The impact of bisphenol a (BPA) on the placenta

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) that is used in a wide-variety of plastic and common house-hold items. Therefore, there is potential continual exposure to this compound. BPA exposure has been linked to certain placenta-associated obstetric complications such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, miscarriage, and preterm birth. However, how BPA exposure results in these disorders remains uncertain. Hence, we have herein summarized the reported impact of BPA on the morphology and metabolic state of the placenta and have proposed mechanisms by which BPA affects placentation, potentially leading to obstetric complications. Current findings suggest that BPA induces pathological changes in the placenta and disrupts its metabolic activities. Based on exposure concentrations, BPA can elicit apoptotic or anti-apoptotic signals in the trophoblasts; and can exaggerate trophoblast fusion while inhibiting trophoblast migration and invasion to affect pregnancy. Accordingly, the usage of BPA products by pregnant women should be minimized and less harmful alternative chemicals should be explored and employed where possible.

First report of the Southern Gulf Coast Toad (Incilius valliceps Wiegmann), Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus Duméril and Bibron), Schmidt’s Black-Striped Snake (Coniophanes schmidti Bailey), and Cozumel Whiptail (Aspidoscelis cozumela Gadow), on Turneffe Atoll, Belize

Each year from 2012 to 2019, during a 12-day period in November or December, we photographed common herpetofauna on Calabash Caye, a small mangrove-dominated island on the eastern edge of Turneffe Atoll, Belize. Turneffe Atoll is home to the newest, largest, and most biodiverse marine protected area in Belize. Calabash Caye exemplifies the islands on Turneffe’s eastern edge whose elevated beach ridges enable the development of coastal strand plain and littoral forest habitats, which are among the most threatened habitats in the world. As no herpetofaunal survey has been published for Turneffe in over twenty years, and as the herpetofauna is a conspicuous indicator of the health of terrestrial ecological communities on islands, we leveraged our annual field excursions to Calabash Caye to compile a photographic record of the island’s reptiles and amphibians. In multiple years, we documented the presence of five lizards (Anolis sagrei mayensis, Aspidoscelis cozumela, Ctenosaura similis, Phyllodactylus tuberculosus, and the invasive species Hemidactylus frenatus), three snakes (Boa imperator, Leptophis mexicanus hoeversi, and Coniophanes schmidti), and one amphibian (Incilius valliceps). This represents the first report of A. cozumela, H. frenatus, C. schmidti, and I. valliceps on Calabash Caye or on any island in Turneffe Atoll; H. frenatus, C. schmidti, and I. valliceps have never been reported on any of the Belizean cayes. We did not observe four species that have previously been reported on Calabash Caye: Brown Basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus), Mesoamerican Cane Toad (Rhinella horribilis), Mayan Skink (Marisora lineola; formerly Mabuya unimarginata), or a blindsnake, provisionally identified as Indotyphlops braminus. We also include photos of Anolis allisoni, Ctenosaura similis, and Anolis sagrei mayensis obtained during four single-day excursions to Half Moon Caye on Lighthouse Atoll; this represents three of four species reported from that location during the 1990s.

Implementasi Undang-Undang No. 1 Tahun 2011 terhadap Kondisi Perumahan bagi Masyarakat Berpenghasilan Rendah di Kota Medan

The purpose of this research is to Know and explain the results of the evaluation of the quality of housing conditions for low-income people (MBR) in Medan City, Know and explain the implementation of Law no. 1 of 2011 concerning Housing and Settlement Areas for MBR in Medan City, Knowing and explaining the supporting factors and obstacles to improving the quality of housing conditions for low-income people (MBR) in Medan City. This research is a qualitative design. The research approach is based on phenomenology and the constructivism paradigm in developing science. The results of the research are normatively Law no. 1 of 2011 has been quite effective in accommodating the provision of housing support for low-income families. Implementation of 1 Year 2011, there are still many problems, especially those related to the role and capacity of local governments, both in terms of commitment and funding, so it is necessary to develop derivative regulations related to local governments. There are still weaknesses in housing regulations, among others, related to the current income limit for MBR, which is relatively 35% higher than the average wage / salary income of people in Indonesia, as well as the benchmark for common house prices which are 44% lower in value than the market price in accordance with construction costs on the market.

