Ceriantharia (Cnidaria) of the World: An annotated catalogue and key to species

The diversity of Ceriantharia is known from studies formally describing species from the late 18th Century onwards. However, no nomenclators including a list and discussion of all valid species have been produced since a list discussed by Carlgren in 1912. The present nomenclator presents a complete list of adult species of Ceriantharia of the World, including a discussion on each species. It includes the three families (Arachnactidae, Botrucnidiferidae, Cerianthidae) and the currently accepted 54 species based on their adult form. This study serves as a presentation of the “state-of-the-art” list of species of Ceriantharia, and includes a species identification key to support taxonomic identification. Additional in-depth species-byspecies investigations for almost all cerianthid species is still needed, as the information available for most of these species is quite superficial.Fil: Stampar, Sergio. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Reimer, James D.. University of The Ryukyus; JapónFil: Maronna, Maximiliano. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Lopes, Celine S.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Ceriello, Helen. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Santos, Thais B.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Acuña, Fabian Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Morandini, André C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Fast-Evolving Mitochondrial DNA in Ceriantharia: A\ud Reflection of Hexacorallia Paraphyly?

The low evolutionary rate of mitochondrial genes in Anthozoa has challenged their utility for phylogenetic and systematic\ud purposes, especially for DNA barcoding. However, the evolutionary rate of Ceriantharia, one of the most enigmatic ‘‘orders’’\ud within Anthozoa, has never been specifically examined. In this study, the divergence of mitochondrial DNA of Ceriantharia\ud was compared to members of other Anthozoa and Medusozoa groups. In addition, nuclear markers were used to check the\ud relative phylogenetic position of Ceriantharia in relation to other Cnidaria members. The results demonstrated a pattern of\ud divergence of mitochondrial DNA completely different from those estimated for other anthozoans, and phylogenetic\ud analyses indicate that Ceriantharia is not included within hexacorallians in most performed analyses. Thus, we propose that\ud the Ceriantharia should be addressed as a separate clade.Fapesp 2012/01771 (SNS), 2010/50174-7 (ACM), 2006/56211-6(MMM) and 2011/17537 (MVK)CNPq 481549/2012-9 (SNS) and (JDR

Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 Countries

Despite global commitments and efforts, a gender-based division of paid and unpaid work persists. To identify how psychological factors, national policies, and the broader sociocultural context contribute to this inequality, we assessed parental-leave intentions in young adults (18–30 years old) planning to have children (N = 13,942; 8,880 identified as women; 5,062 identified as men) across 37 countries that varied in parental-leave policies and societal gender equality. In all countries, women intended to take longer leave than men. National parental-leave policies and women’s political representation partially explained cross-national variations in the gender gap. Gender gaps in leave intentions were paradoxically larger in countries with more gender-egalitarian parental-leave policies (i.e., longer leave available to both fathers and mothers). Interestingly, this cross-national variation in the gender gap was driven by cross-national variations in women’s (rather than men’s) leave intentions. Financially generous leave and gender-egalitarian policies (linked to men’s higher uptake in prior research) were not associated with leave intentions in men. Rather, men’s leave intentions were related to their individual gender attitudes. Leave intentions were inversely related to career ambitions. The potential for existing policies to foster gender equality in paid and unpaid work is discussed.Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 CountriespublishedVersio

Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 Countries

Despite global commitments and efforts, a gender-based division of paid and unpaid work persists. To identify how psychological factors, national policies, and the broader sociocultural context contribute to this inequality, we assessed parental-leave intentions in young adults (18–30 years old) planning to have children (N = 13,942; 8,880 identified as women; 5,062 identified as men) across 37 countries that varied in parental-leave policies and societal gender equality. In all countries, women intended to take longer leave than men. National parental-leave policies and women’s political representation partially explained cross-national variations in the gender gap. Gender gaps in leave intentions were paradoxically larger in countries with more gender-egalitarian parental-leave policies (i.e., longer leave available to both fathers and mothers). Interestingly, this cross-national variation in the gender gap was driven by cross-national variations in women’s (rather than men’s) leave intentions. Financially generous leave and gender-egalitarian policies (linked to men’s higher uptake in prior research) were not associated with leave intentions in men. Rather, men’s leave intentions were related to their individual gender attitudes. Leave intentions were inversely related to career ambitions. The potential for existing policies to foster gender equality in paid and unpaid work is discussed

