Family Influences on Adolescents' Peer Groups: Relations with Parents and Sibling Characteristics

This exploratory study examines the influence of parents and siblings on adolescent peer group characteristics. Seventy-eight sibling dyads from six Bangalore high schools provided data used to explore the relationship between parental knowledge of events (parental monitoring), adolescent individual characteristics, sibling characteristics, and adolescent peer group characteristics. Results indicate that parental monitoring and sibling characteristics do predict adolescent and adolescents’ peers’ and substance use, however, it appears that familial influences on adolescent peer groups are mediated through adolescent characteristics. There is no evidence suggesting that older siblings are more influential than younger siblings or those same-sex sibling dyads are more similar than mixed-sex sibling dy

Nuclear Abnormalities in Erythrocytes of Frogs From Wetlands and Croplands of Western Ghats Indicate Environmental Contaminations

Anuran amphibians are the biological models to assess the influence of environmental contamination. We conducted nuclear abnormality assessment and micronuclei test in erythrocytes of frogs to identify an early influence of environmental contaminations. In Western Ghats of India, farmers use different agrochemicals and obviously, the amphibian habitat is contaminated with combinations of many residues. Many frog species use these agro-ecosystem for breeding and to complete early life stage. In the present study, we used Indian skipper frog (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Anura: Ranidae)), a common inhabitant of water bodies in agro-ecosystems of Western Ghats for the assay. We collected the adult frogs from three different habitats; a) the rice paddy fields contaminated with agro-chemicals, b) uncontaminated marsh and c) a shallow water pool. We recorded micronucleus, blebbed, lobed, kidney bean shaped nucleus and nucleus with notches in erythro-cytes of these frogs. These nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes are quantified. The incidences of occurrence of micronucleus ranged from 0 to 8 in 1000 analyzed cells. More than 80% of the frogs living in agro-chemical contaminated site showed these abnormalities. The appearance of nuclear abnormalities indicates that the frogs are affected by agro-chemicals

Assessing the Relationship Between Vape Use and Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Click the PDF icon to download the abstrac

Breaking Sedentary Behavior among Faculty and Staff: Are Acoustic and/or Vibrational Stimuli Effective?

Please download pdf version here

Optimization of sliding specific wear and Frictional force behaviour of Modified ZA-27 alloy using Taguchi Method

Dry sliding wear behavior of Modified ZA-27 alloy was prepared by gravity die casting. The specific wear rate and frictional force of Modified ZA-27 alloy was studied by performing wear test using a pin-on-disc wear tester. Experiments were conducted according to plan of experiments generated using taguchi method. A L25 orthogonal array was used for analysis of data. ANOVA is used to study the influence of process parameters such as Normal load and sliding speed on specific wear rate and frictional force. Regression analyses are employed to find the optimal process parameter levels and to analyze the effect of these parameters on Modified ZA-27 alloy. The result reveals that Normal load and sliding speed were the more sensitive parameters. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15053

Analysis of Wear Behaviour of a Heat Treated Modified ZA-27 Alloy by Taguchi Technique

The aim of this paper is to examine the dry sliding wear beahviour of as-received and heat treated Modified ZA-27 alloy. The alloys were prepared by conventional melting and casting route technique. The as-received samples were annealed at 3700C for 5 hours, followed by water quenching and also furnace cooling. The experiments were conducted according to plan of experiments generated through taguchi technique. A L25 Orthogonal array was selected for analysis of the data along with the analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to investigate the influence of process parameters on the wear behaviour of as-received and heat treated Modified ZA-27 alloy. Regression models were used to investigate the influence of process parameter on wear rate. The result reveals that Normal Pressure is the more sensitive parameter

Maternal outcome in obstetric ICU and HDU: a study from a teaching hospital in South India

