Search Results (3,212)

Background/Objectives: Diseases affecting the craniofacial skeleton are normally associated with disturbances in the regulation of cellular differentiation, the development of bone structures, and changes in bone density and ossification. Thus, the objective of this integrative review is to evaluate the published scientific literature from the last 8 years concerning the impact of genetics on some craniofacial dysplasias. Our aim covers the identification of oral cavity alterations to those dysplasias, through the most common orofacial manifestations. Three dysplasias were selected to be part of this integrative review: cleidocranial dysplasia, ectodermal dysplasia and Apert syndrome. Methods: For this purpose, a bibliographic search was performed in the PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases with several keywords combined with each other. The research question of this review was as follows: “What is the impact of genetic factors on the development of craniofacial dysplasias and associated oral malformations?”. Results: After selecting the articles through the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles were selected for this review. Conclusions: Genetics plays a crucial role in craniofacial dysplasias and subsequent oral malformations. The main conclusion was that mutations in different genes can lead to identical phenotypes, while mutations in the same gene can present slight phenotypic differences depending on where they occur. In the future, it would be important to conduct studies with larger samples and control groups that include genetic testing to allow for a more comprehensive study on the impact of genetics on craniofacial dysplasias. Full article

This study examined how Protestant theological orientation and marginalized social identity influence attitudes toward Christian denominations and religion more broadly. We tried to test whether greater theological openness predicts more affirming attitudes and whether marginalized identity moderates this relationship. A total of 479 adults completed measures of Protestant Theological Orientation (PTS), Attitudes Toward Denominations (ATD), Attitudes Toward Religion (ATR), Defensive Theology (DTS), and Attachment to God (AGI). Regression and MANOVA analyses tested hypotheses regarding the predictive roles of theology and marginalization (non-cisgender and/or non-heterosexual status). Contrary to expectations, higher biblical literalism (higher PTS scores) predicted stronger affirming attitudes toward both denominations and religion overall. Marginalized participants expressed significantly lower ATD scores but did not differ in ATR. Interaction analyses revealed that marginalized status moderated the relationship between theology and denominational attitudes, suggesting that literalism was especially affirming for marginalized participants. Marginalized individuals also reported higher defensive theology and greater attachment anxiety toward God. Findings challenge assumptions that theological openness fosters affirmation, instead showing that biblical literalism predicts more positive denominational and religious attitudes, particularly among marginalized groups. Results show the complex interplay of theology, social identity, and spiritual resilience, with implications for counseling, pastoral care, and interfaith engagement. Full article

Based on extensive ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Mianning County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture between 2023 and 2024, this paper analyzes the “xiō bū” (ꑭꁮ) ritual of the Liangshan Yi people. Framed within contemporary approaches to religious anthropology and social memory theory, the study explores how this ritual constructs Yi ecological ethics, social integration, and cultural identity through nature worship, ancestral spirit beliefs, and ritual practices. The ethnographic evidence reveals that the “xiō bū” ritual, by designating wooded mountains as sacred space and performing sacrifices to nature deities and ancestral spirits, integrates “humans—nature—ancestors” into a symbiotic system of the “community of life.” This reflects the Yi people’s relational ontology and embedded ecological knowledge. The sacrificial offerings, shared meals, and purification practices in the ritual not only reinforce reverence for nature through symbolic acts but also unify the community through Durkheimian “collective effervescence,” thereby restoring the community’s spiritual order. As a carrier of social memory, the “xiō bū” ritual, through epic chanting, symbolic performances (such as clothing, ritual implements), and bodily practices (like the ritual specialist’s movements), embeds individual memories into the collective historical narrative of the group, dynamically constructing the cultural boundaries of the “Yi” people. The ritual specialists (Bimo or Suni), as intermediaries of knowledge and power, maintain religious authority through bricolage-like symbolic reorganization and foster the creative transformation of tradition in response to the challenges of modernity. The study further reveals that while the ritual faces challenges in the contemporary context, such as secularization and population mobility, it continues to activate ethnic identity by simplifying rituals, preserving core symbols, and coupling with ecological discourses, offering a model for the modern adaptation of traditional religions. This paper argues that ritual studies should engage with contemporary theoretical approaches like the ontological turn, focus on the agency of individuals, and reflect on the insights traditional knowledge systems offer in the face of globalization and ecological crises. Full article

