Copy number variations (CNVs), among other genetic abnormalities, have been implicated in a range of disorders and can result in a variety of clinical manifestations, such as intellectual disability, developmental disorders, and cancer. The role of specific genes within such CNVs, especially novel or rare genes, is the subject of ever-advancing

We examined how locally situated and transnationally circulated meanings of feminism interact forming implicit cultural meanings, and how these meanings about feminism appear in women’s accounts of their own work and identifications. Using twenty-four oral histories, we identified four implicit cultural meanings about feminism: (1) “Mainstream” feminism is/as white and middle-class; (2) Feminists are lesbians; (3) Feminism is/as hostile to men; and (4) Feminism is/as a “western” ideology. In addition, we identified three strategies activists used to respond to these meanings: (1) distancing themselves from the word “feminist/feminism”; (2) explicitly embracing the term and clarifying its meaning; and (3) shifting from an individual to a structural level of analysis. Examining these discourses in a multinational sample with women of various racial-ethnic and indigenous identities, we found that implicit cultural meanings often identified in the U.S. or as western interact with locally found meanings affecting activists in the Majority World . Activists’ use of these implicit cultural meanings complicated prevalent, but often simplistic, narratives about feminists, feminism, and identity.

A document by Haijia Zhang. Click on the document to view its contents.

We report a ductile dicing process for manufacturing optical-quality facets in a multi-layered silicon nitride platform without the need for polishing. A surface roughness (Sa) of 1.5 nm was achieved. This technique was extended to fabricate ridge waveguides, and the results and characterization are reported.

Ecological niche models, crucial for estimating species’ potential distribution under global change, can face reduced accuracy when the timing of occurrence data does not align with the environmental data. One solution is to ensure a close temporal match between the environment and the observation date. While this approach is typically recommended for highly mobile species, a few findings support its use for species with limited mobility, whose distributions may be responding to climate change via local population changes. Additionally, it remains unclear what specific temporal resolution could improve model performance. This study assesses the effectiveness of temporal matching for a species with low mobility, the Mexican small-eared shrew (Cryptotis mexicanus), by evaluating different temporal resolutions (one-, five-, and ten-year averaged environmental data) against the standard method (30-year). Occurrences between 1971 and 2000 were used for model training and cross-validation, while those outside this range were used for external evaluation. Based on the omission rate of the external evaluation occurrences, the approach that matched environmental data using the prior ten-year resolution performed better than the standard 30-year average approach, while the rest of evaluation metrics (for any temporal resolution) were not different. Visual inspection indicated that the geographic prediction resulting from a ten-year resolution was as realistic as the one from the standard 30-year approach. In contrast, the shorter temporal resolutions (one and five years) resulted in unrealistic estimates. Therefore, matching the timing of occurrences and environmental data for other species with low mobility may also improve model performance and geographic predictions. Additionally, this correlative approach identifies a potential time lag between climatic changes and population responses in this species. Studies can select the optimal temporal resolution by exploring several or using available information about population responses to climate change.

The dynamic fracture behavior of mass concrete is crucial to the safety evaluation of concrete dams subjected to strong earthquake. Cylindrical specimens with a ring of preset crack were cast and direct tension tests were performed. Two loading rates were considered, i.e., 10 -6/s for quasi-static loading and 10 -3/s for dynamic loading. When calculating the fracture toughness, the influence of eccentricity in the tests was compensated. Next, the crack propagation process of mass concrete was modeled using the extended finite element method. From the test results it’s found that under quasi-static loading, the crack generally propagates along the interface between the aggregates and the matrix, while under dynamic loading, more aggregates are fractured. As compared to the case of quasi-static loading, the energy absorption capacity, fracture energy and fracture toughness increase for dynamic loading while the characteristic length decreases. Moreover, the numerically predicted P- CMOD curves agree well with the experimental measurements.

