Thin Body Research Articles

Venom phenotype conservation suggests integrated specialization in a lizard-eating snake

Biological specialization reduces the size of niche space while increasing efficiency in the use of available resources. Specialization often leads to phenotypic changes via natural selection aligning with niche space constraints. Commonly observed changes are in size, shape, behavior, and traits associated with feeding. One often selected trait for dietary specialization is venom, which, in snakes, often shows variation dependent on diet across and within species. The Neotropical Blunt-headed Treesnake (Imantodes cenchoa) is a highly specialized, rear-fanged, arboreal, lizard hunter that displays a long thin body, enlarged eyes, and a large Duvernoy's gland. However, toxin characterization of I. cenchoa has never been completed. Here, we use RNA-seq and mass spectrometry to assemble, annotate, and analyze the venom gland transcriptomes of four I. cenchoa from across their range. We find a lack of significant venom variation at the sequence and expression levels, suggesting venom conservation across the species. We propose this conservation provides evidence of a specialized venom repertoire, adapted to maximize efficiency of capturing and processing lizards. Importantly, this study provides the most complete venom gland transcriptomes of I. cenchoa and evidence of venom specialization in a rear-fanged snake, giving insight into selective pressures of venom across all snake species.

<i>Daptonema brzeskii</i> sp. n. and <i>D. rivale</i> sp. n. (Nematoda, Monhysterida, Xyalidae) from Mekong River Mouth, Vietnam

Two new nematode species of the genus Daptonema, D. brzeskii sp. n. and D. rivale sp. n., are described and illustrated based on the material collected from Mekong River Delta, Vietnam. Daptonema brzeskii sp. n. is close to D. lutosum Gagarin, 2021, D. dihystera Gagarin, Nguyen Vu Thanh, 2005 and D. hyalocella Aryuthaka, Kito, 2012 in the presence of postvulval uterus sac, and it is close to D. paraoxyuroides Nguyen Dinh Tu, Gagarin, Nguyen Vu Thanh, Nguyen Thi Xuan Phuong, Nguyen Thanh Hien, 2014 in the shape of spicular apparatus. From the former species it differs in the thinner body, slenderer tail, narrower labial region, shorter outer labial setae and spicules, larger pharyngostoma, and vulva located farther from the anterior body end. It differs from D. dihystera in the shorter body, narrowed labial region, shorter outer labial setae and spicules, and larger pharyngostoma. Daptonema brzeskii sp. n. differs from D. hyalocella in the thinner body, amphidial fovea located closer to the anterior body end, shorter outer labial setae, longer spicules, presence of gubernaculum, larger pharyngostoma, and vulva located farther from the anterior body end. From D. paraoxyuroides, D. brzeskii sp. n. differs in the presence of postvulval sac, longer body, slenderer tail, shorter outer labial setae and gubernaculum. Daptonema rivale sp. n. is similar to D. setihyalocella Aryuthaka, Kito, 2012 in shape of spicular apparatus and to D. brzeskii sp. n. in the shape of pharyngostoma. Daptonema rivale sp. n. differs from D. setihyalocella in the shorter and comparatively thinner body, shorter outer labial setae, spicules, and gubernaculum, bigger pharyngostoma, and vulva located farther from the anterior body end. Daptonema rivale sp. n. differs from D. brzeskii sp. n. in the longer body and outer labial setae, less slender tail, and vulva located farther from anterior body end.

