To the Journal editor:

Amidst the fervency of our political conversations these days, I would like to suggest a calm and reasoned conversation about the foundational relationship of values and the law.

Individual values form an intricate web that combines in a myriad of ways to engender societal values, which are then formed into the laws of the city, state, and country.

Some laws are rather uncontroversial. For example, values regarding safety on public thoroughfares are routinely codified in laws regarding traffic.

Other laws are more controversial and require reasoned discourse to move from a variety of individual values to societal values and the corresponding laws that codify these societal values.

For examples, consider (1) to what extent should government be involved in helping those in need or in providing administrative machinery for health care, and (2) to what extent should government be involved in issues of human reproduction.

Such foundational and important issues of values and the law deserve reasoned discussion in the public sphere.

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. New analysis of the DNA sequence of the male-specific Y chromosomes from all living species of the great ape family helps to clarify our understanding of how this enigmatic chromosome evolved. A clearer picture of the evolution of the Y chromosome is important for studying male fertility in humans as well as our understanding of reproduction patterns and the ability to track male lineages in the great apes, which can help with conservation efforts for these endangered species.

A team of biologists and computer scientists at Penn State sequenced and assembled the Y chromosome from orangutan and bonobo and compared those sequences to the existing human, chimpanzee, and gorilla Y sequences. From the comparison, the team were able to clarify patterns of evolution that seem to fit with behavioral differences between the species and reconstruct a model of what the Y chromosome might have looked like in the ancestor of all great apes.

A paper describing the research appears Oct. 5 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The Y chromosome is important for male fertility and contains the genes critical for sperm production, but it is often neglected in genomic studies because it is so difficult to sequence and assemble, said Monika Cechova, a graduate student at Penn State at the time of the research and co-first author of the paper. The Y chromosome contains a lot of repetitive sequences, which are challenging for DNA sequencing, assembling sequences, and aligning sequences for comparison. There arent out-of-the-box software packages to deal with the Y chromosome, so we had to overcome these hurdles and optimize our experimental and computational protocols, which allowed us to address interesting biological questions.

The Y chromosome is unusual. It contains relatively few genes, many of which are involved in male sex determination and sperm production; large sections of repetitive DNA, short sequences repeated over and over again; and large DNA palindromes, inverted repeats that can be many thousands of letters long and read the same forwards and backwards.

Previous work by the team comparing human, chimpanzee, and gorilla sequences had revealed some unexpected patterns. Humans are more closely related to chimpanzees, but for some characteristics, the human Y was more similar to the gorilla Y.

If you just compare the sequence identity comparing the As,Ts, Cs, and Gs of the chromosomes humans are more similar to chimpanzees, as you would expect, said Kateryna Makova, Pentz Professor of Biology at Penn State and one of the leaders of the research team. But if you look at which genes are present, the types of repetitive sequences, and the shared palindromes, humans look more similar to gorillas. We needed the Y chromosome of more great ape species to tease out the details of what was going on.

The team, therefore, sequenced the Y chromosome of a bonobo, a close relative of the chimpanzee, and an orangutan, a more distantly related great ape. With these new sequences, the researchers could see that the bonobo and chimpanzee shared the unusual pattern of accelerated rates of DNA sequence change and gene loss, suggesting that this pattern emerged prior to the evolutionary split between the two species. The orangutan Y chromosome, on the other hand, which serves as an outgroup to ground the comparisons, looked about like what you expect based on its known relationship to the other great apes.

Our hypothesis is that the accelerated change that we see in chimpanzees and bonobos could be related to their mating habits, said Rahulsimham Vegesna, a graduate student at Penn State and co-first author of the paper. In chimpanzees and bonobos, one female mates with multiple males during a single cycle. This leads to what we call sperm competition, the sperm from several males trying to fertilize a single egg. We think that this situation could provide the evolutionary pressure to accelerate change on the chimpanzee and bonobo Y chromosome, compared to other apes with different mating patterns, but this hypothesis, while consistent with our findings, needs to be evaluated in subsequent studies.

In addition to teasing out some of the details of how the Y chromosome evolved in individual species, the team used the set of great ape sequences to reconstruct what the Y chromosome might have looked like in the ancestor of modern great apes.

Having the ancestral great ape Y chromosome helps us to understand how the chromosome evolved, said Vegesna. For example, we can see that many of the repetitive regions and palindromes on the Y were already present on the ancestral chromosome. This, in turn, argues for the importance of these features for the Y chromosome in all great apes and allows us to explore how they evolved in each of the separate species.

The Y chromosome is also unusual because, unlike most chromosomes it doesnt have a matching partner. We each get two copies of chromosomes 1 through 22, and then some of us (females) get two X chromosomes and some of us (males) get one X and one Y. Partner chromosomes can exchange sections in a process called recombination, which is important to preserve the chromosomes evolutionarily. Because the Y doesnt have a partner, it had been hypothesized that the long palindromic sequences on the Y might be able to recombine with themselves and thus still be able to preserve their genes, but the mechanism was not known.

We used the data from a technique called Hi-C, which captures the three-dimensional organization of the chromosome, to try to see how this self-recombination is facilitated, said Cechova. What we found was that regions of the chromosome that recombine with each other are kept in close proximity to one another spatially by the structure of the chromosome.

Working on the Y chromosome presents a lot of challenges, said Paul Medvedev, associate professor of computer science and engineering and of biochemistry and molecular biology at Penn State and the other leader of the research team. We had to develop specialized methods and computational analyses to account for the highly repetitive nature of the sequence of the Y. This project is truly cross-disciplinary and could not have happened without the combination of computational and biological scientists that we have on our team.

In addition to Cechova, Makova, Vegesna, and Medvedev, the research team at Penn State included Marta Tomaszkiewicz, Robert S. Harris, Di Chen, and Samarth Rangavittal. The research was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, the Institute of Computational and Data Sciences, the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, and the Eberly College of Science of the Pennsylvania State University, and by the CBIOS Predoctoral Training Program awarded to Penn State by the National Institutes of Health.

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Sex workers and allies march together for a march in Vancouver in June, 2016. Pictured here is the red umbrella, whichis the symbol of the global sex workers rights movement. Sally T. Buck/(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Over the past two decades,globaladvancement of sexual and reproductivehealth andrights(SRHR)has been patchwork at best.While internationalhuman rightstreatiesespousea constellation ofrights related to sexuality and reproduction,manynationscontinue todefy their legitimacy.Thepromisesofinternational human rights law(IHRL)arethusundercut bythe realitiesofpersistently-highmaternal mortality,thecontinuedcriminalizationof sex work,thedisenfranchisementofpeople of various sexual orientations and gender identities,andthe denigration ofabortionandcontraceptionrights and access.Perversely, the very fact of international treaty support for SRHR in many countries cancause advocates tolose ground, ascriticslevelattacks on an over-weaning international regime.We categorize those countries thatflagrantlydisdain and floutIHRLwith respect tosexual and reproductiverightsasscofflaw,toco-opta colloquial term used in the US in the early 20thcentury to denote law breakers.

In thispiece,we illustrate the continued usefulness of international human rights concepts, frameworks, and principles in challenging regression on SRHR in scofflaw countries,work that is possible evenwithout citing international treaties directly.We arguethatrightsconcepts canbolsterSRHRclaimsbyhoningourcritical analysis of harmsandexpanding our imaginative capacity asscholars andadvocates.Werelyonexamples from theUS, one of the leadingscofflawcountries, whichparadoxicallyparticipated in draftinginternational human rights treatiesbywhich it has sincerefused to be bound.Our argumentconsidersbothstrengths andsomedangersin using rights in atreaty-freeway.