Systems biology and metabolic modelling unveils limitations to polyhydroxybutyrate accumulation in sugarcane leaves; lessons for C4 engineering

In planta production of the bioplastic polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is one important way in which plant biotechnology can address environmental problems and emerging issues related to peak oil. However, high biomass C4 plants such as maize, switch grass and sugarcane develop adverse phenotypes including stunting, chlorosis and reduced biomass as PHB levels in leaves increase. In this study, we explore limitations to PHB accumulation in sugarcane chloroplasts using a systems biology approach, coupled with a metabolic model of C4 photosynthesis. Decreased assimilation was evident in high PHB-producing sugarcane plants, which also showed a dramatic decrease in sucrose and starch content of leaves. A subtle decrease in the C/N ratio was found which was not associated with a decrease in total protein content. An increase in amino acids used for nitrogen recapture was also observed. Based on the accumulation of substrates of ATP-dependent reactions, we hypothesized ATP starvation in bundle sheath chloroplasts. This was supported by mRNA differential expression patterns. The disruption in ATP supply in bundle sheath cells appears to be linked to the physical presence of the PHB polymer which may disrupt photosynthesis by scattering photosynthetically active radiation and/or physically disrupting thylakoid membranes

Sexual orientation beliefs, sexual identity outcomes, and psychological wellbeing in LGB Australians

Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals are found that be at a greater risk of a range of psychopathologies compared to their heterosexual counterparts (King et al., 2008). This disparity has been attributed to increased social adversity faced by sexual minorities, including exposure to sexuality based discrimination, as well as negative attitudes and beliefs that sexual minority individuals may develop about their stigmatised identities (Meyer, 2003). The aim of this thesis was twofold. The first aim was to examine how beliefs about the nature and aetiology of sexual orientation are linked to a range of sexual identity outcomes relevant to psychological wellbeing, including self-acceptance and certainty in one’s sexual orientation, and, whether these associations differ between sexual minority subgroups (i.e., gay vs. lesbian vs. bisexual men and women). The second aim was to examine a macro-level factor, geographical locality, to examine how the experience of sexual minority stress, LGB community connectedness, and social isolation differ for LGB Australians residing in rural vs. metropolitan localities. In the first chapter of this thesis (Chapter 1), I review literature relevant to mental health disparities in LGB populations and sexual minority stress, before going on to examine the structure and implications of heterosexuals’ beliefs about sexual orientation, and the limited literature examining the sexual orientation beliefs of sexual minority individuals. I then propose a theoretical model linking certain facets of sexual orientation essentialism with sexual orientation outcomes and psychological wellbeing in LGB individuals. Three studies (Chapters 2 through 4) sequentially examine the implications of sexual orientation beliefs for sexual identity outcomes in sexual minority subgroups. Two correlational studies examine the proposed theoretical model using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in a large sample of gay men (Study 1) and lesbian vs. bisexual women (Study 2). Study 1 found that gay men endorse a mixture of essentialist and social constructionist beliefs about sexual orientation, and that these beliefs hold divergent relationships for internalised homonegativity and sexual orientation uncertainty. Most notably, those perceiving sexual orientation as biologically based and immutable (natural) reported increased certainty in their sexual orientation, whilst those viewing sexuality as existing in discrete categories (discrete) reported increased internalised homonegativity, and in turn poorer psychological wellbeing. In Study 2, a slightly modified theoretical model was tested among lesbian and bisexual women. Similar to the case in gay men, biological-immutability beliefs were linked to less sexual orientation uncertainty in lesbian and bisexual women. Notably however, discreteness beliefs were associated with increased internalised stigma and poorer psychological wellbeing in bisexual women only; presumably, as such beliefs imply that bisexual identity is unstable or illegitimate. Finally, inclusion of sexual attraction patterns in this model revealed that 1) lesbian women reporting more exclusive same-sex attraction are more likely to embrace biological-immutability and discreteness beliefs, and 2) a-prototypical attraction patterns (non-exclusive same-sex attraction among lesbian women and same or opposite-sex preference among bisexual women) predicts poorer wellbeing via increased sexual orientation uncertainty. As such, sexual orientation beliefs appear to predict sexual identity outcomes among LGB individuals, with unique patterns of associations observed across sexual minority subgroups. Study 3 examined how sexual orientation was conceptualised across sexual minority subgroups, focusing in particular on the emerging sexual identities of “pansexual” and “queer”. This study found that gay men were most likely to conceive of sexual orientation as biologically based/immutable and categorical in nature, followed by lesbian women, and that bisexual men and women, and those adopting pansexual and queer identities, were least likely to adopt these beliefs. Demographics and sexual orientation indicators revealed that pansexual participants were most reminiscent of bisexual, whilst queer participants were most reminiscent of gay/lesbian populations. Chapter 5 (Study 4) addressed the second aim of this thesis, examining whether rural vs. metropolitan locality independently predicted exposure to sexual minority stress, connectedness with the LGB community and social isolation among sexual minority Australians. Residing in rural-remote localities was linked to increased concealment of sexuality from friends, more concern regarding disclosure of sexuality, fewer friendships with other LGB people and, among men, higher levels of internalised homonegativity. Unexpectedly, those residing in outer-metropolitan areas of major cities demonstrated comparable disadvantages, as those in rural-remote localities. In the final chapter (Chapter 7) the contribution of these findings to understanding the implications of sexual orientation beliefs among distinct sexual minority communities, as well the role of geographical locality in conferring risk for psychopathology among LGB populations, are interpreted in light of previous findings. Finally, I examine implications of these findings for the ethics of scientific research into sexual orientation, LGB advocacy, and counselling psychology, before discussing limitations and future directions for research

