Gender-specific variation in physiology in the dioecious shrub Corema album throughout its distributional range

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonor Álvarez-Cansino ◽  
Mari Cruz Díaz Barradas ◽  
María Zunzunegui ◽  
Mari Paz Esquivias ◽  
Todd E. Dawson

Different requirements for reproduction between sexes in dioecious plants can lead to gender-specific physiological responses to environmental constraints. Females generally endure higher reproductive investment and costs than males, displaying lower water and nutrient use efficiency and growth. We studied the ecophysiology of the dioecious shrub Corema album L. (D.) Don. to assess how drought impacts physiological responses and gender dimorphism along an aridity gradient within the species’ range. Leaf gas exchange, photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), water potential (Ψ), vegetative growth (VG) and leaf C isotopic discrimination and nitrogen content were measured in three populations under markedly different climatic conditions. Physiological responses and growth indicated higher level of stress in the drier environments, leading to increased WUE (Δ) and lower VG. Physiological stress increases among plants were related to incremental changes in the degree of gender dimorphism, with significant effects on Ψ and Fv/Fm (P < 0.05); males showed higher VG (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis of instantaneous and integrated measurements revealed gender-related effects across the climatic gradient (P < 0.01). Reproduction investment has an effect on the physiological performance and growth of C. album. Gender responses are site-specific, being influenced by climate. The increase in physiological stress with aridity could lead to the potential retreat and variation in structure in these populations if genders are affected differently by the predicted climate change.

Diabetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1603-P
Author(s):  
GYORGY JERMENDY ◽  
ZOLTAN KISS ◽  
GYÖRGY ROKSZIN ◽  
IBOLYA FÁBIÁN ◽  
ISTVAN WITTMANN ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 368-374
Author(s):  
G. Schüttfort ◽  
K. Philipp ◽  
P. de Leuw ◽  
E. Herrmann ◽  
G. Kann ◽  
...  

Objectives: While Rilpivirine has shown high overall response rates in treatment-naïve patients without sex and gender specific differences in clinical trials, Sex and gender specific data in treatment experienced patients receiving rilpivirine are still limited. We conducted a 48 week efficacy and safety analysis in naïve and treatment experienced men and women using retrospective data from the HIVCENTER Frankfurt. Materials and methods: In this retrospective observational study data of all patients who received a rilpivirine based regimen at the HIVCENTER between March 2011 and December 2015 were analyzed. Primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with any discontinuation until week 48. Virologic response rates (FDA snapshot analysis; HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL) were assessed at week 48. Results: 194 patients (34% female) were included in the analysis. 74% were treatment-experienced and 26% naïve, respectively. Discontinuations were observed in 31 (15.9%) patients. Regarding sex differences, the proportion of discontinuations was significantly higher in women than in men (24.2% vs. 11.7%; p=0.024; ODDS-Ratio = 2.41; CI 1.12 – 5.18). Virologic failure occurred in 8 PLWHIV (4.1%). Conclusions: While virologic overall response rates to rilpivirine based ART were high for both treatment-experienced and -naïve patients the proportion of discontinuations was significantly higher in women (24.2% vs. 11.7%; p = 0.024; ODDS-Ratio = 2.41; CI 1.12 – 5.18). Although the total number of patients with virologic failure was low (4.1%), the higher rate of ART discontinuations in female patients receiving RPV require close monitoring in the first months of treatment addressing special needs of women living with HIV.


Author(s):  
Mehdi Forouzesh ◽  
Abdolrazagh Barzegar ◽  
Fardin Fallah

Palmaris Longus (PL) is a muscle of the forearm, i.e., not functionally necessary and does not exist in all people. It is a choice for tendon graft and investigating its prevalence is of clinical importance. During April-October 2009, 102 cadavers (78 males, 24 females) were bilaterally necropsied for PL exploration in Zanjan City, Iran. PL Absence (PLA) was observed in 37 (36.3%) cases (28 males, 9 females). PLA prevalence was similar in men (36%) and women (37.5%). Of PLA cases, 19 (51%) were unilateral (14 males, 5 females), and 18 (49%) were bilateral (14 males, 4 females). In conclusion, PLA prevalence of 36.3% in our population was similar to other studies conducted in Iran. We found no gender difference in PLA prevalence and its patterns. Due to geographical variability in PLA rate, future regional and national studies with more magnificent sample sizes are recommended to determine the prevalence and gender-specific patterns of PLA.


2021 ◽  
pp. 205015792110050
Author(s):  
Sabrina Sobieraj ◽  
Lee Humphreys

Mobile dating apps like Tinder became very popular among young adults, and, in contrast to mobile dating websites, they were designed to create a more game-like experience. While it is well documented that seeking entertainment is one core motivation for mobile dating app use, the social nature of entertainment has garnered less attention. Therefore, in this paper we draw on research on entertainment in dating apps and the socio-physical contexts of use to identify patterned behaviors of heterosexual users. To do this, we employed a qualitative multi-phase research approach. First, we conducted 20 interviews with mobile dating app users. Based on the findings from that study, we conducted gender-specific focus groups and a discourse analysis to explore the social phenomena identified in phase one. Our findings suggest the fun of mobile dating is not just interacting with potential matches through the apps, but the use of the apps among one’s friends. These “dating games” are entertaining, but importantly mitigate potential social or physical risks of mobile dating. Unsurprisingly, notions of “play” across the interview, focus group, and discourse analyses reflect highly gendered practices surrounding mobile dating apps and different risks associated with such games.


Author(s):  
Govind Kannan ◽  
Zaira M Estrada-Reyes ◽  
Phaneendra Batchu ◽  
Brou Kouakou ◽  
Thomas H Terrill ◽  
...  

Abstract Social isolation can increase distress in goats, particularly when they cannot maintain visual contact with conspecifics. This experiment was conducted to determine the behavioral and physiological responses in goats during isolation with or without visual contact with conspecifics. Male Spanish goats (uncastrated, 8-mo old, average weight 29.4 ± 0.59 kg) were randomly assigned to a control (CO) group with no isolation or to one of four isolation treatment (TRT) pens (1.5 × 1.5 m) with: (1) open grill panels but with no visual contact with conspecifics (IO), (2) covered grill to prevent visual contact (IC), (3) open grill with visual contact (IV), or (3) covered grill with a 30 × 30 cm window to allow visual contact (IW) for 90 min of social isolation (n = 12 goats/TRT). Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min (Time) from isolated and control goats. The experiment was repeated one week later using the same animals, with each goat being subjected to the same isolation treatment the second time to study the effect of prior exposure to isolation. Friedman’s Two-Way ANOVA by Ranks Test in SAS showed that the median frequency of vocalization (rank score) in goats was high in IO group, low in IV and IW groups, and intermediate in IC group (P &lt; 0.01). Vocalization rank score was also higher (P &lt; 0.01) during the first 30 min of isolation in goats. Median frequency of visual contact was higher in the IW group than in the IV group (P &lt; 0.01). Frequency of climbing behavior was high in IC and IO groups, low in IV group, and intermediate in IW group (P &lt; 0.01). Repeated Measures Analysis using GLM procedures in SAS revealed that plasma cortisol and glucose concentrations tended (P &lt; 0.1) to be the highest in IO group than in CO, IC, IV, and IW groups. Cortisol levels were also higher (Time; P &lt; 0.05) at 0 and 90 min compared to 30 and 60 min. Norepinephrine concentrations decreased (P &lt; 0.05) with Time, and plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels were affected by TRT × Time interaction (P &lt; 0.01). Overall, epinephrine, norepinephrine, glucose, and NEFA concentrations were lower (P &lt; 0.01) and cortisol concentrations and lymphocyte counts higher (P &lt; 0.01) when goats were exposed to isolation the second time. The results showed that goats with no visual contact with conspecifics during social isolation had greater physiological stress responses and spent more time vocalizing or trying to escape the pen, which may indicate distress.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 983-993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asif ◽  
Muhammad Aslam ◽  
Saima Altaf ◽  
Sajid Mustafa

AbstractObjectivesChildren from different countries and with different ethnic backgrounds have a distinct pattern of central fat deposition. Therefore, it is essential to develop population-specific percentiles of waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist-to-height ratio exponent (WHtR (exp)) for the evaluation of central obesity. The objective of this study was to develop age-and-gender-specific smoothed WC and WHtR percentile curves for the Pakistani children and adolescents aged 2–18 years.MethodsA cross-sectional data-set from a multi-ethnic anthropometric survey was considered. A sample of 10,668 healthy subjects (boys = 51.92%; and girls = 48.08%), aged 2–18 years was studied. Height (cm) and WC (cm) of each subject was measured under standard procedure and WHtR & WHtR (exp) were calculated. Age-and-gender-specific smoothed curves were obtained using the lambda-mu-sigma (LMS) method and compared with percentile curves obtained from different countries.ResultsExcept few early ages, the WC values increased with age in both sexes. Both boys and girls had approximately similar WC during 6–11 years of age and after age of 11, the boys had larger WC than the girls had. For WHtR, the centile curves showed a continuous decrease by 16 years of age and then increased gradually. WHtR of the girls in various ages were having similar or higher than those of the boys. In comparison of WC 50th and 90th percentiles with other countries, it was found that except few ages, the Pakistani children had larger WC than the other reference populations and the results of WHtR were also comparable to the other nations.ConclusionsWe present new reference data of WC, WHtR and WHtR (exp) using a representative sample of the Pakistani children aged 2–18 years. These reference values can be used provisionally for early detection of central obesity and its associated risks in the Pakistani children.


2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuko Tsunetsugu ◽  
Masaki Sugiyama

AbstractThis study investigates the physiological responses and subjective perceptions of touching wood. In particular, it focuses on their respective relationships with the amount of heat transfer across the hand–material interface during contact. The study participants included 55 university students (20 females and 35 males) who gave written informed consent. The participants’ blood pressure, pulse rate, and cerebral blood hemoglobin concentrations were measured continuously for 90 s while they gently held vertical bar-shaped specimens of Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa), Japanese oak (Quercus crispula), polyethylene, and aluminum. The specimens also included wood with a surface coating. We measured subjective warmth and comfort as well as the heat flux between the palm and the surface of the material. The wooden materials were rated as significantly warmer compared to aluminum and polyethylene, regardless of the wood species (cypress or oak) or its coating; this result corresponds with smaller heat transfers in the wooden materials. Additionally, the wooden materials were more comfortable to hold as compared to the aluminum bar. Based on the changes in blood pressure, touching Japanese cypress and uncoated Japanese oak were interpreted to induce less physiological stress. Therefore, we can conclude that wood, with lower thermal conductivity, feels warm, and it causes relatively smaller physiological changes compared to other materials with higher thermal conductivity. Thus, they may present less physiological burdens when touched.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 1609-1624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasco V. Mascarenhas ◽  
Paulo Rego ◽  
Pedro Dantas ◽  
Miguel Castro ◽  
Lennart Jans ◽  
...  

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