The Representation of Queer Teen Identities in Sex Education (Netflix, 2019-)

This article provides an analysis of the representation of LGBTIQ+ teen identities in the first two seasons of ‘Sex Education’ (Netflix, 2019-). Utilising a methodology of analysis anchored in Queer Theory and in the concept of intersectionality, we will study the construction of those characters whose gender expression and/or sexual orientation defy the limits established by cisheteronormativity, as well as those whose desires (whether straight or not) do not fit within what Western societies understand as «normal», since we consider the rejection of the norm as a constitutive element of queerness. The main objectives are a.) to determine which images, knowledge and epistemological constructions regarding sexogenic diversity are disseminated by the show; and b.) to define which discourses are articulated regarding queer (non)identities and the violence suffered by LGBTIQ+ people

Daily Activity Patterns of Two Co-Occurring Tropical Satyrine Butterflies

Adult males and females of many insect species are expected to adjust their daily activity pattern in order to avoid stressful climatic conditions and increase the chances to encounter sexual partners. Using scan sampling methods associated with focal individual observations it was found that two satyrine butterflies of similar size and morphology, Hermeuptychia hermes (Fabricius) (Leptidoptera: Nymphalidae) and Paryphthimoides phronius (Godart), show completely different daily activity patterns on forest edges in southeastern Brazil. Hermeuptychia hermes presents one abundance peak in the morning and another in the late afternoon, while P. phronius abundance peaks in the mid-day, remaining stable until 1700 h. This difference is probably due to the occurrence of territorial behavior in the later species. The beginning of territorial defense by P. phronius males coincided with the time of new-born female activity. However, newly hatched females were not sexually receptive. The afternoon territoriality in male P. phronius may be in part related to mate acquisition. However, why the abundance of H. hermes decreases when the abundance of P. phronius increases is less clear

Similarities and differences in the lifestyles of populations using mode 3 technology in North Africa and the south of the Iberian Peninsula

In the geohistorical region of the Strait of Gibraltar, which includes the south of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa, important research has been carried out in recent years. This research has allowed us to document the presence of human groups as early as the Middle Pleistocene. Classical anthropology refers to these groups using various terms Homo Neanderthalensis in the south of Europe and Homo sapiens sapiens in North Africa). The current records exhibit important similarities concerning lithic technology (the so-called ‘Mode 3’, ‘Mousterian’ or ‘Middle Stone Age’), and the exploitation of marine resources. From an anthropological or cultural perspective, both groups were hunter-gatherers with similar lifestyles. Bearing these similarities in mind, three hypotheses are here presented

A selective p53 activator and anticancer agent to improve colorectal cancer therapy

Impairment of the p53 pathway is a critical event in cancer. Therefore, reestablishing p53 activity has become one of the most appealing anticancer therapeutic strategies. Here, we disclose the p53-activating anticancer drug (3S)-6,7-bis(hydroxymethyl)-5-methyl-3-phenyl-1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazole (MANIO). MANIO demonstrates a notable selectivity to the p53 pathway, activating wild-type (WT)p53 and restoring WT-like function to mutant (mut)p53 in human cancer cells. MANIO directly binds to the WT/mutp53 DNA-binding domain, enhancing the protein thermal stability, DNA-binding ability, and transcriptional activity. The high efficacy of MANIO as an anticancer agent toward cancers harboring WT/mutp53 is further demonstrated in patient-derived cells and xenograft mouse models of colorectal cancer (CRC), with no signs of undesirable side effects. MANIO synergizes with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, and in vitro and in vivo studies predict its adequate drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic properties for a clinical candidate. As a single agent or in combination, MANIO will advance anticancer-targeted therapy, particularly benefiting CRC patients harboring distinct p53 status.We thank PT national funds (FCT/MCTES , Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia , and Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior ) through grants UIDB/50006/2020 , UID/BIO/04469/2019 , UIDB/04539/2020 , and UIDP/04539/2020 ( CIBB ); BioTecNorte operation ( NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004 ) and Porto Neurosciences and Neurologic Disease Research Initiative at I3S ( Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000008 ) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte ; Masaryk University ( Project MUNI/A/1127/2019 ) and Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (project nos. LQ1605 and LM2018125 ); FCT financial support through the fellowships SFRH/BD/119144/2016 (H.R.) and SFRH/BD/117949/2016 (L.R.); Fondazione AIRC ( IG#18985 , A.I.); and the Programa Operacional Potencial Humano (POCH), specifically the BiotechHealth Programme (Doctoral Programme on Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Applied to Health Sciences , PD/00016/2012 ). We thank Dario Rizzotto for assistance in preparing the libraries for RNA sequencing. Funding: This work was supported by PT National Funds (FCT/MCTES, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia , and Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior ) via the projects UIDB/50006/2020 ( LAQV/REQUIMTE ), UIDB/00313/2020 , and UIDP/00313/2020 , co-funded by COMPETE2020-UE

