Visible Body Research Articles

TO DEVELOP FORENSIC CRITERIA FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF INTRACEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE OF TRAUMATIC AND NON-TRAUMATIC ORIGIN USING MUELLER-MATRIX MICROSCOPY OF LINEAR DICHROISM

Differential diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage due to traumatic and non-traumatic origin is a challenging issue, especially in the absence of visible body injuries and other signs of violence. For a forensic expert-practitioner, the main thing is objectivity, accuracy, and speed of obtaining the result, which could fully satisfy the methods of laser polarimetry in the case of differential diagnosis of hemorrhages of traumatic and non-traumatic origin in the human brain matter.
 The purpose: To develop forensic criteria for the differential diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage of traumatic and non-traumatic origin using Mueller-matrix microscopy of linear dichroism.
 Materials and methods: The object of the study was brain matter samples, collected in 115 corpses of both sexes aged 22 to 86 years with accurately known causes of death. The causes of death included coronary artery disease, traumatic brain hemorrhage, ischemic brain infarction, and non-traumatic brain hemorrhages. Brain matter samples have been frozen rapidly, and histological sections have been made using a freezing microtome. The slices have been evaluated using the method of azimuthal-invariant Mueller-matrix microscopy, followed by mathematical and statistical processing of the results. 
 Results: significant topographic heterogeneity of Mueller-matrix invariants of brain matter samples linear dichroism maps among all research groups have been found. Individual and significant variations of dispersion, asymmetry, and kurtosis magnitude have confirmed the heterogeneity of Mueller-matrix invariants. The difference of images and histograms among groups is explained by the presence of necrotic changes in the case of ischemic brain necrosis and blood cells in the brain matter samples. For the set of central statistical moments of the 1st, 3rd, and 4th orders, which characterize the distributions of circular dichroism, the method of MM-microscopy in the differentiation of samples of non-hemorrhage and hemorrhage groups reaches a satisfactory level - 78% - 84%.
 Conclusions: Brain matter samples Muller-matrix microscopy of linear dichroism is effective for solving diagnostic problems of forensic medicine related to evaluating the cause of death from intracerebral hemorrhage of various origins. Diagnostic efficiency of Mueller-matrix mapping of polarization manifestations of linear dichroism method for intergroup differentiation of samples of deaths from traumatic hemorrhage (Group 2) and ischemic cerebral infarction (Group 3) reaches a satisfactory level of 79 - 84%.

The Effectiveness of Augmented and Virtual Reality in the Education of Physical Therapy Students

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To determine the effectiveness of augmented and virtual reality as a teaching modality on doctor of physical therapy students' learning as seen through confidence, recall, retention and application as compared to traditional teaching methods. <h3>Design</h3> Posttest only control group design with retrospective analysis. <h3>Setting</h3> Private secondary institution, doctoral physical therapy (DPT) program, American International College (AIC), Springfield, MA. <h3>Participants</h3> Convenience sample, 297 first year graduate DPT students enrolled in Gross Anatomy, AIC. Control group: 162 (cohorts 2017 & 2018); experimental group: 135 (cohorts 2019 & 2020). <h3>Interventions</h3> "Visible Body" (VB), augmented and virtual reality (VR) software used by experimental group; control group: attended traditional in-person lecture and laboratory classes. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Objective data scores (three lecture exams, Osteology Practical exam and Dissection lab exam) collected anonymously for each cohort, calculated by the primary course faculty. Subjective data (quantitative and qualitative) assessed through survey. <h3>Results</h3> Exam scores compared for three groups with different levels of exposure to VB (did not use VB (1), optional use VB (2), and required use VB (3)). Analyses (ANOVA and T-Tests) showed statistical significance with the mean performance for Group 1 being significantly lower than Groups 2 and 3. Osteology exam: No significant difference between groups noted. Dissection Exam: Group 3 scored significantly higher than the other groups. Survey data on the students' self-efficacy towards their ability to learn Gross Anatomy with the VB software proved to be statistically significant (95% CI). Researchers were blinded to all scores and surveys. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Positive correlation exists between grades and the use of the VB application, indicating that the use of VR is an effective resource for DPT students in learning Gross Anatomy. Additionally, VB may be an adequate substitute for cadaver lab for dissection, though aspects of quality and understanding of anatomical relationships may be diminished in the use of virtual software alone. Further research to substantiate these results and further analyze the benefits of VR as a superior resource for learning Gross Anatomy amongst DPT programs is necessary. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> No disclosures/conflicts.

