The protein phosphatase 1 regulator NIPP1 is essential for mammalian spermatogenesis

NIPP1 is one of the major nuclear interactors of protein phosphatase PP1. The deletion of NIPP1 in mice is early embryonic lethal, which has precluded functional studies in adult tissues. Hence, we have generated an inducible NIPP1 knockout model using a tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase transgene. The inactivation of the NIPP1 encoding alleles (Ppp1r8) in adult mice occurred very efficiently in testis and resulted in a gradual loss of germ cells, culminating in a Sertoli-cell only phenotype. Before the overt development of this phenotype Ppp1r8 -/- testis showed a decreased proliferation and survival capacity of cells of the spermatogenic lineage. A reduced proliferation was also detected after the tamoxifen-induced removal of NIPP1 from cultured testis slices and isolated germ cells enriched for undifferentiated spermatogonia, hinting at a testis-intrinsic defect. Consistent with the observed phenotype, RNA sequencing identified changes in the transcript levels of cell-cycle and apoptosis regulating genes in NIPP1-depleted testis. We conclude that NIPP1 is essential for mammalian spermatogenesis because it is indispensable for the proliferation and survival of progenitor germ cells, including (un)differentiated spermatogonia.publishe

Can religious affiliation explain the disadvantage of Muslim women in the British labour market?

This article aims to explain the labour market penalties among Muslim women in Britain. It draws on theories of intersectionality and colour/cultural racism to argue that the labour market experience of British-Muslim women is multiply determined via criteria of ascription such as ethnicity, migration status, race and religion rather than criteria of achievement. The study uses data from the Labour Force Survey (2002–2013) with a large sample (N=245,391) of women aged 19–65 years. The overarching finding suggests that most Muslim women, regardless of their multiple ascriptive identities, generation and levels of qualifications, still face significant penalties compared with their White-British Christian counterparts. The penalties for some groups, such as Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Black-Muslim women, are harsher than for Indian and White-Muslim women, demonstrating how different social markers and multiple identities have contingent relationships to multiple determinants and outcomes

Symbolic gestures: the development terrain of post-tsunami villages in (southern) Sri Lanka

This article analyses how rituals and ceremonies were deployed in the post-tsunami rehabilitation process in Sri Lanka to ‘incorporate’ development projects into the habitus and social reality of local communities. It argues that even though the aid delivery process is represented as a gift, in reality it is more concerned with strengthening the social capital of the local and foreign donors. Through this process there is an expectation and an implicit demand for acquiescence from the beneficiaries, which leaves them with a social debt. This, in turn, compels them to participate in the game of development rituals and ceremonies, in order to express their (ambivalent) gratitude and thankfulness. Through two case studies, we explore how the good intentions of donors to provide aid and alleviate suffering and the acceptance of this aid by the local communities, results in an asymmetric relationship where both become accomplices ofBourdieuian notions of subtle and gentle violence