New records of the mites Geckobia bataviensis Vitzthum, 1926 and Pterygosoma dracoensis Jack, 1962 (Trombidiformes: Pterygosomatidae) from Timor-Leste

We report on the presence of scale mites (Trombidiformes: Pterygosomatidae) parasitizing three species of lizards in Timor-Leste. Geckobia bataviensis Vitzthum, 1926 was found associated with the Common House Gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus Duméril & Bibron, 1836, and the Indopacific Tree Gecko, Hemiphyllodactylus typus Bleeker, 1860, whereas Pterygosoma dracoensis Jack, 1962 was found on the patagia of a Timor Flying Dragon, Draco timoriensis Kuhl, 1820. The association of G. bataviensis with H. frenatus was well documented previously, but this is the first properly documented record of this mite for Timor-Leste. Our report of G. bataviensis on H. typus is the first association of this mite with this gecko. This is the second report of P. dracoensis on D. timoriensis and the first for Timor-Leste.

FGF signalling is involved in cumulus migration in the common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum

Cell migration is a fundamental component during the development of most multicellular organisms. In spiders, the collective migration of a signalling centre, known as the cumulus, is required to set the dorsoventral body axis of the embryo. Here, we show that FGF signalling plays an important role during cumulus migration in the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum. Spider embryos with reduced FGF signalling lack cumulus migration and display dorsoventral patterning defects. Our study reveals that cumulus expression of several FGF signalling components is regulated by the transcription factor Ets4. In conjunction with a previous study, we show that the expression of fgf8 in the germ-disc is regulated via the Hedgehog signalling pathway. We also demonstrate that FGF signalling influences the BMP signalling pathway activity in the region around cumulus cells. Finally, we show that FGF signalling might also influence cumulus migration in basally branching spiders and we propose a hypothetical model in which fgf8 acts a chemo-attractant to guide cumulus cells towards the future dorsal pole of the spider embryo.

Effect of the "Common House" program on the ecological awareness of regular basic education students in Lima

This research shows the benefits of applying the innovative program "Common House" that allows students to develop knowledge, attitudes and behaviors that demonstrate and consolidate a fraternal relationship with Sister Nature. Fourteen sessions were held in the experimental group and there was a control group that served to compare the impact of the program. The sample consisted of 50 high school students from an Educational Institution in Lima. To measure the level of ecological awareness, a Likert scale was created that was validated by expert judgment and reached a reliability of Cronbach's Alpha = .910. The results of the program were estimated by the non-parametric rank statistic of U Mann Whitney (p < α = 0.05). It is concluded that the “Common House” program is effective in developing levels of ecological awareness in secondary school students.

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Dark—Highlighting the Importance of Genetically Identifying Mosquito Populations in Subterranean Environments of Central Europe

The common house mosquito, Culex pipiens s. l. is part of the morphologically hardly or non-distinguishable Culex pipiens complex. Upcoming molecular methods allowed us to identify members of mosquito populations that are characterized by differences in behavior, physiology, host and habitat preferences and thereof resulting in varying pathogen load and vector potential to deal with. In the last years, urban and surrounding periurban areas were of special interest due to the higher transmission risk of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. Recently, surveys of underground habitats were performed to fully evaluate the spatial distribution of rare members of the Cx. pipiens complex in Europe. Subterranean environments and their contribution to mosquito-borne pathogen transmission are virtually unknown. Herein, we review the underground community structures of this species complex in Europe, add new data to Germany and provide the first reports of the Cx. pipiens complex and usually rarely found mosquito taxa in underground areas of Luxembourg. Furthermore, we report the first finding of Culiseta glaphyroptera in Luxembourg. Our results highlight the need for molecular specimen identifications to correctly and most comprehensively characterize subterranean mosquito community structures.

Philosophy of Science and Philosophy: The Long Flight Home

In this article, I argue that there is philosophy of science since philosophy existed. Thus, the idea that the philosophy of science was born with neopositivism is historically wrong and detrimental to the development of the philosophy of science itself. Neopositivism tried to found the philosophy of science as an anti-philosophical discipline, as a field of study that came to replace simple philosophy. The attempt was maintained for thirty years, but failed. Now, this does not mean that we cannot make good philosophy of science today, but that the philosophy of science has returned to the common house of philosophy, it is gradually recovering the connection that it should never have lost with the main philosophical traditions and disciplines.