First, a brief meditation onwhat we mean by rights talk in this context.When we discuss thehumanrightsmostuseful for advancing SRR incountries like the US,werefer tothe newerversionof rightsbuiltover the lastthree decadesfrom within international treaty obligations.This version understandsdomains of sexual and reproductive life, and the linked but distinct domains of gender and race,as constitutedbysystems ofpowerthat rightshavea rolein dismantling.This versionof rightsalsosupportsthe capacity todetermine oneslifeacross publicandprivate domains,andtoextend state accountability tonon-state actors,fromthe husbandtothe trans-national corporation.Understood this way,rightstalkmovesbeyondliberal theorysabstract individualismand grappleswith thestructural conditions (inmarkets, housing, education, labor, scientific knowledge, etc.) necessary to realizeSRHR.

This version of human rightsbuiltthroughtheorization and practice globallyfunctions in two ways: it isat oncea law-based practiceand an act ofradical political imagination.These functionshelp us to identifythecontinued instrumentality ofhuman rightsinthe face of regression.Internationalhuman rights concepts, frameworks, and principlescan be mobilizedwithout invoking IHRL explicitlyin order to1)clarify acute and systematic failures to protect SRHRand 2)imagine and articulate a differentvision for theaffirmativefulfilment ofhealth and rights.

Two examples serve to illustrate thistreaty-freeapproach; while we rely on examples from the USdrawn fromourwork withGlobal Health Justice Partnership(GHJP),we recognizethat there aremany other ways and strategies for doing this kind ofunder-the-radaryetsubversive human rights workaround the world.

In 2017, GHJP collaborated with theBlack Mamas Matter Alliance(BMMA) andCenter for Reproductive Rights(CRR)to support advocacy on maternalhealth and racial justiceinthe state ofGeorgia.Ourfinal reportidentifiedstate-levelpolicies and institutionalpracticesperpetuating devastating and racially-inequitablerates ofmaternal mortality.We used the now-establishedrights framework of respect, protect, and fulfill to flag sites of state (in)actionlegislative, fiscal, administrativewhich led to the abrogation of the rights of pregnant womenof color.We mobilized the concepts of state obligation and accountability, along withreproductive justice frameworks,to developnew andempirically-grounded analyses thatlinkedstate policy decisionsonhealthcare funding and Medicaid expansion tomaternalhealth outcomes.

Another more recent US examplewasGHJPs collaborationwith theSex Workers and Allies Network(SWAN) in New Haven,Connecticutto develop apeer-led surveyon the experiences of street-based sex workers seeking social services.Our jointanalysishighlights structural barriers to adequate services, including but not limited to criminal legal system surveillance.TheAAAQ (availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality)assessmentmodel, established by the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rightsin 2000, framedourevaluation ofservices and helpedrevealbarrierssuch asad hocclinichours, abusive treatment, and substandard care.The reportuses the AAAQ model totiesuchfailurestospecific state and city legislativepolicies, funding decisions, andgaps inmonitoring/accountability.

Mobilizingthe language ofinternational human rightsin analyses onstate and municipal SRHR outcomes ina country like the USmay not seemparticularly useful. In our Georgia report, weacknowledge outrightthat manydomestic policymakersare not necessarily concerned with whether or not state practices adhere to human rights principles.So whydid weneverthelessinject them intoouradvocacy?

First and foremost, internationalhuman rights conceptsuniquelybolstered ouranalysisof state practices: theyclarifiedconnections betweenupstreampolicy decisionsanddownstreamhealth outcomesfor pregnant womenof colorin Georgia and sex workers inConnecticut.Althoughthe obligations we attached to the statewere not framed with reference toUNtreaties,global human rightsallowedfor theidentificationand systematization ofharmsthat may otherwisehavebeen difficult to catalogueand attribute toroot causes.

Human rights frameworks didnt just help organize our critiques of broken systems; they also provided the glue for us as researchers to collaborate with advocate partners and imagine affirmative fulfilments of SRHR. For instance, human rights frames helped GHJP to continue engaging with SWAN in crafting demands for city policymakers, such asthis AAAQ-informed analysison the COVID-19responsein New Haven. The imaginative capacity of human rights language enables discussions of radically different futures characterized by welfare and well-being in scofflaw countries where preventing harm is usually the (minimalist) primary focus.

Weseehuman rights asa powerful waytotranslateinternationalprinciples into transformative, empirically-supported,measurabledomesticpolicydemands.However,the choice to wield human rights in somewhat covert fashionwithoutdirectreference to international legal obligationsadmittedlyhas its downsides. Whatisgainedinlocal political tractioncomes witha potential loss inhuman rights awareness:domesticpolicymakersinlaggardcountriesget no exposure to the idea of legally-binding international human rights nortoreflecting ontheiracts as part of acommonglobalcommitment.

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Its one of the most important genes in biology: Sry, the gene that makes males male. Development of the sexes is a crucial step in sexual reproduction and is essential for the survival of almost all animal species.

Today in the journal Science, my international collaborators and I report the surprise discovery of an entirely new part of the Sry gene in mice a part we had no idea existed.

I co-discovered Sry in 1990. It is the gene on the Y (male) chromosome that leads to the development of male characteristics in mice, humans and most other mammals. Since then, Sry has been the subject of intense study worldwide because of its fundamental role in mammalian biology.

We have come to understand, in some detail, how Sry acts to trigger a cascade of gene activity that results in the formation of testes, instead of ovaries, in the embryo. Testes then stimulate the formation of other male characteristics.

But its clear we dont have all the answers just yet. Our results published today take us one step further in the right direction.

For 30 years, we have understood the Sry gene is made up of one exon, a segment of a gene used to code for amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. This can be compared to a computer file consisting of one contiguous block of data, on a hard disk.

Our newest research reveals theres actually a second exon in mouse Sry. This is like finding a whole new separate block of previously hidden data.

The mouse genome, like the human genome, has been extensively characterised due to the availability of advanced DNA sequencing and related technologies. Researchers commonly assume all the genes and all the parts of the genes have already been discovered.

But earlier this year, scientists in Japan uncovered what looked like a new piece of the Sry gene in mice. New sequencing approaches revealed what appeared to be two versions of Sry: a short, single-exon form and a longer, two-exon form. They called this two-exon version Sry-T.

They collaborated with my group at the University of Queensland and removed the new exon using CRISPR, a gene editing tool that lets researchers alter DNA precisely. Together we discovered this prevented Sry from functioning: XY mice (which would normally develop as males) developed as females instead.

Conversely, adding Sry-T to fertilised XX mouse eggs (which would normally develop as females) resulted in males.

Importantly, although human Sry does not have the added exon, our discovery may reveal new functions that might be shared between mouse and human Sry.

The DNA sequence of the new exon in Sry-T may point us towards discovering some of the genes and proteins that interact with Sry, something that has been elusive up till now.

And interactions we find in mice may also occur in humans. Studying what human Sry interacts with may help explain some cases of differences in human sex development, otherwise known as intersex development. This is a common but poorly understood group of mostly genetic conditions that arise in humans.

Currently, we dont know the genetics behind a large proportion of intersex conditions. This is partly because we dont yet know all the genes involved in the human sex development pathway.

Read more: Sex, genes, the Y chromosome and the future of men

Scientifically, this discovery is a bit like discovering a new cell type in the body, or a new asteroid in the Kuiper belt. As with many scientific discoveries, it challenges what we thought we knew and raises many questions.

What is the function of the new exon in Sry-T?

Currently, we only have part of the answer. It turns out the first exon of Sry, the one we already knew about, contains instability sequences at its end. These are sequences that cause proteins to fray and degrade.

