'We tend to prioritise others and forget ourselves': How women's caregiving responsibilities can facilitate or impede diabetes self-management.

AIM: The objective of the parent study was to examine attitudes and experiences regarding counselling about preconception care among Black and/or Latina women in the United States with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Here, we present emergent findings from a secondary analysis of caregiving. METHODS: In this qualitative descriptive study, we used conventional content analysis to identify themes from semi-structured interviews with 32 Black and/or Latina women ages 18-40 who have T2DM in the United States recruited from online platforms and snowball sampling. RESULTS: Caregiving responsibilities both motivate and disrupt diabetes self-management behaviours. Caregiving largely meant taking care of children, but women also had responsibilities to adult family members and romantic partners. Women were motivated to manage their diabetes in order to prevent negative health effects on their children and to stay healthy so they could fulfil caregiving responsibilities. However, caregiving competed for time, energy and money with self-management. Struggling to balance caregiving and self-management caused stress that women felt was intrinsically unhealthy and undermined self-management. CONCLUSIONS: Young adult women with T2DM identified different ways that the roles and responsibilities in the family could affect their diabetes self-management. Providers and policymakers should develop health-promoting interventions that accommodate caregiving responsibilities.

Community-Informed Mobile COVID-19 Testing Model to Addressing Health Inequities.

CONTEXT: The New York City (NYC) Test & Trace Corps (Test & Trace), under New York City Health + Hospitals (NYC H+H), set out to provide universal access to COVID-19 testing. Test & Trace partnered with numerous organizations to direct mobile COVID-19 testing from concept through implementation to reduce COVID-19-related health inequities. PROGRAM: Test & Trace employs a community-informed mobile COVID-19 testing model to deliver testing to the hardest-hit, underserved communities. Community partners, uniquely knowledgeable of the residents they serve, are engaged as decision makers and operational partners in mobile COVID-19 testing delivery. IMPLEMENTATION: Through several mobile testing methods, community partners choose testing locations and tailor outreach to their community. Test & Trace assumes logistical responsibility for mobile testing but defers critical programmatic decisions and community engagement to partners. Integral to the success of this program is responsive, bidirectional communication. EVALUATION: During the reporting period of December 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021, Test & Trace's community-informed mobile COVID-19 testing model provided testing to 150351 unique patients and processed 274083 tests in total. The available outcomes data and qualitative feedback provided by community partners illustrate that this intervention, combined with robust governmental investment, successfully ensured that NYC-identified, low-resource neighborhoods had greater access to COVID-19 testing. DISCUSSION: Making community partners decision makers reduced inequities in access to testing for communities of color. In addition, the model has served as the framework for Test & Trace's community-informed mobile COVID-19 vaccination program, operated in concert with NYC's Vaccine Command Center, and is a foundation for addressing health inequities at scale, including during public health crises.

Molecular mechanisms of zika virus pathogenesis: An update.

Zika virus (ZIKV), member of the family Flaviviridae belonging to genus Flavivirus, is an arthropod-borne virus. The ZIKV is known to cause severe congenital birth defects in neonates. Due to a large number of worldwide outbreaks and associated neurological complications with ZIKV, a public health emergency was declared by the World Health Organization on February 1, 2016. The virus exhibits neurotropism and has a specific propensity towards neural precursor cells of the developing brain. In utero ZIKV infection causes massive cell death in the developing brain resulting in various motor and cognitive disabilities in newborns. The virus modulates cell machinery at several levels to replicate itself and inhibits toll like receptors-3 signalling, deregulates microRNA circuitry and induces a chronic inflammatory response in affected cells. Several significant advances have been made to understand the mechanisms of neuropathogenesis, its prevention and treatment. The current review provides an update on cellular and molecular mechanisms of ZIKV-induced alterations in the function of various brain cells.

Food waste and sewage sludge co-digestion amended with different biochars: VFA kinetics, methane yield and digestate quality assessment.

