Black Female Graduate Students\u27 Experiences of Racial Microaggressions at a Southern University

Researchers have found that microaggressions can cause psychological distress, frustration, avoidance, confusion, resentment, hopelessness, and fear. Previous studies from Southern universities have addressed the adjustment experiences of Black women in graduate programs, obstacles faced by Black women in higher education and strategies to overcome those obstacles, and factors associated with Black student motivation and achievement. Discrimination and racism are factors identified in those studies, however, there is little research on the experiences of Black women in graduate programs and the impact of racial microaggressions on them. The purpose of this study was to examine Black female graduate students’ experiences of racial microaggressions at a Southern university. Five women participated in the study, and a phenomenological research design was used to identify individual and group themes. These themes revealed the impact of racial microaggressions on the participants, as well as the campus climate. Findings suggest training opportunities and mentor programs that would improve experiences for Black female graduate students on campus

Cultivating Multicultural Competency in Supervision Using an Identity Style Framework

Multicultural competency is a necessary component of counselor supervision. However, when ingrained and unquestioned biases tied to personal identity arise, it may feel impossible to have important conversations in a professional and safe way. The authors propose a conceptual framework that provides a navigational toolkit for these difficult conversations. A brief case example highlights a possible scenario and path to resolution

Applications of Antimicrobial Stewardship and Natural Product Chemistry in Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major concern for global health security because of its impact on human, environment, and animal health. This tendency of AMR was corroborated by Alexander Fleming who discovered the first antibiotic. This chapter focuses on the global concern of AMR, its causes, and solutions. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is one of the solutions employed globally to tackle the challenge of AMR. The objective of the AMS includes: reducing antibiotic abuse, lowering healthcare costs, and tackling AMR. Therefore, it is pertinent to decrease AMR and protect global health. Many countries are implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) in order to reduce AMR. The misuse of antibiotics is one of the major factors that cause AMR. To reduce antibiotic abuse pharmacists have a key role to play. Finding new drugs to treat resistant pathogens is another solution to AMR. Plants have contributed immensely to traditional medicine and drug discovery due to the presence of bioactive secondary metabolites. They have the potential to contribute immensely to tackling AMR

Feasibility of monitoring compliance with intermittent occlusion therapy glasses for amblyopia treatment

Background Liquid crystal glasses use an intermittent occlusion technique and may improve compliance compared to adhesive patches. Previous studies support the effectiveness of intermittent occlusion therapy (IO therapy) glasses for amblyopia treatment. However, objective compliance for these glasses has not been measured. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using a microsensor to monitor objective compliance with IO therapy glasses. Methods Children 3 to ≤8 years of age with unilateral amblyopia were enrolled. All subjects had optimal refractive correction (if needed) for at least 5 weeks without improvement. Subjects were prescribed IO therapy glasses, set at 30-second opaque/transparent intervals (ie, occluded 50% of wear time). Wear time was prescribed according to amblyopia severity. For each patient, objective compliance with the IO therapy glasses was monitored by means of a microsensor. Results A total of 13 subjects returned with microsensor data. Compliance varied among and within individuals. General compliance averaged 51.6% (range, 10%-97%). Mean daily compliance decreased slightly over time. On average, patients’ visual acuity improved 0.14 ± 0.15 logMAR (range, −0.1 to 0.5 logMAR). No parents reported that their child had social concerns related to the attached microsensor. Conclusions Objective compliance with IO therapy glasses can be monitored by a simple microsensor reliably. In our study cohort, objective compliance with IO therapy glasses varied among individuals, but on average it declined slightly over time

Intense versus standard regimens of intermittent occlusion therapy for unilateral moderate amblyopia in children: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: We reported that in our previous study that wearing intermittent occlusion therapy glasses (IO-therapy) for 4 hours (h) was non-inferior to patching for 2 h in 3 to 8-year-old children with amblyopia. We hypothesize that an intense regimen of 12-h IO-therapy per day for 4 weeks could be as effective as the standard regimen of 4-h IO-therapy per day for 12 weeks in treating moderate amblyopia in 3 to 8-year-old children. Methods/design: A total of 56 children between 3 and 8 years of age with amblyopia in association with anisometropia and/or strabismus will be enrolled. All participants will be prescribed IO-therapy glasses (Amblyz™), set at 30-s opaque/transparent intervals (i.e., occluded 50% of wear time). They will be randomized to receive the standard regimen for 12 weeks or the intense regimen for 4 weeks. Adherence to using the IO-therapy glasses will be objectively monitored in each participant by means of a microsensor dose monitor. The primary study objective is to compare the effectiveness of an intense regimen to a standard regimen of IO-therapy in 3 to 8-year-old children with moderate amblyopia. The secondary study objectives are to determine whether adherence differs between an intense regimen and a standard regimen of IO-therapy, and to determine the dose-response relationship of IO-therapy. Discussion: In addition to testing the effectiveness, this study will test for the first time the association between treatment adherence and the visual outcome of IO-therapy, which will enhance our understanding of the dose-response relationship of IO-therapy. If an intense regimen is shown to be effective, it would alter amblyopia treatment strategies and improve visual outcomes. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02767856. Registered on 10 May 2016

Protective effects of the neuropeptides PACAP, substance P and the somatostatin analogue octreotide in retinal ischemia: a metabolomic analysis.