RECONSTRUCTION OF CHRONIC QUADRICEPS TENDON RUPTURE USING AUTOLOGOUS SEMITENDINOSUS GRAFT: A CASE REPORTINTRODUCTION  :Chronic quadriceps tendon rupture is a relatively rare injury that can be challenging to treat. While autologous tendon grafting is a widely accepted method, it is acknowledged that the process of harvesting tendons results in extended rehabilitation and heightened surgical complications, especially in older patients or those with pre-existing co-morbidities. The reconstruction of chronic quadriceps tendon injuries presents significant challenges and yields unsatisfactory results.1 In this case report, we reported a 17-year-old male with chronic quadriceps tendon rupture treated using ipsilateral Manuscript  without author details Click here to view linked References semitendinosus graft and suture anchor to propose an option of surgical technique for quadriceps tendon reconstructionCASE HISTORY  :A 17-year-old male came to our institution with left knee pain since 8 months ago after he fell into a ditch. After the incident, the patient complained of left knee pain, especially when he tried to straighten his knee. Physical examination demonstrated palpable gap on suprapatellar region.

Taxonomic monographs, such as those of the Fauna and Flora of the Gulf of Naples, have almost eternal life, in terms of scientific relevance, and keep being cited even after centuries.

Numerous studies have tested for geographically congruent spatial genetic structures and population units in codistributed species. Yet, few have elucidated the relative importance of biogeographic influences versus ecological interactions in determining the congruence of genetic structure in coevolving species. Here, we present the first study testing for genetic codifferentiation in a widely distributed and highly-coevolved mutualism, in which symbiont gene dispersal is expected to be positively correlated. In the fig, Ficus petiolaris, and its host-specific Pegoscapus pollinating wasp, we evaluated the extent to which geographical patterns of differentiation in each species are similar and explained by shared sources of vicariance, co-dispersal, or species-dependent factors. In both species, the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt was a major source of vicariance differentiating southern and northern phylogroups. Within these phylogroups, however, fig and pollinator showed surprisingly different population genetic structure. In F. petiolaris, the Gulf of California was a strong phylogeographic break in the northern phylogroup. In contrast, within its northern phylogroup, Pegoscapus sp. showed no genetic structure and only weak isolation by distance over a 1500 km range. In the southern phylogroup, exceptional genetic differentiation was observed among populations separated by as little as 300 km. Despite mutual selective pressure between figs and fig wasps, and the role of fig wasps in fig gene flow, we conclude that range-wide patterns of genetic differentiation are primarily influenced by biological features unique to each species rather than by shared sources of vicariance or correlated gene dispersal.

There is a recent push to develop wild and non-domesticated Saccharomyces yeast strains into useful model systems for research in ecology and evolution, and for industrial and medical applications. Yet, the variation between species and strains in important population parameters, such as growth rate and carrying capacity, remains largely undescribed. Here, we investigated the relationship between two commonly used measures in microbiology to estimate growth rate – cell density and cell count - in 23 strains across all eight known Saccharomyces species with different ecological and geographic origins . We found that the slope of this relationship significantly differs among species. Thus, a given optical density (OD) does not translate into the same number of cells across species. We then speculated that this is due to species with smaller cells producing steeper slopes. While average cell size indeed differed between species, surprisingly, we found a slightly positive relationship between cell size and the slope of the cell density-cell count relationship, in the opposite direction than we predicted. Our results show that the strain- and species-specificity of the cell density and cell count relationship should be taken into account when running competition experiments requiring equal starting population sizes, when estimating the fitness of strains with different genetic backgrounds in experimental evolution studies, or when optimizing strains for industry. If we want to improve the biological interpretations of fitness data from wild yeasts, and draw meaningful conclusions from comparisons between wild and established laboratory strains, we need to calibrate our fitness estimates carefully.

Antarctic sea ice extent has been persistently low since late 2016, possibly owing to changes in atmospheric and oceanic conditions. However, the relative contributions of the ocean, the atmosphere and the underlying mechanisms by which they have affected sea ice remain uncertain. To investigate possible causes for this sea-ice decrease, we establish a seasonal timeline of sea ice changes following 2016, using remote sensing observations. Anomalies in the timing of sea ice retreat and advance are examined along with their spatial and interannual relations with various indicators of seasonal sea ice and oceanic changes. They include anomalies in winter ice thickness, spring ice removal rate due to ice melt and transport, and summer sea surface temperature. We find that the ice season has shortened at unprecedented rate and magnitude, due to earlier retreat and later advance. We attribute this shortening to a winter ice thinning, in line with the ice-albedo feedback, with ice transport playing a more minor role. Reduced ice thickness has accelerated spring ice area removal as thinner sea ice requires less time to melt. The consequent earlier sea ice retreat has in turn increased ocean solar heat uptake in summer, ultimately delaying sea ice advance. We speculate that the observed winter sea ice thinning is consistent with previous evidence of subsurface warming of the Southern Ocean.

