The Hybrid Practitioner

The practice of architecture manifests in myriad forms and engagements. Overcoming false divides, this volume frames the fertile relationship between the cultural and scholarly production of academia and the process of designing and building in the material world. It proposes the concept of the hybrid practitioner, who bridges the gap between academia and practice by considering how different aspects of architectural practice, theory, and history intersect, opening up a fascinating array of possibilities for an active engagement with the present. The book explores different, interrelated roles for practicing architects and researchers, from the reproductive activities of teaching, consulting and publishing, through the reflective activities of drawing and writing, to the practice of building. The notion of the hybrid practitioner will appeal strongly to students, teachers and architectural practitioners as part of a multifaceted professional environment. By connecting academic interests with those of the professional realm, The Hybrid Practitioner addresses a wider readership embracing landscape design, art theory and aesthetics, European history, and the history and sociology of professions.

Melatonin Attenuates RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis via Inhibition of Atp6v0d2 and DC-STAMP through MAPK and NFATc1 Signaling Pathways

Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland that is involved in the biorhythm of reproductive activities. The present study investigated the inhibitory effects of melatonin on osteoclastogenesis in RAW 264.7 cells according to changes in V-ATPase and the corresponding inhibition of the MAPK and NFATc1 signaling processes. Methods: the cytotoxic effect of melatonin was investigated by MTT assay. Osteoclast differentiation and gene expression of osteoclast-related factors were confirmed via TRAP staining, pit formation assay, immunofluorescence imaging, western blot, and real-time PCR. Results: melatonin was found to inactivate the p38 and JNK of MAP kinase in RAW264.7 cells treated with RANKL and treated with a combination RANKL and melatonin for 1, 3, and 5 days. The melatonin treatment group showed a reduction in osteoclastogenesis transcription factors and ATP6v0d2 gene expression. Conclusions: melatonin inhibits osteoclast differentiation and cell fusion by inhibiting the expression of Atp6v0d2 through the inactivation of MAPK and NFATc1 signaling in RANKL-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. The findings of the present study suggest that melatonin could be a suitable therapy for bone loss and imply a potential role of melatonin in bone health.

Androgen Elevation Accelerates Reproductive Senescence in Three-Spined Stickleback

Costs of reproduction shape the life-history evolution of investment in current and future reproduction and thereby aging. Androgens have been proposed to regulate the physiology governing these investments. Furthermore, androgens are hypothesized to play a central role in carotenoid-dependent sexual signaling, regulating how much carotenoids are diverted to ornamentation and away from somatic maintenance, increasing oxidative stress, and accelerating aging. We investigated these relationships in male three-spined stickleback in which we elevated 11-ketotestosterone and supplied vitamin E, an antioxidant, in a 2 × 2 design. Androgen elevation shortened the time stickleback maintained reproductive activities. We suspect that this effect is caused by 11-ketotestosterone stimulating investment in current reproduction, but we detected no evidence for this in our measurements of reproductive effort: nest building, body composition, and breeding coloration. Carotenoid-dependent coloration was even slightly decreased by 11-ketotestosterone elevation and was left unaffected by vitamin E. Red coloration correlated with life expectancy and reproductive capacity in a quadratic manner, suggesting overinvestment of the individuals exhibiting the reddest bellies. In contrast, blue iris color showed a negative relationship with survival, suggesting physiological costs of producing this aspect of nuptial coloration. In conclusion, our results support the hypothesis that androgens regulate investment in current versus future reproduction, yet the precise mechanisms remain elusive. The quadratic relationships between sexual signal expression and aspects of quality have wider consequences for how we view sexual selection on ornamentation and its relationship with aging.

​The Analysis of Reproduction-related Genes Provides Insights into the Adaptive Evolution of Fecundity Traits in Yangtze Finless Porpoise

Background: Yangtze finless porpoise (YFP, Neophocaena asiaeorientalis), is the first class protected animal in China. In order to analyze the adaptive evolution of fecundity traits in YFP, the rapidly evolving gene families of YFP were obtained. At the same time, the major genes controlling ovulation, GDF9, BMP15, FSHβ and FSHR were also analyzed. Methods: Orthofinder software was employed to search homologous genes based on protein sequence. CAFÉ software was used to obtain the expansion and contraction gene families of YFP. Then, GO terms and pathway enrichment analyses were performed using TBtools software and Swissprot database. PAML package was used to calculate Ka/Ks (i.e., ω). Evolution rate changes in the positive selected genes were examined using the GU99 process in Diverge (v3.0) program. Result: In YFP, 501 rapid expansion gene families GO enrichment results showed that the reproductive activities related pathways were mainly three significant enrichment process, participation of germline stem cells maintain androgen receptors signaling pathways regulating and male reproductive tract stem cell population to maintain. The most significant GO terms of 220 rapidly contraction gene families associated with reproductive activities mainly consisted of biological processes which were involved in positive regulation of estrogen secretion, mating and estrogen metabolic process. GDF9 and BMP15 genes exhibited purifying selection. However, significant signs of positive selection were detected in FSHR and FSHβ genes, but only FSHβ showed specific changes in the YFP lineage.

The contents availability of N, P, K, and Mg in empty fruit composting of oil palms with symbiont bacteria from rhinoceros beetle larvae (Oryctes rhinoceros) (Coleoptera: Scarabidae)

The using of palm oil waste had not been optimal lately. It could be seen in oil empty fruit bunches (EFB). It was placed along the oil palm plantations. The condition was not only the trigger of air pollution but also could invite rhinoceros beetle pests (Oryctes rhinoceros) to lay their eggs and carry out reproductive activities due to availability organic matter of the trees. Oil palm plants required large amounts of macro nutrients, especially potassium. However, the potassium nutrient was found in EFB was too slow available because of its relatively long breakdown. That was the reason why it was needed a method of using EFB waste into a capable of high use value product, environmentally friendly, and could give a lot of benefits to oil palm farmers. The purpose of this study was to determine the availability of nutrient content in EFB composting by the using of symbiont bacteria from larvae O. rhinoceros. The research was experimentally conducted a factorial randomized block design (RBD) with 2 factors, namely the type of bacteria and the time of decomposition. The composting stage was carried out by coarsely chopping the EFB then 75 ml of bacterial culture was applied to 1 kg of EFB. Analysis, results indicated C/N ratio (35.56% and 36.97%) and high K content (1.64% and 1.48%). The EFB composting method is achievable in 6 weeks with activators of Bacillus stratosphericus and Bacillus siamensis.

Tramadol Induced Ovarian and Uterine Changes in Albino Rats

Tramadol at the dose levels of 1mg and 3mg/100g body weight was administered to normal cycling rats for 20 days through intraperitoneal routes. At autopsy on 21st day significant reduction in the ovarian, uterine and body weight was observed. Histological observations showed decrease in the number and size of Graafian follicles, corpora lutea and increase in the atretic follicles in the ovary. The uterus showed absences of endometrial glands, decrease in the height of myometrium, endometrium and its epithelial cells. The total protein and glycogen content of the ovary and uterus is decreased whereas the cholesterol content is increased. The hypothalamo-hypophyseal gonadal axis is prominent regulator of reproductive activities in animals through neuro-endocrine regulation. In this study action of tramadol on ovary and uterine parameters is discussed.

Reproductive Regulation of PrRPs in Teleost: The Link Between Feeding and Reproduction

Prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP), a sort of vital hypothalamic neuropeptide, has been found to exert an enormous function on the food intake of mammals. However, little is known about the functional role of PrRP in teleost. In the present study, two PrRP isoforms and four PrRP receptors were isolated from grass carp. Ligand-receptor selectivity displayed that PrRP1 preferentially binds with PrRP-R1a and PrRP-R1b, while PrRP-R2a and PrRP-R2b were special receptors for PrRP2. Tissue distribution indicated that both PrRPs and PrRP-Rs were highly expressed in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis and intestine, suggesting a latent function on food intake and reproduction. Using grass carp as a model, we found that food intake could significantly induce hypothalamus PrRP mRNA expression, which suggested that PrRP should be also an anorexigenic peptide in teleost. Interestingly, intraperitoneal (IP) injection of PrRPs could significantly induce serum luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and pituitary LHβ and GtHα mRNA expression in grass carp. Moreover, using primary culture grass carp pituitary cells as a model, we further found that PrRPs could directly induce pituitary LH secretion and synthesis mediated by AC/PKA, PLC/IP3/PKC, and Ca2+/CaM/CaMK-II pathways. Finally, estrogen treatment of prepubertal fish elicited increases in PrRPs and PrPR receptors expression in primary cultured grass carp hypothalamus cells, which further confirmed that the PrRP/PrRPR system may participate in the neuroendocrine control of fish reproduction. These results, taken together, suggest that PrRPs might act as a coupling factor in feeding metabolism and reproductive activities in teleost.