Does exposure to continuous and fluid theories of sexual orientation influence heterosexuals’ evaluations toward bisexual or gay/lesbian people?

Scientific research suggests that sexual orientation is continuous in nature and can be fluid over time. Relatively little is known about how greater mainstream acceptance of such accounts of sexual orientation may influence lay people’s attitudes toward gay/lesbian and bisexual individuals. Two studies (N1 = 180; N2 = 460) examined whether attitudes towards sexual minority groups could be influenced by intentional exposure to these differing accounts of sexual orientation. Specifically, sexual orientation was presented as either existing in discrete categories versus along a continuum, or as stable versus fluid over time. Sequential linear regression models were used to examine whether exposure to discrete, continuous, fluid, or stable accounts influenced heterosexual participants’ affective responses towards gay, lesbian, or bisexual men and women. Political orientation and gender were evaluated as potential moderators of possible exposure effects. Whereas significant effects were not observed in the pilot study (among university students), heterosexual individuals in Study 2 (based on a community sample) evaluate each of these sexual minority groups, except gay men more positively after reading the continuous account, compared to control. Additional simple slopes analyses revealed male participants in the continuous condition were markedly warmer towards bisexual men, relative to male participants in the control. Findings suggest that presenting sexual orientation as continuous to heterosexual audiences is beneficial to improving perceptions of lesbian and bisexual people

Condom Use During COVID-19: Findings from an Australian Sample of Heterosexual Young Adults

Condoms are a valuable tool in combating the continued spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Despite the fact that condoms are effective and easily accessible, young adults report inconsistent condom use and young adults represent a dispropor

Minority stress and community connectedness among gay, lesbian and bisexual Australians: a comparison of rural and metropolitan localities

Abstract Objective: To determine whether lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) Australians residing in rural‐remote and other non‐inner metropolitan localities experience increased levels of minority stress and reduced social support relative to their inner metropolitan counterparts. Methods: A convenience sample of (n=1306) LGB Australians completed an online survey that assessed minority stressors, level of connection with other LGB individuals and social isolation. Postcodes provided were coded into three metropolitan and two rural zones. A series of hierarchical regression analyses were undertaken to examine the effect of locality on minority stress and social support independent of sex, age, ethnicity, education and income. Results: Those residing in rural‐remote localities reported significantly increased concealment of sexuality from friends, more concern regarding disclosure of sexuality, less LGB community involvement, fewer friendships with other LGB people and, among men, higher levels of internalised homophobia than those residing in inner metropolitan areas. Unexpectedly, those residing in outer metropolitan areas of major cities experienced comparable levels of minority stress and LGB disconnection to those in rural and remote Australia. Conclusions: LGB individuals in rural‐remote and outer metropolitan areas of major cities face increased exposure to a number of minority stressors and less LGB community connectedness. These are risk factors associated with psychiatric morbidity in LGB populations. Implications: Health promotion targeted at reducing homophobia and discrimination in rural‐remote and outer metropolitan communities and additional services to assist LGB Australians struggling with stigma and isolation in non‐inner city areas may help mitigate the disadvantages faced by these LGB populations