Back-projection (BP) is a cornerstone method for imaging earthquake ruptures, particularly effective at teleseismic distances for deciphering large earthquake kinematics. Its superior resolution is attributed to the ability to resolve high-frequency (>1 Hz) seismic signals, where waveforms immediately following the first coherent arrivals are composed of waves scattered by small-scale seismic velocity heterogeneities. This scattering leads to waveform incoherence between neighboring stations, a phenomenon not captured by synthetic tests of BP using Green’s functions (GF) derived from oversimplified 1D or smooth 3D velocity models. Addressing this gap, we introduce a novel approach to generate synthetic Incoherent Green’s Functions (IGF) that include scattered waves, accurately mimicking the observed inter-station waveform coherence decay spatially and temporally. Our methodology employs a waveform simulator that adheres to ray theory for the travel times of scattered waves, aggregating them as incident plane waves to simulate the high-frequency scattered wavefield across a seismic array. Contrary to conventional views that scattered waves degrade BP imaging quality by reducing array coherence, our synthetic tests reveal that IGFs are indispensable for accurately imaging extensive ruptures. Specifically, the rapid decay of IGF coherence prevents early rupture segments from overshadowing subsequent ones, a critical flaw when using coherent GFs. By leveraging IGFs, we delve into previously unexplored aspects of BP imaging’s resolvability, sensitivity, fidelity, and uncertainty. Our investigation not only highlights and explains the commonly observed “tailing” and “shadowing” artefacts but also proposes a robust framework for identifying different rupture stages and quantifying their uncertainties, thereby significantly enhancing BP imaging accuracy.

Installment options, as path-dependent contingent claims, involve paying the premium discretely or continuously in installments, rather than as a lump sum at the time of purchase. In this paper, we applied the PDE approach to price European continuous-installment option and consider Heston stochastic volatility model for the dynamics of the underlying asset. We proved the existence and uniqueness of the weak solution for our pricing problem based on the two-dimensional finite element method. Due to the flexibility to continue or stop paying installments, installment options pricing can be modeled as an optimal stopping time problem. This problem is formulated as an equivalent free boundary problem and then as a complementarity linear problem (LCP). We wrote the resulted LCP in the form of a variational inequality and used the finite element method for the discretization. Then the resulting time-dependent LCPs are solved by using a projected successive over relaxation iteration method. Finally, we implemented our numerical method. The numerical results are verified the efficiency and usefulness of the suggested method.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) extracted from water is routinely used in river biodiversity research, and via metabarcoding eDNA can provide comprehensive taxa lists with little effort and cost. However, eDNA-based species detection in streams and rivers may be influenced by sampling season and other key factors such as water temperature and discharge. Research linking these factors and also informing on the potential of eDNA metabarcoding to detect shifts in ecological signatures, such as species phenology and functional feeding groups across seasons, is missing. To address this gap, we collected water samples every two weeks for 15 months at a long-term ecological research (LTER) site and at three different positions in the river’s cross section, specifically the water surface, riverbed, and riverbank. For these 102 samples, we analyzed macroinvertebrate species and molecular Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) richness and temporal community turnover across seasons based on COI metabarcoding data. Using Generalized Additive Models, we found a significant influence of sampling season on species richness. Community turnover followed a cyclic pattern, reflecting the continuous change of the macroinvertebrate community throughout the year (‘seasonal clock’). Although water temperature had no influence on the inferred species richness, higher discharge reduced the number of Annelida and Ephemeroptera species detectable with eDNA. Most macroinvertebrate taxa showed the highest species richness in spring, in particular merolimnic species with univoltine life cycles. Further, we detected an increase in proportion of shredders in winter and of parasites in summer. Our results show the usefulness of highly resolved eDNA metabarcoding time series data for ecological research and biodiversity monitoring in streams and rivers.

