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We investigated the behavioural and oxidative stress responses in the earthworm, Nsukkadrilus mbae on exposure to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) contaminated soils. This was because the response of thi...

Calls to diversify the professoriate have been ongoing for decades. However, despite increasing numbers of scholars from underrepresented racial minority groups earning doctorates, actual progress in transitioning to faculty has been slow, particularly across STEM disciplines. In recent years, new efforts have emerged to recruit faculty members from underrepresented racial minority groups (i.e., African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and/or Native American/Native Hawaiian/Indigenous) through highly competitive postdoctoral programs that allow fellows the opportunity to transition (or “convert”) into tenure-track roles. These programs hybridize some conventional aspects of the faculty search process (e.g., structured interview processes that facilitate unit buy-in) along with novel evidence-based practices and structural supports (e.g., proactive recruitment, cohort communities, search waivers, professional development, enhanced mentorship, financial incentives). In this policy and practice review, we describe and synthesize key attributes of existing conversion programs at institutional, consortium, and system levels. We discuss commonalities and unique features across models (N= 38) and draw specific insights from postdoctoral conversion models developed within and across institutions in the University System of Maryland (USM). In particular, experience garnered from a 10-year-old postdoc conversion program at UMBC will be highlighted, as well as the development of an additional institutional model aimed at the life sciences, and a state-system model of faculty diversification with support from a NSF Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) grant.

We investigated the behavioural and oxidative stress responses in the earthworm, Nsukkadrilus mbae on exposure to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) contaminated soils. This was because the response of this species to heavy metals ecotoxicity had not been reported. Two concentrations of Pb (20 and 500 µg/g of soil) and Cd (2 and 10 µg/g of soil) and a control (uncontaminated with Pb or Cd) were used in a completely randomized static non-renewal bioassay design. We found that N. mbae more frequently preferred and burrowed into the control soil than the test soils. Avoidance was more at 500 µg/g Pb (ratio: 1:8) and 10 µg/g Cd (ratio: 1:2). The times to start and to complete burrowing, and the interval between both events were significantly extended in test soils, especially at 500 µg/g Pb and 10 µg/g Cd. Heavy metals contamination elicited increased activity of CAT, SOD and GPx, on short-term (day 2, d-2), and increased synthesis of GSH and MDA on short- and long-term (day 30, d-30) in concentration- and duration-dependent manners. The activity of CAT, SOD and GPx declined significantly on d-30. The heavy metals contamination resulted in both a significant loss in body weight, and mortality. Our preliminary results suggest that N. mbae is a suitable model organism for ecotoxicity studies, because it was able to detect and avoid Pb and Cd contaminated soils, delayed burrowing probably in search of suitable soil patches, and even escaped from heavily contaminated soil.

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate, whether maternal serum levels of sFlt-1, PlGF and PAPP-A at third trimester of pregnancy are associated with late-onset PE and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) after 34 weeks of pregnancy. Methods This was a prospective study measuring the maternal serum levels of soluble tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PlGF) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) at 32–37 weeks of pregnancy: 730 patients were enrolled and 676 had neither intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) nor preeclampsia (PE) or pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) throughout the pregnancy. 22 patients developed IUGR, 32 PE and 24 PIH. Results Linear regression analyses after adjusting for maternal age, gestational age at the blood sampling and maternal BMI showed associations between PE and serum sFlt-1 levels (Exp(s) = 3.29; 95% CI: 2.69–4.04), serum PlGF levels (Exp(s) = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.13–0.24), sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (Exp(s) = 15.59; 95% CI: 10.64–22.84) and serum PAPP-A (Exp(s) = 1.48; 95% CI 1.15–1.89). sFlt-1, PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF-Ratio showed comparable area under the curve (AUC) estimates with a predictive ability to discriminate pregnancies developing PE and IUGR from controls. The predictive ability of PAPP-A for PE was only slightly better than chance. Conclusions This study supported the ability of a single measurement of sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at third trimester to predict PE and IUGR occurring after 34 weeks of pregnancy. However, larger multicentre studies are needed to replicate our results.