Peran Wanita dan Relasi Gender dalam Keluarga Buruh Tani Wanita di Regu Tanam Mulyo Asri Desa Pontang Kecamatan Ambulu Kabupaten Jember

This study aims to determine gender roles and gender relations in the family of female farm workers in the Mulyo Asri women's planting team in Pontang Village, Ambulu Sub-district, Jember District. The theory used in the research uses the theory of Gender. This study used a qualitative approach, with the method of determining informants using purposive sampling technique. Data collection techniques in this study by means of in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation study. Methods of data analysis in this study using the analysis method of Harvard and Miles and Huberman. The data validity test used technical triangulation and source triangulation testing techniques. The results of this study are the division of labor in the family of female farm workers, which includes productive activities, reproductive activities, and social activities. From an emic perspective, the participation of a wife in work is something that is normal and often happens. From an ethical perspective, there is a gender issue, namely the existence of a heavier workload experienced by the wife. The relationship that exists in the family of female farm workers is in the form of access to control over resources and benefits carried out by the family of female farm workers in Pontang Village, Ambulu Sub-district, Jember District. Keywords: Gender Roles, Gender Relations, Farm Workers, Family

Class and social differentiation in Oceania

The rise of cognitive anthropology has recently stimulated a growing interest in intercultural variation. Separate social groups and strata endowed with various ranks and statuses already appeared at the dawn of history when the socioeconomic classes were developing. Hence that was also the time when various distinct social subcultures were emerging. Some Soviet scholars conceptually divide culture in two related ways. The first is determined by the principle which claims that each cultural form includes both productive and reproductive activities (technic-technological aspects) and the objectivized results of such activities. The second one has to do with various real cultural forms: production culture, consumption culture, interaction culture (or etiquette), socionormative culture, physical culture, artistic culture and so on. It seems quite evident that the emerging social differentiation affected distinct forms of ethnic culture rather differently. In order to understand this process, an extensive survey of the ethnic cultures of New Guinea, Melanesia and Polynesia has been conducted. The implication of this analysis is that it is necessary to correct some points in the methodology of Melanesian and Polynesian ethnic culture studies, because evidence of ordinary folk culture is inappropriate for the description of elite culture, and vice versa. The marshalled data put the investigation of the social differentiation process in a new perspective, particularly concerning the interpretation of prehistoric cultural frontiers.

Re-Imagining Resilient Food Systems in the Post-COVID-19 Era in Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened awareness that serious illness and injury are common and important shocks that result in food insecurity, the loss of livelihoods, and unsustainable coping strategies. These have significant negative impacts on welfare, especially for the poorest, driving up health care expenditure, reducing capabilities for productive and reproductive activities, and decreasing capacity to manage climate and other changes. These negative impacts are especially pertinent for countries in Africa where the high prevalence of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria have resulted in repeated health shocks. Unusually, the prevalence of these illnesses results in their impact being similar to those of covariate shocks, increasing the risk of poverty for entire communities and reducing options for coping strategies. Livelihood disruptions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic may have similar consequences for African food systems. The pandemic is likely to exacerbate existing dynamics of risk and introduce new and unanticipated changes to food systems. Although the initial focus of governments has been on public health interventions, preserving and growing resilient food systems is critical if livelihoods are to be protected. This paper discusses the implications of these evolving forms of risk and uncertainty for sustainable African food systems, reflecting on lessons from other systemic shocks.