A document by Ahmed Qasim Mohammed Alhatemi. Click on the document to view its contents.

Objective: To explore the optimization and effect analysis of laryngotracheal stenosis surgery planning based on the Myer and Cotton grade, disease course, control of the primary disease, and the general condition of the body under the influence of various factors. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for 32 patients with acquired laryngotracheal stenosis who received surgical treatment from October 2015 to December 2021. Results: Surgical procedures included sleeve resection and end to end anastomosis (n = 16), partial circumferential tracheal resection (n = 2), tracheal granulation (scar) resection using a CO 2 laser (n = 2), and T-tube insertion (n = 12). Successful decannulation was achieved in 31 patients (96.9%). Post-operative complications comprised: Subcutaneous emphysema (n = 25), subcutaneous infection (n = 6), anastomotic restenosis (n = 4), and anterior cervical tracheal fistula (n = 4). Conclusion: Considering multiple factors, the optimization of the surgical plan according to the degree of stenosis, the disease course, control of the primary disease, and the patient’s general condition was an important guarantee to improve the curative effect of laryngotracheal stenosis.

Aim: To investigate the association between ulcerative colitis drugs and myocarditis as an adverse event based on the detection of adverse event signals using a spontaneous reporting database. Methods: We searched for five drugs, namely mesalazine, sulfasalazine, azathioprine, mercaptopurine, and budesonide, listed in the treatment guidelines for ulcerative colitis, using VigiBase. The information component was calculated. A signal was considered present when the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval of the information component exceeded zero. Results: The total number of VigiBase reports and of myocarditis as a target adverse event was 32 520 983 and 61 567, respectively. No trend was identified based on age or sex. Analysis of the five ulcerative colitis drugs for severity in VigiBase showed that most patients recovered, and deaths were few. However, the time to onset of adverse drug reactions varied among drugs. Conclusion: Mesalazine signals were detected regardless of age or sex. This suggests that myocarditis, an adverse event, may be a potential complication regardless of patient characteristics. These results warrant multifaceted investigations, including basic and clinical studies, on the characteristics of each drug with regard to the development of myocarditis as an adverse event caused by ulcerative colitis drugs.

Background and Purpose Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the fastest growing neurological disorder. Strong evidence reveals that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction play critical roles in the pathophysiology of PD. Rosemary contains a large number of abietane diterpenoids with antioxidant power and DACA is a modified product from it. The present study revealed the anti-parkinsonian effects of DACA and its possible mechanisms. Experimental Approach The PD model was established by treating mice with MPTP and SH-SY5Y cells and primary neurons with MPP+. western blot and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of DACA. At the same time, the anxiety-like behavior and motor coordination ability of mice were detected. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection, mitochondrial membrane potential detection and western blot were used to detect oxidative stress and mitochondrial related signal changes. Key Results DACA improved the motor dysfunction of mouse and inhibited the decrease of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurons in substantia nigra (SN) and TH protein expression in midbrain and striatum. It also enhanced the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream antioxidant enzymes in midbrain and striatum. DACA prevented MPP+- induced toxicity, reduced oxidative stress and maintained mitochondrial function. The neuroprotective effects of DACA were associated with its ability to induce Nrf2 into nucleus and regulate mitophagy. Conclusion and Implications In conclusion, we demonstrated that DACA exerted significant neuroprotection against through the regulation of Nrf2 signaling, suggesting the use of DACA as a possible food supplement in the prevention of PD.

A document by Fanghui Zhou. Click on the document to view its contents.

Background: While dysfunctional exhausted CD8+ T cells hamper viral control when children acquire hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, it’s crucial to recognize that CD8+ T cells have diverse phenotypes and functions. This study explored a subset of CD8+ T cells expressing C - C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) in children with HBV infection. Methods: 36 patients in the immune tolerant (IT) group, 33 patients in the immune active (IA) group, and 55 patients in the combined response (CR) group were enrolled. The frequency, functional molecules and effector functions of the CCR5+CD8+ T cells population in different groups were evaluated. Results: The frequency of CCR5+CD8+ T cells correlated positively with the frequency of CCR5+ CD4+ T cells and patient age, and it correlated negatively with ALT, AST, HBV DNA, HBsAg and lactic dehydrogenase levels. CCR5+CD8+ T cells had higher levels of inhibitory and activated receptors and produced higher levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α than CCR5-CD8+ T cells. Conclusion：CCR5+CD8+T cells were partially exhausted but possessed a stronger antiviral activity than CCR5-CD8+T cells. The identification of this subset increases our understanding of CD8+ T cell functions and serve as a potential immunotherapeutic target for children with HBV infection.