An important function of the newly discovered second exon is to mask the instability sequences, seal the end of the Sry protein and prevent it from degrading. In other words, this second exon is crucial to the development of male babies.

Whats more, this protection mechanism represents an unusual and intriguing evolutionary mechanism that has acted to help stop vulnerable Y-chromosome genes from literally falling apart.

But its early days yet. The challenge now is to understand whether there are more functions hidden within the newly discovered exon.

If so, this information may provide some of the missing links that have stood in the way of our full understanding of how Sry works at a molecular level and of how males and females come to be.

Read more: Why education about gender and sexuality does belong in the classroom

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Fish, amphibians, and reptiles are ectothermic animals, meaning their internal temperature is dependent on the environment. Due to climate change, rising global temperatures will increase the body temperatures of ectothermic animals, causing serious consequences for these species.

A study published in Global Change Biology shows the effect of climate change on the aging rates of fish, amphibians, and reptiles. An increase in temperature likely increases the growth rate of ectothermic animals and may also cause heat stress as a result of increased exposure to heatwaves.

Heat waves take animals out of their thermal preferences, to the point even of reaching their temperature tolerance limits. The longer and more frequent the heat waves, the greater their impact on the physiology of ectotherms, Germn Orizaola, the studys co-author and researcher at the Joint Institute for Biodiversity Research of the University of Oviedo, explained to SINC.

Higher growth rates will generate physiological imbalances in ectotherms, increasing, for example, oxidative damage to the proteins and DNA, which may also affect the telomeres, the repeated sections of non-coding DNA located at the ends of chromosomes, Orizaola continued. As telomeres protect DNA, the faster the telomeres are lost, the faster the cells degrade and the body ages. This clear link between climate change and aging is described for the first time in our article

Due to the shortening of telomeres, the life expectancy of ectotherms may likely decline and their ability to reproduce may be compromised. Other effects of climate change such as drought or flood will further decimate the reproduction and recovery capacity of populations that already faced with reduced lifespans. Furthermore, lost of ectotherms can affect the survival of species in the ecosystem.

The study is just one example of the mass species loss caused by the climate crisis.

Nearly 21,000 populations of almost 4,4000 species of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians around the world have declined an average of 68% between 1970 and 2016, according to the Living Planet Report 2020 released by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) this month. The report emphasizes human activity as a main cause for biodiversity loss and species decline.

Read more articles on the effects ofclimatechangehappening right now:

Signthis petitionto stop deforestation in the Amazon.

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to theOne Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please considersupporting us by donating!

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The Climate Crisis is Aging Fish, Amphibian and Reptile Populations - One Green Planet

Highlights

New Delhi: Humans are not the sole occupants of this planet but the choices and demands of this one specie seem to be threatening all other species and the very existence of the planet. According to experts, our everyday choices can have an environmental impact. When humans use natural resources or invade and exploit the forests, there can be large physical, chemical and biological consequences for ecosystems. A direct consequence of human actions is loss of biodiversity. The wide variety of species whether plants, animals, birds, fish, insects or microscopic organisms, are vital to maintain the delicate balance of this only know planet with life on it, say experts.

Also Read:Significant Improvement In Air Quality During Coronavirus Lockdown: Central Pollution Control Boards Report

There are a number of issues threatening the biodiversity, from climate change to overexploitation of natural resources, asserts the environmental activist Vandana Shiva. She said,

Cultivating and conserving diversity is no luxury in our times. It is a survival imperative. Some environmental gains were made during the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic as it restricted human activities but those are fast slipping away. There is a need to take policy decisions focusing on the interconnectedness of the environment, forests, agriculture, and peoples health.

D. Raghunandan of Delhi Science Forum says that biodiversity loss is taking place at a very rapid rate which means that a lot of valuable resources will vanish. He said,

Biodiversity is the variety of life and fundamental to the survival of humans. Biodiversity loss affects the whole of nature because by allowing the species to go extinct unnaturally or forests to disappear upsets the balance that is required for the support system on Earth. More and more species are becoming vulnerable and habitats are being destroyed at an unprecedented rate, with forest lands being converted development. There can be unforeseen consequences- ecological and economical, of the loss of biodiversity. However, people are not concerned about the long-term effects of disappearing species and depleting natural resources because of biodiversity loss.

Mr. Raghunandan said that humans are invading forests, the habitats of various species of animals and insects in an unprecedented way and thus, resulting in an increase in human-animal interaction which escalates the probability of viruses jumping from animals to human beings. These are called zoonotic diseases. He said,

The more human beings exploit biodiversity, the more the likelihood of such pandemics like COVID-19 to occur frequently.

Ms Shiva pointed out that about 300 new pathogens that have impacted humanity in the last 50 years are a result of the loss of biodiversity. She said,

In the past, the destruction of the Western Ghats led to the monkey disease and similarly, the Ebola virus, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) are all result of the invasion by humans into forests and destroying the environment. The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is also a result of invasion into the forest ecosystem.

Also Read:Air Pollution: Nitrogen Dioxide Levels Fell By More Than 70 Per Cent During COVID-19 Lockdown In New Delhi, Says United Nations

According to Mahipal Negi, an Environmentalist based in Tehri, Uttarakhand, biodiversity conservation helps in reducing the impact of natural disasters. He said that with climate change, growing population and increasing human invasion in natural habitats and unsustainable use or resources, calamities like forest fires, floods and droughts have become frequent. The flood of June 2013 in Uttarakhand is one such example that was triggered by human lead biodiversity loss and caused a massive loss of life and economy, he said. Mr. Negi further said that after a calamity hits a region, it can recover fast from it if it has a rich indigenous biodiversity.

Mr. Negi highlighted that the loss of biodiversity is leading to food cycle changes at local and global levels. He said,

Biodiversity plays a huge role in food and nutrition for humans as it directly impacts the production of grains, vegetables, fruits, herbs, and other food items. Biodiversity is also important for the productivity of soil and impacts other food resources like livestock and marine species. Biodiversity loss that results in the loss of critical pollinators like bees and the loss of worms and other species responsible for soil quality will impact food production and disrupt the supply chain. For example, in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, some of the indigenous vegetables that are extremely rich in iron and other nutrients have started to disappear. People are now relying more on warehouse stored unseasonal vegetables.

For example, the disappearance of bees and butterfly should be a concern because it will have a major impact on plant reproduction which will further affect the local and global food systems in the coming years. He added that the huge amount of pesticides strain over crops is one of the major reasons for the disappearance of bees apart from the loss of biodiversity.

Mr. Raghunandan highlighted that disappearance of bees and butterflies is also a stark indicator of rapid destruction of biodiversity that is happening and is visible in the Western Ghats, tropical rainforests in South India and to some extent in the North East Himalayas as well.

Also Read:Air Pollution In India Improves Amid Lockdown Due To Coronavirus

Waterman of India, Dr. Rajendra Singh highlighted that due to dumping of untreated sewage, chemical wastes and industrial pollutants, and disrupting the natural flow of the water bodies by the building of dams, major rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti, Mahi, Godavari, Damodar, Sabarmati and the Cauvery have been badly polluted. He said,

Due to human activities, there is no clean water left in our freshwater systems. The rise in pollutants is killing the rivers by harming the river biodiversity.

Mr. Raghunandan highlighted that the two species that are on the verge of disappearance from the river systems of India are the freshwater dolphins and Gharials or gavials that belong to crocodilian family and are distinguished by their long thin snouts. It is because of increased human activities like building of dams, water transportations, recreational activities, pollution from industrial activities, rise plastic particles like fishing nets in the rivers, among others. Dolphins act as indicators of river health, according to scientists, and if the dolphin population is thriving in a water body, then the overall state of that freshwater system is also likely flourishing, said Dr. Raghunandan. Dr. Singh says that the disappearance of Gharials from the river Ganga has impacted the health of the river as these reptiles act as natural cleaners of the river.

