Significant Gender Differences In Terms Research Articles

Gender-based behavioral and biochemical effects of diphenyl diselenide in Drosophila melanogaster

In the present study we investigated the effects of Diphenyl Diselenide (DPDS) on behavioral and biochemical parameters in Drosophila melanogaster (DM). We also tried to explore the gender differences in response to DPDS treatment. One of the salient features of the present report is that, at the highest tested concentration (3.0 mmol/kg) the survival rate in females was significantly higher (65%) as compared with male subjects (27.5%). However in alive subjects, different results pattern was observed. The locomotor activity of females significantly decreased at all tested concentrations and no statistical difference was observed in males at 0.1 and 1.0 mM. To explore the toxicological pathway of DPDS, different arrays of experiments were performed. DPDS did not cause any significant alteration in total thiol contents (NPSH) in males. While, a significant decrease was observed in females at all tested concentrations (0.1, 1.0 and 3.0 mM; p<0.005). For gender comparison purpose, its important to note that females showed 2.1 and 1.63 folds increase in SOD and CAT m-RNA expression at the highest (3.0 mM) tested concentration (as compared with male subjects). In contrast to m-RNA levels of catalase, the lowest concentration (0.1 mM) of DPDS significantly decreased (P<0.005) the enzymatic activity in females and a noticeable increase (P<0.005) at highest tested concentration (3.0 mM) was observed in male subjects. Statistically no significant change was observed in Glutathione -S- transferase (GST) activity at all tested concentrations in females. However a marked increase at 1.0 and 3.0 mM was observed in males. Furthermore, we also evaluated, HSP70 mRNA levels in females, which were increased by approximately 10.6 fold (P<0.005) as compared to male subjects. These results demonstrated significant gender-differences in terms of acute response to DPDS treatment. Mechanistically thiol oxidase (TOx) potential is one of the proposed pathways of DPDS toxicity, which can not be excluded in the present findings.

Gender Differences In Resilience, Coping And Quality Of Life Of Oncology Nurses In Pakistan

This research was carried out to explore the gender differences in resilience, coping and quality of life of oncology nurses. It is evidenced through the literature that oncology nurses face different stressors because of complexity involved in their profession. This research attempts to investigate the impact of resilience and coping strategies on quality of life of nurses along with identifying nature of gender differences in each domain. A total of 300 oncology nurses (150 males and 150 females) participated in cross sectional survey based study. Trait and State Resilience Checklist, Brief Cope Scale and WHO Quality of Life scale were used to assess resilience, coping strategies and quality of life respectively. Results indicated significant gender differences in terms of coping strategies and quality of life. Moreover, resilience came out to be a strong predictor of quality of life in nurses. Findings of the study are discussed in terms of policy towards nursing stress management and coping intervention.

Exploring Violence Socialization and Approval of Intimate Partner Violence Among University Students in Kosovo.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) among university students is a prevalent problem in many countries; however, it is not currently recognized in Kosovo as a social issue in terms of research, prevention, and intervention. The aim of this article was to examine the relationship between violence socialization experiences, approval of violence, and IPV perpetration/victimization among university students in Kosovo. The questionnaires were administrated to a convenience sample of 700 students of University of Prishtina who were in relationship for 1 month or longer. The Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-2) was used for measuring physical, psychological, and sexual violence, whereas for measuring violence socialization and violence approval, scales from Personal and Relationships Profile (PRP) were used. Findings from this study show that there were statistically significant gender differences in terms of socialization and approval of violence among university students. Similarly, perpetrators and victims of IPV (physical, psychological, and sexual violence) showed higher rates of socialization of violence and tolerance toward IPV. Besides, findings indicate that approval of violence mediates the relationship between socialization of violence and IPV perpetration and victimization, for both genders. The implications of the current findings within a cultural context are also discussed.

Differences in Men and Women with Bipolar-I Diagnosed Patients

The importance of gender on phenomenology and course of bipolar illness has been an increased focus of study over recent years. The purpose of present study was to examine whether gender differences exist in the sociodemographic characterictics, age of onset, severity of disease, number & type of episodes, symptomatology and treatment response of bipolar disorder. The life charts of 300 (193 female; 107 male) patients with BD type-I were evaluated retrospectively. BD diagnosis of patients was given by two experienced clinicians in accordance with DSM-IV-TR criteria. A semi-structured chart which was developed to assess sociodemographic and clinical features of patients and “mirror design” method was utilized for the assessment of patients’ response patterns to maintenance treatment. Bipolar women were significantly more likely to have history of (at least one) any mood episode than bipolar men. However no significant gender differences emerged in number of manic or mix episodes; whereas, women had more depressive episodes. Frequency of psychotic episodes (at least one episode during lifetime) was higher for men than women.. There was also no significant gender difference in terms of response to lithium and anticonvulsant maintenance treatment, mean episode severity and age of onset. The results of the present study show that some gender differences may be evident in patients with BD-I. In the highlight of that investigators studying bipolar disorder may need to consider gender as a variable for assessment and treatment strategies.