The development of early numeracy skills takes place within the home and school environments. Parental engagement in daily activities that incorporate numerical concepts plays a pivotal role in maximizing learning opportunities. In this study, we developed and implemented a family intervention program designed to promote numerical activities in the home setting. Our goal was to promote the use of mathematical concepts and enhance children’s mathematical performance. Employing a pre-post intervention design, we conducted individual cognitive assessments on 115 Uruguayan children (mean age: 5.0 years; standard deviation: 0.5) across various domains, including mathematics, vocabulary, and general intelligence. We then organized three distinct groups: one focused on numeracy, another on literacy, and the third continued with their regular routines (business as usual). Parents assigned to the first two groups were extended invitations to participate in three workshops, during which they were introduced to both theoretical and practical tools to promote the respective academic domains. While our intervention suggested parental interest in participating in math workshops and in promoting academic skills at home, the results indicated that it did not produce the anticipated effect on mathematical skills. Practical and policy: This study presents an intervention on engaging parents in mathematical activities at home for promoting mathematical skills in Latin America, and it highlights challenges for designing effective interventions in the future.

Objective There is a strong consensus that mood enhancement is a primary benefit of physical activity (PA). However, the evidence about the positive effect of PA on the mood states of persons with schizophrenia is scarce, probably due to the limited psychometric properties of the most widely used instrument to assess mood. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the construct validity of the Portuguese short version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS-SV) for persons with schizophrenia. Additionally, a comparative analyse was conducted to explore the mood states according to different demographic variables. The sample consisted of 106 in and outpatients (n=47 women) with schizophrenia. Methods Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to assess internal consistency. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses were carried out to examine the factor structure and structural validity of the questionnaire, respectively. Pearson’s correlations were calculated in order to examine the associations between the POMS subscales. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare means differences of POMS subscales and total scales between sociodemographic groups. Results The Portuguese version of the POMS-SV revealed a model of 31 items and 6 factors with good internal consistency and good fit indexes for the application in persons with schizophrenia. Significant differences were found in gender, marital status, and engaged PA in the negative mood sub-scales. Conclusion The POMS-SF exhibited good psychometric properties and appears to be a valid and reliable instrument to assess mood states in a population of both in and outpatients with schizophrenia. The results of the present study support its application in clinical practice and research with expanded usefulness in PA settings.

In 1949 a world record in equestrian sport was broken when Captain Larraguibel and his horse Huaso jumped 2.47 meters high at the Coraceros regiment in Viña del Mar in Chile. This work first provides a historical overview of the event and then indicates the general characteristics of the equestrian jump. In addition, a kinematic analysis is made using an audiovisual record of the jump to finally theorize about the possible histological features that allowed the Huaso-Larraguibel duo to perform this jump. It is concluded that this type of procedure can be used in modern equestrian jumping, allowing to determine of biomechanical characteristics that can be improved through training.

Understanding the responses of vegetation to grazing exclusion along a salinity gradient is useful for the management of grasslands. We studied the responses of vegetation to grazing removal (ungrazed areas) in three semiarid regions with different soil salinity levels: non-saline, moderately saline and hyper-saline. The results showed that Bray-Curtis dissimilarity between grazed and ungrazed areas were highest in the non-saline region. In the hyper-saline region, the grazing removal had no significant effect on any of the diversity indices, while in the non-saline regions, vegetation changes were occurred by grazing exclusion at the highest magnitude. Generally, the magnitude of vegetation changes by livestock grazing exclusion was decreased along the soil salinity gradient. This research could help to understand how disturbances and stresses interactively influence grasslands dynamics in semiarid regions and to understand the effects of grazing on grassland dynamics and sustainability in deserts in the context of salinization.