The incidence of sexual harassment: A preliminary report

The study of sexual harassment has not gained its momentum in this country, as most studies are at its preliminary stage.This study also investigates the incidence of sexual harassment but more confined to the northern region of the country. A total of 52 respondents participated by answering the Utara Sexual Harassment Perception Questionnaire (USHPQ) developed by Sabitha (1999) based on indicators used in Soutar (1977), Reese et al., (1997) and Fitzgerald (1991). Four categories of SH were used; visual, verbal, non-verbal, and physical. Respondents views and experiences were grouped into the following categories; acts which are very disturbing, acts which are disturbing and acts which are not considered as sexual disturbing. Differences in perception between men and women were noted and discussed

Functionalized Templates for the Convergent Assembly of Polyethers: Synthesis of the HIJK Rings of Gymnocin A

Extension ladder: The successful application of epoxide-opening strategies towards the synthesis of ladder-type polyethers is contingent upon further elaboration of the product. By employing two different functionalized templates, a fragment of gymnocin A that bears four sites for subsequent fragment coupling has been prepared (see scheme; Bn=benzyl).National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U.S.) (GM72566)Wyeth Research (Fellowship

Sustainable Technology for Person-Centered Accessible Integrated Multimodal Information Systems

This paper reports on a mobility management technology project conducted by the GeoGraphics Laboratory at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States (U.S.). This study is a part of a much larger mobility management technology deployment by the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) that deployed integrated intermodal intelligent transportation system (ITS) to support the mobility of a metropolitan region that has a high proportion of elderly residents and persons with disabilities and is a significant tourist destination for national and international travelers. This paper reports on a research project that is developing smartphone applications to provide travelers using transit with navigational tools and real-time spatial information to optimize their travel experience. The smart phone applications are written using the Android 2.2, Windows 7.5, and Apple iOS 4 operating systems. The applications provide the traveler with schedules for every CCRTA regional and shuttle route, estimated time of arrival (ETA), and bus tracking maps (Google and Bing Maps) that locate the transit vehicle and the consumer on the same map as well as text based vehicle tracking. There is an on-line tutorial on how to use the smartphone application. It also provides features that will provide emergency communication with care givers on the consumer’s travel status. The research has developed these transit navigation tools on the three most popular operating systems for smart phones using a widely available cellular carrier. An associated regional capital infrastructure project is bringing state-of-the-art broadband capability and the potential for 4G wireless infrastructure to the most rural “last mile” areas of the Cape Cod Region. These improvements to wireless communications can provide significant benefits to the safety and security of travelers with disabilities

Total Synthesis of Putative 11-epi-Lyngbouilloside Aglycon

We report here the total synthesis of 11-epi-lyngbouilloside aglycon. Our strategy features a Boeckman-type esterification followed by a RCM to form the 14-membered ring macrolactone and a late-stage side chain introduction via a Wittig olefination. Overall, the final product was obtained in 20 steps and 2% overall yield starting from commercially available 3-methyl-but-3-enol. Most importantly, the strategy employed is versatile enough to eventually allow us to complete the synthesis of the natural product and irrevocably confirm its structure

Functional classification of protein toxins as a basis for bioinformatic screening

Proteins are fundamental to life and exhibit a wide diversity of activities, some of which are toxic. Therefore, assessing whether a specific protein is safe for consumption in foods and feeds is critical. Simple BLAST searches may reveal homology to a known toxin, when in fact the protein may pose no real danger. Another challenge to answer this question is the lack of curated databases with a representative set of experimentally validated toxins. Here we have systematically analyzed over 10,000 manually curated toxin sequences using sequence clustering, network analysis, and protein domain classification. We also developed a functional sequence signature method to distinguish toxic from non-toxic proteins. The current database, combined with motif analysis, can be used by researchers and regulators in a hazard screening capacity to assess the potential of a protein to be toxic at early stages of development. Identifying key signatures of toxicity can also aid in redesigning proteins, so as to maintain their desirable functions while reducing the risk of potential health hazards

A Study on Inflammatory markers level in elderly with Comorbid illness, without Comorbid illness and with Frailty attending Government General Hospital, Chennai: A Clinical and Biochemical profile