Background/Objectives: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) cancer survivors face disproportionately high structural and psychosocial barriers to post-diagnosis care. However, heterogeneity within this population remains understudied. This study aimed to characterize healthcare utilization (HCU) barriers among LGBT cancer survivors, assess psychosocial vulnerabilities (discrimination, stress, and social support), and identify survivor subgroups at greatest risk for care disengagement. Methods: Data were drawn from the All of Us Research Program. A sample of 3502 LGBT cancer survivors was analyzed, including lesbian (n = 730), gay (n = 1285), bisexual (n = 1296), and transgender/gender expansive (TGE) (n = 209) individuals. HCU barriers were assessed using 21 binary indicators. Psychosocial measures included the Everyday Discrimination Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and MOS Social Support Survey. Agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis identified latent HCU barrier profiles. Differences across clusters and identity groups were assessed using ANOVA and chi-square tests, and multinomial logistic regression examined demographics, socioeconomic, and psychosocial predictors of cluster membership. Results: Three distinct HCU barrier clusters were identified: low (59.7%), moderate (27.8%), and high (12.5%). Bisexual and TGE survivors were disproportionately represented in the high-barrier cluster, which was characterized by widespread cost-related nonadherence, structural delays in care, and higher levels of perceived discrimination and stress. In adjusted models, bisexual identity, lower income, female sex assigned at birth, and higher discrimination and perceived stress were independently associated with increased odds of high-barrier cluster membership. Conclusions: Substantial heterogeneity exists in HCU barriers among LGBT cancer survivors. Bisexual and TGE survivors experience a concentrated burden of structural and psychosocial barriers to survivorship care, highlighting the relevance of targeted, data-driven approaches to reduce access inequities within this population. Full article

Transnational organized criminal groups operate in ways that are resistant to prosecution. In response, a proposed change in domestic law would aim to ensnare front men who serve to hide the identities of criminals, enabling prosecutors to flip them via cooperation agreements, thereby unraveling transnational criminal schemes. The proposal would require the ultimate beneficial sender, and ultimate beneficial recipient, to certify beneficial ownership (as sender and recipient) when funds are transacted in amounts exceeding USD 3000; and would require foreign financial institution personnel, who handle transactions with a nexus to a party to the Rule, to collect and submit, to a central law enforcement database, certifications by the ultimate beneficial sender and recipient of covered funds that are deposited, transmitted, transferred, or paid. Analysis of the proposed change in law indicates that it may be effective in addressing the impunity that prevails when organized criminal groups operate in China and North Korea in ways that appear to be outside the reach of domestic U.S. law enforcement authorities. Full article

Perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes suffer from severe conductivity decay caused by dehydration at elevated temperatures, hindering their application in medium- to high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (MHT-PEMFCs). To address this, Nafion/SiO₂ composite membranes with systematically varied filler contents were fabricated via a sol–gel-assisted casting strategy to enhance hydration stability and proton transport. Spectroscopic and microscopic analyses reveal a homogeneous nanoscale dispersion of SiO₂ within the Nafion matrix, along with strong interfacial hydrogen bonding between SiO₂ and sulfonic acid groups. These interactions effectively suppress polymer crystallinity and stabilize hydrated ionic domains. Thermogravimetric analysis confirms markedly improved water retention in the composite membranes at intermediate temperatures. Proton conductivity measurements at 50% relative humidity (RH) identify the Nafion/SiO₂-3 membrane as exhibiting optimal transport behavior, delivering the highest conductivity of 61.9 mS·cm⁻¹ at 120 °C and significantly improved conductivity retention compared to Nafion 117. Furthermore, single-cell tests under MHT-PEMFC conditions (120 °C, 50% RH) demonstrate the practical efficacy of these membrane-level enhancements, with the Nafion/SiO₂-3 membrane exhibiting an open-circuit voltage and peak power density 11.2% and 8.9% higher, respectively, than those of pristine Nafion under identical MEA fabrication and operating conditions. This study elucidates a clear structure–property–transport relationship in SiO₂-reinforced PFSA membranes, demonstrating that controlled inorganic incorporation is a robust strategy for extending the operational temperature window of PFSA-based proton exchange membranes toward device-level applications. Full article

