Convergence of Biology and Gender Identity: A Study of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eyes

The concept of gender and the related practices are born at the intersection of biology and politics. Biological markers; physical, physiological and psychological are politicized for hierarchical positioning of man and woman. The nexus between biology and politics has also generated the notion of ‘immutability’ of woman’s ‘gendered self’. Women too, having interiorized the inferiority of the self unquestioningly and have shown little inclination to redefine her-‘self’ after having accepted the nature’s role in her physical and physiological formation. The inability for better ‘self’ definition is also due to the failure to distinguish the exact point of confluence between biology and politics in the socially ascribed gender identities. Caught in the imbroglio woman has suffered crippled social and psychological consequences and the same is well substantiated in the novel The Bluest Eye by African American writer Toni Morrison. The women characters in the novel are paradigms of real life situations. While some do acutely suffer from social and psychological deprivation having interiorized the inferiority of their biological markers, others handle affirmatively the socially ascribed deprivations of their physical self by understanding the nexus between biology and cultural politics. The novel successfully explores the fact that distinct anatomical difference between man and woman or the biological identities of humans should not be the cause or source of discriminatory practices. Or in other words the novel denies the inferiority of woman as something hermetically sealed and that social factors; advantages of birth (like race and social class), socio-cultural pressures, cultivation of mental culture and many more are of great consequence for both the formation of ‘positive self- identity’ by woman and for challenging of gender significations.

Early detection of Emanuel syndrome: a case report

ObjectivesEmanuel syndrome is a rare inherited syndrome, a correct in utero diagnosis allows effective management for ongoing and future pregnancies.Case presentationHere, we report a case of a complete non-mosaic trisomy 22, with several prenatal sonographic findings, that was diagnosed in utero at 15 weeks’ gestation and then it was confirmed with chromosomal analysis and postmortem examination.ConclusionsEvery anatomical difference should always be further investigated in order to achieve the correct diagnosis.

Immediate results of the еndovascular aneurysm repair in abdominal aortic aneurysm patients with an unfavorable proximal neck

More than half of the interventions for abdominal aortic aneurysm are performed using endovascular techniques. However, due to the anatomical characteristics of the aorta about 40 % of patients cannot be candidates for еndovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Anatomical features that are difficult or unacceptable for stent-graft placement include short or no proximal neck, angular, tapered neck, and vessel diameter that exceeds the existing capabilities of endoprostheses. In cases where traditional surgical correction is not an acceptable option, various technological methods and equipment are used. The observation included 16 consecutive patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, where EVAR was performed. When analyzing the anatomical characteristics of the aneurysmal sac, 7 (43.7 %) patients were classified as patients with an unfavorable proximal neck of the aneurysm, the so-called «hostile neck». Two EVAR interventions were complex (2 patients with parallel grafts), which made it possible to achieve an increase in the proximal infrarenal zone implantation up to 16–20 mm, and adjuvant or additional endovascular procedures – in our case, implantation of Aptus Heli-FX endoancors in 5 patients. The comparison group consisted of 9 patients with standard aneurysm neck, where standard EVAR procedures were performed. The main anatomical difference in the groups was the length of the aneurysm neck – 9.9 mm and 36.1 mm in groups I and II, respectively (p = 0,0003). EVAR in the groups were carried out without significant complications or fatal cases; in the first group, the duration of the operation (p = 0.01), the amount of contrast (p = 0.03) and the fluoro time (p = 0.01) were significantly increased than in the 2nd group. The postoperative period did not differ between the groups. Conclusions. The use of contemporary technologies allows to significantly expand the indications for EVAR in patients with unfavorable anatomy. Key words: abdominal aortic aneurysm, еndovascular aneurysm repair.

Incidence of inadvertent intercostal or epidural spread during thoracic sympathetic ganglion block

Background: Sympathetic blocks (SBs) have been used widely to relieve the symptoms of sympathetically maintained pain (SMP). The thoracic sympathetic ganglion is not separated from somatic nerves by muscles and connective tissue. The upper thoracic ganglion runs along the posterior surface of the vertebral column in close proximity to the adjacent epidural region. This anatomical difference leads to frequent epidural and intercostal spread in cases of thoracic SBs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of inadvertent intercostal and epidural injections during thoracic SBs.Methods: Twenty-two patients who were suffering from complex regional pain syndrome or lymphedema after breast cancer surgery were managed with two or three times of thoracic SBs. Therefore, injections of 63 thoracic SBs from 22 patients were enrolled in this study. An investigator who did not attend the procedure evaluated the occurrence of intercostal or epidural spread using anteroposterior fluoroscopic images.Results: The overall incidence of inadvertent intercostal or epidural spread of contrast was 47.5%. Among the inadvertent injections, intercostal spread (34.9%) was more frequent than epidural spread (12.6%). Only 52.5% of the thoracic SBs demonstrated successful contrast spread without any inadvertent spread. The mean difference in skin temperature between the blocked and unblocked sides was 2.5 ± 1.8ºC. Fifty-nine (93.6%) injections demonstrated more than 1.5ºC difference.Conclusions: Thoracic SBs showed a high incidence (47.5%) of inadvertent epidural or intercostal injection. Thus, special attention is required for the diagnosis of SMP or the injection of any neurolytic agent around sympathetic ganglion.