INTRODUCTION: Chronic inflammation has been implicated as predictor and contributor of aging and age associated diseases. Inflammation involves elevation of serum inflammatory markers such as C-Reactive protein, interleukin-6. Association of cardiovascular diseases and elevated level of inflammatory markers is well known. Many studies have demonstrated the association of elevated level of inflammatory markers in cardiovascular diseases. Absence of vascular disease has been established as a major determinant of longevity. Recent studies have shown elevated level of serum inflammatory markers such as Interleukin-6, C-reactive protein in diseases primarily associated with aging like Coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension, stroke, Dementia, Frailty, Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Cancer, Rheumatoid Arthritis. AIM OF THE STUDY: 1. To Compare the level of inflammatory markers Interleukin-6, High-sensitivity C-Reactive protein in elderly patients: i) Healthy elders (without comorbid elders), ii) Frail elders, iii) With comorbid illness. 2. To correlate the role of Infammatory markers in Aging. 3. To analyse whether elevated level of inflammatory markers could be used in predicting the risk of aging in elders, with a view of primary prevention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Setting: Outpatient and Inpatient setting of the Department of Geriatric Medicine, Madras Medical College & Government General Hospital, Chennai. Study Design: Single Center, Cross Sectional, clinical and analytical study. Period of study: August 2008 to September 2010. Sample size: 90. Selection of patients: Inclusion criteria: 90 elderly patients age more than 75years from Geriatric outpatient and inpatient Department are included in the study. Exclusion criteria: 1. Acutely toxic patients, 2. Rheumatoid arthritis, chronic liver disease, Multiple myeloma, Proliferative diseases like psoriasis, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. DISCUSSION: In this study inflammatory markers C-Reactive protein and Interleukin-6 of 90 elderly patients were analysed, under the three groups namely healthy elders, frail elders and elders with comorbid illness. Among them 63% are males and 37% are females. In healthy elders 19 are male and 11 are female. In frailty group 17 are male and 13 are female. In elders with comorbid illness 21 are male and 9 are female. T he age distribution was 89% in age group of 75 to 80 years. 10% in age group of 81 to 90 years. Remaining 1% in age group of >90 years. More number of patients were found in age group of 75 to 80 years. In the study group 28.9% were smokers and 71.1% were non smokers. C-Reactive protein levels are elevated in smokers as well as non smokers in all the three groups. Hence it is not a significant association. Where as Interleukin-6 levels are more elevated in smokers in healthy elders and elders with comorbid illness, than non smokers of the same groups. In the comorbid group, diabetes was detected in 14, systemic hypertension in 20, Coronary heart disease in 8, stroke in 6 and dementia in 5 patients. CRP level are elevated in all the patients. Interleukin-6 level are elevated more in diabetic and coronary heart disease patients. In the frailty group 6 were Pre frail and 24 were frail. CRP are elevated in both Pre frail and frail group. Interleukin-6 was elevated, more in frail group than in Pre frail group. 83% of patients in Pre frail group, and 96% of patients in frail group had elevated level of interleukin-6. CRP levels are elevated in all the 3 groups. The mean CRP level was 63.7 in healthy elders, 89 in Frail elders, 99.3 in elders with comorbid illness. CRP is 10 fold increased in healthy elders, 15 fold increased in frail elders, 16.5 folds increased in elders with comorbid illness. Thus the patients with comorbid illness have higher CRP level. In healthy elders 21(70%) have elevated level of interleukin-6. In frail elders 28(93%) have elevated level of interleukin-6. In comorbid illness 27 (90%) have elevated level of interleukin-6. The mean interleukin-6 level was 6.6 in healthy elders, 11.4 in frail group, 5.5 in comorbid illness. Interleukin-6 is 3 fold increased in healthy elders, 6 fold in frail elders and 2.75 fold increased in elders with comorbid illness. Thus in frail elders interleukin-6 is more elevated. In summary CRP level are elevated in all the three groups. In patients with comorbid illness CRP levels are higher compared with other two groups. Interleukin-6 level are elevated more in diabetes and coronary heart disease patients. Interleukin-6 is more elevated in frail elders. CONCLUSION: 1. CRP levels are elevated in all patients age more than 75 years. 2. Elders with comorbid illness have higher CRP level, compared to healthy groups. 3. Interleukin-6 levels are elevated in smokers, both in healthy group and in comorbid group. 4. Interleukin-6 level are elevated more in diabetic and coronary heart disease patients. 5. Interleukin-6 was elevated more in frail group than in Pre frailgroup

Total Synthesis of Kingianins A, D, and F

A synthesis fit for a king: The total synthesis of (±)-kingianinsA, D, and F has been achieved in ten steps. Key features include the gram-scale synthesis and partial reduction of a conjugated tetrayne to a (Z,Z,Z,Z)-tetraene, the domino 8π-6π electro

Student-Centric Teaching - Perspectives of Students on the Teaching Strategies

This research was conducted to find students’ viewpoints toward different teaching strategies used in higher education. The research method used to collect data was through a questionnaire. It involved two sections: one aimed to evaluate effectiveness of different teaching strategies. The other was about identifying which class activities are mostly liked by students that help them to understand the topics better. The subjects for the research were students since the student is the primary outcome of the teaching process. The data was collected from a random sample of three hundred fifty students for the research at an undergraduate college. The findings were analyzed using statistical tool-ANOVA analysis, coefficient of variance, tables and charts. Based on the findings, it is clearly inferred that there is no particular teaching strategy that derives effectiveness neither an absolute class activity that helps students to absorb the material better. All depends on many circumstances such as the learning environment, level of students and the content to be delivered

An overview of anti-diabetic plants used in Gabon: Pharmacology and Toxicology

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ethnopharmacological relevance: The management of diabetes mellitus management in African communities, especially in Gabon, is not well established as more than 60% of population rely on traditional treatments as primary healthcare. The aim of this review was to collect and present the scientific evidence for the use of medicinal plants that are in currect by Gabonese traditional healers to manage diabetes or hyperglycaemia based here on the pharmacological and toxicological profiles of plants with anti-diabetic activity. There are presented in order to promote their therapeutic value, ensure a safer use by population and provide some bases for further study on high potential plants reviewed. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical studies were sourced using databases such as Online Wiley library, Pubmed, Google Scholar, PROTA, books and unpublished data including Ph.D. and Master thesis, African and Asian journals. Keywords including ‘Diabetes’ ‘Gabon’ ‘Toxicity’ ‘Constituents’ ‘hyperglycaemia’ were used. Results: A total of 69 plants currently used in Gabon with potential anti-diabetic activity have been identified in the literature, all of which have been used in in vivo or in vitro studies. Most of the plants have been studied in human or animal models for their ability to reduce blood glucose, stimulate insulin secretion or inhibit carbohydrates enzymes. Active substances have been identified in 12 out of 69 plants outlined in this review, these include Allium cepa and Tabernanthe iboga. Only eight plants have their active substances tested for anti-diabetic activity and are suitables for further investigation. Toxicological data is scarce and is dose-related to the functional parameters of major organs such as kidney and liver. Conclusion: An in-depth understanding on the pharmacology and toxicology of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is lacking yet there is a great scope for new treatments. With further research, the use of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is important to ensure the safety of the diabetic patients in Gabon.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio