Palladium -catalyzed synthesis of carbazole derivatives and formal total syntheses of several naturally occurring carbazole alkaloids

A mild and efficient route to substituted carbazolones has been developed. This novel procedure consists of two consecutive palladium-catalyzed reactions, an intermolecular Stille coupling followed by an intramolecular reductive N-heteroannulation. For example, 1,2-dihydro-4(3H)-carbazolone was prepared in good isolated yield (74%) by the reductive cyclization of 2-(2-nitrophenyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-one using Pd(dba)2 (6 mol%), 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (6 mol%), 1,10-phenanthroline monohydrate (12 mol%), and carbon monoxide (90 psi) in DMF at 80°C. 2-(2-Nitrophenyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-one was prepared via a Stille coupling of 2-iodo-2-cyclohexen-1-one and 2-(tri-n-butylstannyl)-1-nitrobenzene. Many functional groups and ring sizes were tolerated in these reactions.;This novel approach to carbazolones was successfully applied to the formal total syntheses of several naturally occurring carbazole alkaloids including murrayaquinone A, murrayafoline A, koenigine-quinone A, murrayanine, dimeric O-demethylmurrayafoline A, and (+)-aspidospermidine. These new syntheses are generally more efficient and higher yielding compared to the previously reported syntheses of these natural products.;In addition, reductive cyclizations of 2-(2-nitrophenyl)-2-cycloalkenones using 10% Pd/C and 1 atm of hydrogen gas in methanol at ambient temperature yielded carbazole derivatives in excellent yields. For example, reduction of 2-(2-nitrophenyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-one gave 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole in 95% yield. Methyl-substitution on the cyclohexenone ring regioselectively produced methyl-substituted tetrahydrocarbazoles, however substitution on the benzene ring led to mixtures of carbazole products

Compulsory separation of women prisoners from their babies following childbirth: Uncertainty, loss and disenfranchised grief

© 2021 The Authors. Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for SHIL (SHIL).There is growing evidence to show increased mental ill health in women compulsorily separated from their babies at birth (Cantwell et al., MBRRACE‐UK, 2018:56). For imprisoned women, the risk of self‐harm and suicide may be exacerbated. This article draws on in‐depth interviews with a sample of 28 imprisoned pregnant women/new mothers, 10 prison staff and observations to discuss the experience of separation from or anticipation of separation of women from their babies. Oakley (Signs, 4:607–631, 1980) reflected on the transition to motherhood with reference to the sociology of loss of identity. Women who have been compulsorily separated from their babies experience subjugated loss out of place with societal norms. The experiences of compulsory separation, in relation to concepts of disenfranchised grief, resonate with Lovell's (Social Science & Medicine, 17:755–761, 1983) research into the altered identities of mothers when loss occurs through late miscarriage or stillbirth. Additionally, this type of complex loss also denies a woman her identity as a ‘mother’. This article offers a fresh sociological perspective on the ways loss and grief are experienced by women facing separation from their babies in prison, drawing on concepts of uncertainty, loss and disenfranchised grief.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Alberta High School Counsellors’ Knowledge of Homosexuality and Their Attitudes Toward Gay Males

In this study we investigated Alberta high school counsellors’ knowledge about homo‐ sexuality and their attitudes toward gay males. Three questionnaires were mailed to 648 high school counselling centres; 223 individuals returned the completed questionnaires. Most counsellors attained low scores in measured homo‐negativity and high scores regard‐ ing knowledge of homosexuality. Results from a Pearson correlational analysis indicated a negative significant relationship between the level of knowledge about homosexuality and homo‐negativity, supporting other researchers’ findings that higher levels of knowledge may be accompanied by more positive attitudes. Key words: homosexual males, beliefs, mental health professionals Les auteurs ont analysé les connaissances de conseillers d’orientation scolaire du second‐ aire au sujet de l’homosexualité et leurs attitudes vis‐à‐vis des gais. Trois questionnaires ont été postés à 648 centres d’orientation ; 223 personnes ont retourné les questionnaires dûment remplis. La plupart des conseillers d’orientation ont obtenu des scores faibles pour l’homonégativité et des scores élevés pour les connaissances au sujet de l’homosexualité. Les résultats d’une analyse corrélationnelle indiquent un net lien négatif entre le niveau de connaissances sur l’homosexualité et l’homonégativité, ce qui corrobore les conclusions d’autres chercheurs selon lesquelles de meilleures connaissances peuvent s’accompagner d’attitudes plus positives. Mots clés : homosexuels, croyances, professionnels de la santé mentale

Experiences of midwifery care in English prisons

© 2022 The Authors. Birth published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Background: In the United Kingdom (UK), all prisoners must receive healthcare equivalent to that available in the community. However, evidence suggests that equality in healthcare provision for perinatal women in UK prisons is not always achieved. The aim of this research was to examine pregnant women prisoners' and custody staffs' experiences and perceptions of midwifery care in English prisons. Methods: A qualitative approach based on institutional ethnography was used to research women's experiences in three English prisons over a period of 10 months. In total, 28 women participated in audio‐recorded, semi‐structured interviews. Ten staff members were interviewed, including six prison service staff and four health care personnel. Ten months of prison fieldwork enabled observations of everyday prison life. NVivo was used for data organization with an inductive thematic analysis method. Results: Women's experiences included: disempowerment due to limited choice; fear of birthing alone; and a lack of information about rights, with a sense of not receiving entitlements. Some women reported favorably on the continuity of midwifery care provided. There was confusion around the statutory role of UK midwifery. Discussion: Experiences of perinatal prisoners contrast starkly with best midwifery practice—women are unable to choose their care provider, their birth companions, or their place of birth. In addition, a reliance upon “good behavior” in return for appropriate treatment may be detrimental to the health, safety, and well‐being of the pregnant woman and her unborn baby. Conclusion: Prison is an adverse environment for a pregnant woman. This study provides key insights into imprisoned women's experiences of midwifery care in England and shows that midwives play an essential role in ensuring that perinatal prisoners receive safe, high‐quality, respectful care.Peer reviewe

Non-hormonal systemic therapy in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and metastases: a systematic review from the Cancer Care Ontario Program in Evidence-based Care's Genitourinary Cancer Disease Site Group

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer that has recurred after local therapy or disseminated distantly is usually treated with androgen deprivation therapy; however, most men will eventually experience disease progression within 12 to 20 months. New data emerging from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of chemotherapy provided the impetus for a systematic review addressing the following question: which non-hormonal systemic therapies are most beneficial for the treatment of men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) and clinical evidence of metastases? METHODS: A systematic review was performed to identify RCTs or meta-analyses examining first-line non-hormonal systemic (cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic) therapy in patients with HRPC and metastases that reported at least one of the following endpoints: overall survival, disease control, palliative response, quality of life, and toxicity. Excluded were RCTs of second-line hormonal therapies, bisphosphonates or radiopharmaceuticals, or randomized fewer than 50 patients per trial arm. MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and the conference proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology were searched for relevant trials. Citations were screened for eligibility by four reviewers and discrepancies were handled by consensus. RESULTS: Of the 80 RCTs identified, 27 met the eligibility criteria. Two recent, large trials reported improved overall survival with docetaxel-based chemotherapy compared to mitoxantrone-prednisone. Improved progression-free survival and rates of palliative and objective response were also observed. Compared with mitoxantrone, docetaxel treatment was associated with more frequent mild toxicities, similar rates of serious toxicities, and better quality of life. More frequent serious toxicities were observed when docetaxel was combined with estramustine. Three trials reported improved time-to-disease progression, palliative response, and/or quality of life with mitoxatrone plus corticosteroid compared with corticosteroid alone. Single trials reported improved disease control with estramustine-vinblastine, vinorelbine-hydrocortisone, and suramin-hydrocortisone compared to controls. Trials of non-cytotoxic agents have reported equivocal results. CONCLUSION: Docetaxel-based chemotherapy modestly improves survival and provides palliation for men with HRPC and metastases. Other than androgen deprivation therapy, this is the only other therapy to have demonstrated improved overall survival in prostate cancer in RCTs. Further investigations to identify more effective therapies for HRPC including the use of systemic therapies earlier in the natural history of prostate cancer are warranted

Dispatches From Eeyou Istchee: Cree Networks, Digital, and Social Inclusion

This article offers a fragmentary, partial history of the successes and challenges the Cree of Eeyou Istchee have encountered as they’ve developed the capacity to offer their region and communities a range of traditional, analogue, and digital services through the development and maintenance of different yet interconnected networks. Using social construction of technology (SCOT) and social shaping of technology (SST) theories as a framework, these dispatches offer a glimpse of the complexity and layeredness of two Cree networks as they come into contact and/or overlap with those of extractive colonialism, Canadian settler policies, and traditional Cree law and policy