Community-based education: The influence of role modeling on career choice and practice location

Introduction: Research findings in medical education support the importance of positive role models in enhancing learning and influencing the career path of medical students and graduates. The authors explored the characteristics of positive and negative role models during Community-Based Education and Service (COBES), as well as their effect on trainees’ career paths.Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted by means of a questionnaire among medical students to explore the characteristics of positive and negative role models during COBES. Associations between gender, choice of specialty, and practice location were assessed using the chi-square test. All qualitative data analysis was performed using the principles of primary, secondary, and tertiary coding.Result: The majority of the students indicated that role modeling during COBES will affect their choice of specialty and practice location with a significant gender difference in terms of practice location (p < 0.005). Qualitative data supported the finding that positive role modeling during COBES may influence graduates willingness to work in rural area.Conclusion: The desire and willingness to work in a rural community combined with good communication and excellent interpersonal skills as well as good leadership skills are attributes of good role modeling that could influence medical students’ career choice during COBES.

Gender differences in motivation, engagement and achievement are related to students' perceptions of peer—but not of parent or teacher—attitudes toward school

The aim of this study was to examine gender differences in students' motivation, engagement, and achievement. Participants were recruited (n=848) from two public secondary schools in the Philippines. Boys showed a more maladaptive profile in terms of academic motivation, engagement, and achievement. Path analyses indicated that these gender differences were associated with peer attitudes toward school. Boys perceived their friends to have more negative attitudes toward school. These perceptions of negative peer attitudes toward school were associated with boys' lower levels of motivation, engagement, and achievement. There were no significant gender differences in terms of perceived parental and teacher support. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant &lt;i&gt;staphylococcus aureus&lt;/i&gt; among healthy residents of Ekosodin community in Benin-City, Nigeria

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in apparently healthy residents of Ekosodin community, a peri-urban settlement, in Benin City, Nigeria.Method: Nasal swabs collected from 200 randomly selected individuals, aged between 16 and 38 years, were used in the study. Isolates from the swabs were aseptically collected and characterized using standard and established microbiological methods, which included growth and fermentation on mannitol salt agar (MSA), colonial morphology, Gram-staining reaction and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed on Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA) by modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.Results: S. aureus was isolated in 49.5 % (n = 99) of the 200 nasal swabs. Among these isolates, 43 % were from male residents and 22.2 % (n = 22) were MRSA. The MRSA isolates indicated relatively high rate of resistance to penicillins, moderate resistance to erythromycin and cefuroxime, and leastresistance to gentamicin, streptomycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and co-trimoxazole. There was no significant gender difference in terms of the colonization of S. aureus (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusion: Many apparently healthy residents of Ekosodin community are nasal carriers of MSRA. The need for rational chemotherapy, routine detection and regular surveillance of MRSA to limit its spread and reduce treatment failures is vital.

Gender differences of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with manifestations on HRCT.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been shown to have significant gender differences in terms of susceptibility, severity and response to therapy. We hypothesized that this was due to differences in functional and pathologic changes in the airway, which can be revealed by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in addition to pulmonary function test (PFT). A total of 84 patients with COPD were enrolled in the study. Within 1 week of enrollment, a history of each patient's current illness was obtained. PFT and chest HRCT scan were performed. The patients were classified as phenotype A, E and M based on the chest HRCT presentations. No significant gender differences were found in COPD severity (χ2 = 4.993, P = 0.172). Male patients have more smoking history and smaller average age compared with female patients. Female patients showed a significantly higher FEV1 /FVC, lower inspiratory capacity and milder residual volume/total lung capacity than that of male patients. Based on the HRCT results, more males were classified as phenotype M, whereas females tended to be phenotype A. Males had a greater grade of low attenuation areas and were more likely to show evidence of emphysema on a HRCT scan than females (χ2 = 15.373, P = 0.001), whereas females had less airway wall thickening than males, although this change had no statistical significance. (χ2 = 0.163, P = 0.922). Gender differences of COPD patients were seen in ages of onset, smoking history, and PFT and HRCT presentations. The use of HRCT imaging indicates that there are significant gender differences in the clinical manifestations of COPD.

Impact of gender on success and complication rates after ureteroscopy.

To investigate the impact of gender differences on treatment success, intraoperative and postoperative complications in patients undergoing ureteroscopy (URS). A prospectively maintained database of 927 consecutively performed ureteroscopies on solitary ureteral stones in four different centers was retrospectively analyzed. Stones were detected with preoperative computed tomography scans or intravenous urography imaging. Patients received intravenous antibiotics as perioperative prophylaxis. Patients with symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTI) prior to surgery were excluded. Follow-up was up to 2 weeks after URS or stent removal. Two hundred and eighty-six women and 641 men were included in this study. Mean stone size was 9 mm (range 2-35 mm). A double-J stent was placed in 240 (83 %) women and 527 (82 %) men at the end of surgery (p = 0.075). There was no significant gender difference in terms of stent dislocation (p = 0.239). Two hundred and fifty-one women (87 %) and 564 men (87 %) were stone-free after the first procedure (p = 0.917). Intraoperative complications were observed in 14 (4.8 %) women and 37 (5.9 %) men (p = 0.313). Severe UTI presenting with fever (>38 °C) and requiring prolonged hospitalization with parenteral antibiotics were observed in 11 (3 %) women and 8 (1 %) men postoperatively. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.025). No significant differences between female and male patients harboring ureteral stones with respect to intraoperative complications were detected. Although stone characteristics were comparable between groups, a small number of women had significantly more severe UTI's postoperatively. Our current therapy regimen for URS seems to be efficient and safe both for females and males.

The effect of power and gender on technology acceptance

Purpose– This paper aims to examine the joint effect of power and gender on individuals’ perceptions and evaluations of information systems (IS), and their behavioral intentions of technology acceptance.Design/methodology/approach– This study uses a 2 (powerful vs powerless) × 2 (female vs male) between-subject experimental design. A total of 128 subjects participated in the experiment.Findings– The results suggest that there is a significant gender difference in terms of technology acceptance in the high-power condition. Further, such a gender difference is attenuated in the low-power condition. Specifically, when primed with the feeling of powerful, male users (vs female users) have higher computer self-efficacy and rate the IS as easier to use and more enjoyable. However, when the feeling of powerless was elicited, the effect of gender on technology acceptance disappeared.Originality/value– The gender effect on technology acceptance has been widely studied. The current research extends the literature by considering the moderating effect of power on such a gender effect.

Cyber-Bullying, Personality and Coping among Pre-Adolescents

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of personality (Five Factor Model), coping and cyber-bullying/victimization experiences among 300 Greek pre-adolescent students attending the upper two primary school grades. Boys reported more frequent involvement in cyber-bullying incidents, while there were no significant gender differences in terms of cyber-victimization. In terms of participant roles, non-involved students scored higher in Conscientiousness, and cyber-bully/victims in Emotional Instability. The latter also tended to use maladaptive coping strategies more frequently, while cyber-bullies reported using more aggression and resignation to cope with interpersonal conflicts. Multiple regression analyses indicated that low conscientious boys who use passive avoidance and aggression were more likely to cyber-bully, while those who use aggression, passive avoidance and situation control to cope with interpersonal stressors were more likely to be cyber-victimized. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Baby boomers’ mobility patterns and preferences: What are the implications for future transport?

The demographic grand challenge of population ageing will be reflected in most areas of society and, to a great extent, in the area of transportation as well. It will have an impact on, for example, travel demand, infrastructure needs, traffic safety and the climate. The post-World War II cohorts, the so-called “baby boomers”, will comprise a large share of tomorrow's older population, and it is expected that they will differ from their parents’ generation when they grow old. In order to better understand how the ageing baby boomers may affect future travel demand, the travel behaviour and expectations of Danish baby boomers were analysed based on 1772 standardised telephone interviews. In general, the baby boomers reported being healthy, independent and highly (auto)mobile. They were also optimistic regarding their level of mobility, capability to use a variety of travel modes and ability to lead an independent life in the future. However, there were significant gender differences in terms of present and expected car use in old age, which were somewhat similar to those observed in older cohorts. In addition, different sub groups of baby boomers could be identified based on their future expectations: the so-called Flexibles, Independents and Restricted subjects. The segments showed significant differences in current travel behaviour and living conditions, as well as some similarities to former segments of older road users. The results indicate that the baby boomers are likely to be strong consumers of the transport system also as they age, but that the group is also heterogeneous. Thus, overly optimistic scenarios about independent baby boomers who differ from the previous generations and whose need for external support in old age will be minimal may be unrealistic.