Understanding of surface roughness of wood based on analysis its structure and density

Understanding of surface roughness of wood based on analysis its structure and density. The main aim of presented paper was to investigate the influence the wood density and anatomical details on surface roughness. The scope of study included samples from ten different species of wood (mainly tropical) because of wide range of density and anatomical difference. The results allow to conclude that the roughness of tested wood species demonstrated variation, depending on the wood section and the measurement direction. In general, radial sections showed higher roughness than tangential sections due to interlocked fibres in tested wood species (fibres cut in various ways on the radial section of the wood). Roughness measured perpendicular to the wood fibres were twice as high as those measured parallel to the grain. Wood density was not an important indicator determining surface roughness for tested wood species. The determining element for the roughness measured across the fibres was the diameter of the vessels. Further research is advisable due to the enormous variability of the structure and properties of wood.

Evolution of vertebrate gill covers via shifts in an ancient Pou3f3 enhancer

Whereas the gill chambers of jawless vertebrates open directly into the environment, jawed vertebrates evolved skeletal appendages that drive oxygenated water unidirectionally over the gills. A major anatomical difference between the two jawed vertebrate lineages is the presence of a single large gill cover in bony fishes versus separate covers for each gill chamber in cartilaginous fishes. Here, we find that these divergent patterns correlate with the pharyngeal arch expression of Pou3f3 orthologs. We identify a deeply conserved Pou3f3 arch enhancer present in humans through sharks but undetectable in jawless fish. Minor differences between the bony and cartilaginous fish enhancers account for their restricted versus pan-arch expression patterns. In zebrafish, mutation of Pou3f3 or the conserved enhancer disrupts gill cover formation, whereas ectopic pan-arch Pou3f3b expression generates ectopic skeletal elements resembling the multimeric covers of cartilaginous fishes. Emergence of this Pou3f3 arch enhancer >430 Mya and subsequent modifications may thus have contributed to the acquisition and diversification of gill covers and respiratory strategies during gnathostome evolution.

The Sexual Throughout the Body of the Tongue

In Fragment 19 of the Harvard Manuscripts, Saussure claims that difference, since it admits degrees, is an uncomfortable term. If anatomy as destiny (Freud, 1912, 1924) is more nuanced than one would like, since it also admits degrees, and anatomical difference does not mitigate the ultimate impossibility of conjugation between speaking beings (Lacan, 1991), how to think of the transit/translation between bodies and where to situate the differences that belong to them? In order to propose an answer, this paper starts from this hypothesis that it is advisable to develop this reflection about sexual difference a couple of feet above the waistline, foregrounding another organ (the tongue), what allows us to critically rethink the entanglement between gender and anatomy in psychoanalysis, in favor of the notion of style.

Evolution of vertebrate gill covers via shifts in an ancient Pou3f3 enhancer

SummaryWhereas the gill chambers of extant jawless vertebrates (lampreys and hagfish) open directly into the environment, jawed vertebrates evolved skeletal appendages that promote the unidirectional flow of oxygenated water over the gills. A major anatomical difference between the two jawed vertebrate lineages is the presence of a single large gill cover in bony fishes versus separate covers for each gill chamber in cartilaginous fishes. Here we find that these divergent gill cover patterns correlate with the pharyngeal arch expression of Pou3f3 orthologs. We identify a Pou3f3 arch enhancer that is deeply conserved from cartilaginous fish through humans but undetectable in lampreys, with minor sequence differences in the bony versus cartilaginous fish enhancers driving the corresponding single versus multiple gill arch expression patterns. In zebrafish, loss of Pou3f3 gene function disrupts gill cover formation, and forced expression of Pou3f3b in the gill arches generates ectopic skeletal elements resembling the multiple gill cover pattern of cartilaginous fishes. Emergence of this Pou3f3 enhancer >430 mya and subsequent modifications may thus have contributed to the acquisition and diversification of gill covers and respiratory strategies during gnathostome evolution.

The Anatomy of Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) Brain in Timor Island

Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) is native to some Asian regions, include Indonesia. Despite its wide spreading in those areas, study in regards to its anatomy is very few. This study is aimed to unveil the anatomy of Asian plam civet brain in Timor island. This study was performed in three Asian palm civets. The palm civets were anesthesized and humanely euthanazied using perfusion technique, and macroscopically observed for their brains anatomy. Results showed Asian palm civet consisted of three main parts which were cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem. Compared to brain of dog, sulci and gyri of the Asian palm civet is simpler, with paraflocculus lobes were merely located in dorsal and ventral parts of the brain. However, the vermis was more similar to dogs, and more developed compare to Reusettussp (Javanese codot). This suggests that the anatomical difference is a result of the different behavior, which are nocturnal animal and live on trees.

Histological and Cytological Characterization of Anther and Appendage Development in Asian Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.)

The lotus (Nelumbo Adans.) is a perennial aquatic plant with important value in horticulture, medicine, food, religion, and culture. It is rich in germplasm and more than 2000 cultivars have been cultivated through hybridization and natural selection. Microsporogenesis and male gametogenesis in the anther are important for hybridization in flowering plants. However, little is known about the cytological events, especially related to the stamen, during the reproduction of the lotus. To better understand the mechanism controlling the male reproductive development of the lotus, we investigated the flower structure of the Asian lotus (N. nucifera). The cytological analysis of anther morphogenesis showed both the common and specialized cytological events as well as the formation of mature pollen grains via meiosis and mitosis during lotus anther development. Intriguingly, an anatomical difference in anther appendage structures was observed between the Asian lotus and the American lotus (N. lutea). To facilitate future study on lotus male reproduction, we categorized pollen development into 11 stages according to the characterized cytological events. This discovery expands our knowledge on the pollen and appendage development of the lotus as well as improving the understanding of the species differentiation of N. nucifera and N. lutea.