Objectives: The overall objective of this study is to examine prenatal patients ascertained without an abnormal ultrasound (US) or an abnormal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) finding to provide a unique understanding of pathogenic copy number variants, identity by descent (IBD) and variants of uncertain significance (VUSs) in a normal population. Methods: This study retrospectively provides an analysis of over 28,362 prenatal specimens ascertained without an abnormal US or abnormal cfDNA finding utilizing an SNP microarray. These specimens include at least 10 different ascertainment groups, including advanced maternal age (AMA), anxiety, abnormal maternal serum screen (MSS) with/without AMA, and a previous or familial child/pregnancy with a chromosome abnormality or a genetic disorder. Results: This study provides a basic understanding of pathogenic copy number variants (CNVs), homozygosity and VUSs in an essentially normal population. This low-risk population has a frequency of pathogenic CNVs of ~1.26%; however, ~52% were associated with neurodevelopmental microdeletions/microduplications and ~13% were associated with incidental findings. Overall, ~1.32% of these patients showed an increase in homozygosity, the majority due to consanguinity. Lastly, VUSs were seen in 1.41% of this group, of which ~90% were familial. Conclusions: Overall, these findings provide a better estimate of the baseline frequencies and types of pathogenic CNVs and homozygosity in a low-risk population. It provides insight into the distribution of stretches of homozygosity associated with identity by descent in this population and gives a better understanding of the extent of variants of uncertain significance in phenotypically unaffected individuals. Full article

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) still lacks a licensed vaccine. The envelope glycoprotein E2 is a key neutralizing target, but its dense N-glycan shield can hinder epitope exposure. In this study, we revisit E2 glycan editing and examine whether single-site deletion preserves antigen integrity while improving immune responses in mice under a DNA immunization setting. Using a secreted E2 ectodomain (sE2384–661), we generated five N to D mutants at conserved sites (N1, N2, N4, N6, and N11) and evaluated them in a unified DNA immunization model with identical CpG content and delivery conditions across groups. The N2 mutant (N423, sE2-N2) maintained expression, secretion, and ER localization; furthermore, in mice, it was associated with higher anti-E2 titers and greater inhibition of H77 (genotype 1a) HCVcc at the tested dilutions, with limited activity against Con1 (1b). Cellular analyses showed increased IFN-γ ELISPOT counts and higher frequencies of granzyme B⁺/perforin⁺ CD8⁺ T cells after N2 immunization, while IL-4 remained low. Functionally, N2 elicited stronger specific lysis of CT26-sE2 targets in vitro and slowed CT26-sE2 tumor growth in vivo. In HCV-infected ICR^4R+ mice, therapeutic vaccination with sE2-N2 reduced blood HCV RNA and hepatic readouts compared with sE2. A monoclonal antibody isolated from sE2-N2-immunized mice (1C1) neutralized HCVcc in vitro and, after passive transfer, lowered viremia and liver signals in infected mice. Collectively, these findings indicate that selective removal of the N2 glycan preserves antigen properties and is associated with improved humoral and cellular immunity and measurable in vivo activity, supporting targeted glycan editing as a practical strategy to refine E2-based HCV vaccines. Full article

Background: Adopting novel feed ingredients and aligning feeding strategies with these formulations are key to improving aquaculture sustainability. This study assessed the combined effects of alternative protein and lipid sources and feeding regime on growth, nutrient utilization, and body composition of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles. Methods: Two isoenergetic and identical digestible protein diets (39%) were formulated: a control (conventional fishmeal/fish oil (FM/FO) and plant proteins, containing 20% FM and 6% FO) and an alternative diet replacing 50% of FM and 25% of vegetable proteins with a blend of poultry by-products, insect meal, and single-cell protein (Corynebacterium glutamicum) and totally replacing fish oil with alternative lipid sources (microalgae and by-product oils). Fish (28 g of initial body weight) were fed for 210 days either to apparent satiety (AS) or under moderate restriction (85% and 65% of AS). The number of fish used was 65 fish per 500 L tank (triplicate for each experimental group). Growth performance, feed conversion, nutrient efficiency ratios, protein retention, and proximate and fatty acid composition were measured. Results: The alternative diet significantly improved growth, feed and nutrient efficiency, and protein retention compared with the control. Whole-body fatty acid profiles of fish fed the alternative diet showed higher contents of nutritionally important fatty acids, including DHA. Restricted feeding at 65% of AS enhanced nutrient efficiency ratios and protein retention relative to 85% and AS, but reduced growth. Feeding to AS produced the highest feed intake and growth but poorer feed conversion and nutrient efficiency. No significant interaction between diet and feeding strategy was observed. Conclusions: Incorporating novel protein and lipid sources can improve sea bass performance and product nutritional value while supporting sustainability. Feeding at ~85% of AS may offer a practical compromise between growth and efficient nutrient utilization. Full article

To enhance the damage resistance of protective engineering materials under extreme loads such as explosions and impacts, this study, building upon the improvement in impact resistance of concrete achieved by rubber modification, further incorporates steel fibers and glass fibers to synergistically enhance impact resistance and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Using split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) testing, a comparative investigation was conducted on the dynamic mechanical responses of four specimen groups, namely plain rubberized concrete, single steel fiber-reinforced, single glass fiber-reinforced, and hybrid steel–glass fiber-reinforced rubberized concrete, over a strain-rate range of 30–185 s⁻¹. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of hybrid fibers significantly enhances the dynamic compressive performance of plain rubber concrete. Specifically, the dynamic compressive strength increases from 40.73–61.29 MPa to 60.25–101.86 MPa, accompanied by a 59.5% increase in strain-rate sensitivity. Meanwhile, the fragment fineness modulus after failure rises from 3.20–3.33 to 3.73–4.20, indicating improved post-impact integrity. In addition, the hybrid fiber-reinforced specimens exhibit the highest energy dissipation capacity at identical strain rates. Their dynamic stress–strain responses are characterized by higher stiffness, improved ductility, and more pronounced progressive failure behavior. These findings provide experimental evidence for the design of high-impact-resistant protective engineering materials. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the structural differences and functional potential of the gut microbiota between Sichuan-Tibetan black pigs (n = 5) and Landrace pigs (n = 5) under identical rearing conditions. Fecal samples were collected and subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing followed by comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. The results revealed 963 and 910 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in Sichuan-Tibetan black pigs and Landrace pigs, respectively, with 808 OTUs shared between the two breeds. While both breeds shared Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Proteobacteria as the dominant phyla, significant compositional differences were observed at the genus level. Sichuan-Tibetan black pigs exhibited higher abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, Streptococcus, Prevotella, Parabacteroides, and Collinsella, whereas Landrace pigs were enriched in Bacteroides. Alpha diversity analysis showed no significant differences in Shannon, Simpson, or ACE indices, though the Chao index differed markedly between the two groups. Beta diversity analysis (PCoA and NMDS) confirmed distinct microbial community structures between the breeds. Functional prediction analysis demonstrated that metabolic pathways dominated in both groups, but with notable functional differentiation: the microbiota of Sichuan-Tibetan black pigs showed significant enrichment in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, microbial metabolism in diverse environments, and amino acid biosynthesis; whereas, Landrace pigs were characterized by enhanced carbon and energy metabolism pathways. Additionally, BugBase phenotype prediction revealed significant differences in stress tolerance, cell wall properties, and oxygen utilization capabilities between the two groups. These findings provide valuable insights into the breed-specific characteristics of gut microbiota in swine and establish a foundation for further research on host-microbe interactions and their implications for animal health and nutrition. Full article

This article examines how the early Pentecostal movement in Kerala created a liminal space for Dalits and women—groups historically marginalized by caste and patriarchy—to exercise spiritual agency and contest social hierarchies. Grounded in a Spirit-centered theology that emphasized charismatic openness and the democratization of spiritual gifts, early Pentecostalism disrupted conventional modes of authority and belonging. Drawing on Victor Turner’s theory of liminality, this study interprets this early period as a threshold moment wherein new forms of identity and communal life briefly emerged. While Pentecostalism offered a radically inclusive grammar of participation, its emancipatory potential was ultimately constrained by institutionalization and the reassertion of social norms. Nonetheless, within this fragile and contested space, Dalits and women found opportunities for voice, leadership, and embodied transformation rarely available in other ecclesial traditions. By recovering the theological and historical significance of this liminal journey, this article contributes to broader conversations on decolonial ecclesiology, Spirit-led resistance, and the ongoing tension between charisma and structure in Pentecostal movements. Full article

Background: Care homes are complex care environments where supporting residents’ identity, wellbeing, and sense of personhood is central to person-centred care. Reminiscence is widely recognised as a psychosocial approach that can support these outcomes. However, existing evidence has largely focused on group-based interventions, with comparatively limited attention given to how individual reminiscence is implemented and sustained within care home practice. Methods: This study was an implementation-focused qualitative exploration of staff experiences of introducing and embedding individualised reminiscence in care home practice. Care home staff participated in four monthly workshops that introduced principles of individualised reminiscence and supported them to plan and implement reminiscence with at least one resident. Participants used either the InspireD digital reminiscence app (n = 19) or non-digital approaches such as life story books (n = 2), depending on local preferences and perceived suitability. Three focus groups were conducted with 21 care home staff to explore experiences of implementing individualised reminiscence and perceptions of its impact on residents, staff, and families. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four interrelated themes were identified: (1) reminiscence within pressured systems; (2) resident experience and identity; (3) adapting and sustaining practice; and (4) families as partners in reminiscence. Participants described challenges associated with workload pressures, role expectations, and variability in family involvement, which influenced how reminiscence was adopted in practice. Despite these constraints, participants described perceived benefits for residents, including perceived improvements in mood, engagement, and expressions of identity. Participants also discussed perceived increased staff confidence, strengthened staff–resident relationships, and enhanced awareness of person-centred care practices. Conclusions: Findings highlight the perceived potential of individualised reminiscence to support person-centred and relational care in care homes, while identifying key contextual influences on implementation. Further research is needed to examine sustainability and effectiveness using comparative and mixed-method designs. Full article

Platynota stultana is a Nearctic moth of economic importance for many crops in North America. It is a quarantine pest in Europe, where Mediterranean regions, with warm climates similar to those of the moth’s native range, are at risk of invasion. To date, the species is established only in Spain. It has been reported sporadically in Italy, but it is unknown whether these were transient findings or the result of an establishment. In this study, the presence of P. stultana in the Campania region, Southern Italy, was recorded. Adults of both sexes were found in different locations and in two consecutive years, suggesting that the species is established. Sequencing the COI gene identified three haplotypes of P. stultana, suggesting possible multiple introductions. The two most numerous haplotypes were identical to haplotypes from Florida. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the P. stultana clade splits into two subclades. The Italian haplotypes are all grouped into the same subclade. Our data suggest that P. stultana is expanding its range of invasion into Southern Italy, where, due to global warming, it may find increasingly favorable conditions and become an economic pest. A monitoring plan is required to allow timely implementation of control measures. Full article

Transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) communities face persistent health inequities that are reproduced through everyday administrative and clinical encounters across care systems. A feedback-focused lens can clarify how those inequities are generated and sustained. Objective: To identify and validate feedback loops that create policy exposure and institutional gatekeeping in TGE healthcare and to surface leverage points to stabilize their continuity of care. Methods: Two facilitated, Zoom-based Group Model Building (GMB) sessions were conducted in March 2021 with eight TGE participants (mean age 38 years; range 22–63; transfeminine and transmasculine identities; multiracial, White, and SWANA racial identities) recruited through a Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community center, followed by a participant member-checking session to validate loop structure, causal direction, and interpretive accuracy. Analysis focused explicitly on identifying reinforcing and balancing feedback structures, rather than isolated barriers, to explain how policy exposure and institutional gatekeeping are generated over time. Results: Participants co-constructed a nine-variable Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) with six feedback structures, four reinforcing and two balancing that interact dynamically to amplify or dampen policy exposure, institutional gatekeeping, and continuity of care, which were organized across structural, institutional/clinical, and individual/community tiers. Reinforcing dynamics linked structural stigma, exclusion from formal employment, institutionalized provider bias, and enacted stigma to degraded care experience, increased trauma and distrust, and disrupted continuity, manifesting as policy exposure (e.g., coverage volatility, denials) and gatekeeping (e.g., discretionary documentation, referral hurdles). Community-based supports and peer/elder navigation functioned as balancing loops that reduced trauma, improved continuity and encounters, and, over time, dampened provider bias. A salient theme was the visibility/invisibility paradox: symbolic inclusion without workflow redesign can inadvertently increase exposure and reinforce harmful loops. Full article