Background: The management of critically ill obstetric patients presents a unique challenge. Dedicated High Dependency Unit (HDU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for obstetric patients are widely available in India. The data regarding obstetric critical care is invaluable in formulating policy decisions. The objective is to study the profile of cases admitted to obstetric HDU and ICU and to evaluate maternal outcome and co-morbid conditions.Methods: This was a prospective observational study between January 2017 and June 2018.Results: Total number of obstetric admissions was 7966. Total admissions to obstetric ICU were 60. ICU cases accounted for 0.7% of all obstetric admissions and 1.1% all deliveries. Obstetric cases formed 1.6% of total ICU admissions. Number of admissions to HDU was 576. HDU cases accounted for 7.2 % of all obstetric admissions. HDU utilization rate was 11.32%. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (n=22, 33.3%), obstetric haemorrhage (n=18, 30%), septic abortion (n=2, 3.3%) were the most common conditions necessitating admission.Conclusions: Hemorrhage was the most common indication for admission to HDU. Delayed identification and referral were the important obstacles. There is a need for early booking at peripheral centres. Introduction of obstetric ICU and multidisciplinary approach has brought down the incidence of maternal mortality in present centre

Prevalence, Determinants, and Clinical Significance of Masked Hypertension in a Population-Based Sample of African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study

Background: The disproportionate rates of cardiovascular disease in African Americans may, in part, be due to suboptimal assessment of blood pressure (BP) with clinic BP measurements alone. To date, however, the prevalence of masked hypertension in African Americans has not been fully delineated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate masked hypertension prevalence in a large population-based sample of African Americans and examine its determinants and association with indices of target organ damage (TOD). Methods: Clinic and 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring were conducted in 972 African Americans enrolled in the Jackson Heart Study. Common carotid artery intima-media thickness, left ventricular mass index, and the urinary albumin:creatinine excretion ratio were evaluated as indices of TOD. Results: Masked hypertension prevalence was 25.9% in the overall sample and 34.4% in participants with normal clinic BP. All indices of TOD were significantly higher in masked hypertensives compared to sustained normotensives and were similar between masked hypertensives and sustained hypertensives. Male gender, smoking, diabetes, and antihypertensive medication use were independent determinants of masked hypertension in multivariate analyses. Conclusions: In this population-based cohort of African Americans, approximately one-third of participants with presumably normal clinic BP had masked hypertension when BP was assessed in their daily environment. Masked hypertension was accompanied by a greater degree of TOD in this cohort

Nitrogen sources on TPOMW valorization through solid state fermentation performed by Yarrowia lipolytica

This manuscript reports the valorization of two-phase olive mill waste (TPOMW) as raw material and carbon source for solid state fermentation using Yarrowia lipolytica as biocatalyst. Due to its chemical characteristics, a combination of different raw materials (TPOMW and wheat bran, WB) was evaluated and two distinct nitrogen sources were applied as supplementation for lipase production. A TPOMW/WB ratio of 1:1 and supplementation with ammonium sulfate was chosen as the best condition. The productivity in 24 h reached 7.8 U/gh and, after four days of process, only decreased about 35%. Process pH ranged from 5.5-5.9, remaining in an acid range. Thus, the successful use of TPOMW, a watery solid by-product with high content of lipids, as raw material for Yarrowia lipolytica growth and lipase production provided an environmental friendly alternative to valorize such waste.The authors kindly acknowledge the financial aid and research scholarships given by CAPES. Maria Alice Zarur Coelho thanks CNPq (Proc. 308890/ 2013-2)

Increased Nitric Oxide and Attenuated Diastolic Blood Pressure Variability in African Americans with Mildly Impaired Renal Function

We investigated the relationship between renal function, blood pressure variability (BPV), and nitric oxide (NO) in a group of African Americans with normal or mildly impaired renal function. 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed, NO measured, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) calculated in 38 African Americans. Participants were categorized as having normal (GFR > 90 mL/min per 1.73 m2) or mildly impaired (GFR 60–89 mL/min per 1.73 m2) renal function. Diastolic BPV was significantly lower in the mildly impaired renal function group. Regression analyses revealed a significant positive association between GFR and diastolic BPV for the entire study group. Plasma NO levels were significantly higher in the mildly impaired renal function group and negatively correlated with diastolic BPV. In conclusion, diastolic BPV was reduced in African Americans with mildly impaired renal function, which may be the result of increased NO production. These results conflict with previous findings in diseased and nonblack populations and could provide rationale for studying BPV early in the disease state when BP-buffering mechanisms are still preserved