Asymptotic Study of Plate Bending for a Strongly Orthotropic Materia

The technique of asymptotic averaging has been developed for three-dimensional partial differential equations with rapidly oscillating coefficients. For example, for the equations of elasticity theory. Then it was modified and applied to thin bodies in the form of plates (homogeneous or inhomogeneous, with even front surfaces or not), described by the three-dimensional theory of elasticity. In these cases, asymptotic solutions were constructed with respect to one small parameter, which is usually the ratio of the plate thickness to the characteristic plan size. The averaging technique in this case also reduces the dimension of the problem, i.e. reduces the three-dimensional boundary value problem to some two-dimensional one. In this article, we substantiate the application of the method to a problem with two small parameters in the case of a homogeneous thin, highly orthotropic plate bent by a surface load without taking into account body forces. The second small parameter is the ratio of the transverse elastic moduli to the moduli in the plan of the plate. It is shown that strong orthotropy is equivalent to an increase in the thickness of the equivalent plate. A procedure for obtaining the stress distribution over the plate thickness is described for three approximations. The first approximation gives the classical Kirchhoff theory, also called the Kirchhoff-Love theory, and the third approximation coincides with the Ambartsumian theory and allows one to find transverse shear and normal stresses. The consideration of cylindrical bending makes it possible to find solutions in the framework of classical plate theories in the form of formulas, as well as three approximations of the asymptotic theory, which simplifies comparison. Examples are considered when the averaged orthotropic moduli are taken for a single-layer fibrous composite.

Refractory shoulder injury related to vaccine administration: correlation with culture presence of Cutibacterium acnes

Shoulder pain following intramuscular administration of vaccine is common. However, a small number of patients experience prolonged pain and dysfunction atypical to normal transient postvaccination shoulder pain. Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) remains incompletely understood, whether a robust immune response to vaccine antigen or inappropriate injection technique with needle placement in synovial or bursal tissue, or some combination of the two. Symptoms overlap with those of Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) infection but the relationship between the two, if any, has not been evaluated. Clinical case files were reviewed for 3 cases of SIRVA with positive cultures for C. acnes were reviewed. Presentation, treatment, and clinical outcomes were compared. In all cases, patients were thin (body mass index < 23), females, who had high injection placement of a vaccine, all patients had positive magnetic resonance imaging findings of increased signal in the subacromial bursa, and/or greater tuberosity. All patients underwent arthroscopic débridement and culture harvest and cultures were positive for C. acnes. A combination of oral and intravenous antibioticswas used, and all patients demonstrated clinical improvement from the preoperativestate. This case series presents 3 patients with refractory SIRVA who ultimately underwent arthroscopic irrigation and débridement with culture biopsy. Each case had culture results positive for C.acnes and all responded, at least partially, to arthroscopic débridement and intravenous antibiotic therapy. The purpose of this manuscript is to raise awareness of potential coexistence of SIRVA and C.acnes which may be of assistance to surgeons treating refractory cases of SIRVA.

Body Positivity or Humorous Parody? The Impact of Instagram Imagery on Body Image Concerns

Research has shown that Instagram imagery can affect women's body image. However, it remains unclear how Instagram images are perceived, and which type of images can have a positive impact on body image. In this study (N = 170), we examined whether exposure to body positive and humorous parody (vs. body ideal) imagery would be perceived as critiques of thin body ideals, would elicit photo-based activity in the form of “likes”, and would positively affect women's body image. Results showed that both body positivity and humorous parody images elicited more “likes” and were perceived as critiquing thin body standards more than body ideal images. Moreover, women's body satisfaction and positive mood were higher after exposure to body positivity and humorous parody compared to exposure to body ideal images. Women exposed to humorous parody also reported a lower drive for thinness. These findings demonstrate that both body positivity and humorous parody can be considered critiques that improve body image.

Reactive ion Etching of SiO2 and Mo Sidewall Profile Process

This paper investigates the process parameters affecting the sidewall angle of Mo and SiO2 films based on the reactive ion etching (RIE) system, firstly, the photoresist mask with a certain sidewall angle was obtained by adjusting the hardening temperature and hardening time of the photoresist during the lithography process, and their effects on the sidewall angle of the photoresist mask were investigated. In the RIE etching of SiO2 and Mo, the etching gas type (CHF3, CF4, SF6), O2 flow rate, and their effects on the sidewall angle of SiO2 were adjusted to obtain the sidewall angle of SiO2 in the range of 15°~53°, During the RIE etching of Mo, the RF power, SF6 flow rate, and O2 flow rate were adjusted and their effects on the Mo sidewall angle were investigated, resulting in a range of 17.3° to 30.2° for the Mo sidewall angle. This is useful for the study of the thin film body acoustic resonator (FBAR) process.