Visible Body Human Anatomy Atlas: Innovative Anatomy Learning.

Visible Body Human Anatomy Atlas is a subscription-based learning tool for health science students and clinicians to build and strengthen knowledge of human anatomy. This app contains thousands of 3D models of gross anatomy and microanatomy, cadaver lab simulations, comparisons to diagnostic imaging, quizzes, and patient education videos. Here we explore the app's strengths and weaknesses through discussion of its features and usability.

Extracorporeal acidic predigestion of commercial dry diets can reduce the incidence of body deformities in the stomachless fish crucian carp (Carassius carassius L.)

Abstract The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that predigesting commercial dry diets for fish with hydrochloric acid (HCl) can contribute to the reduction of the incidence of body deformities in a stomachless cyprinid species intensively reared under controlled conditions. Two different dry diets (Carpco Crumble by Coppens International and Aller Futura by Aller Aqua), their respective variants modified with HCl, and frozen larval chironomids (control diet) were fed as sole food sources to juvenile Carassius carassius in a recirculating aquaculture system at 25°C for 60 days. At the end of the experiment, visible body deformities occurred exclusively in the groups fed dry diets. The shares of deformities were significantly lower in fish groups fed the modified diets (6.1–13.2%) as compared to those fed the original ones (74.0–87.0%). Fish in the latter groups had significantly the highest condition factor values, which indicated a possible phosphorus deficiency. As evidenced by our results, predigesting commercial dry diets with HCl can be a useful method to mitigate the problem of body deformities occurring in intensively fed cyprinid species.

A Riemannian Geometry Theory of Synergy Selection for Visually-Guided Movement.

Bringing together a Riemannian geometry account of visual space with a complementary account of human movement synergies we present a neurally-feasible computational formulation of visuomotor task performance. This cohesive geometric theory addresses inherent nonlinear complications underlying the match between a visual goal and an optimal action to achieve that goal: (i) the warped geometry of visual space causes the position, size, outline, curvature, velocity and acceleration of images to change with changes in the place and orientation of the head, (ii) the relationship between head place and body posture is ill-defined, and (iii) mass-inertia loads on muscles vary with body configuration and affect the planning of minimum-effort movement. We describe a partitioned visuospatial memory consisting of the warped posture-and-place-encoded images of the environment, including images of visible body parts. We depict synergies as low-dimensional submanifolds embedded in the warped posture-and-place manifold of the body. A task-appropriate synergy corresponds to a submanifold containing those postures and places that match the posture-and-place-encoded visual images that encompass the required visual goal. We set out a reinforcement learning process that tunes an error-reducing association memory network to minimize any mismatch, thereby coupling visual goals with compatible movement synergies. A simulation of a two-degrees-of-freedom arm illustrates that, despite warping of both visual space and posture space, there exists a smooth one-to-one and onto invertible mapping between vision and proprioception.

What is the Best Approach to Learning Anatomy during a Pandemic? Students’ Perspective

