Feminizing chicks: a model for avian sex determination based on titration of Hint enzyme activity and the predicted structure of an Asw-Hint heterodimer

BACKGROUND: In birds and some lizards, females are heterogametic with a ZW karyotype, while males are ZZ homogametes. The molecular basis for sexual differentiation in birds is unknown: arguments exist for doses of Z masculinizing chicks and for W information feminizing. ASW was identified as a tandemly repeated gene conserved on avian W chromosomes that is expressed in early female development and appears to be an inactive form of avian Z-encoded HINT. Hint is a dimeric enzyme that hydrolyzes AMP linked to lysine, whose enzyme activity is required for regulation of the Cdk7 homologous Kin28 kinase in yeast. Of 16 residues most conserved across all life forms for AMP interactions, 15 are sexually dimorphic in birds, that is, altered in the female-specific Asw protein. Genomic and expression data suggest that Asw may feminize chicks, dominantly interfering with Hint function by heterodimerization. RESULTS: We consider whether positive cooperativity could explain how Hint heterodimerization with an inert enzyme might reduce specific activity by more than 50% and provide data sufficient to reject this model. Instead, we hypothesize that Asw carries a signal for mislocalization and/or proteolysis, and/or dominantly suppresses the remaining Hint active site to function as a dominant negative. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular modeling suggests that Asw and Hint can heterodimerize and that Gln 127, an Asw-specific alteration for Trp123, dominantly interferes with the Hint active site. An extra dose of HINT in ZZW chicks, and thus more Hint homodimer, may partially overcome the feminizing influence of ASW and lead to the observed intersexual characteristics of ZZW triploids

Issue Brief: LGBT Immigration

Often when LGBT immigrants are deported from the United States, harsh punishments such as death and exile await them in their native lands. Because of strict and antiquated marriage laws that do not account for same-sex relationships, LGBT immigrants are not treated with the same privileges as opposite-sex couples, and these people generally find it much harder to successfully immigrate into the US. This unfortunate reality has caused several LGBT identifiers to attempt to reform US immigration legislation via protest in hopes of making the immigration process fairer

Stigma in Malta : a Mediterranean perspective

The aim of this paper to describe what Transcultural Psychiatry is. It attempts to describe stigma in Malta and how it comes about that the Mental Hospital in Malta is named for Our Lady of Mount Carmel and finally attempt to put Mount Carmel Hospital and its dedication within Maltese Culture and the culture of the Mediterranean. The paper demonstrates that to understand this, it is necessary to employ History, Anthropology, Theology, among other issues. Doing this also suggests that Malta has undergone a process of 'normalization' regarding treatment of Mental Health Problems.peer-reviewe

STIGMA IN MALTA; A MEDITERRANEAN PERSPECTIVE

The aim of this paper to describe what Transcultural Psychiatry is. It attempts to describe stigma in Malta and how it comes about that the Mental Hospital in Malta is named for Our Lady of Mount Carmel and finally attempt to put Mount Carmel Hospital and its dedication within Maltese Culture and the culture of the Mediterranean. The paper demonstrates that to understand this, it is necessary to employ History, Anthropology, Theology, among other issues. Doing this also suggests that Malta has undergone a process of ‘normalisation’ regarding treatment of Mental Health Problems

1989 Convocation

Opening Selections: Gustav Holt Processional: Jean Joseph Mouret Welcome: Dr. John Peoples, Director, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory; Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall, Director; Mike Peil, Student Council President Introductions: Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall Musical Selections: LeRoy Anderson Keynote Speaker: Dr. Charles Brown, Scientist, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Recessional: Charles Marie Wido

Breast Reconstruction and the Covid-19 Pandemic: Adapting Practice

Description to be added.Cannot be left empt

Enhanced Lighting Techniques and Augmented Reality to Improve Human Task Performance

One of the most versatile tools designed for use on the International Space Station (ISS) is the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) robot. Operators for this system are trained at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) using a robotic simulator, the Dexterous Manipulator Trainer (DMT), which performs most SPDM functions under normal static Earth gravitational forces. The SPDM is controlled from a standard Robotic Workstation. A key feature of the SPDM and DMT is the Force/Moment Accommodation (FMA) system, which limits the contact forces and moments acting on the robot components, on its payload, an Orbital Replaceable Unit (ORU), and on the receptacle for the ORU. The FMA system helps to automatically alleviate any binding of the ORU as it is inserted or withdrawn from a receptacle, but it is limited in its correction capability. A successful ORU insertion generally requires that the reference axes of the ORU and receptacle be aligned to within approximately 0.25 inch and 0.5 degree of nominal values. The only guides available for the operator to achieve these alignment tolerances are views from any available video cameras. No special registration markings are provided on the ORU or receptacle, so the operator must use their intrinsic features in the video display to perform the pre-insertion alignment task. Since optimum camera views may not be available, and dynamic orbital lighting conditions may limit viewing periods, long times are anticipated for performing some ORU insertion or extraction operations. This study explored the feasibility of using augmented reality (AR) to assist with SPDM operations. Geometric graphical symbols were overlaid on the end effector (EE) camera view to afford cues to assist the operator in attaining adequate pre-insertion ORU alignment

Perfect storm? COVID-19, area deprivation, and their association with pediatric trauma

Introduction: Social determinants of health (SDOH) affect pediatric injury patterns as vulnerable populations are likely to experience more frequent or severe injuries. This study evaluates the association of COVID-19 and area deprivation with pediatric traumatic injuries. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated institutional level I pediatric trauma encounters from 1/2018-8/2022. Patients were assessed relative to the U.S. pandemic declaration date (3/11/2020): pre-COVID (\u3c3/11/2020), early post-COVID (3/11/2020-3/11/2021), and late post-COVID (\u3e3/11/2021). The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) measured SDH-related risk at a census block tract group level. Associations between ADI and COVID-19 and injury mechanism and outcomes (intensive care unit [ICU]/ventilator duration, hospital length of stay, and mortality) were assessed using chi-square for categorical and Spearman’s rank correlation for continuous variables. Results: 4,055 patients were included in the study. There was variability in injury patterns relative to the level of deprivation and the timing of COVID-19. MVCs (12.7% pre vs. 14.3% early post vs. 18.6% late post, p\u3c0.0001) and GSWs (1.2% pre vs. 2.6% early post vs. 2.0% late post, p=0.018) were more common after COVID-19 and more frequently experienced by children with higher deprivation indices. Higher ADI was also associated with worse outcomes (ICU days, r=0.049, p=0.006; ventilator days, r=0.035, p=0.047). Discussion: Children with vulnerable SDOH status appear to have been disproportionately affected by pediatric traumatic injuries following COVID-19. National-level stressors (COVID-19) impact behaviors on a population level and shift exposure risk to different injury mechanisms. Multi-level public health initiatives are needed to address disparate injury patterns based on SDOH exposure