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BODY IMAGE PERCEPTION AMONG LATE ADOLESCENT FEMALE STUDENTS IN A SOUTHERN COASTAL DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Body image perception is the way a person feels about his/her body and it is ever-changing, and inuenced by various factors. Adolescent girls try to lose or gain weight to attain the "ideal body". Body image perception is still naive, and this research is taken up to understand these unexplored areas. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was done among female students of degree college in Kakinada District during December 2022. Informed consent and ethical approval was taken. 100 Students were selected by simple random sampling and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on various factors associated with body image dissatisfaction. Body mass index (BMI) of the participants was calculated. Results: The mean (Standard deviation) age of students was 18.6 ± 2.02. As per WHO BMI criteria for adolescents (18-19 yrs), 21% of girls were thin. Majority (71%) of students perceived their body image as normal. Approximately 35% of the students had wrong perceptions regarding their body image. Body image dissatisfaction was there among 36% of the girls. It was found that factors such as higher BMI, Internalization of thin body image ideals, media inuence, appearance related pressures from peers, family were all signicantly associated with body image dissatisfaction. Conclusions: This study establishes the fact that body image dissatisfaction affects adolescent girls to a great extent. Holistic strategies are needed for promoting the acceptance of the real body image.

The Perception of Young Women towards Beauty Value in Beauty Advertisements

Fulfillment of beauty standards with a thin body, fair skin, and straight hair should have status as an old idea that does not need to be perpetuated. There is a change from women who no longer interpret beauty according to the standards that are instilled. This is in line with the many brands that are starting to break the stereotype of beauty when creating their campaigns and advertising media, with values that are increasingly changing, now many beauty brands have created positive and inclusive campaigns to touch more people who care about physical and non-physical beauty. The current study aims to know how female customers perceive the value of beauty toward the ideal women that are being promoted in media, especially in advertising, and how its impacts women. To explore the perceptions of women as a customer, this study uses a qualitative method to dig deeply into how the perception of the customer will work against the brands. This study suggests that brands, especially beauty brands, to put attention to female customers’ perception of how they want to appear in any media that exist. Instead of focusing on idealized women, brands should use a more natural model which might bring inclusion and diversity.

The Relationship Between Brands’ Usage and The Body Image of Young Indonesian Women

Marketing activities by brand on Instagram have an impact on women's body image because the models used by brand tend to represent a standard of beauty that exists in society. However, brand have started using models of all body shapes and sizes to meet the demands of consumers on social media in recent years. This study aims to determine whether there is a relationship between the use of social media Instagram by brand and the body image of young Indonesian women by using the Agenda Setting theory, Body Image through the Multidimensional Body Self Relation Questionnaire-Appearance Scale (MBSRQ-AS). Data for quantitative research were obtained by distributing online questionnaires to young women aged 18-24 years who live in the areas of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi who are active Instagram users through a non-probability sampling technique. Research result states that a relationship between brands’ usage of social media (Instagram) and the body image of young Indonesian women was formed when they were exposed to marketing content featuring models with thin bodies as well as various body shapes and sizes. In addition, they also formed a perception on the content in regard to their needs, interests, and if they found the model ‘interesting’. However, the usage of Instagram by brand did not appear to have a relationship with the behavior of young women as most respondents almost never exercised excessively or limited their diet after seeing the brands’ content.

Characterization of fractures in low‐permeability thin tight sandstones: A case study of Chang 6 Member, Yanchang Formation, western Ordos Basin

Structural fractures are formed when the underground rock mass deforms and exceeds its own strength limit, so they represent the complex geomechanical properties of rock. Small or core‐scale fractures usually extend less than 10 m in length, which affects the productivity of tight sandstone. Therefore, core‐scale fracture is the core factor for the prediction of reservoir sweet spots. In this paper, the research on the evolution and prediction of natural fractures in tight sandstone is investigated using the core, thin section, logging materials and numerical simulation methods. The results show that a large number of vertical and horizontal sliding fractures with shearing properties are developed in the tight sandstones of the Yanchang Formation. The particle size affects the compactible space inside the reservoir, which then affects the fracture development degree. Since the superimposed thin sand bodies are formed by the frequent lateral migration of the underwater distributary channels in the study area, therefore, the natural fractures in the thin sand bodies at the edge of river channels are relatively developed. According to statistics, the vertical extension distance of fractures is usually less than 2 m. Meanwhile, the fractured zones are mainly located in the cumulative sand body thickness range of 3 ~ 10 m. Moreover, the fractured zones are generally located in the high part of the structure and its wings. Regional structure and thin sand body distribution jointly affect the evolution of fractures in tight sandstones. Through this study, we found that fractures are more developed in thin sand bodies, and the controlling factors include lithology, sedimentary microfacies, sand thickness and local structure. The comprehensive evaluation of fractures in tight sandstones with high accuracy from 1D to 3D was achieved using core observation, logging interpretation, and three‐dimensional (3D) fracture modelling.