Mutation detection analysis of a region of 16S-like ribosomal RNA gene of Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The level of intra-species genetic variation in <it>Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar </it>and <it>Entamoeba moshkovskii </it>populations in a localized geographic area, like Puducherry, India, remains unknown.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the present study the existence of genetic variation in the nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (NM-PCR) amplified region of the 16S-like ribosomal RNA genes of <it>E. histolytica, E. dispar </it>and <it>E. moshkovskii </it>was investigated by riboprinting and single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that 70 stool specimens were positive for <it>E. histolytica</it>, 171 stool specimens were positive for <it>E. dispar</it>, and 37 stool specimens were positive for <it>E. moshkovskii </it>by NM-PCR. Ninety liver abscess pus specimens, 21 urine specimens, and 8 saliva specimens were positive for <it>E. histolytica </it>by NM-PCR. Riboprinting analysis detected a mutation in the PCR product of only one <it>E. histolytica </it>isolate from a stool specimen. However, SSCP analysis detected mutations in the PCR products of five <it>E. histolytica </it>isolates and three <it>E. moshkovskii </it>isolates from stool specimens, and one <it>E. histolytica </it>isolate from a saliva specimen. The mutations detected by riboprinting and SSCP analysis were confirmed by sequencing. All the nucleotide sequences showing mutations in this study have already been deposited into the NCBI GenBank database under accession numbers [GenBank: <ext-link ext-link-type="gen" ext-link-id="EF682200">EF682200</ext-link> to GenBank: <ext-link ext-link-type="gen" ext-link-id="EF682208">EF682208</ext-link>].</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study has revealed the subsistence of mutations in the ribosomal RNA genes of <it>E. histolytica </it>and <it>E. moshkovskii</it>, which points towards the existence of intra-species genetic variation in <it>E. histolytica </it>and <it>E. moshkovskii </it>isolates infecting humans.</p

Renal Athersosclerotic reVascularization Evaluation (RAVE Study): Study protocol of a randomized trial [NCT00127738]

BACKGROUND: It is uncertain whether patients with renal vascular disease will have renal or mortality benefit from re-establishing renal blood flow with renal revascularization procedures. The RAVE study will compare renal revascularization to medical management for people with atherosclerotic renal vascular disease (ARVD) and the indication for revascularization. Patients will be assessed for the standard nephrology research outcomes of progression to doubling of creatinine, need for dialysis, and death, as well as other cardiovascular outcomes. We will also establish whether the use of a new inexpensive, simple and available ultrasound test, the renal resistance index (RRI), can identify patients with renal vascular disease who will not benefit from renal revascularization procedures[1]. METHODS/DESIGN: This single center randomized, parallel group, pilot study comparing renal revascularization with medical therapy alone will help establish an infrastructure and test the feasibility of answering this important question in clinical nephrology. The main outcome will be a composite of death, dialysis and doubling of creatinine. Knowledge from this study will be used to better understand the natural history of patients diagnosed with renal vascular disease in anticipation of a Canadian multicenter trial. Data collected from this study will also inform the Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of Renal and Renal Vascular Disease. The expectation is that this program for ARVD, will enable community based programs to implement a comprehensive guidelines based diagnostic and treatment program, help create an evidence based approach for the management of patients with this condition, and possibly reduce or halt the progression of kidney disease in these patients. DISCUSSION: Results from this study will determine the feasibility of a multicentered study for the management of renovascular disease

Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis Using PAcIFIC for the Identification of Plasma Diagnostic Biomarkers for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is characterized by increased aortic vessel wall diameter (>1.5 times normal) and loss of parallelism. This disease is responsible for 1-4% mortality occurring on rupture in males older than 65 years. Due to its asymptomatic nature, proteomic techniques were used to search for diagnostic biomarkers that might allow surgical intervention under nonlife threatening conditions. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Pooled human plasma samples of 17 AAA and 17 control patients were depleted of the most abundant proteins and compared using a data-independent shotgun proteomic strategy, Precursor Acquisition Independent From Ion Count (PAcIFIC), combined with spectral counting and isobaric tandem mass tags. Both quantitative methods collectively identified 80 proteins as statistically differentially abundant between AAA and control patients. Among differentially abundant proteins, a subgroup of 19 was selected according to Gene Ontology classification and implication in AAA for verification by Western blot (WB) in the same 34 individual plasma samples that comprised the pools. From the 19 proteins, 12 were detected by WB. Five of them were verified to be differentially up-regulated in individual plasma of AAA patients: adiponectin, extracellular superoxide dismutase, protein AMBP, kallistatin and carboxypeptidase B2. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Plasma depletion of high abundance proteins combined with quantitative PAcIFIC analysis offered an efficient and sensitive tool for the screening of new potential biomarkers of AAA. However, WB analysis to verify the 19 PAcIFIC identified proteins of interest proved inconclusive save for five proteins. We discuss these five in terms of their potential relevance as biological markers for use in AAA screening of population at risk

Foundation Pattern, Productivity and Colony Success of the Paper Wasp, Polistes versicolor

Polistes versicolor (Olivier) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) colonies are easily found in anthropic environments; however there is little information available on biological, ecological and behavioral interactions of this species under these environmental conditions. The objective of this work was to characterize the foundation pattern, the productivity, and the success of colonies of P. versicolor in anthropic environments. From August 2003 to December 2004, several colonies were studied in the municipal district of Juiz de Fora, Southeastern Brazil. It was possible to determine that before the beginning of nest construction the foundress accomplishes recognition flights in the selected area, and later begins the construction of the peduncle and the first cell. As soon as new cells are built, the hexagonal outlines appear and the peduncle is reinforced. Foundation of nests on gypsum plaster was significantly larger (p < 0.0001; χ2 test) in relation to the other types of substrate, revealing the synantropism of the species. On average, the P. versicolor nest presents 244.2 ± 89.5 (100–493) cells and a medium production of 171.67 ± 109.94 (37–660) adults. Cells that produced six individuals were verified. Usually, new colonies were founded by an association of females, responsible for the success of 51.5%. Although these results enlarge knowledge on the foundation pattern of P. versicolor in anthropic environments, other aspects of the foundation process require further investigation