This work investigated the impact of the addition of different biochar types on mitigation of volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulation, methane recovery and digestate quality in mesophilic food waste-sludge co-digestion. Four biochars derived from agricultural and sludge residues under different pyrolysis temperatures were compared. Specific biochar properties such as pH, surface area, chemical properties and presence of surface functional groups likely influenced biochar reactions during digestion, thereby resulting in a varying performance of different biochars. Miscanthus straw biochar addition led to the highest specific methane yield of 307 ± 0.3 mL CH4/g VSadded versus 241.87 ± 5.9 mL CH4/g VSadded from control with no biochar addition over 30 days of the co-digestion period. Biochar supplementation led to enhanced process stability which likely resulted from improved syntrophic VFA oxidation facilitated by specific biochar properties. Overall, a 21.4% increase in the overall methane production was obtained with biochar addition as compared to control. The resulting digestate quality was also investigated. Biochar-amended digester generated a digestate rich in macro- and micro-nutrients including K, Mg, Ca, Fe making biochar-amended digestate a potential replacement of agricultural lime fertilizer. This work demonstrated that the addition of specific biochars with desirable properties alleviated VFA accumulation and facilitated enhanced methane recovery, thereby providing a means to achieve process stability even under high organic loading conditions in co-digestions. Moreover, the availability of biochar-enriched digestate with superior characteristics than biochar-free digestate adds further merit to this process.

Silver-Catalyzed, N-Formylation of Amines Using Glycol Ethers.

A silver-catalyzed protocol was found to afford the N-formylation of amines in moderate-to-good yields. Ethylene glycol-derived, oligomeric ethers were found to function as the formylating agent, with 1,4-dioxane affording the best results. This reaction does not require the use of stoichiometric activating reagents, and avoids the use of explosive reagents or toxic gases, such as CO, as the C1 synthon. Mechanistic studies indicate a single-electron transfer-based pathway. This work highlights the ability of silver to participate in unexpected reaction pathways.

A mini-review on the metabolic pathways of food waste two-phase anaerobic digestion system.

Food waste (FW) disposal has become a global social, environmental, and economic problem. The current practice of landfilling is undesirable due to its potential emission of greenhouse gas, nutrient recycling, and pollution of water resources. Anaerobic digestion (AD), particularly two-phase AD is a promising option to manage FW and recover energy in the form of methane and obtain value-added by-products. However, most current review literature focuses on operating conditions while often placing little emphasis on improving conversion efficiency through regulating intermediate products. The AD process involves complex metabolic reactions carried out by several microbial groups. Therefore, understanding of these metabolic pathways existing in AD is the key to design effective strategies for enrichment of specific microbial groups which can produce desired intermediates for methane production, which can possibly be achieved by an understanding of the influence of critical process parameters on these metabolic pathways. Thus, it is the aim of this review to describe the effect of process conditions on underlying metabolic pathways in order to allow an efficient manipulation of these pathways for enhancing methane production.

Milligram scale production of potent recombinant small interfering RNAs in Escherichia coli.

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are invaluable research tools for studying gene functions in mammalian cells. siRNAs are mainly produced by chemical synthesis or by enzymatic digestion of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) produced in vitro. Recently, bacterial cells, engineered with ectopic plant viral siRNA binding protein p19, have enabled the production of "recombinant" siRNAs (pro-siRNAs). Here, we describe an optimized methodology for the production of milligram amount of highly potent recombinant pro-siRNAs from Escherichia coli cells. We first optimized bacterial culture medium and tested new designs of pro-siRNA production plasmid. Through the exploration of multiple pro-siRNA related factors, including the expression of p19 protein, (dsRNA) generation method, and the level of RNase III, we developed an optimal pro-siRNA production plasmid. Together with a high-cell density fed-batch fermentation method in a bioreactor, we have achieved a yield of ~10 mg purified pro-siRNA per liter of bacterial culture. The pro-siRNAs produced by the optimized method can achieve high efficiency of gene silencing when used at low nanomolar concentrations. This new method enables fast, economical, and renewable production of pure and highly potent bioengineered pro-siRNAs at the milligram level. Our study also provides important insights into the strategies for optimizing the production of RNA products in bacteria, which is an under-explored field.

