonary complications, but was similar to healthy pre-term infants from 36 weeks post-menstrual age to 1-year corrected age. The decline was due to directional and magnitude changes in apical rotation over time (p \u3c 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study tracks maturational patterns of rotational mechanics in pre-term infants and reveals torsion declines from the neonatal period through 1 year. Cardiopulmonary diseases of pre-maturity may negatively impact rotational mechanics during the neonatal period, but the myocardium recovers by 1-year corrected age

Pediatric and adult dilated cardiomyopathy represent distinct pathological entities

Pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common indication for heart transplantation in children. Despite similar genetic etiologies, medications routinely used in adult heart failure patients do not improve outcomes in the pediatric population. The mechanistic basis for these observations is unknown. We hypothesized that pediatric and adult DCM comprise distinct pathological entities, in that children do not undergo adverse remodeling, the target of adult heart failure therapies. To test this hypothesis, we examined LV specimens obtained from pediatric and adult donor controls and DCM patients. Consistent with the established pathophysiology of adult heart failure, adults with DCM displayed marked cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis compared with donor controls. In contrast, pediatric DCM specimens demonstrated minimal cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis compared with both age-matched controls and adults with DCM. Strikingly, RNA sequencing uncovered divergent gene expression profiles in pediatric and adult patients, including enrichment of transcripts associated with adverse remodeling and innate immune activation in adult DCM specimens. Collectively, these findings reveal that pediatric and adult DCM represent distinct pathological entities, provide a mechanistic basis to explain why children fail to respond to adult heart failure therapies, and suggest the need to develop new approaches for pediatric DCM

Improving nursing care in a children’s hospital in rural India

Background: Nursing care quality in developing countries is an ongoing challenge leading to poor patient outcomes. The objective of this study is to evaluate changes in nursing performance providing routine cares following a training program in children’s hospital in Mota Fofalia, Gujarat, India. Methods: The main outcome measure was the proportion of newborns with vital signs and weights obtained by nursing staff before and after a training program. The training program consisted of an in-service reinforced by hands-on management of patient care for 2 weeks. Following the training, the nurses were observed for 2 months. Results: Observation of 138 newborn encounters demonstrated a 29.7% improvement in vital sign monitoring and 88.4% in weight monitoring from the 0% baseline. Conclusion: We observed a moderate improvement in measuring vital signs and a substantial improvement in measuring weights in newborns with the training intervention. For further improvement, continued training, and follow-up is indicated