Exploring gender differences in attitudes of university students towards entrepreneurship

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand gender differences in entrepreneurial intentions as measured by perceived feasibility and perceived desirability, and to explore gender differences in perceptions of entrepreneurship education needs – in terms of programmes, activities or projects – to succeed in an entrepreneurial career from the university student's point of view.Design/methodology/approachUsing data gathered from 3,420 university students in more than ten countries, and applying the Mann‐Whitney non‐parametric test, differences between genders and different intention groups were examined. To reduce the items regarding educational needs, factor analysis was used. Gender differences in educational needs were also examined via Mann‐Whitney Test.FindingsThe results confirm that compared to males, female students are less willing to start their own businesses. There are significant gender differences in terms of perceived feasibility and perceived desirability such that although they feel more supported by their families, females are less self‐confident, more tense, reluctant and concerned about entrepreneurship. In terms of entrepreneurial intention, there are fewer gender differences among students; however, differences relating to self‐confidence and family support still exist. Furthermore, students cited establishing entrepreneurial mentoring and an appropriate tutoring structure as the most needed entrepreneurial educational activity/program/project at an academic institution; this was rated higher by females compared to males.Practical implicationsThe findings of this paper could help guide educators and policy makers in designing effective entrepreneurship programmes that are customized to respond to gender specific needs to increase entrepreneurial participation.Originality/valueThis study reveals the gender differences in perceived desirability and perceived feasibility which impact entrepreneurial intentions. Gender differences in the entrepreneurial programmes/activities/projects required at an academic institution to promote entrepreneurial participation among university students is also explored.

Correlational Study of Perceived Quality of Home Environment and Self-Concept Among Adolescents

Adolescence is a period which is marked by several physical, cognitive and socio-emotional developments, during this crucial phase how quality of home environment plays an important role in the development of self-concept to be explored by this study. A sample of 100 adolescents (50 males and 50 females) studying in class Xth, XIth and XIIth were selected from various schools of Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. For collecting data the research tools namely Home Environment Inventory by Dr. Karuna Shankar Misra (1983) and Self-concept scale by Dr. Mukta Rani Rastogi (1979) were used. Findings of the Pearson Product Moment Coefficient of Correlation revealed that for the development of positive self-concept among adolescents, there should be less or no use of rejection, control, deprivation of privileges and social isolation of home environment. Results also revealed that home environment nurturance and permissiveness showed significantly negative correlation and plays an important role in the development of components of self-concept that is beliefs and convictions and feelings of shame and guilt among adolescents. Further t-test shows significant gender difference in terms of the perception of different dimensions of home environment and self-concept. That is on both the dimensions males scored significantly higher in terms of mean score than female adolescents except feelings of shame and guilt. These findings suggest that there should be an intervention program arranged for enhancing relationship between parents and adolescents especially for females.

Do Male Undergraduates Write More Argumentatively?

Research on linguistic variation across gender has focused mainly on oral language. However, second language (L2) writing research has began to explore gender as an important variable in the socio-cultural context of writers in the last few decades. This paper aimed to explain how gender identity in relation to L2 writing is viewed as multiple and dynamic rather than as predictable or universal in modern social constructionist understandings. It contrasts this view with three traditional fixed notions of gender: a) the male dominance framework, b) the female deficit approach, and c) the male-female dual culture model. We also aimed to illustrate how a group of male and female undergraduate students of English as a foreign language varied in their written position statements on the controversial topic of euthanasia. Around 100 third-year undergraduate EFL learners consented to write 100-200 word argumentative pieces on the topic in 2010. Quantitative lexico-grammatical analyses of their performance and the qualitative discourse analysis of the position statements across genders revealed significant gender differences in terms of tokens, number of word types, type-token ratio, average word length, number of sentence, lexical complexity, lexical sophistication as well as in general rhetorical organization. Results of the study showed that female learners wrote less assertively and less argumentatively than male learners using more obscure positions. Unlike some previous studies that reported no differences, the findings illustrated how learners' social contexts and limitations may be reflected in their approach to writing in English as a foreign language.

Gender differences in the psychological impact of tsunami

The aim of this observational study was to explore gender-related differences in psychiatric morbidity during the initial three months following the December 2004 earthquake and tsunami involving the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. There were 12,784 survivors sheltered across 74 relief camps with 4,684 displaced survivors in Port Blair and 8,100 non-displaced survivors in Car-Nicobar Island. All persons who accessed mental health assistance within the camps constituted the study sample. Diagnoses were made by qualified psychiatrists using the ICD-10. There were 475 patients: 188 (40%) men and 287 (60%) women. There were significant gender differences in terms of displacement. There were significantly higher levels of panic disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder and somatic complaints in the displaced women while the non-displaced population showed more adjustment disorder. Displacement was a significant factor in the manifestations of observed pathology. Displaced women had greater psychiatric morbidity. In addition, the fact that adjustment disorder (a self-limiting disorder form of psychopathology) was more prevalent in the non-displaced group may be a reflection of the findings of overall lesser morbidity in non-displaced women. Hence, women may have to be rehabilitated in their own habitats after major disasters.