Estimation of Plasma Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-a, Interleukin-4 and 6 in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis and Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: Both periodontitis and type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are common diseases with a multifactorial etiology and have influence of cytokines in their pathogenesis and thus may also influence each other. In recent times, more attention has been given to understanding the influences of these inflammatory cytokines which are a main part of oral chronic inflammation on systemic health of the individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma cytokine levels, specifically tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-4, in chronic periodontitis patients and T2DM patients, so as to investigate the influence of chronic periodontitis in systemic inflammation associated with diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study comprised a total sample size of 60 patients. A detailed history along with complete periodontal examination were done for each person. These patients were subdivided into four study groups with 15 subjects (n = 15) in each group: group I: healthy individuals, group II: chronic periodontitis, group III: diabetes mellitus without chronic periodontitis, and group IV: diabetes mellitus with chronic periodontitis. Venous blood was withdrawn for obtaining serum samples from the subjects. Hemoglobin A1c (HbAlc) levels were measured from the automated chromatography. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, TNF-a, IL-4, and IL-6 were measured. RESULTS: It was observed that the difference between almost all the results showed statistical significance. Not much of a difference was seen when TNF-a and IL-6 findings of group II were compared with group III. Furthermore, IL-4 also did not differ when group II was compared with group IV. CONCLUSION: The inflammatory cytokines together control the inflammation process and a balance is maintained. However, in patients with diabetes mellitus, this balance is interrupted, which affects the final development and progression of the disease. Thus, hyperglycemia may be partly associated with the severity of the periodontal status in diabetic patients. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Hyperglycemia thus may play a role in increasing the severity of the periodontal status in diabetic patients. Keeping such relationship in mind, better treatment modalities can be provided to the patients.

Evaluation of Hemoglobin Concentration and Hematocrit Values in Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis Patients in Comparison to Nonankylosed Patients.

AIM: The aim of this study is to find if there is any correlation between the hematological parameters and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis and severity of the disease in such patients when compared with the nonankylosed patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 70 patients with age ranging from 10 to 40 years were included in the study after excluding the subjects according to the inclusion criteria. We categorized the subjects into two major groups: group I: control (nonankylosed/ healthy subjects) and group II: study group (ankylosed subjects) with each group containing 35 subjects (n = 35) respectively. A detailed personal and medical history was obtained. The pharynx diameter was also recorded for each patient, and blood investigations using venous blood were done, which included hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit values. RESULTS: The results of study population showed a mean age of 22 ± 2.2 years. The most common etiology reported was trauma (65.7%) followed by infections, in which Noma was the most common one (80%). The difference of the mean values for hemoglobin and hematocrit concentration, between both the groups, was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between the hemoglobin concentration and duration of ankylosis. CONCLUSION: This study was an attempt to find a relation between the hemoglobin and hematocrit values in TMJ ankylosis patients so that the clinical treatment and management of such patients during surgeries be improved and may be beneficial for the patient. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Temporomandibular joint ankylosis patients have to undergo complex surgical treatment, where the risk of excessive blood loss is high. Therefore, considering the complications of blood transfusions, such as infections and other risk factors, these patients can be good subjects for autologous blood transfusions, which help in improvement of the overall well-being of the patient.

Advances in the production of biosurfactants as green ingredients in home and personal care products.

Home and personal care industry is currently witnessing a growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic surfactants. This increase is fueled by concerns over the delayed degradation and environmental impact of the latter. To this, biosurfactants possess important properties such as biodegradability, low toxicity, and renewable sourcing. These qualities position them as compelling replacements of traditional synthetic surfactants. Their diverse attributes including emulsification, antimicrobial efficacy, surface tension reduction, and foaming capability, make them well-suited choices for home and personal care products. Biosurfactants can be produced through several inexpensive and renewable sources which contributes to their commercialization potential. This article discusses various microbial derived biosurfactants including rhamnolipids, sophorolipids, mannosyl-erythritol lipids, trehalolipids and lipopeptides, unraveling and comparing their distinctive roles and advantages in the home and personal care industry. It also focuses on the recent patent innovations in the production of biosurfactants which have aimed at improving their economic viability and performance attributes. Finally, the article sheds light on the challenges and future trajectories for better integration of these sustainable biosurfactants into mainstream consumer products.

The Role of Gut Microbiota and Associated Compounds in Cardiovascular Health and its Therapeutic Implications.