Objectives Midregional pro atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) is a cardiac biomarker and the maternal serum levels could be different in preeclampsia (PE) or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) at third trimester of pregnancy. Methods This prospective study measured serum levels of MR-proANP between 32 and 37 weeks of pregnancy: 32 patients suffered from PE and 22 developed IUGR. 676 patients exhibited no pregnancy complications. Results The median level of MR-proANP was significantly higher in PE (64.9 pmol/l (interquartile range (IQR) 36.3-105.2) and IUGR (59.7 pmol/l (IQR 39.7- 163.0) groups compared to controls (38.7 pmol/l (IQR 29.7-49.2). Linear regression analysis showed association between PE and MR-proANP levels (Exp(s)= 1.56; 95% CI: 1.34-1.81). Area under the curve (AUC) estimates showed a predictive value for PE (AUC: 0.72) and IUGR (AUC: 0.71). Conclusions Measuring MR-proANP in maternal serum at third trimester could predict PE and IUGR presenting after 34 weeks of pregnancy. Thus, we assume that MR-proANP may be an additional biomarker which mirrors the maternal cardiosvascular status next to sFlt-1/PLGF representing the angiogenic status.

Purpose: Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia (PE) and associated with the human vitamin E-binding protein afamin. The aim of this study was, therefore, to analyse afamin in the first trimester of patients developing PE later in pregnancy and in control subjects without pregnancy complications. Methods: In this retrospective study, 137 serum samples from the first trimester of pregnancy were analysed in a case–control study design. 39 patients developed PE (10 patients with early-onset and 29 patients with late onset disease) and 98 women had an uncomplicated pregnancy. Mann–Whitney U test, t test, logistic regression and ROC analyses were performed for statistical evaluation. Results: Pregnant women developing PE presented with higher afamin concentrations in the first trimester [median 101.81 mg/L; interquartile range (IQR) 88.94–113.26] compared to subjects with uncomplicated pregnancy (median 86.40; IQR 75.26–96.92; p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounders, the odds ratio per afamin standard deviation was 1.60 (95% CI: 1.04–2.58; p = 0.04). An afamin threshold concentration of 87.8 mg/L exhibited the best sensitivity (79.5%) and specificity (57.1%) in predicting PE. Subgroup analysis of early- and late-onset disease resulted in substantially higher afamin concentrations in women with developing late-onset PE compared to controls (p < 0.001) with an odds ratio per afamin standard deviation of 1.62 (95% CI: 0.98–2.70; p = 0.06). Conclusions: Serum afamin concentrations are elevated in the first trimester among patients developing PE compared to controls. Substantial differences were observed mainly among patients with late-onset PE.

Die Geburtseinleitung ist eine haufige geburtshilfliche Masnahme, die bei angemessener Indikationsstellung Vorteile fur Mutter und Kind erbringen kann. Zur Verfugung stehen sowohl medikamentose als auch mechanische Methoden: PGE1/PGE2 in unterschiedlicher Verabreichungsform und Oxytocin sowie mechanische Instrumente wie der Zervixreifungsballon (CRB Cook®) und Foley-Katheter (Off-label-Use). Ein kombiniertes Einleitungsschema, das mechanische Methoden wie den Zervixreifungsballon impliziert, erscheint effektiv, sicher und fur die Patientinnen sehr zufriedenstellend.

Anti-Mullerian-hormone (AMH) does not seem to fluctuate significantly during the menstrual cycle in healthy women. However, little is known about cycle fluctuations of AMH levels in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The purpose of this study was to examine AMH fluctuations during the follicular phase in PCOS patients receiving antiestrogens or recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). About 40 PCOS patients diagnosed according to Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group 2003 and 19 controls were prospectively enrolled. PCOS patients received either antiestrogens or recombinant FSH for monoovulation induction and controls received antiestrogens. AMH levels were determined (1) between the 2nd and the 5th day of follicular phase and (2) when a single large dominant follicle ≥18 mm had appeared. Our study shows that AMH levels do not change during follicular development in controls as well as in PCOS patients with AMH levels 5 ng/ml, irrespective of antiestrogen or FSH therapy. However, in PCOS patients with AMH levels ≥5 ng/ml, AMH declines significantly during follicular development (p 0.01). We conclude that AMH levels should be determined in the early follicular phase in PCOS patients without the influence of antiestrogens or exogenous FSH, because these interventions may lower AMH values in patients with high levels.