Snacking Habits, Strict Diet, BMI, and Body Image of Adolescents in Three Sub-Districts in Depok and Bogor

Background: Body image is related to adolescent food preferences, which determine their nutritional status. Peri-urban areas might have different adolescents' snacking habits, strict diets, nutritional status, and body image. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the association between adolescents' snacking habits, implementation of a strict diet, and nutritional status on their body image. Methods: This study used a mix-method, a combination of the quantitative and qualitative survey with a cross-sectional design. A total of 39 adolescents aged 15-18 who live in the peri-urban areas of Depok and Bogor were consecutively selected. The study was conducted in January 2022. Quantitative data include respondents' characteristics, body weight and height, snacking habits, and body image. Qualitative data collected were types of snacks, their reasons for buying snacks, and perceptions of ideal weight. Results: The nutritional status of the respondents was underweighted (5%), normal (92%), and overweight (3%), with snacking frequency 4-7 times/week (59%) with a weekly snacking expenditure of IDR 15,000 – 30,000 (49 %). As many as 23% of respondents performed a strict diet and perceived having a thin (21%) and fat (23%) body image. Adolescents with normal nutritional status were perceived as having fat (20.5%) and thin (15.4%) body image (p: 0,0215). There was also a relationship between diet (p: 0.0084) and weekly snacking expenditure (p: 0.0152) with body image, and there was no relationship between snacking frequency (p: 0.3123) and daily meal frequency (p-value=0.3972) with body image. Conclusions: A wrong perception of body image from actual nutritional status can affect snacking habits and the implementation of a strict diet among adolescents.

Familial 4p Interstitial Deletion Provides New Insights and Candidate Genes Underlying This Rare Condition

Chromosome 4p deletions can lead to two distinct phenotypic outcomes: Wolf--Hirschhorn syndrome (a terminal deletion at 4p16.3) and less frequently reported proximal interstitial deletions (4p11-p16). Proximal 4p interstitial deletions can result in mild to moderate intellectual disability, facial dysmorphisms, and a tall thin body habitus. To date, only 35 cases of proximal 4p interstitial deletions have been reported, and only two of these cases have been familial. The critical region for this syndrome has been narrowed down to 4p15.33-15.2, but the underlying causative genes remain unclear. In this study, we report the case of a 3-year-old female with failure to thrive, developmental and motor delays, and morphological features. The mother also had a 4p15.2-p14 deletion, and the proband was found to have a 13.4-Mb 4p15.2-p14 deletion by chromosome microarray analysis. The deleted region encompasses 16 genes, five of which have a high likelihood of contributing to the phenotype: PPARGC1A, DHX15, RBPJ, STIM2, and PCDH7. These findings suggest that multiple genes are involved in this rare proximal 4p interstitial deletion syndrome. This case highlights the need for healthcare providers to be aware of proximal 4p interstitial deletions and the potential phenotypic manifestations.

