Mainstreaming WPS and Gender-based Analysis Plus at the Canadian Defense Academy

The Canadian Armed Forces has a responsibility to integrate the guidance provided by UN Resolutions on WPS into its operational planning, conduct of missions, and across its institutions. The Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) plays a critical role in advancing equity, diversity and culture change as the lead authority for the development of common military training and education. The CDA promotes the professional development and education of members of Canada’s Armed Forces through two undergraduate universities, a Command and Staff College, and a Non-Commission Officer Academy. Our presentation will discuss how the CDA mainstreams WPS and Gender-based Analysis Plus, including through the institutionalization of its Gender Advisor and Gender Focal Point Network, through the integration of WPS and GBA Plus in academic programs and as part of faculty and staff development, and through collaboration with international PME institutions.https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/wps/1014/thumbnail.jp

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder