A Guide to Sexing Salamanders of The Central Appalachians, USA

Documenting the sex of individuals encountered during wildlife research and monitoring activities is important for understanding and tracking changes in populations. However, sexing salamanders can be particularly difficult because secondary sex characters are often subtle or only visible during the breeding season, and guidance on species-specific sex determination is lacking from most field guides. The purpose of this guide is to provide a reference to assist biologists in the Central Appalachian region with identifying sex of live adult salamanders. In the main text we provide summary tables and figures to serve as concise references in the field. In Text S1 (Supplemental Material) we provide individual species accounts that contain concise yet comprehensive information for each species based on the published literature, as well as many images depicting sexually dimorphic characters. Our focal region encompasses partial or entire distributions for 56 species of salamanders in five families (Ambystomidae, Cryptobranchidae, Plethodontidae, Proteidae, and Salamandridae). We identified seven morphological characters that are strongly sexually dimorphic and useful for sexing live, non-anesthetized, adult salamanders in the field, with males of individual species exhibiting one to five of the characters. We identified >20 additional characters that are weakly sexually dimorphic, difficult to distinguish in the field, or species-specific. Our guide serves as a synthesis of sexually dimorphic characters available for salamanders in Central Appalachia, and we anticipate it will have broad value for researchers, monitoring programs, and salamander enthusiasts in eastern and central North America.

Sex dimorphism in dioecious Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in response to water stress

Main conclusion Phenological isolation can potentially reduce seed output and may be exploited as a novel tool for ecological management of dioecious weeds. Abstract Dioecious plants may benefit from a maximized outcrossing and optimal sex-specific resource allocation; however, this breeding system may also be exploited for weed management. Seed production in dioecious species is contingent upon the co-occurrence and co-flowering of the two genders and can be further disturbed by flowering asynchrony. We explored dimorphism in secondary sex characters in Amaranthus palmeri, and tested if reproductive synchrony can be affected by water stress. We have used seeds of A. palmeri from California, Kansas and Texas, and studied secondary sex characters under natural conditions and in response to water stress. Seeds of A. palmeri from California (CA) and Kansas (KS) were cordially provided by Dr. Anil Shrestha (California State University, Fresno, California) and Dr. Dallas E. Peterson (Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas), respectively. Seeds of a third population were collected from mature plants (about 30 plants) from a set-aside field in College Station, Texas. A. palmeri showed no sexual dimorphism with regard to the timing of emergence, plant height, and relative growth rate. While the initiation of flowering occurred earlier in males than females, females preceded males in timing of anthesis. Water stress delayed anthesis in males to a greater extent than females increasing the anthesis mismatch between the two sexes by seven days. Our data provide the first evidence of environment-controlled flowering asynchrony in A. palmeri. From a practical point of view, phenological isolation can potentially reduce seed output and may be exploited as a novel tool for ecological management of dioecious weeds.

The Tendency for Adolescent Girls to Feel Comfortable in Communicating About Puberty and Reproductive Health with their Families: A Systematic Review

ackground: There are knowledge problems related to puberty and health problems among adolescent girls so that they cannot be confident in effectively handling changes in their bodies during puberty as well as long-term reproductive health. Purpose: This study aims to systematically review the tendency for adolescent girls to feel comfortable in communicating about puberty and reproductive health with their families. Method: Systematic review is conducted in accordance with the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The search was conducted through PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases on English studies from 2016-2021 published date. Results: Adolescent girls feel free to discuss issues related to puberty such as the development of secondary sex characters, menarche, and menstruation with the mother due to feelings and gender-specific compatibility This is due to stigma and perceived taboos in sociocultural factors. Fluency in communication is also caused by various factors such as knowledge between family and children, the number of families and attitudes and ways of communication of parents. Conclusion: Parental involvement is important in giving knowledge about reproductive health for adolescent girls but must ensure that the family have good knowledge and good ways of communication as well as approaches to overcome barriers in the gender perspective.

Characteristics of Sexual Development of Ethnic Khanty and Alien Population in the Middle Ob Region

Study Objective: To work out the sexual development standards for ethnic Khanty 7 to 17 years old and their comparative analysis with similar parameters of alien population in the Middle Ob Region of the same age. Study Design: cross-sectional cohort comparative study. Materials and Methods. The study included 2,554 children born in Yugra – Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous district and alien adolescents, and 2,431 ethnic Khanty children aged 7 to 17 years with health group I–II. Sexual development formulas were developed on the basis of publications by J.M. Tanner (1969–1970) and M. V. Maksimova (1977). Sexual development formulas were evaluated; the results were analysed in two groups of children and adolescents — ethnic Khanty and alien population in the Middle Ob Region. We compared the mean age (M ± SD) when each of the secondary sex characters appeared and formed. Study Results. We found out that the Khanty develop secondary sex characters later than the alien population, both in girls and boys. Secondary sex characters are formed at the same age in both groups due to faster rate in the Khanty, save for axillary pilosis: in Khanty adolescents, this character is formed later. A distinctive feature of sexual development of Khanty boys is absence of stage P5 of pubic pilosis according to J. M. Tanner and of facial hair. Conclusion. The patterns we found necessitate the use of a differentiated approach to evaluation of sexual development of the Khanty and alien population of Yugra – Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous district. Use of the standards developed for other population groups may cause overdiagnosis of sexual development retardation in children and adolescents in this ethnic group. Keywords: sexual development, children, ethic characteristics, the Khanty.

Sex Lability and Dimorphism in Dioecious Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri)

Dioecious weeds (separate sexes) may benefit from a maximized outcrossing and optimal sex-specific resource allocation but there are costs associated with the evolution of this breeding system which can be exploited for long-term management of dioecious weeds. That is, seed production in dioecious species is contingent upon the co-occurrence and co-flowering of the two genders and can be further complicated by biases in sex ratio. We therefore explored the sex ratio and dimorphism in secondary sex characters in three populations of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) from California, Kansas and Texas and tested if water stress can change the sex expression and/or the synchrony of flowering (anthesis) between male and female plants. Sex ratio (proportion of males) was balanced and did not deviate from 1:1 in all experiments and populations (California, Kansas, Texas) when plants received normal watering. Male and female plants of A. palmeri did not differ in timing of emergence, plant height and relative growth rate. While the initiation of flowering (emergence of inflorescence) occurred earlier in males than females, females preceded males in timing of anthesis. Water stress delayed anthesis in males to a larger extent than females giving rise to an anthesis mismatch as large as seven days between the two sexes. Water stress induced a female sex expression in Kansas population giving rise to a female to male ratio of 1.78 which significantly differed from the equal 1:1 sex ratio. Our data provide the first evidence of sex lability and environment sex determination (ESD) in A. palmeri, suggesting manipulation of sex expression and phenological asynchrony as novel tools for ecological management of dioecious weeds.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of androgen signaling underlie sexual differentiation and congenital malformations of the urethra and vagina

Disorders of sex development (DSDs) are congenital anomalies that affect sexual differentiation of genitourinary organs and secondary sex characters. A common cause of female genital virilization is congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), in which excess androgen production during development of 46XX females can result in vaginal atresia, masculinization of the urethra, a single urogenital sinus, and clitoral hypertrophy or ambiguous external genitalia. Development of the vagina depends on sexual differentiation of the urogenital sinus ridge, an epithelial thickening that forms where the sex ducts attach to the anterior urethra. In females, the sinus ridge descends posteriorly to allow the vaginal opening to form in the vulva, whereas in males and in females with CAH, androgens inhibit descent of the sinus ridge. The mechanisms that regulate development of the female urethra and vagina are largely unknown. Here we show that the timing and duration of, and the cell population targeted by, androgen signaling determine the position of vaginal attachment to the urethra. Manipulations of androgen signaling in utero reveal a temporal window of development when sinus ridge fate is determined. Cell type-specific genetic deletions of androgen receptor (Ar) identify a subpopulation of mesenchymal cells that regulate sinus ridge morphogenesis. These results reveal a common mechanism that coordinates development of the vagina and feminization of the urethra, which may account for development of a single urogenital sinus in females exposed to excessive androgen during a critical period of prenatal development.

Primary Amenorrhoea - A review of 26 Cases

This is a study of twenty six subjects who presented to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore 1999-2001 and were cases of primary amenorrhoea 20(76.9%) of patient presented between 15-25 years of age. Five (19.2%) had lower abdominal pain. Secondary sex characters were developed in 69.2%. Uterus was absent in 4(15.5%) and ovaries were present in 17(65.5%). FSH was high >40mIU in 12(46.5%) and low <3mIU in 2(7%), 14(53.5%) were put on HRT 1(3.8%) had gonadectomy. 5(19.3%) patients had imperforate hymen, where excision was done. It was concluded that detailed history, through clinical examination and minimal investigations are required to diagnose cases of primary amenorrhoea.

Labial Adhesion in Adult Female

ABSTRACT A 23 years old female presented to gynecological outpatient department (OPD) with complain of passing urine and menstrual blood through a single small opening for 5 years. On examination, she had well developed secondary sex characters but fused labia minora with a single pinpoint opening through which she was passing both urine and menstrual blood. Radiological investigation revealed normal female genital tract. So, the case was diagnosed as labial fusion and surgically treated as medical management failed. How to cite this article Ghose S, Pallavee P, Begum J, John LB, Samal SK. Labial Adhesion in Adult Female. J South Asian Feder Obst Gynae 2015;7(3):207-209.

Anomalies of Mullerian ducts

Some form of mullerian anomalies occur in one out of 4000 to 5000 females. A girl presenting with primary amenorrhoea, pelvic pain and sub fertility is likely to have some or other form of mullerian anomalies. Here, we present seven cases of mullerian anomalies who were treated at Kathmandu Medical college Teaching hospital in seven years. Absence of vagina usually is not obvious in a female baby at the time of birth. It is only when the secondary sex characters develop; time of menarche is awaited but one does not menstruate that the parents start wondering why her menstruation did not start.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v3i2.11232Journal of Kathmandu Medical CollegeVol. 3, No. 2, Issue 8, Apr.-Jun., 2014Page: 82-87