A comparison of the impact of exposure to fit ideal and non-fit ideal body shapes in fitspiration imagery on women

Previous research indicates a negative impact of exposure to fitspiration on women's mood, self-esteem, and body satisfaction. Fitspiration typically features thin and toned bodies, but there is some variation in the body types shown, which may influence its effects on viewers. Participants (N = 605women) were randomly allocated to view fit ideal, non-fit ideal, or neutral control images from Instagram, and completed state measures of appearance self-esteem, self-objectification, body satisfaction, and negative mood before and after image exposure. Women in the fitspiration conditions also reported level of state appearance comparison with women depicted and how inspired they were to do more exercise. Fit ideal and non-fit ideal images had a negative effect on body satisfaction. However, participants in the non-fit ideal condition showed an increase in state self-esteem and a decrease in state negative mood following image exposure, in contrast to the fit ideal condition. Condition did not have an impact on state self-objectification and there was no difference between fitspiration conditions in how inspired participants felt to do more exercise. State appearance comparison was correlated with change in self-esteem, negative mood, body satisfaction scores and with how inspired individuals felt to exercise. Small effect sizes and limitations indicate that replication of findings is required. However, the effects of viewing fitspiration imagery may depend on thinness and muscle tone of models shown, and level of comparison with people portrayed.

Biomolecule capturing and sensing on 2D transition metal dichalcogenide canvas

Since the isolation of graphene in 2004, two-dimensional (2D) materials such as transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) have attracted numerous interests due to their unique van der Waals structure, atomically thin body, and thickness-dependent properties. In recent years, the applications of TMD in public health have emerged due to their large surface area and high surface sensitivities, as well as their unique electrical, optical, and electrochemical properties. In this review, we focus on state-of-the-art methods to modulate the properties of 2D TMD and their applications in biosensing. Particularly, this review provides methods for designing and modulating 2D TMD via defect engineering and morphology control to achieve multi-functional surfaces for molecule capturing and sensing. Furthermore, we compare the 2D TMD-based biosensors with the traditional sensing systems, deepening our understanding of their action mechanism. Finally, we point out the challenges and opportunities of 2D TMD in this emerging area.

Implications of Socio-Cultural Pressure for a Thin Body Image on Avoidance of Social Interaction and on Corrective, Compensatory or Compulsive Shopping Behaviour.

This paper aims to discuss the implications of body talk and socio-cultural pressure for the internalisation of a thin body image in purchase decisions, shopping habits and other outcomes of body dissatisfaction, in particular the proneness to avoid human/social interaction in retail contexts and proneness to engage in corrective, compensatory or compulsive shopping behaviour. This paper conducted an online questionnaire that measured the following constructs: body mass index; Socio-cultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Scale-4 (SATAQ-4), Body Appreciation Scale (BAS-2), Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS), Compulsive Buying Follow-up Scale (CBFS), proneness to avoid social interaction in retail contexts, and the intention to purchase a list of products and services as a compensation for body dissatisfaction. A structural equations model supported the hypotheses proposing the influence of BAS-2 and SATAQ-4 (the internalisation of thin/athletic body and the social comparison induced by family, peers and media) upon the outcomes of social-interaction avoidance, ACSS and CBFS. Nevertheless, BAS-2 only influences social-interaction avoidance. This paper provides several recommendations to brand managers highlighting the social responsibility role of brand advertising in enhancing positive body appreciation, mitigating the psychological damage caused by socio-cultural pressure and preventing the stigmatisation bias against obese people.

Ultrathin Anterolateral Thigh Free Flap: An Adipocutaneous Flap with the Most Superficial Elevation Plane.

Although many efforts have been made to create thinner anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps, their thickness varies among patients, and the flap may be still too thick to match shallow defects. The authors successfully harvested an ALT flap through the most superficial elevation plane, the superficial fat layer, which was useful to match the shallow defects. All patients who underwent ALT free flap reconstruction for upper and lower distal extremity defects were divided retrospectively into groups by ALT flap elevation plane: thin, above the deep fascia; superthin, at the superficial fascia; and ultrathin, through the superficial fat. Preoperative computed tomographic angiography and duplex ultrasonography planning were used for all patients. Anatomical characteristics of donor subcutaneous tissue and surgical details, including flap thickness, flap size, and incidence of flap necrosis were compared among the groups and between sexes. The average deep and superficial fascial depths were 16.7 and 10.8 mm, 12.5 and 8.2 mm, and 9.1 and 5.6 mm ( P < 0.05), and the average flap thickness was 5.8 mm, 7.9 mm, and 7.8 mm ( P = 0.29) in the ultrathin, superthin, and thin ALT groups, respectively. No significant intergroup differences existed in flap size or complications. The deep and superficial fascia were located significantly deeper in female patients (9.4 and 6.0 mm in male patients and 14.9 and 9.6 mm in female patients, respectively). With precise preoperative planning, the most superficially elevated, ultrathin ALT flap can achieve optimal reconstructions of thin body areas. Female patients with thicker thighs and patients with a high body mass index would benefit from this flap. Therapeutic, IV.

