Transduction of Signals during Somatic Embryogenesis

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is an in vitro biological process in which bipolar structures (somatic embryos) can be induced to form from somatic cells and regenerate into whole plants. Acquisition of the embryogenic potential in culture is initiated when some competent cells within the explants respond to inductive signals (mostly plant growth regulators, PRGs), and de-differentiate into embryogenic cells. Such cells, “canalized” into the embryogenic developmental pathway, are able to generate embryos comparable in structure and physiology to their in vivo counterparts. Genomic and transcriptomic studies have identified several pathways governing the initial stages of the embryogenic process. In this review, the authors emphasize the importance of the developmental signals required for the progression of embryo development, starting with the de-differentiation of somatic cells and culminating with tissue patterning during the formation of the embryo body. The action and interaction of PGRs are highlighted, along with the participation of master regulators, mostly transcription factors (TFs), and proteins involved in stress responses and the signal transduction required for the initiation of the embryogenic process.

Temperature is not a major factor in the differentiation of gonocytes into ad spermatogonia and fertility outcome in congenitally cryptorchid boys

Spermatogenesis in mammals is a heat-sensitive developmental pathway incompatible with the typical mammalian body temperature of 37 °C. It is thought that this is the reason why the testicles of most mammalian males are outside of the body cavity, in the scrotum, where they function at approximately 33 °C. It has been suggested that the abnormally high temperature environment of cryptorchid testes may lead to impaired testicular development and adult infertility. Here, I summarize the clinical, genetic, and histological evidence that argues against temperature stress and in favor of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism as the underlying cause of adult infertility in cryptorchidism.Patient summary: Infertility and an increased risk of testicular cancer in patients diagnosed with undescended testes are the consequence of a hormonal deficiency rather than temperature-induced cellular damage. Cryptorchidism therefore requires both surgical and hormonal treatment.

Transcriptomes and metabolism define mouse and human MAIT cell heterogeneity

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a subpopulation of T lymphocytes that respond to microbial metabolites. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing and metabolic analyses of MAIT cell subsets in thymus and peripheral tissues from mice and humans to define the heterogeneity and developmental pathway of these innate-like lymphocytes. We show that the predominant mouse subset, which produces IL-17 (MAIT17), and the subset that produces IFNγ (MAIT1), have greatly different transcriptomes and metabolic states in the thymus and periphery. A splenic MAIT subset has a transcriptome similar to circulating lymphocytes, and in mice these also are found in recent thymic emigrants, suggesting partially mature cells emigrate from the thymus. Human MAIT cells are predominantly MAIT1 cells, but have a different metabolism from their mouse counterparts with increased fatty acid uptake and storage. Although mouse and human subsets are similar in thymus, in the periphery they diverge, likely reflecting environmental influences.

The importance of embryology for parents of children with congenital hand differences

This study aimed to determine whether embryology knowledge or explaining the possible developmental pathway error was important for parents of affected children, and to secondarily determine if there was a relationship between desired knowledge of embryology and disease severity, maternal age group or maternal level of education. Using a self-administered questionnaire, a significant proportion of responding parents considered knowledge of embryology important (32 out of 43). We found a significant association between the importance of embryology knowledge for parents and the disease severity. However, the importance and level of knowledge desired was not related to maternal age or level of education. This study demonstrated the importance of explaining the associated developmental errors in the congenital hand consultation, particularly in severe anomalies. Surgeons should familiarize themselves with embryology to provide an explanation as to why congenital hand differences happen, which may provide better psychological support for parents of these children.

Development Aid with Reciprocity: A Response to Imperialism and the Politics of Global Coloniality

This position paper seeks to identify the undermining of freedom and human rights, juxtaposed through the narrative of “so much ill and so little good” (Easterly, 2006) regarding traditional aid and cooperation. The hardships currently constructed by linear frameworks leave no space for countries to define their own developmental pathway. The inherent ideology of current constructs neglects local initiatives and freedom of action and needs to endorse humanistic dialogue or a shift in approach, rather than a radical change of content. This paper proposes a hybridised approach as a means to “restoring culture” in development for Development Aid with Reciprocity ‐the deepening of human rights in every sphere of development and increasing the voice of people. It is contended that development aid for reciprocity in direct relation to the benefit of assistance to the countries in question would provide a most positive approach to development.