Oxidative stress seems to be present in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between characteristics of PCOS and serum concentrations of afamin, a novel binding protein for the antioxidant vitamin E. A total of 85 patients with PCOS and 76 control subjects were investigated in a pilot cross-sectional study design between 2009 and 2013 in the University Hospital of Essen, Germany. Patients with PCOS were diagnosed according to the Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group. Afamin and diagnostic parameters of PCOS were determined at early follicular phase. Afamin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with PCOS than in controls (odds ratio (OR) for a 10 mg/ml increase in afamin=1.3, 95% CI=1.08–1.58). This difference vanished in a model adjusting for age, BMI, free testosterone index (FTI), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) (OR=1.05, 95% CI=0.80–1.38). In patients with PCOS, afamin correlated significantly with homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting glucose, BMI, FTI, and SHBG (PP=0.001). No correlation was observed between afamin and androgens, LH, FSH, LH/FSH ratio, antral follicle count, ovarian volume, or anti-Müllerian hormone. In conclusion, elevated afamin values may indicate a state of oxidative stress and inflammation, strongly associated with IR and offering an indicator of impaired glucose tolerance in patients with PCOS irrespective of obesity.

Features of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) including sonographic aspects, androgens, LH and LH/FSH ratio as well as Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) were evaluated according to their diagnostic potency in detecting different degrees of PCOS severity. 80 women with PCOS diagnosed according to the Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group 2003 and 48 controls were enrolled between 2011 and 2013. PCOS patients fulfilling all Rotterdam criteria were defined as having severe PCOS (n = 59), while patients showing oligo-/amenorrhoea and polycystic ovaries but without hyperandrogenemia were defined as having mild PCOS (n = 21). All patients were treated at the University Hospital of Essen, Germany. The strongest group difference between controls and severe PCOS patients was observed for AMH showing an age-adjusted odds ratio of 2.56 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.00–3.27; p

A common phenomenon in the financial reports of Nigerian pharmaceutical companies is the volume of short-term and long-term liabilities that forms a considerable size of their capital structure. Explaining the role of financial leverage in companies' financial performance is one of the primary objectives of contemporary researches and this role remains a questionable subject which has continued to attract the attention of many researchers. The main objective of this study is to determine the effect of financial leverage on financial performance of the Nigeria pharmaceutical companies over a period of twelve (12) years (2001 - 2012) for the three (3) selected companies. This work employed three (3) financial leverage for the independent variables such as: debt ratio (DR); debt-equity ratio (DER) and interest coverage ratio (ICR) in determining their effect on financial performance for Return on Assets (ROA) as dependent variable. The ex-post facto research design was used for this study. The secondary data were obtained from the financial statement (Comprehensive income statement and Statement of financial position) of the selected pharmaceutical companies' quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and regressions were employed and used for this study. The results of the analysis showed that debt ratio (DR) and debt-equity ratio (DER) have negative relationship with Return on Assets (ROA) while interest coverage ratio (ICR) has a positive relationship with Return on Assets (ROA) in Nigeria pharmaceutical industry. The analysis also revealed that all the independent variables have no significant effect on financial performance of the sampled companies. The results further suggested that only 16.4% of the variations on the dependent variable are caused by the independent variables in our model suggesting that 83.6% of the variations in financial performance are caused by other factors outside our model. Based on the above findings, the researchers now recommend that companies' management should ensure that financial decisions made by them are in consonance with the shareholders' wealth maximization objectives which encompasses the profit maximization objective of the firm. The amount of debt finance in the financial mix of the firm should be at the optimal level so as to ensure adequate utilisation of the firms' assets. The management should also monitor the interest charged on debt financing to avoid liquidation of the company.