Supplemental vision screening tests: The mean values for an adult population

The adult population has been neglected as to the standardization and quantification of supplemental screening tests. A population of subjects ages 18 to 35 was tested with specific instructions for seven optometric tests: accommodative rock, prism rock, Groffman Visual Tracing Test modified for ten feet, Groffman Visial Tracing Test, Stern Fixation Test, Percon Saccadic Fixation Test and the Pierce Saccade Test. A statistical analysis was performed and the means are presented . These means can be used in patient evaluation decisions by the optometric profession

Slaves, Soldiers, Citizens: African American Artifacts of the Civil War Era

Based on the exhibit Slaves, Soldiers, Citizens: African American Artifacts of the Civil War Era, this book provides the full experience of the exhibit, which was on display in Special Collections at Musselman Library November 2012- December 2013. It also includes several student essays based on specific artifacts that were part of the exhibit. Table of Contents: Introduction Angelo Scarlato, Lauren Roedner ’13 & Scott Hancock Slave Collars & Runaways: Punishment for Rebellious Slaves Jordan Cinderich ’14 Chancery Sale Poster & Auctioneer’s Coin: The Lucrative Business of Slavery Tricia Runzel ’13 Isaac J. Winters: An African American Soldier from Pennsylvania Who Fought at Petersburg Avery Lentz ’14 Basil Biggs: A Prominent African American in Gettysburg after the Battle Lauren Roedner ’13 Linton Ingram: A Former Slave Who Became a Notable African American Educator in Georgia Brian Johnson & Lincoln Fitch ’14 Uncle Tom’s Cabin Theatre Poster: Racism in Post-Emancipation Entertainment Michelle Seabrook ’13 Essay Bibliographies Grand Army of the Republic Exhibit Inventory Acknowledgmentshttps://cupola.gettysburg.edu/libexhibits/1001/thumbnail.jp

Residential Proximity to Freeways is Associated with Uncontrolled Asthma in Inner-City Hispanic Children and Adolescents

Background. Proximity to heavy traffic has been linked to increased asthma severity. However, it is unknown whether exposure to heavy traffic is associated with the ability to maintain asthma control. Objectives. This study examines whether exposure to heavy traffic is associated with the ability to maintain asthma control in inner-city children. Methods. 756 inner-city asthmatic Hispanic children were followed for one year in a pediatric asthma management program (Breathmobile). At each scheduled visit, asthma specialist tracked patients' asthma severity and managed their asthma based on the NAEPP guidelines. The patients' residential distance from the nearest freeway was calculated based on residential address at study entry. Distance to nearest freeway was used as a surrogate marker for high exposure from traffic-related air pollutants. Results. Patients who lived near a freeway were significantly more likely to have asthma that was not well controlled (P = .03). Patients with intermittent and mild baseline severity have a two-fold increased risk of having asthma that is uncontrolled if they lived <2 miles from a freeway (OR = 2.2, P = .04). Conclusion. In children with asthma, residential proximity to freeways is associated with uncontrolled asthma

Associations between Cognition, Gender and Monocyte Activation among HIV Infected Individuals in Nigeria.

The potential role of gender in the occurrence of HIV-related neurocognitive impairment (NCI) and associations with markers of HIV-related immune activity has not been previously examined. In this study 149 antiretroviral-naïve seropositive subjects in Nigeria (SP, 92 women and 57 men) and 58 seronegative (SN, 38 women and 20 men) were administered neuropsychological testing that assessed 7 ability domains. From the neuropsychological test scores was calculated a global deficit score (GDS), a measure of overall NCI. Percentages of circulating monocytes and plasma HIV RNA, soluble CD163 and soluble CD14 levels were also assessed. HIV SP women were found to be younger, more educated and had higher CD4+ T cell counts and borderline higher viral load measures than SP men. On the neuropsychological testing, SP women were more impaired in speed of information processing and verbal fluency and had a higher mean GDS than SN women. Compared to SP men, SP women were also more impaired in speed of information processing and verbal fluency as well as on tests of learning and memory. Numbers of circulating monocytes and plasma sCD14 and sCD163 levels were significantly higher for all SP versus all SN individuals and were also higher for SP women and for SP men versus their SN counterparts. Among SP women, soluble CD14 levels were slightly higher than for SP men, and SP women had higher viral load measurements and were more likely to have detectable virus than SP men. Higher sCD14 levels among SP women correlated with more severe global impairment, and higher viral load measurements correlated with higher monocyte numbers and sCD14 and sCD14 levels, associations that were not observed for SP men. These studies suggest that the risk of developing NCI differ for HIV infected women and men in Nigeria and, for women, may be linked to effects from higher plasma levels of HIV driving activation of circulating monocytes