How the participation in STME clinic encourage female students to continue the study of Science, Technology and Mathematics in higher institutions.

The study assessed how the participation in Science Technology and Mathematics Education (STME) clinic encourage female students to continue the study of science, technology and mathematics in higher institution. The research design used was the descriptive survey. Convenient sampling method was used in selecting the participants for the study. A total of 157 female students from Senior Secondary Schools in (12) twelve districts in the Central Region participated in the study. The study revealed that there was no statistically significant improvement in the performance of females in mathematics as well as in science. However, the study indicated a remarkable change in the females’ attitude towards the study of the subjects. In addition, the study shown that participation in the STME clinic goes a long way to motivate the participants to continue the study of science technology and mathematics in higher institutions and edges them to take a science oriented careers. It is recommended, among others, that the clinic coordinators should give much attention to activities that will help improve test results in science and mathematics. It is also recommended that Junior Secondary School girls who participate in Form one should be made to attend each year till they get to the third year of the senior secondary school. Keywords: Technology, clinic, participation, career guidance

An Odor Odyssey: Review of Scientific Progress toward Eliminating Odorant Emissions from Philadelphia's Biosolids

Abstract: The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) has for six-years intensively studied the odor characteristics of its biosolids cake to identify effective mitigative measures for odor control. Between 2001 and 2006, PWD, working with Bucknell University and several other research partners, demonstrated that biosolids odors arise from the release of total volatile organic sulfur compounds (TVOSC) during protein metabolism, when shear forces within centrifuges both release food for decomposition and suppress methanogenesis. A peak odorant intensity results several days after dewatering. Concentrations of TVOSCs may at times be six orders of magnitude above the ED50 concentration. No single mitigative measure provides compelling control over odorant production. Examined alternatives include 1) addition of chemical conditioners (ferric chloride); 2) use of alternative dewatering polymer products; 3) changes to centrifuge operational parameters (speed and torque); 4) treatment after post-dewatering with various mineral, alkaline and enzyme products; 5) evaluation of storage and effects of freezing/thawing and wetting/drying on odors; 6) supplementation of digesters with nutrients and enzymes. Steps PWD has taken in response are: matching the point of low odor in biosolids to its use at sensitive sites; blending high carbon coal ash to reduce odorant emissions; providing temporary covered storage of piles to prevent rainfall capture and biosolids freezing

Genetic architecture of human obesity traits in the rhesus macaque

Objective: Whereas the metabolic consequences of obesity have been studied extensively in the rhesus macaque, corollary genetic studies of obesity are nonexistent. This study assessed genetic contributions to spontaneous adiposity in this species. Methods: Phenotypic variation by age class and sex for BMI, waist to height ratio, waist to thigh ratio, and waist circumference was assessed in 583 macaques. Total and sex-specific heritability for all traits was estimated, including waist to thigh ratio adjusted for BMI, as well as genotypic and phenotypic correlations. In addition, functional genetic variation at BDNF, FTO, LEP, LEPR, MC4R, PCSK1, POMC, and SIM1 was assessed in four animals with extreme spontaneous adiposity. Results: Trait heritability in the combined sample was low to moderate (0.14-0.32), whereas sex-specific heritability was more substantial (0.20-0.67). Heritability was greater in females for all traits except BMI. All traits were robustly correlated, with genetic correlations of 0.63 to 0.93 indicating substantial pleiotropy. Likely functional variants were discovered in the four macaques at all eight human obesity genes, including six missense mutations in BDNF, FTO, LEP, LEPR, and PCSK1 and, notably, one nonsense mutation in LEPR. Conclusions: A moderate polygenic contribution to adiposity in rhesus macaques was found, as well as mutations with potentially larger effects in multiple genes that influence obesity in humans

Trauma Symptom Severity in Child Sexual Abuse (CSA): An Examination of Self-Concept, Social Competence, and Academic Performance as Protective Factors