Motivation, Confidence, and Control; Unraveling Active Learning for Nutrition and Food Undergraduates

Abstract: Nutrition and food students at Sheffield Hallam University completed an “active learning” assessment as part of a final year module, Applied Nutrition 2. The purpose of the “active learning” assessment was to encourage and enhance learner autonomy. The assessment consisted of 5 main stages: a briefing, thought shower, oral business proposal presentation, a feedback stage, and Nutrition Fair. To assess learner autonomy, levels of motivation, confidence, and control were quantitatively and qualitatively monitored throughout the learning journey. The results showed that levels of confidence, motivation, and control increased following each stage and significantly across the learning journey. However, there were significant gender differences in terms of achievement of marks and in levels of motivation at various stages. On average, females achieved higher marks in certain assessments and they demonstrated higher levels of motivation after the initial briefing. Further, significant differences were also reported between different degree routes in terms of achievement of marks and levels of confidence, motivation, and control. “Active learning” has been shown to foster improved levels of confidence, motivation, and control in a cohort of nutrition and food students, contributing to overall learner autonomy. Graduates able to demonstrate such qualities will undoubtedly be welcomed by employers in the relevant sectors.

Gender differences in students’ mathematics game playing

The investigation monitored the digital game-playing behaviours of 428 primary-aged students (aged 10-12 years). Chi-square analysis revealed that boys tend to spend more time playing digital games than girls while boys and girls play quite different game genres. Subsequent analysis revealed statistically significant gender differences in terms of the types of mathematics-rich games students prefer to play. Girls preferred to play games that required problem solving, quantitative computations and the interpretation of graphs. Boys preferred games that required visual/spatial engagement. Given the fact that boys outperform girls on spatial tasks and mathematics assessment items that contain graphics, this study has implications for the development of students' mathematics sense making.

Gender Specific Aspects of Cell Death in the Cardiovascular System

It has become apparent over the past few decades that several factors can determine lethal or sublethal alterations of cardiovascular system cell function such as inflammatory reaction products, peptides and hormones. In turn, the loss of cellular components from the blood vessels wall and the heart tissue contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Hence, in the recent years, the efforts of several research groups have specifically been devoted to deeply investigate the implication of the main forms of cell injury, necrosis, apoptosis and autophagy, in the development of cardiac and blood vessel alterations associated with human diseases. Furthermore, several lines of evidence demonstrate that CVD clearly display significant gender differences in terms of onset, progression and outcome. Cardiovascular cells contain functional estrogen and androgen receptors and are targets for sex hormone action, which can influence many physiological and pathological processes, including vascular and myocardial cell homeostasis. However, hormones are important but not unique actors in this issue, further genetic and epigenetic determinants being involved. This review focuses on recent studies on the effects of gender differences, including sex hormones, on cardiac and vascular cell injury and death and their influence in determining atherosclerosis, heart failure and other main human CVD.

The Adoption of Mobile Commerce Service among Employed Mobile Phone Users in Bangladesh: Self-efficacy as a Moderator

Mobile commerce or better known as M-commerce is a fairly new phenomenon in the wake of the second technology wave from the famous E-commerce (electronic commerce) in the 21st century. As the Internet started to proliferate in many parts of the world, the mobile phone penetration in terms of voice communication started to grow rapidly. This simultaneous rapid growth has caused a new phenomenon of convergence of Internet computing and mobile communication where M-commerce has its root. M-commerce has the potential to enhance the work-life within the employed mobile phone users in Bangladesh. The purpose of this study is to examine whether awareness and knowledge, convenience of Mobile devices and WAP/GPRS enabled handsets, pricing and cost, security and privacy, rich and fast information, and perceived usefulness have any influence on the adoption of M-commerce among employed Mobile phone users in two major cities in Bangladesh – Dhaka and Chittagong. A survey method was used to collect data. The findings suggest that pricing and cost, rich and fast information, and security and privacy are significant predictors of the adoption of M-commerce. Self-efficacy is found to be a moderating factor for the adoption of M-commerce services. The findings also suggest that there is no significant gender difference in terms of M-commerce adoption level among mobile users in Bangladesh.