The electromechanics of lipid membranes: A dimensionally-reduced theory.

Lipid membranes separate the interior and exterior of a biological cell and its organelles. Their viscous-elastic material behavior gives rise to intriguing lipid membrane dynamics. However, lipid membrane dynamics are also affected by the presence of an electric field. For instance, lipid vesicles deform into prolates, oblates, and other shapes and even form pores when an electric field is applied. Furthermore, varying ionic concentrations across the boundary and within the interior of cells and organelles expose lipid membranes to electric fields in physiological conditions. Thus, understanding the electromechanics of lipid membranes is essential for many biological and experimental processes, such as the propagation of action potentials and the electroformation of lipid vesicles. Studying the electromechanics of lipid membranes on long lengths- and timescales requires a continuum physics framework. While continuum models are well-established for the pure mechanics of lipid membranes, a continuum model that captures the coupling between mechanical deformations and electric fields is currently missing. Capturing the effects of electric fields requires resolving the electric potential through the thickness of the lipid membrane. Current continuum approaches, however, treat lipid membranes as two-dimensional manifolds, making them unsuitable for describing the electromechanics of lipid membranes. Thus, we propose a new dimension reduction procedure for differential equations on thin bodies. Using this approach, we derive new surface theories for the electrostatics and mechanics of lipid membranes. Combining them, we obtain a novel continuum model for the electromechanics of lipid membranes. After discussing the new model, we apply it to a fluctuating lipid membrane in an external electric field and demonstrate the effect of accounting for the finite thickness of lipid membranes.

Review: Ripples of the Universe: Spirituality in Sedona, Arizona, by Susannah Crockford

Review: <i>Ripples of the Universe: Spirituality in Sedona, Arizona</i>, by Susannah Crockford

Women with Hijab in the Advertisement: Between Identity Politics, Religious Commodification and the Deconstruction on the Meaning of Beauty

There are so many attractiveness of advertising messages on why an advertisement is made. Generally, an advertisement was made to persuade the public or consumers candidates for buying and consuming a certain product. If previously, several advertisements for products mostly use the beautiful women with certain indicators such as white skin, long black hair, thin and sexy body; recently seems to show a trend by using the veiled woman (woman who wears hijab) as its models. There must be many interpretations regarding this symbol. For example about the dakwah messages on Muslim women's identity that are performed through their way of dressing up, religious commodification because the appearance of a Muslim woman will attract the attention of Muslim consumers, the deconstruction of the meaning of beauty, or a combination of several attractions of the advertising message that was represented by woman with the hijab. This article will analyze about those various symbol interpretations.

Effects of Channel Length Scaling on the Electrical Characteristics of Multilayer MoS2 Field Effect Transistor

With the rapid miniaturization of integrated chips in recent decades, aggressive geometric scaling of transistor dimensions to nanometric scales has become imperative. Recent works have reported the usefulness of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) like MoS2 in MOSFET fabrication due to their enhanced active surface area, thin body, and non-zero bandgap. However, a systematic study on the effects of geometric scaling down to sub-10-nm nodes on the performance of MoS2 MOSFETs is lacking. Here, the authors present an extensive study on the performance of MoS2 FETs when geometrically scaled down to the sub-10 nm range. Transport properties are modelled using drift-diffusion equations in the classical regime and self-consistent Schrödinger-Poisson solution using NEGF formulation in the quantum regime. By employing the device modeling tool COMSOL for the classical regime, drain current vs. gate voltage (ID vs. VGS) plots were simulated. On the other hand, NEGF formulation for quantum regions is performed using MATLAB, and transfer characteristics are obtained. The effects of scaling device dimensions, such as channel length and contact length, are evaluated based on transfer characteristics by computing performance metrics like drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL), on-off currents, subthreshold swing, and threshold voltage.