It is possible that gut bacteria may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health in humans. It may play a major role in the progression of a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including Heart Failure (HF), Atherosclerosis, Coronary Arterial Disease (CAD), Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), and Others. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, along with its direct and indirect impact on gut health, may induce cardiovascular disorders. Although advanced studies have demonstrated the relationship of various metabolites to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in animals, translating their functional capacity to humans remains a significant area of research. This paper simplifies the demonstration of some compounds, pathways, and components like Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and butyrate production. It demonstrates how a change in eating habits causes TMAO and how the impact of different drugs on gut microbiota species and high consumption of Westernized food causes several heartrelated problems, such as atherosclerosis and inflammation that can even become the cause of heart failure. Modulation of the gut microbiome, on the other hand, is a novel therapeutic measure because it can be easily altered through diet and other lifestyle changes. It could then be used to lower the risk of several CVDs.

Sustainable biosurfactant production from secondary feedstock-recent advances, process optimization and perspectives.

Biosurfactants have garnered increased attention lately due to their superiority of their properties over fossil-derived counterparts. While the cost of production remains a significant hurdle to surpass synthetic surfactants, biosurfactants have been anticipated to gain a larger market share in the coming decades. Among these, glycolipids, a type of low-molecular-weight biosurfactant, stand out for their efficacy in reducing surface and interfacial tension, which made them highly sought-after for various surfactant-related applications. Glycolipids are composed of hydrophilic carbohydrate moieties linked to hydrophobic fatty acid chains through ester bonds that mainly include rhamnolipids, trehalose lipids, sophorolipids, and mannosylerythritol lipids. This review highlights the current landscape of glycolipids and covers specific glycolipid productivity and the diverse range of products found in the global market. Applications such as bioremediation, food processing, petroleum refining, biomedical uses, and increasing agriculture output have been discussed. Additionally, the latest advancements in production cost reduction for glycolipid and the challenges of utilizing second-generation feedstocks for sustainable production are also thoroughly examined. Overall, this review proposes a balance between environmental advantages, economic viability, and societal benefits through the optimized integration of secondary feedstocks in biosurfactant production.

Comparative Effectiveness of Second-line Antihyperglycemic Agents for Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Large-scale, Multinational, Federated Analysis of the LEGEND-T2DM Study.

Background: SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, their effectiveness relative to each other and other second-line antihyperglycemic agents is unknown, without any major ongoing head-to-head trials. Methods: Across the LEGEND-T2DM network, we included ten federated international data sources, spanning 1992-2021. We identified 1,492,855 patients with T2DM and established cardiovascular disease (CVD) on metformin monotherapy who initiated one of four second-line agents (SGLT2is, GLP1-RAs, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor [DPP4is], sulfonylureas [SUs]). We used large-scale propensity score models to conduct an active comparator, target trial emulation for pairwise comparisons. After evaluating empirical equipoise and population generalizability, we fit on-treatment Cox proportional hazard models for 3-point MACE (myocardial infarction, stroke, death) and 4-point MACE (3-point MACE + heart failure hospitalization) risk, and combined hazard ratio (HR) estimates in a random-effects meta-analysis. Findings: Across cohorts, 16·4%, 8·3%, 27·7%, and 47·6% of individuals with T2DM initiated SGLT2is, GLP1-RAs, DPP4is, and SUs, respectively. Over 5·2 million patient-years of follow-up and 489 million patient-days of time at-risk, there were 25,982 3-point MACE and 41,447 4-point MACE events. SGLT2is and GLP1-RAs were associated with a lower risk for 3-point MACE compared with DPP4is (HR 0·89 [95% CI, 0·79-1·00] and 0·83 [0·70-0·98]), and SUs (HR 0·76 [0·65-0·89] and 0·71 [0·59-0·86]). DPP4is were associated with a lower 3-point MACE risk versus SUs (HR 0·87 [0·79-0·95]). The pattern was consistent for 4-point MACE for the comparisons above. There were no significant differences between SGLT2is and GLP1-RAs for 3-point or 4-point MACE (HR 1·06 [0·96-1·17] and 1·05 [0·97-1·13]). Interpretation: In patients with T2DM and established CVD, we found comparable cardiovascular risk reduction with SGLT2is and GLP1-RAs, with both agents more effective than DPP4is, which in turn were more effective than SUs. These findings suggest that the use of GLP1-RAs and SGLT2is should be prioritized as second-line agents in those with established CVD. Funding: National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Zika virus E protein modulates functions of human brain microvascular endothelial cells and astrocytes: implications on blood-brain barrier properties.