Ischemia is a primary cause of neuronal death in retinal diseases and the somatostatin subtype receptor 2 agonist octreotide (OCT) is known to decrease ischemia-induced retinal cell death. Using a recently optimized ex vivo mouse model of retinal ischemia, we tested the anti-ischemic potential of two additional neuropeptides, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) and substance P (SP), and monitored the major changes occurring at the metabolic level. Metabolomics analyses were performed via fast HPLC online using a microTOF-Q MS instrument, a workflow that is increasingly becoming the gold standard in the field of metabolomics. The metabolomic approach allowed detection of the most significant alterations induced in the retina by ischemia and of the significance of the protective effects exerted by OCT, PACAP or SP. All treatments were shown to reduce ischemia-induced cell death, vascular endothelial growth factor over-expression and glutamate release. The metabolomic analysis showed that OCT and, to a lesser extent, also PACAP or SP, were able to counteract the ischemia-induced oxidative stress and to promote, with various efficacies, (i) decreased accumulation of glutamate and normalization of glutathione homeostasis; (ii) reduced build-up of a-ketoglutarate, which might serve as a substrate for the enhanced biosynthesis of glutamate in response to ischemia; (iii) reduced accumulation of peroxidized lipids and inflammatory mediators; (iv) the normalization of glycolytic fluxes and thus preventing the over-accumulation of lactate or either promoting the down-regulation of the glyoxalate anti-oxidant system; (v) a reduced metabolic shift from glycolysis towards the PPP or either a blockade at the non-oxidative phase of the PPP; and (vi) tuning down of purine metabolism. In addition, OCT seemed to stimulate nitric oxide production. None of the treatments was able to restore ATP production, although ATP reservoirs were partly replenished by OCT, PACAP or SP. These data indicate that, in addition to that of somatostatin, peptidergic systems such as those of PACAP and SP deserve attention in view of peptide-based therapies to treat ischemic retinal disorders

Novel Neuroprotective Strategies in Ischemic Retinal Lesions

Retinal ischemia can be effectively modeled by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, which leads to chronic hypoperfusion-induced degeneration in the entire rat retina. The complex pathways leading to retinal cell death offer a complex approach of neuroprotective strategies. In the present review we summarize recent findings with different neuroprotective candidate molecules. We describe the protective effects of intravitreal treatment with: (i) urocortin 2; (ii) a mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channel opener, diazoxide; (iii) a neurotrophic factor, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide; and (iv) a novel poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (HO3089). The retinoprotective effects are demonstrated with morphological description and effects on apoptotic pathways using molecular biological techniques

An Examination of the Occurrence of Racial Microaggressions and Their Relation to Self-Esteem, Stress, and Racial Identity

The present study examined the occurrence of racial microaggressions on a predominantly White, Midwestern university, as well as their relationship to self-esteem, stress, and racial identity. A sample of 40 students who identified as African or Africamerican, Hispanic, Multiracial, or Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asiamerican completed the Multi-group Ethnic Identity Measure-Revised, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Racial Microaggression Scale, and a demographic information form. The results suggest that, while no significant relationship was found between microaggressions and self-esteem, students reported frequently experiencing microaggressions on campus, as well as stress related to these events

Assessment of job satisfaction of employees of University of Ibadan Zoological Garden

Job satisfaction is the degree to which individuals like their jobs. Some people enjoy work and find it to be a central part of life. Others hate to work and do so only because they must. There are a variety of factors that can influence a person’s level of job satisfaction, some of which include: nature of work, pay and benefit, relationship with supervisor and co-workers and working environment. Determining factors for motivating, retaining, and enhancing job satisfaction of demographically diverse productive employees is a practical problem facing industries in Nigeria. Research on job satisfaction in Nigeria has focused on the public, banking, manufacturing, and education sectors. Job satisfaction has important implications for work outcomes within an organization. The quality of employee performance in the tourism industry depends primarily on their job satisfaction, as it directly and indirectly affects visitors satisfaction. This study was therefore aimed at assessing the job satisfaction of workers in University of Ibadan Zoological Garden (UI Zoo). The UI Zoo is located on the University Campus. The target population (n=41) for this research were the workers of the zoological garden. Primary and secondary data was used for the study. Data was collected through a well structured questionaire, indepth interview and direct observation. Therefore, a total number of 41copies of the questionaire was administered and the representatives of each unit of the zoo were interviewed. A convenience sampling technique was adopted. The data acquired was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (correlation, regression and thematics). The workers had a high level of job satisfaction with an aggregate mean score of 53 according to the stipulated questionnaire grading system. The zoo workers were least satisfied with their pay and allowance and most satisfied with the nature of their work. The major causes of job dissatisfaction among the workers of the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden were inadequate compensation packages, followed by unfavourable management policies and inadequate provision for the proper welfarism of the animals. The workers of the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden were satisfied with their jobs despite inadequate pay and allowances. Hence, the management of the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden should consider improving on the level of the zoo workers’ job satisfaction through provision of adequate benefit packages, promotion of favourable management policies and career development, and good supervisor-supervisee relationship