Also Read:Coronavirus Lockdown: As People Stay Home, Earth Turns Wilder And Cleaner

Mr. Negi asserted that biodiversity is very crucial for the functioning of ecosystem services essential for survival like providing oxygen, freshwater, food; moderating of climate; mitigating natural disasters like storms, droughts and floods among other. Every species in an ecosystem fulfils a role for the proper functioning of the ecosystem as a whole, said Mr. Raghunandan. Citing the example of the disappearance of vultures, he said,

Indias vultures are facing an unprecedented decline. It is estimated that over 90 per cent of the countrys vultures have already disappeared. These large birds are natures garbage men as they clean up the environment. Scientists have found that one of the reasons of their disappearance is the pesticides and chemicals laden carcasses of animals they feed on and fall prey to poisoning. It IF vultures go extinct, it will increase the amount of carrion or the decaying flesh of dead animals and humans which will in turn spread various kinds of diseases.

According to Mr. Raghunandan, extinction of some species is also a part of the functioning of the ecosystem. He said,

There is something called a background rate of extinction of species. It is a part of nature. Evolution itself dictates that some species will survive and some will disappear. Nonetheless, what we are seeing now is the direct result of human activities. For example, human activities that result in climate change, deforestation, will result in biodiversity loss. Human-driven biodiversity loss is about 20-50 times higher than the background rate. It is unnatural.

He further said that biodiversity also helps in the evolution of new species in order to compensate the functions of the ones which went extinct.

Also Read:Coronavirus Pandemic Exposes Broken System Of Bio-medical Waste Management; Experts Discuss The Issue And Solutions

According to Dr. Rajendra Singh, deforestation and urbanization are the biggest manmade factors responsible for habitat and biodiversity loss. He said that it is still not too late for the country to replenish its biodiversity and now it is high time that the central and state governments implement the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 in its true spirit. He further said,

The Act provides for the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources. Implementing this nicely laid down act would save the country from a number of avoidable problems and will also provide respite from air and water pollution to a great extent. However, 18 years have passed since the enactment of the Act, it is not being given its due importance as most of the local bodies across the countries have not prepared a register that records the regions biological resources and so whatever environmental clearances are being given for various public and private projects are basically invalid.

He further asserted that the Act focuses on safeguarding traditional knowledge, preservation of threatened species, which in practice, have become secondary. This is leading to human-made evils like water scarcity and animal-human conflicts.

Ms. Shiva highlighted that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has been giving approvals to big projects that plan to operate in forests and urged the government of India to focus on conserving the forests and preserving the biodiversity that is left in the country after years of destruction in the name of development.

Also Read:Expert Opinion: The Right To Breathe Clean Air

NDTV DettolBanega Swasth Indiacampaign is an extension of the five-year-old BanegaSwachh India initiative helmed by Campaign AmbassadorAmitabh Bachchan. Itaims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country.In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases.The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to preventmaternal and child mortality,fightmalnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention throughvaccines. Importance of programmes likePublic Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyanand the role ofAganwadis and ASHA workersare also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of theSwachh Bharat Abhiyanlaunched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workersandmenstrual hygiene.

3,25,60,947Cases

91,01,064Active

2,24,71,040Recovered

9,88,843Deaths

Coronavirus has spread to 188 countries. The total confirmed cases worldwide are 3,25,60,947 and 9,88,843 have died; 91,01,064 are active cases and 2,24,71,040 have recovered as on September 26, 2020 at 3:49 am.

59,03,932 85362Cases

9,60,969 -9147Active

48,49,584 93420Recovered

93,379 1089Deaths

In India, there are 59,03,932 confirmed cases including 93,379 deaths. The number of active cases is 9,60,969 and 48,49,584 have recovered as on September 26, 2020 at 2:30 am.

DistrictCases

Akola757

Aurangabad1974

Dhule228

Jalgaon1039

Mumbai45478

Mumbai Suburban5363

Nagpur692

Nashik1575

Palghar1421

Pune9920

Satara629

Solapur1291

Thane13660

Yavatmal150

Ahmednagar190

Amravati291

Beed54

Bhandara41

Buldhana88

Chandrapur32

Hingoli208

Jalna201

Kolhapur646

Latur139

Nanded176

Nandurbar42

Parbhani78

Raigad1462

Ratnagiri350

Sangli145

Gadchiroli42

gondia69

Osmanabad125

Sindhudurg114

Wardha11

Washim13

1300757 17794

273190

992806 19592

34761 416

DistrictCases

Chittoor319

Guntur511

Krishna557

Kurnool795

Sri Potti Sriramulu Nell*296

Anantapur428

East Godavari356

Prakasam104

Srikakulam183

Visakhapatnam103

West Godavari199

Y.S.R.205

Vizianagaram23

661458 7073

Read more here:
Expert View: Five Reasons Why You Should Care About Biodiversity Loss - Swachh India NDTV

A new fan theory suggests that Bella Swan of The Twilight Saga is half-werewolf. But is there any evidence to back this up?

TheTwilight Sagafollows human teenager Bella Swan on her journey through the world of the supernatural lead by her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen. During her journey, she befriends Jacob Black, a potential love interest and childhood friend who just happens to be a werewolf. From the start, Bella seemed to be drawn to the world of the supernatural, and now, a new theorysuggestsshewasn't the generic human girl as previously believed because she'sactually half-werewolf.

The first piece of evidence posed in this theory is that vampire powers do not work correctly on Bella as they do other humans, which is a shared skill of the Quileute werewolves. Alice, Edward's adopted sister, has the special ability to see the future, but she is unable to see the future of the werewolves or those whose lives become intertwined with a werewolf. Even prior to her transformation into a vampire, Bella was able to mentally block vampire powers,with Edward being unable to read her thoughts.

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When Bella became a vampire, it's revealed that she has the gift of a mental shield. She trains to use her powers to protect others, only lifting her shield in order to allow Edward to read her mind. While thetheory suggests that her unique powerful gift comes from her potential werewolf genes, the book's explanation of her gift being a human trait improved post-transformation makes more sense within the reality of the world.

The theory also claims that the reason Jacob is attracted to Bella and imprints on her child is because of the werewolf gene. The books present that one of the theories behind imprinting is potentially related to creating matches designed for successful werewolf reproduction. So, in theory, Jacob's attraction to Bella is based on the connection of werewolf genes. However, even in the books, the concept of reproduction as a core cause of imprinting is presented as an inconclusive idea that is actually disproven by Jacob imprinting on a half-vampire. Ultimately, the books explain Jacob's attraction to Bella as really his imprinting instincts drawing him closer to Renesmee.

Also, the theory wildly suggests that Bella was only able to conceive a hybrid child because she had the werewolf gene. However, this is incorrect within the lore of the world. Bella and Edward were not the only human/vampire couple with the ability to reproduce. Alice and Jasper meet a vampire-human hybrid named Nahuel and introduce him during the trial with the Volturi to prove the existence and relative safety of a hybrid. If the mother has to contain werewolf genes in order to procreate with a vampire, than Nahuel would not exist. Plus, during childbirth, Bella is nearly killed and Edward transforms her into a vampire to save her. He injects vampire venom directly into her heart and bites her in multiple places on her body to distribute the venom as quickly as possible. Vampire venom is especially poisonous to werewolves, which is why in the reality ofThe Twilight Saga, werewolf-vampire hybrids are impossible.

See the article here:
Twilight Theory: Could Bella Actually Be Half-Werewolf? | CBR - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Netflix, the video streaming giant, is in hot water with at least some segments of the American public because of a French film it is currently showing called Cuties (Mignonnes in the original French).