Neurotropic viruses can cross the otherwise dynamically regulated blood-brain barrier (BBB) and affect the brain cells. Zika virus (ZIKV) is an enveloped neurotropic Flavivirus known to cause severe neurological complications, such as encephalitis and fetal microcephaly. In the present study, we employed human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMECs) and astrocytes derived from human progenitors to establish a physiologically relevant BBB model. We used this model to investigate the effects of ZIKV envelope (E) protein on properties of cells comprising the BBB. E protein is the principal viral protein involved in interaction with host cell surface receptors, facilitating the viral entry. Our findings show that the presence of ZIKV E protein leads to activation of both hBMECs and astrocytes. In hBMECs, we observed a decrease in the expression of crucial endothelial junction proteins such as ZO-1, Occludin and VE-Cadherin, which are vital in establishment and maintenance of the BBB. Consequently, the ZIKV E protein induced changes in BBB integrity and permeability. We also found upregulation of genes involved in leukocyte recruitment along with increased proinflammatory chemokines and cytokines upon exposure to E protein. Additionally, the E protein also led to astrogliosis, evident from the elevated expression of GFAP and Vimentin. Both cell types comprising the BBB exhibited inflammatory response upon exposure to E protein which may influence viral access into the central nervous system (CNS) and subsequent infection of other CNS cells. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the transient changes that occur at the site of BBB upon ZIKV infection.

Clinical validation of the Varian Truebeam intra-fraction motion review (IMR) system for prostate treatment guidance.

This study quantified the performance of Intra-fraction Motion Review (IMR) during prostate Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) treatments. IMR was evaluated using prostate motion data from patients treated in an SBRT clinical trial (PROMETHEUS, NCT00587990).IMR measured prostate displacements were compared to those of two 3D motion management methods: Kilovoltage Intra-fraction Motion management (KIM) and MV/kV triangulation. A planning study assessing the impact of a defined prostate motion (2-5 mm) on the PTV coverage with and without IMR was performed. A clinically relevant IMR search region for prostate cancer SBRT treatments was determined using a customised anthropomorphic pelvis phantom with implanted gold seeds and a motion platform. IMR showed submillimeter agreement with corresponding 2D projections from both KIM and MV/kV triangulation. However, IMR detected actual displacements consistently in considerably fewer frames than KIM (3D), with the actual numbers depending on the settings. The Default Search Region (DSR) method employing a circular search region proved superior to user-contoured structures in detecting clinically relevant prostate motion. Reducing the DSR search region radius can reduce the impact of the 2D nature of IMR and improve the detectability of actual motion (by 10% per 0.5 mm reduction) but must be balanced against increased beam interruptions from minor, clinically irrelevant motion. The use of IMR for SBRT prostate treatments has the potential to improve target dose coverage (minimum dose to 98% of the PTV, D98%) by > 20% compared to treatment without IMR. Calculated D98% of IMR monitored treatments with motion was within 1.5% of plans without motion.

"A patient should not have to ask": Women's experiences of patient education about preconception care for type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize perspectives and experiences regarding preconception care (PCC) patient education among women with type 2 diabetes. METHOD: Descriptive, qualitative research design. Thirty-two English-speaking women with type 2 diabetes identifying as Black and/or Latina, ages 18-40 years old, participated. We conducted semi-structured interviews about PCC perspectives and experiences which we analyzed with conventional content analysis. To enhance rigor, we collected freelisting data from which we calculated salience scores. We triangulated our qualitative findings with salience scores. RESULTS: We identified three themes. Our first theme concerned mismatch between women's desires for PCC counseling to be frequent in contrast with their experiences of its infrequency. Our second theme captured how women felt responsible for initiating care in the clinical encounter but uncertain about what they "should" be asking for. Our third theme characterized women's perspectives on receiving information about PCC and pregnancy planning. CONCLUSIONS: Young adult women with type 2 diabetes who are Black and/or Latina welcome more education about how PCC can prevent obstetrical complications associated with diabetes, which disproportionately affect their communities. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Our findings provide actionable suggestions for improving acceptability and accessibility of PCC patient education in the United States where PCC awareness and uptake are low.

Sustainable rhamnolipids production in the next decade - Advancing with Burkholderia thailandensis as a potent biocatalytic strain.

