Alabama School of Fine Arts

Costs of reproduction are seemingly ubiquitous across the animal kingdom, and these reproductive costs are generally defined by increased reproduction leading to decreases in other fitness components, often longevity. However, some recent reports question whether reproductive costs exist in every species or population. To provide insight on this issue, we sought to determine the extent to which genetic variation might play a role in one type of reproductive cost—survival—using Drosophila melanogaster. We found, surprisingly, no costs of reproduction nor sex differences in longevity across all 15 genetic backgrounds in two cohorts. We did find significant variation within some genotypes, though these were much smaller than expected. We also observed that small laboratory changes lead to significant changes in longevity within genotypes, suggesting that longevity repeatability in flies may be difficult. We finally compared our results to previously published longevities and found that reproducibility is similar to what we saw in our own laboratory, further suggesting that stochasticity is a strong component of fruit fly lifespan. Overall, our results suggest that there are still large gaps in our knowledge about the effects of sex and mating, as well as genetic background and laboratory conditions on lifespan reproducibility.

In our globalized era, cities compete against each other by feeding our imagination, hopes and dreams through their aestheticized representations. Memorable skylines, iconic buildings and ambitious infrastructure showcase the nation’s achievements and pave the ground for even brighter futures. Maintaining that cities are not only geographical locations, but can and should be understood through several mediated representations, this interdisciplinary article investigates and amplifies the re-imaginings of China’s urban space through the visual analysis of real-estate billboards and the selected works by contemporary artists Wang Wei, Miao Xiaochun, Ni Weihua and Xing Danwen. Although billboards display systematically positive, promotional and state-sanctioned urban imaginaries, artists provide more diverse and critical ways to understand how the urban space is designed, imagined and produced. Together, they complement and challenge each other’s visions, offering several competing lenses and means to interpret and untangle the complexity of the urban space by way of imagining futures. Although my focus is on visual arts and creative practices, this article is highly indebted to urban studies and inevitably touches upon social and economic theories. Through this interdisciplinary approach, this article allows for multiple and comprehensive understandings of cities, which can lead to developing creative solutions for urban space in the future.

Background One in 4 U.S. women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) during their lives. Despite the magnitude of this problem, little is known about the natural history of relationships involving IPV and how women exit them. Methods Narrative interviews were conducted using open-ended qualitative narrative techniques with a convenience sample of 7 women who had ended a relationship of ≥6 months’ duration involving IPV at least 6 months ago. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Qualitative narrative analysis was conducted to identify IPV relationship phases and themes. Results From the analysis, 5 narrative phases and 2 topics emerged. The chronological presentation order of the phases was The Good Guy, Red Flags, Domestic Violence/Abuse, Mobilizing Resources, and Action. Material from the Moving On topic culminated these phases, and material from the Transition Points topic punctuated them. Conclusions The phases that emerged were reminiscent of stages of change suggested by Prochaska and DiClemente's Transtheoretical Model of Change, but these women's narratives were overall less linear, with substantial between-phase overlap. The Red Flags phase emerged as particularly significant to the women in hindsight and may represent a potential opportunity for therapeutic intervention.

We conducted a survey-based study of the opinions, attitudes, and management practices of neonatologists across the United States regarding prenatally diagnosed Trisomy 18. The survey was designed based on previously validated surveys of severe fetal anomalies and collected demographic information on participants, as well as their attitudes, and management choices given a series of vignettes beginning in the prenatal period. The survey was sent to 3,143 American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine members of which 409 (13%) completed the survey. While the response rate was rather low, our respondent pool was representative of the national neonatologist population. Respondents were predominately white (81%), married (88%), Christian (54%), had children (86%), and were pro-choice in terms of abortion (68%). Eighty-three percent (83%) of respondents thought that trisomy 18 is a lethal condition and 60% thought that treatment is futile. Seventy-five percent (75%) expected that the best neurodevelopmental outcome in the case of infant survival would be profound intellectual disability. Regarding neonatal care, 95% stated that they would recommend palliative care only. Ninety-five percent (95%) would never recommend or recommend only if asked full code resuscitation for a neonate with full trisomy 18, yet, 44% would comply partially or in full with a full code request for resuscitation measures. The demographic features that correlated most significantly with these responses were clinician race and years in practice. The attitudes toward and management of infants affected with trisomy 18 seem to be largely driven by parental attitudes and wishes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The objective of this study was to evaluate a panel of three sperm function tests; tests known to assess different aspects of sperm functionality and genomic integrity, the: 1) Sperm DNA Accelerated Decondensation (SDAD(TM)) Test, 2) Sperm DNA Decondensation (SDD(TM)) Test, and 3) Sperm Penetration Assay (SPA), determining if positive and negative test scores correlated with failed and successful ICSI outcomes, respectfully. A prospective, double blinded, cohort study was performed. One study sample (ejaculated semen) was collected by each of the 60 male partners of the 60 couples enrolled in the study; males whose female partners were found to have no major female factor issues. The sperm from each male was analyzed in the SPA, and SDAD and SDD Tests, and used for ICSI (1 ICSI cycle per couple). The ICSI cycle pregnancy rate for this study was 50 %, with a delivery rate=40 % (n=60 ICSI cycles). The SPA and SDD Test scores did not significantly predict ICSI outcome when used as stand-alone tests (p>>0.05). However, when the SPA and SDD Test scores were used together, ICSI outcomes for a subgroup of 10 (16.7 %) males, were significantly predicted (p=0.03), with 1 live birth, and 9 negatives where the transferred embryos did not implant. In total, 38.4 % of the couples in this study were found to have a very poor chance for a successful ICSI cycle. SDAD Test scores alone, and SPA and SDD Test scores used together, significantly predicted failed ICSI outcomes. This indicates that the scores obtained when analyzing patients' sperm using a panel of sperm function tests; specifically, the SPA, and SDAD and SDD Tests, can be used to identify infertile couples who should not be directed to ICSI.

Sociology of Health & IllnessVolume 10, Issue 4 p. 625-626 Free Access Measuring Health: A Guide to Rating Scales (Book). Stephen McKenna, Stephen McKenna SINFATS, Birmingham.Search for more papers by this author Stephen McKenna, Stephen McKenna SINFATS, Birmingham.Search for more papers by this author First published: December 1988 https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.ep10838657AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Volume10, Issue4December 1988Pages 625-626 RelatedInformation