The film is about a group of 11-year-old girls in Paris who form a team to enter a dance competition. But this isnt ballet or jazz. Its twerking.

The initial negative reaction was to promotional images Netflix used: the four young girls posed provocatively in their clingy, midriff-baring tops and tight shorts. But once people watched the film, shock turned to outrage. During a performance, the girls simulate sexual intercourse; bump and grind their hips; bend over in front of the audience; and touch their crotches while they sigh, look skyward and suck on their fingers. And thats just one scene.

If some Americans were shocked by Cuties, they were even more taken aback by the reactions to their reaction. The right versus left cultural divide in the country has grown so deep that theres no longer even a consensus on something as serious as child exploitation, which would have generated broad agreement just a few years ago. Instead, the cultural elites came out in force to snub and insult the rubes who just dont understand great art.

An insufferable opinion piece by Sam Thielman on the NBC News website proclaims that criticism of Cuties is just a cynical ploy in the culture war. Thielman describes the film as a sweet-spirited French coming-of-age drama about an 11-year-old girl looking for friendship among the competitive dancers at her school.

Director Maimouna Doucoure has defended her film as a feminist cautionary tale about the sexualization of girls in todays society. But it was only Cardi B and other adult women twerking just a few short years ago. If we take director Doucoure at her word, that art has now filtered down to children. So how long before we have 8-year-olds singing about their WAPs? Will we be asked to believe thats just a statement, too?

The problem here isnt Netflix; the problem is a culture that celebrates the sexualization of everything including and especially children. And American culture sexualizes children at just about every opportunity.

For example, sex education in schools used to be about teaching human reproduction but has morphed into desensitization to vulgar slang and detailed explanations of explicit sex acts in early grade school and middle school. Planned Parenthood is responsible for a lot of this educational material.

Teen Vogue whose readership, we are told, is the 11- to 18-year-old demographic has featured articles on what gift to get your bestie after her abortion.

A culture that presents children as sexual objects is a culture that exploits them for adult gratification.

Claims to be protecting the children or trying to start a conversation are specious. I accept that the directors intention was to criticize the commodification of females in Western culture, but that wont be the result any more than 13 Reasons Why didnt glorify teen suicide. You cant say you want to discourage X and then make stars out of beautiful people who do X on film, become famous, make tons of money, go to glitzy parties and pose for glamorous magazine shoots. You may think youve fooled the public, but you havent fooled the children. They get therealmessage.

Laura Hollis is a syndicated columnist

Continue reading here:
The problem isnt Netflix, the problem is us - Boston Herald

The world is experiencing a pandemic of unprecedented proportions and any assessment on biodiversity, climate change or environment is unlikely to hit the headlines. However, a recent report Living Planet-2020 by over 125 global experts from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) did receive some attention. The headline was a 68% fall in populations of monitored vertebrate species (mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles) between 1970 and 2016 an 84% wildlife populations found in freshwater habitat. In 2019, a report by Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) concluded that nearly one million animal and plant species are on the verge of extinction, possibly within a few decades.

Natural ecosystems have declined by almost 47%. Seventy-five per cent of the earths ice-free land surface has already been significantly altered, oceans are polluted and over 85% area of wetlands has been lost. These global assessments have identified a few key drivers for the decline of our planets biodiversity-- overexploitation of natural resources, land-use change, climate change and pollution. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) published a report on The state of the worlds biodiversity for food and agriculture in 2019, which showed the declining trend in plant diversity on agricultural land and the growing number of animal breeds under threat. Nearly a third of fish stocks are overfished and a third of freshwater fish species are considered threatened. Thus, there is overwhelming evidence that biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented scale, threatening food production, including meat, dairy and fisheries. Many species that contribute to vital ecosystem services including pollinators, natural enemies of pests, soil organisms and wild food species populations are also on the decline.

When it comes to biodiversity, we generally associate more with iconic species such as tigers, elephants, pandas and polar bears. However, we do not recognize that millions of insects, bacteria and yet to be discovered species are also under threat. It is well known that biodiversity plays a critical role in providing food, fibre, water, energy, medicines and other genetic materials. It is also known that biodiversity is critical for regulation of climate, water quality, pollination services, flood control and storm surges.

We are also increasingly recognising that the loss of biodiversity and habitat destruction are linked to human health. Covid-19 is one in a long list of diseases that originate from wildlife. Other recent outbreaks include SARS, Ebola, avian influenza and swine influenza. As we continue to disturb ecosystems worldwide, we are likely to see more pathogens crossing from wildlife to humans. In fact, 60% of emerging infectious diseases could come from animals and nearly three-quarters of these from wild animals. These diseases can be transferred to humans in multiple ways--sometimes through direct contact with wild animals, and sometimes through intermediary hosts like domesticanimals. One study estimates diseases that originate in animals cause 2.5 billion infections and nearly three million deaths annually. Given that many of the diseases originate from wildlife, preventing the next pandemic might depend on how we manage our relationship with nature. According to UNEP, more biodiverse an ecosystem is, the more difficult it is for one pathogen to spread rapidly or dominate; whereas, biodiversity loss provides opportunity for pathogens to pass between animals and humans. Pathogens tend to be 'diluted' in complex, undisturbed, ecosystems.

Apart from biodiversity, climate change and associated extreme events (droughts, floods, cyclones, hurricanes, etc.) are impacting species distribution, population sizes, the timing of reproduction and migration. There has also been an increased frequency of pest and disease outbreaks resulting from these changes which may have adverse impacts on agricultural production and human wellbeing. Climate change is increasingly exacerbating the impact of other drivers on nature and human wellbeing. The fourth National Climate Assessment, published in the US in 2018 highlighted how higher temperatures, severe weather events and rising seas can contribute to heat-related cardiopulmonary illness, infectious diseases and mental health issues. Societal factors such as poverty, discrimination, access to health care and pre-existing health conditions make some populations even more vulnerable. This is heightened in the Indian conditions, given the high levels of poverty and the pathetic state of public health infrastructure as demonstrated during the current Covid-19 pandemic. Global warming will increase the seasonal window and spatial spread of many vector-borne diseases such as malaria, chikungunya, dengue etc.

The decline in biodiversity and climate change will have a compounded effect on human health. The effects of drivers such as climate change, land and sea use change, overexploitation of resources, pollution and invasive alien species are all likely to exacerbate negative impacts on nature. Climate change is also leading to an increase in the frequency and intensity of droughts, floods, cyclones and may impact food production and nutrition.

The WWF report concluded that the destruction or alteration of the worlds natural systems threatens to undo the extraordinary gains in human health and well-being achieved over the past century. India will experience an increase in human population to about 1.5 billion in the coming decades, along with economic growth, and the need to lift hundreds of millions out of poverty; this will have serious implications for natural resources. We lack high-quality assessments like the global assessments mentioned above on the combined impact of climate change and biodiversity loss on human health, food production, freshwater availability. Given this absence, appropriate location-specific solutions cannot be developed. Finally, global level solutions and the necessary actions are available from the United Nations Paris Climate Change Agreement, Convention on Biodiversity and UN Sustainable Development Goals. Recently, the UN highlighted that our best vaccine for the future is to protect nature and biodiversity. Unfortunately, in the current pandemic and possibly in the post-pandemic era, climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation will not be priorities and will likely result in severe negative consequences for health, food production and freshwater supply.

(The writer is a retired Professor of Indian Institute of Science)

Read more from the original source:
The impact of biodiversity loss, climate change on human health - Deccan Herald

By Nita Bhalla

NAIROBI, Sept 18 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Anti-abortion and church groups in Kenya are spreading false information about a bill to tackle teenage pregnancy and maternal death, women's rights campaigners said on Friday, warning that lawmakers could be influenced and vote against it.

The Reproductive Healthcare Bill, which is set to be sent to the Senate for debate in the coming days, includes provisions for sex education in schools, assisted reproduction such as surrogacy, and access to safe abortion services when necessary.

"If this legislation is not approved, teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, maternal mortality will all get worse," said Stephanie Musho, a human rights lawyer, specialising in sexual and reproductive health issues.

"There has been a lot of false information being put out about the bill which is not helpful," said Musho, adding that this could influence Kenya's male-dominated upper house of parliament.

A similar bill was brought before the Senate in 2014, but failed to pass. If the bill passes in the Senate, it will then go to the National Assembly - or lower house - to be voted on, she said.

Some anti-abortion and faith groups in the mainly Christian nation have said the legislation normalises underage sex and would allow LGBT+ people to have children through surrogacy, something women's groups say is not contemplated in the bill.

Critics of the proposed law say it also promotes widespread abortion, which is only permitted under Kenya's constitution when a woman's life or health is in danger and emergency treatment is required.

The bill would not change that, women's groups say, but could save the lives of thousands of women who die from botched abortions in backstreet clinics.

An estimated2,600 women and girls die annually in Kenya from complications related to unsafe abortions, according to Health Ministry data. That accounts for 35% of all maternal deaths.

The bill also stipulates that every health care provider is obliged to provide family planning services to women who need them and directs authorities to provide free antenatal care, delivery care and postnatal care for all women and girls.

Plans for the provision of sex education for children aged 10-17 and for adolescents to be able to access sexual and reproductive health services would help reduce high rates of unwanted teenage pregnancy, women's groups say.

According todata from the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, more than 23% of Kenyan girls get pregnant before they are 18.

No date has been set for the bill to be sent to the Senate, but groups such as the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) urged the chamber in a letter last month to scrap it.

"The bill normalises underage sex and goes further to open the children between the ages of 10-17 that they should receive contraceptives, safe abortion, and comprehensive sex education which teaches that sex is for pleasure and sexual pleasure is a right," said the letter, which was also sent to the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

"Such behaviour would lead to increase demand for abortion and eventually unstable families in Kenya," it said.

(Reporting by Nita Bhalla @nitabhalla, Editing by Helen Popper. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Church, anti-abortion groups seen threatening women's health bill - Thomson Reuters Foundation

While watching 2020 unfold has been like watching someone set themself on fire with a bucket of bacon grease and a firecracker, one morning I stumbled on something that made me smile, and then jump for joy: A new study found that the global human population might peak at just under 10 billion people in the 2060s before tapering off to 8.8 billion by 2100.

What miracle could achieve such a slowdown in human reproduction after a century of smack-yourself-in-the-face runaway growth? Its not war, or nuclear holocaust, or plague (COVID-19, as tragic as its mishandling has been by certain governments, will do little to slow down population growth). Its two things, both wonderfully non-violent: womens education, and access to birth control.

The new findings, published in the medical journal The Lancet, differ from other population forecasts, most importantly by the United Nations Development Programme (UNPD) and the Wittgenstein Centre, by predicting that the global population will peak sooner than expected and fall quicker than anticipated (though still, by 2100, the Earth would house more humans than the 7.8 billion of us here today).

This was good news. No, no, this was freaking great news. Because if this research which made some clever shifts in how it analyzed the data and predicted the future could be believed, it could mean that Planet Earth, in all its ecological glory, might just survive our current devastating onslaught and begin to recover in the coming centuries. Assuming we, of course, actually deal with climate change. A big assumption.

However, no one else seemed to see it that way. Coverage of the papers findings looked more like Munchs The Scream.

Perhaps the most ridiculous of these articles came from the BBC, which spent about 1,000 words freaking out over the idea that the human population wont go on growing forever and societies might have to adapt. Oh, no! Humans have never had to do that.

There is only a single mention of the environment in the BBC article.

You might think this is great for the environment, it reads. A smaller population would reduce carbon emissions as well as deforestation for farmland. But then the piece goes on to never finish the thought, which seems to suggest that fewer people is not great for the planet as a whole (huh?).

Of course, part of the problem is the scope of the paper itself. It pays lip service to environmental issues and climate change, but makes little mention beyond the fact that having fewer humans around might be beneficial in solving these problems. The connection between population and climate change is tenuous at best, but one thing is certain: a booming population is not going to make fighting climate change any easier.

Worse still, the paper makes zero mention of other ecological crises: the vast destruction of the worlds forests, the spiraling mass extinction, the overfishing of our seas, the decline of insects in at least some regions, the extensive use of pesticides and herbicides, the infiltration of the last wildernesses, and the destruction of Indigenous people and cultures. Crises, by the way, that threaten human health and society. Just ask Covid-19.

Instead, the research focuses almost solely on how fewer births will impact the economy assuming that the only way forward is unending economic growth.

Will there be economic challenges? Sure. But Id hazard the challenges posed by an aging population are going to be far easier to solve than those posed by a total breakdown of Earths ecological limits, something were already dangerously close to. When it comes to an older population, we already have potential solutions and examples to soften the impact, such as automation, robotics, policy shifts, new ideas like universal basic income, and evolving views around economics.

Maybe we dont have to play the neoliberal capitalism game forever? Maybe we could increase funding for the care of the elderly instead of giving billionaires tax cuts or spending trillions on the military?

At one point, the study claims Japan will see its population shrink by half and then says Japan could still be the fourth-largest economy. Boohoo.

While the research clearly bemoans the challenges of a world where women have fewer children, the alternative is quite simply ludicrous. Is the human population already tearing the seams of our planetary ecological limits supposed to just go on growing forever? Perhaps 10 billion humans just isnt enough and we should aim for 20, 40, why not 100 billion people?

How to feed, house and clothe us all? Oh, no worries, by then Im sure well have terraformed Mars easily done on a planet we have never set foot on and invented light-speed travel to bounce around the galaxy. Ha! Lets get back to reality: if we cant even take care of the planet that cradles us, what chance do we have of making good on others?

The only alternative to endless population growth is population decline. And the only alternative to wrecking our Earth is treating it differently. And this, of course, highlights the problem with our obsession with GDP and never-ending economic growth. As has been pointed out by many conservationists (originally by the economist Kenneth Boulding in the 1960s), Anyone who believes in indefinite growthon a physically finite planet, is either mad or an economist.

We also seem to forget that the human species only hit 1 billion people around 1800. In other words, for more than 99.9% of our time on Earth, we did just fine at the things humans like to do community, sex, art, religion, philosophy, war with fewer than a billion people.

So, humans will be fine if we avoid ecological catastrophe and total climate breakdown. And a slowing population allows us to have a bit of a better chance on both of those. I say a bit because human population is just one part of the equation. The other is consumption. We might miss the worst of the predicted population growth, but we still have to rein in our material consumption.

Just dont tell the economists that.

Meanwhile, Ill celebrate a little. Our incredible, nonviolent revolution of contraceptives, birth control, womens rights, and education for girls might just prevent our species from destroying the world.

Header image: Fires burning in the Amazon on August 17 next to the borders of the Kaxarari Indigenous territory, in Labrea, Amazonas state. Photo by: Christian Braga / Greenpeace

Citation: Vollset,S.E., Goren,E., Yuan,C., Cao,J., Smith,A.E., Hsiao,T., Murray,C.J. (2020). Fertility, mortality, migration, and population scenarios for 195 countries and territories from 2017 to 2100: A forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease study.The Lancet. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30677-2

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The best news of 2020? Humanity may never hit the 10 billion mark - Mongabay.com

A decoy receptor for SARS-CoV-2

For severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to enter human cells, the spike protein on the surface of the virus must bind to the host receptor protein, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). A soluble version of the receptor is being explored as a therapeutic. Chan et al. used deep mutagenesis to identify ACE2 mutants that bind more tightly to the spike protein and combined mutations to further increase binding affinity (see the Perspective by DeKosky). A promising variant was engineered to be a stable dimer that has a binding affinity for the spike protein; it is comparable with neutralizing antibodies and neutralized both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1 in a cell-based assay. In addition, the similarity to the natural receptor may limit the possibility for viral escape.

Science, this issue p. 1261; see also p. 1167

The spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) binds angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on host cells to initiate entry, and soluble ACE2 is a therapeutic candidate that neutralizes infection by acting as a decoy. By using deep mutagenesis, mutations in ACE2 that increase S binding are found across the interaction surface, in the asparagine 90glycosylation motif and at buried sites. The mutational landscape provides a blueprint for understanding the specificity of the interaction between ACE2 and S and for engineering high-affinity decoy receptors. Combining mutations gives ACE2 variants with affinities that rival those of monoclonal antibodies. A stable dimeric variant shows potent SARS-CoV-2 and -1 neutralization in vitro. The engineered receptor is catalytically active, and its close similarity with the native receptor may limit the potential for viral escape.

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Engineering human ACE2 to optimize binding to the spike protein of SARS coronavirus 2 - Science Magazine

Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS is a hormonal disorder that occurs due to an excess of male hormones in the female body, which causes the ovaries to not function properly. With a global prevalence of 6-20 percent - and Indian prevalence of 9.13 percent to 22.5 percent according to the National Health Portal - PCOS is also the most common cause of infertility among women.

Many studies have shown that women with PCOS have more difficulties getting pregnant and have a higher incidence of miscarriages, apart from other health issues like hirsutism, acne, obesity and diabetes. A new study published in the journal Human Reproduction is the first to show that children born to women with PCOS may be at an increased risk of developing a wide range of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.

The study, conducted by researchers in Sweden, China and Finland, found that such increased risks existed not only for babies born to mothers with PCOS but also that these risks were further increased if the mother also had complications like obesity, gestational diabetes, caesarean delivery and others.

Maternal PCOS and psychiatric disorders in offspring

The largest of its kind, this study included over a million babies born in Finland between 1996 and 2014. Data of 24,682 children born to mothers with PCOS and 1,073,071 children born to mothers without PCOS was collected. All children were then followed up with until 31 December 2018, which is roughly till the time the kids turned 22 years old.

Stratified analyses were performed on all data to test the independent role of PCOS, as well as the joint effects of PCOS with maternal obesity, perinatal problems, caesarean delivery, gestational diabetes, use of fertility treatments, etc. The analyses were also adjusted for factors like maternal age, smoking, psychiatric disorders, use of drugs during pregnancy and systemic inflammatory diseases wherever applicable.

Higher prevalence of mental health issues

During the follow-up period, the researchers reportedly found that of the total 1,097,753 children included in the study, 9.8% were diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorder. The risk of being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder was reportedly 1.3 times higher among children born to mothers with PCOS. Among these children, the following disorders had a higher prevalence:

Severe obesity among mothers with PCOS was observed to be a huge contributing factor to psychiatric disorder prevalence in the children and perinatal complications - particularly gestational diabetes and caesarean delivery - increased the risk of this prevalence by 1.7 times.

These findings indicate that healthcare providers across the world have to understand that children born to mothers with PCOS are at a higher risk of mental health problems, and are in need of psychological support and mental health follow-ups for longer periods of time. This also underlines the need for proper counselling for women with PCOS so that they are aware of the risks involved and have the resources and foreknowledge to monitor their offsprings mental health better.

For more information, read our article on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.

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Children of women with PCOS may have higher risk of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental problems, says study - Firstpost

Immune profiling of COVID-19 patients

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected millions of people globally, yet how the human immune system responds to and influences COVID-19 severity remains unclear. Mathew et al. present a comprehensive atlas of immune modulation associated with COVID-19. They performed high-dimensional flow cytometry of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and found three prominent and distinct immunotypes that are related to disease severity and clinical parameters. Arunachalam et al. report a systems biology approach to assess the immune system of COVID-19 patients with mild-to-severe disease. These studies provide a compendium of immune cell information and roadmaps for potential therapeutic interventions.

Science, this issue p. eabc8511, p. 1210

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a global crisis, yet major knowledge gaps remain about human immunity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We analyzed immune responses in 76 COVID-19 patients and 69 healthy individuals from Hong Kong and Atlanta, Georgia, United States. In the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of COVID-19 patients, we observed reduced expression of human leukocyte antigen class DR (HLA-DR) and proinflammatory cytokines by myeloid cells as well as impaired mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling and interferon- (IFN-) production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells. By contrast, we detected enhanced plasma levels of inflammatory mediatorsincluding EN-RAGE, TNFSF14, and oncostatin Mwhich correlated with disease severity and increased bacterial products in plasma. Single-cell transcriptomics revealed a lack of type I IFNs, reduced HLA-DR in the myeloid cells of patients with severe COVID-19, and transient expression of IFN-stimulated genes. This was consistent with bulk PBMC transcriptomics and transient, low IFN- levels in plasma during infection. These results reveal mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for COVID-19.

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Systems biological assessment of immunity to mild versus severe COVID-19 infection in humans - Science Magazine

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to cause devastation, scientists race to increase their understanding of the disease-causing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Once inside host cells, not only does the virus hijack the cells' translational machinery to make viral proteins, but the virulence factor nonstructural protein 1 (Nsp1) also shuts down translation of host messenger RNA. Thoms et al. determined a 2.6-angstrom resolution cryoelectron microscopy structure of a reconstituted complex of Nsp1 bound to the human 40S ribosomal subunit and showed that Nsp1 blocks the messenger RNA entry tunnel. A structural inventory of native Nsp1-ribosome complexes from human cells confirms this mechanism. Cellular studies show that the translational shutdown almost completely inhibits the innate immune response. The binding pocket on the ribosome may be a target for drugs to treat COVID-19.

Science, this issue p. 1249

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Structural basis for translational shutdown and immune evasion by the Nsp1 protein of SARS-CoV-2 - Science Magazine

It is the oldest known living tree on the East Coast, residing in North Carolinas wetlands, and it is endangered due to climate change.

The 2,624-year-old bald cypress is the fifth-oldest living non-clonal tree species in the world. But it is vulnerable to conditions such as drought, heat wave, storms, and flooding all while warming temperatures continue to create problems for plant growth, resilience and reproduction, The Guardian reports.

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The principal threat to our forests is people and human activity. One consequence of human activity is climate change, David Stahle, a dendrochronologist who was introduced to the Black Rivers bald cypress stand in 1985, said.

Rising sea levels are threatening the bald cypress, with little more than six feet of elevation standing between the tree and Atlantic Ocean. This means that rising sea levels could one day bury the tree underwater by around 2080 based on the estimates that at least 20 feet is possible in the between next 100 and 200 years or so.

With those bald cypress only two meters above sea level, thats a really serious threat, dendrochronologist and Harvard Forest senior ecologist Neil Pederson said. I see sea level rise as a train alarm, on a really long, overloaded train. And its going to take a long time to slow that train down.

In the case of the two millennium old tree that stations in a swamp, high tree mortality rates were predicted in a 2016 study, which found that drought conditions and extreme events were the cause behind the bald cypress dying.

Even though our forests seem to change slowly over time, every once in a while these things, like black swans, these unprecedented or unforeseen events, come and change an ecosystem, he said.

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Original post:
The oldest tree in eastern US at risk after more than 2,600 years | TheHill - The Hill

The C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development at the Wayne State University School of Medicine has teamed with the Institute of Reproductive Health of Tongji Medical College at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, to establish the International Women Health Research Program.

The goal of the new collaboration is to improve womens treatment and care, particularly in the areas of cancer and reproductive health.

Maternal mortality, pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and recurrent abortions, gynecologic cancers and infertility are still major global problems that can only be improved by international collaborations, said Gil Mor, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Mott Center and the John M. Malone Jr., M.D., Endowed Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. A womans reproductive aspects have a major impact not only on her health, but on the health of her children. The International Women Health Research Program will achieve its objectives by enhancing the education of health providers, investigators, students and general public.

Because the programs success depends on improving the education of physicians and researchers involved in multiple aspects of womens health, training investigators to develop novel approaches

for diagnosis and treatment, and educating the general population on the complex aspects related to reproduction and womens health, a key component of the collaboration includes exchange programs in which trainees, physicians and scientists train at the two participating institutions.

To date, in addition to developing three courses in reproductive immunology and one in ovarian cancer, the program has mentored 11 students in Wuhan, with two trained at WSU.

Under an internship program, physicians selected for the program are trained in the design and conduct of clinical and translational research in a 12-month program at the WSU School of Medicine. The partnership also includes support for training post-doctoral fellows for two years and the exchange of speakers for seminars at both institutions.

Throughout September, WSU and Huazhong University of Science and Technology virtually hosted a four-part lecture series for faculty of both schools featuring Dr. Mor speaking on reproductive immunology, implantation, infection in pregnancy and fetal-maternal immune interaction.

The collaboration has published eight papers, with more in various stages of pre-publication, and has secured one grant.

The universities held their first International Symposium for Reproductive Immunology and Genetics in Wuhan on May 18, 2017.

Excerpt from:
C.S. Mott Center teams with Chinese university to create new International Women Health Research Program - The South End

Just like the Channel 4 original the Amazon remake of Utopia is full of twists and turns, with the final episode concluding with a serious cliffhanger that hints at what we can expect from season two.

I would say it is a very deliberate sort of cliffhanger, series creator Gillian Flynn told RadioTimes.com about the series finale, noting that work on season two is already underway.

We already are just dipping into season two. And Ive told everyone, the world is open, lets see what we want to do.

But how does Utopia season one end, exactly, and what does it all mean? Check out our quick summary and explainer below, but beware obviously well be delving into some pretty serious spoilers below the drop.

Still here? Well, OK lets begin with the bigger points. In the final episode its revealed exactly what Dr Christie (John Cusack) and The Harvest are up to, with the cult-like organisation creating a fake flu pandemic that will require the mass buy-up of Christies vaccine.

The twist? The vaccine actually carries a new virus, created by Jessicas (Sasha Lane) father that will render those who take it sterile, with the intention of halting human reproduction for three generations and eventually solving the issue of overpopulation.

Discovering this, the gang of nerds and Dr Stearns (Rainn Wilson) head to ChristieCo and destroy the vaccine, while Wilson (Desmin Borges) tries to get Christie to film a confession video that will destroy his reputation. Instead, Christie convinces Wilson that his cause is just, turning him to his organisations side for the greater good.

Utopia John Cusack Amazon

After destroying the vaccine the nerds scatter, but cant escape entirely. While Ian (Dan Byrd) and Alice manage to get away Grant (Javon Walton) is arrested, while Becky is picked up by Christie and the turncoat Wilson.

Meanwhile, Arby (Christopher Denham) takes Jessica Hyde back to the yellow house of her childhood, where she reunites with Milner only to learn the horrible truth Milner wasnt after the prophetic Utopia comic after all. Instead, she wanted Jessica, whose blood secretly contains a cocktail of virus that will truly change the world forever.

After taking Jessica captive, in the series final moments Milner walks down into a basement room to approach a surprising figure Jessicas father, still alive and working on a new comic-book page that shows Jessicas injection-scarred back.

Sasha Lane as Jessica Hyde in Utopia (Amazon Prime Video)

I have your daughter, Milner says, just as Jessica opens her eyes again

Theres gonna be morethe ideas I played with as far as Home and where Jessica comes from, and what that background is, and what Christie really wants, are all explained a little bit more in that final episode, Flynn told us.

Nothing gets nailed down, but there is a lot more of a glimpse into things weve been alluding to. For me it really finalises the mythology of the show.

Fans of the original UK Utopia may note that the revelations of this final episode down to the fake-flu-sterilisation story, Wilsons heel-turn and Jessicas blood containing a virus are very close to the finale of Dennis Kellys Utopia series one, which first aired on TV in 2013.

However, there are some key differences in where each character ends up most notably Becky being captured, Jessicas father being introduced earlier and new character Christie surviving to plot again which Flynn suggests will make season two of the US Utopia very different to what Kelly plotted for series two of the original drama.

I didnt even watch much of Denniss second season because mine goes to a different place and takes us to a different ending, Flynn told us and while shes not giving anything away about what we can expect just yet, she seemed confident that more episodes would be on their way.

I wont write every episode myself this time, that was exhausting, so we have our writers room, she said. So thats really where we are, were just now kind of starting out.

But there is a hope and intention to do a season two. Theres certainly enough to play with for sure.

Utopia episodes 1-8 are streaming on Amazon Prime Video now. Want something else to watch? Check out our full TV Guide.

See more here:
Utopia ending explained and season 2 hints - RadioTimes

Current understandings of cell specification in early mammalian pre-implantation development are based mainly on mouse studies.

A new study by the University of Cambridge looks at biological pathways active in human embryos during their first few days of development. Through this study, scientists wanted to understand how cells acquire different fates and functions within the early embryo.

The study has shown that just after the fertilization, when cells start to divide- some cells start to stick together. This triggers a cascade of molecular events that start placental development. A subset of cells change shape, or polarise, which drives the change into a placental progenitor cell the precursor to a specific placenta cell that can be recognized by contrasts in genes proteins from different cells in the embryo.

Dr. Kathy Niakan, group leader of the Human Embryo and Stem Cell Laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute, said,This study highlights the critical importance of the placenta for healthy human development.

If the molecular mechanism we discovered for this first cell decision in humans is not appropriately established, this will have significant negative consequences for the development of the embryo and its ability to implant in the womb successfully.

Scientists additionally analyzed similar developmental pathways in mouse and cow embryos. They found that while the mechanisms of later stages of development vary between species, the placental progenitor is as yet the first cell to separate.

Claudia Gerri, the lead author of the study and postdoctoral training fellow in the Human Embryo and Stem Cell Laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute, said,Weve shown that one of the earliest cell decisions during development is widespread in mammals, and this will help form the basis of future developmental research. Next, we must further interrogate these pathways to identify biomarkers and facilitate healthy placental development in people, and also cows or other domestic animals.

During IVF, one of the most significant predictors of an embryo implanting in the womb is the appearance of placental progenitor cells under the microscope. If we could identify better markers of placental health or find ways to improve it, this could make a difference for people struggling to conceive.

Niakan said,Understanding the process of early human development in the womb could provide us with insights that may lead to improvements in IVF success rates in the future. It could also allow us to understand early placental dysfunctions that can pose a risk to human health later in pregnancy.

The research was led by scientists at the Francis Crick Institute in collaboration with colleagues at the Royal Veterinary College, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universit de Nantes, and Bourn Hall Clinic. Kathy Niakan is the incoming Director of the University of Cambridges Centre for Trophoblast Research, and Chair of the Cambridge Strategic Research Initiative in Reproduction.

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Understanding the process of early human development in the womb - Tech Explorist