Ionic liquids – the path to the first industrial application

When using hydraulic fluids, users rarely ask themselves how the development of the hydraulic fluid they use in their hydraulic device has gone. Perhaps only curious users want to know the approximate composition of the newer, better hydraulic fluid, compared to the fluid of the previous generation. Rarely, however, do they know the developmental pathway of the new fluid. Even in the case of minor changes in the chemical composition of the fluid, e. g. a newer package of additives for mineral oils, or other base oil, requires lengthy fluid testing. First, in the manufacturer's laboratories, and then in the industrial environment. In the case of a completely new type of hydraulic fluid, the development path is much longer. The paper presents the behind-the-scenes development of a completely new type of hydraulic fluid - ionic liquid, from learning about the liquid itself all the way to industrial application.

Child Maltreatment and Risk of Developing Panic Symptoms among Adolescent Aged 11-17-Year-old in Karachi, Pakistan: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background The effect of childhood maltreatment in the developmental pathway of panic symptoms was not well documented specifically in Pakistan. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between child maltreatment and the risk of developing Panic symptoms among adolescents aged 11–17 years in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods The sample of this study comprised of 800 adolescents aged 11–17 years from 32 systematically selected urban and peri-urban clusters of Karachi. The symptoms of panic (significant somatic symptoms) were assessed using a validated tool “SCARED” and the association between childhood maltreatment and panic symptoms was measured using a cox-proportional algorithm. Results Sixty-three percent of severely maltreated children developed Panic symptoms compared to nineteen percent of non-maltreated children. Severely maltreated Female children had approximately four times (95% CI: 2.11–6.35) the risk of panic symptoms and severely maltreated male children were three times (95% CI: 2.27–5.99) more likely to develop panic symptoms. Conclusion The current study provided evidence that maltreated children are at increased risk of developing panic symptoms later in adolescence. Interventions and policies to reduce childhood maltreatment and professional support and counseling to the victims may be an effective strategy to reduce the burden of panic symptoms to some extent.

Challenging and Changing Lives: The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Peer Counseling Program, a Model for Tertiary Institutions

This paper is about the KNUST Peer Counsellors Program (KPC); an initiative of the KNUST Counselling Center (KCC). Over the years, the number of Peer Counsellors has increased. Students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have likewise increased. The aim of the paper was basically to examine the impact of the peer counselling experience on the students who volunteer to be trained and serve as Peer Counsellors. To the best of our knowledge, no study as yet has examined impact of peer counselling among university students in Ghana. Yet, we believe it is a program worth further exploration and development to equip the youth with altruistic values. Reports from the Peer Counsellors affirm the positive impact of the experience on their lives as young people. It projects a viable developmental pathway, career wise, for some of them aside the promotion of own and others wellbeing. Administrative and functional structure of the KPC is described in the paper and recommended as a program for other tertiary institutions to augment formation and education of students. Citation:Owusu-Ansah, F. E., Peasah, O. S. B., De-Graft Adjei, V., Jantuah, S. and Hackman, J. (2021). Challenging and Changing Lives: The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Peer Counseling Program, a Model for Tertiary Institutions. International Journal of Technology and Management Research (IJTMR), Vol. 6 (2): Pp.73-80. Received: January 3, 2021Accepted: September 1, 2021

Indexicality, semanticity and contact along the now < this time pathway

This study presents data from modern Arabic innovations now < this time to investigate the cross-linguistic developmental pathway temporal deictic < [demonstrative [time noun]]. Products of this path (e.g., German heute, Spanish ahora) feature consistently in contrastive approaches to grammaticalization and lexicalization and have been advanced as exclusive examples of both phenomena, without clear resolution. In this investigation, I establish the derivation of now forms in dialectal Arabic from ten distinct [demonstrative [time noun]] source constructions and identify patterns of fusion and coalescence relevant to both grammaticalization and lexicalization analyses. I then demonstrate a correlated progression of indexicalization and desemanticization in these items’ semanto-pragmatic structure that firmly positions them as examples of grammaticalizing, rather than lexicalizing, change, and proceed to develop this account via examination of the cross-dialectal diffusion of now < this time as an abstract, schematized structure. This approach provides additional support for a grammaticalization account of temporal deictic < [demonstrative [time noun]] developments cross-linguistically and elaborates a novel evidentiary stream with implications for the integration of contact linguistics and grammaticalization/lexicalization studies more broadly.