While all forms of child maltreatment are of significant concern, child sexual abuse (CSA) has been identified as one of the most significant public health issues in the United States (Anda et al., 2006). CSA has been defined as any sexual activity involving a child and can range from contact to non-contact offenses (Dominguez, Nelke, & Perry, 2001). Research has extensively shown that the experience of CSA is linked to both short and long-term consequences and a wide range of psychiatric disorders, including: posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, aggression, and substance use (Dominguez, et al., 2001; Kendall-Tackett, Williams, & Finkelhor, 1993; Maniglio, 2009; Mullen, Martin, Anderson, Romans, & Herbison, 1996; Putnam, 2003). Despite the strong association between CSA and poor outcomes and maladjustment, a subset of individuals, who experience child maltreatment, and specifically CSA, are able to positively adapt in the context of adversity (Kendall-Tackett et al., 1993; Masten, 2001). Given the detrimental effects of CSA, it is important to understand the various protective factors that might buffer against the adverse effects of CSA. The current study is a cross-sectional analysis of archival data with the primary aim of understanding the moderating influence of protective factors—self-concept, social competence, and academic performance—on the relationship between CSA severity and the development of posttraumatic psychopathology

Electronic Nicotine Devices And Alcohol Use Among Young Adults: Findings From The 2015-2016 National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

Introduction Young adults have high rates of alcohol and tobacco use relative to any other age group. However, levels of use vary by race and education. This study aimed to examine the association between alcohol use and Electronic Nicotine Devices (ENDS) in a representative sample of young adults and to determine if any associations vary by race or education. Methods Data utilized in this study originated from the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Records were restricted to those aged 18–35 years (n = 1145), with the primary outcome, ENDS use in the past 12 months. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between the primary outcome, and alcohol use and socio-demographic variables. Further assessment was completed to determine if the association between the primary outcome and alcohol use while controlling for cigarette use varied by race or educational level. Results The overall prevalence of ever ENDS use was 38.29%. Prevalence was highest among young adults 26-30 (31.01%), those reporting heavy alcohol use (44.93%), Non-Hispanic Whites (58.53%), those with some college or Associate of Arts degree (34.04%) and income range of $25,000 to$54,999 (35.59%). Traditional cigarette use (aOR=12.62; 95% CI 12.60 - 12.64), Income $25,000 to$54,999 (aOR=1.60; 95% CI 1.59 – 1.60), higher collegiate education (aOR=0.41; 95% CI 0.41 – 0.41), moderate and high alcohol use (aOR=1.76; 95% CI 1.76 – 1.77, aOR=1.89; 95% CI 1.88 – 1.89 respectfully) was associated with ENDS. The association between alcohol usage level and ENDS use also varied by education when adjusting for traditional cigarette use. The effect that alcohol usage has in predicting ENDS use is different for various education status when controlled for traditional cigarette use (p-vale: \u3c0.0001). Conclusions ENDS use is common among young adults in the U.S. and is associated with socioeconomic status as well as alcohol use. Prevention efforts need to factor in these demographic characteristics when targeting interventions, and also factor in that moderate and heavy alcohol use are associated with ENDS use, which likely will exacerbate health concerns among ENDS users

Becoming a peroxidase: Cardiolipin-induced unfolding of cytochrome c

Interactions of cytochrome c (cyt c) with a unique mitochondrial glycerophospholipid cardiolipin (CL) are relevant for the protein's function in oxidative phosphorylation and apoptosis. Binding to CL-containing membranes promotes cyt c unfolding and dramatically enhances the protein's peroxidase activity, which is critical in early stages of apoptosis. We have employed a collection of seven dansyl variants of horse heart cyt c to probe the sequence of steps in this functional transformation. Kinetic measurements have unraveled four distinct processes during CL-induced cyt c unfolding: rapid protein binding to CL liposomes; rearrangements of protein substructures with small unfolding energies; partial insertion of the protein into the lipid bilayer; and extensive protein restructuring leading to "open" extended structures. While early rearrangements depend on a hierarchy of foldons in the native structure, the later process of large-scale unfolding is influenced by protein interactions with the membrane surface. The opening of the cyt c structure exposes the heme group, which enhances the protein's peroxidase activity and also frees the C-terminal helix to aid in the translocation of the protein through CL membranes