Rhamnolipids are one of the most promising eco-friendly green glycolipids for bio-replacements of commercially available fossil fuel-based surfactants. However, the current industrial biotechnology practices cannot meet the required standards due to the low production yields, expensive biomass feedstocks, complicated processing, and opportunistic pathogenic nature of the conventional rhamnolipid producer strains. To overcome these problems, it has become important to realize non-pathogenic producer substitutes and high-yielding strategies supporting biomass-based production. We hereby review the inherent characteristics of Burkholderia thailandensis E264 which favor its competence towards such sustainable rhamnolipid biosynthesis. The underlying biosynthetic networks of this species have unveiled unique substrate specificity, carbon flux control and rhamnolipid congener profile. Acknowledging such desirable traits, the present review provides critical insights towards metabolism, regulation, upscaling, and applications of B. thailandensis rhamnolipids. Identification of their unique and naturally inducible physiology has proved to be beneficial for achieving previously unmet redox balance and metabolic flux requirements in rhamnolipids production. These developments in part are targeted by the strategic optimization of B. thailandensis valorizing low-cost substrates ranging from agro-industrial byproducts to next generation (waste) fractions. Accordingly, safer bioconversions can propel the industrial rhamnolipids in advanced biorefinery domains to promote circular economy, reduce carbon footprint and increased applicability as both social and environment friendly bioproducts.

Optimal preparation of food waste to increase its utility for sophorolipid production by Starmerella bombicola.

Secondary feedstocks, such as food waste (FW), have been used for yeasts (e.g. Starmerella bombicola) to produce sophorolipids (SLs), which are commercially available biosurfactants. However, the quality of FW varies by location and season and may contains chemicals that inhibit SLs production. Therefore, it is crucial to identify such inhibitors and, if possible, remove them, to ensure efficient utilization. In this study, large scale FW was first analysed to determine the concentration of potential inhibitors. Lacticacid, acetic acid and ethanol were identified and found to be inhibitors of the growth of S. bombicola and its SLs production. Various methods were then evaluated for their ability to remove these inhibitors. Finally, a simple and effective strategy for removing inhibitors from FW was developed that complied with the 12 principles of green chemistry and could be adopted by industry for high SLs production.

Determination of kinetic parameters of 1,3-propanediol fermentation by Clostridium diolis using statistically optimized medium.

1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) is a chemical compound of immense importance primarily used as a raw material for fiber and textile industry. It can be produced by the fermentation of glycerol available abundantly as a by-product from the biodiesel plant. The present study was aimed at determination of key kinetic parameters of 1,3-PD fermentation by Clostridium diolis. Initial experiments on microbial growth inhibition were followed by optimization of nutrient medium recipe by statistical means. Batch kinetic data from studies in bioreactor using optimum concentration of variables obtained from statistical medium design was used for estimation of kinetic parameters of 1,3-PD production. Direct use of raw glycerol from biodiesel plant without any pre-treatment for 1,3-PD production using this strain investigated for the first time in this work gave results comparable to commercial glycerol. The parameter values obtained in this study would be used to develop a mathematical model for 1,3-PD to be used as a guide for designing various reactor operating strategies for further improving 1,3-PD production. An outline of protocol for model development has been discussed in the present work.

Community Narrative as a Borderlands Praxis: Anzaldúa's Mestiza Consciousness as Explored in Cortez's Sexile.

I apply Gloria Anzaldúa's "borderlands theory" to Jamie Cortez's Sexile, an HIV/AIDS prevention publication created as a first-person narrative of the journey of queer, trans activist Adela Vasquez who fled to the US from Cuba in 1980. I argue that Sexile is a borderlands text and operationalizes Anzaldúa's mestiza consciousness at various levels- ranging from the essence of the text and what its existence represents to the literary techniques used in the telling of Adela's narrative. In the first half of this paper, I explore Anzaldúa's borderlands theory and the ethos of Sexile as a text, including Vázquez's story as inherently a borderland narrative; as a product of democratized knowledge; the praxis of the text's creation; and the technology of the graphic novel. Throughout the second half, I look more closely at the content of the text using close reading to explore notions of the "borderland" represented throughout Adela's narrative. Through both its content and the praxis of creation, Sexile represents the power of graphic medicine in illustrating the nuances of narratives at the interstices of marginalized identities and captures the multitudes and ambiguities of trauma, loss, rebirth, kinship, and joy at the margins.