Stress is often termed as twentieth century syndrome born out of man’s race toward modern progress and its ensuring complexities. At one point or the other, everybody suffers from stress. Stress has become a part of day-to-day living of every individual. On the one side, stress provides the means to express talents and energies, and pursue happiness; while on the other it can also cause exhaustion and illness, either physical or psychological. This paper has been designed to study the stress management techniques of bank employees in Nigeria banking industry. An attempt has been made to find out the relationship between the female and male coping mechanisms during stress. The researcher makes use of gender and sections in determining his decisions. The descriptive statistical, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and ANOVA statistical technique in testing the relationship among variables. The result shows thatmale and female bank employees will not significantly cope with stress management techniques in Nigerian banking industry. It also shows that male and female bankers were found not to differ significantly on their stress management technique and that stress management is not gender sensitive or gendercentric.The researcher recommends that training, total computerization and others to enable bank employees’ cope-up with the stress in the work places. Also the stress management techniques work best when they are used regularly, not just when the pressure is on knowing how to de-stress and doing it when things are relatively calm can help one get through challenging circumstance that may rise.

This paper is the effect of dividend payment on the market prices of shares in Nigeria: A study of 17 quoted firms using time series on dividend per share, dividend yield and dividend payout ratio that ranges between 2000 and 2011. The model specification for the analysis of data is ordinary least squares techniques applied as panel estimation. The researchers empirical results arising from the panel least squares suggests a positive effect between market price per share and dividend per share confirming that a rise in dividend per share brings about an increase in the market price per share of quoted firms; that dividend yield does not have a significant positive effect on the market prices of shares of quoted firms in Nigeria; that there exists a direct relationship between market prices per share and dividend payout ratio of selected firms on the NSE. Further, the study revealed that significant variations exist in the movement of the share prices of the selected firms which in theory could be attributed to the forces of demand and supply while in practice could be attributed to some other exogenous and endogenous variables such as economic policies, corporate managerial decisions, psycho-social variables, political situations and institutional parameters. Thus it was concluded and recommended that, earnings remain the most significant determinant of dividend payment averagely, hence it has significant influences on the market value of public owned firms in Nigeria and the world all over.The dividend payment, dividend per share, dividend yield, dividend payout ratio and earning per share are significant in explaining the observed differences in share market prices of quoted firms in Nigeria. The government must contribute by relaxing laws that spell threat to the objectives of firms i.e. maximization of shareholders' wealth.

As a child of immigrants, I have always been interested in issues facing the foreign-born, particularly to the United States. Being exposed to immigrants from around the world helped me understand the different factors that motivated my parents' migration to the United States while realizing that others throughout the world were also heavily impacted by ineffectual home governments. As I delved into political attitudes, international relations, and public policy, my attention continued to turn back to the ways in which policies and attitudes in the United States affect the lives of immigrants. Identifying aspects of social policy that enhance immigrant life in the United States became central to my research interests.

Objective Ovarian quiescence is a common condition during pregnancy. In vitro, follistatin, an antagonist of follicle-stimulating hormone, blocks follicular development at early stages, and its serum levels increase during pregnancy. A possible surrogate biomarker of ovarian arrest during pregnancy is a decrease in anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels followed by an increase in these levels on the second day after labor. The purpose of this study was to determine whether follistatin could act as an ovarian-suppressing agent during pregnancy. Follistatin levels and AMH levels were determined at various stages of pregnancy and postpartum. Study design The follistatin and AMH levels of 69 patients were retrospectively determined with the AMH Gen II ELISA and with the Human Follistatin Quantikine ELISA Kit. For 49 patients, samples were available from various trimesters for cross-sectional analysis; for the other 20, samples were available longitudinally from day one before labor and then daily on days 1 through 4 after labor. Statistical significance was determined with linear regression, the Friedman rank sum test and the Wilcoxon–Nemenyi–McDonald–Thompson post hoc test. Results The behavior of follistatin levels was exactly opposite that of AMH levels: Follistatin levels increased significantly during pregnancy and on the first day after parturition but declined afterwards, whereas AMH levels decreased significantly during pregnancy and increased after labor. Conclusion Follistatin can induce ovarian arrest during pregnancy.

The present study was conducted to determine whether the use of strategic management Accounting Techniques (SMAT) is capable of providing Managers with information for sustainability in corporate governance. A survey was carried out using a well-structured questionnaire with questions on five point Likert format. The questionnaire was administered on one hundred and five Management staff specialized in Accounting and management related disciplines across product sector organizations. Primary data was gathered from the one hundred and five respondents and multiple regression technique was used for analysis. Our findings revealed the need for managers to employ strategic management accounting techniques (SMATs) to enable them identify, accumulate and manage social and environment costs of their activities for good corporate governance in Nigeria.