Various approaches to anatomical education were explored at Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) during the Covid19 pandemic. Students in the class 2023 were able to evaluate three approaches: i) in-person dissection (prior to the pandemic) using Virtual Human Dissector as a reference guide, ii) virtual dissection using Visible Body Courseware supplemented with Acland's Video Atlas, and iii) faculty-guided review of prosections combined with opportunities for virtual dissection. Zhang's “in house” dissection videos were also provided to the class of 2023 throughout their training. A survey was conducted to sample students’ perspectives regarding these learning modalities, and 65/260 students responded. Sixty (60%) percent considered the in-person dissection most ideal, whereas 40% thought that approaches using Visible Body, with or without prosections (20% each) as the most effective approach. Of the supplemental learning resources, 47% selected Acland's Video Atlas, 37% Zhang's in-house dissection videos, and 12% the Visible Body as most helpful. Moore's Clinical Oriented Anatomy is the required textbook in our course. Surprisingly, 57% of students responding to the survey did not read it, 25% only rarely read it, and 16% read it only when they looked for answers to specific questions. Only 2% of the class read most of the chapters in this textbook. When asked for a recommendation for future anatomy education, 67% of students advised hands-on dissection combined with prosection and 16% advised hands-on dissection only. Interestingly, 18% of the students responding advised approaches that omit in-person hands-on dissection. In summary, the traditional in-person cadaveric dissection is still considered the most effective learning approach by the majority of students at SKMC, but students who do not prefer in-person hands-on dissection should be taken into consideration. In the future, a more comprehensive and hybrid curricular approach will be considered to facilitate the learning of students with different learning styles.

613Pediatric Burn Bibliotherapy - An Initial Assessment of Novels About Young Burn Survivors and Their Collective Experiences

Abstract Introduction Bibliotherapy is the use of books as a therapeutic intervention for structuring interaction between facilitator and participant based on the mutual sharing of literature. Bibliotherapy has been utilized to address childhood teasing, healthy lifestyles in children, and eating disorders. With the dramatic improvements in survival of burn patients over the past decades, biographies and novels featuring pediatric burn survivors have emerged. These patients often face significant barriers in accessing psychosocial support. Our team hypothesized that bibliotherapy could benefit pediatric burn patients. In order to test this hypothesis, as a first step, our team conducted an assessment of the available burn survivor literature. Methods WorldCat book database was queried using the terms “Burn Patient Fiction” (45 results) and “Burn Patient Biography” (53 results). The authors identified 12 books out of these 98 results likely to be appropriate for adolescent and teenage burn patients based on the brief summaries. The 12 books were then read by the research team and analyzed for burn patient demographics and relevant clinical data when available. Simple descriptive statistics were utilized for numerical data Results Out of 12 books read, 5 were biographies &amp; 7 fictional novels. Protagonists mean age at time of injury was 8.7±5.1 years (range 2–16), with 5 males and 7 females. Average injury size was 57±21% TBSA (range: 14–85). 10 of 12 protagonists suffered facial burns; 7 of 12 suffered hand burns. Oral health/dental issues were described in 4 of 12 books. Geographically, these English language novels spanned Australia (1), Canada 92), and the U.S. (9). Average page length was 237±88 pages (range: 64–372). In 11 of 12 books, mechanism of injury involved flame from car accidents (2), house fires (4), and campfires (2). With regards to sources of positive support during the recovery phase, family was the most commonly cited source (11 novels) followed by friends (10), spiritual/religious support (5), sports (3), burn survivor groups (3), hospital psychiatrists (3), and performing arts (2). Appropriate audience group for most books were teenagers (11) with 5 books deemed also appropriate for adults (only 1 book judged appropriate only for adults), and 2 books appropriate for adolescents. Conclusions Several novels and biographies with pediatric burn survivor protagonists have been written over the past 20 years. Commonalities across these books include flame burn etiology, relatively large TBSA, and burn injuries to visible body areas (face and hand). Family and friends were the most common emotional support for these protagonists. Most books were appropriate for teenagers.

Filsafat Manusia dalam Bhagavad Gita

Humans want to know about the origin, fate, freedom, purpose of life, and the meaning of life. Human philosophy is an analysis of the discussion of the human self from a philosophical point of view. In Hinduism man is not only about the body, but also about the soul. In Hinduism, the body has a layer called &lt;em&gt;Tri Sarira&lt;/em&gt;. &lt;em&gt;Tri Sarira&lt;/em&gt; consists of &lt;em&gt;sthula sarira&lt;/em&gt; (gross body), &lt;em&gt;Suksma Sarira&lt;/em&gt; (subtle body), and &lt;em&gt;Antah Karana Sarira&lt;/em&gt; (causative body). &lt;em&gt;Sthula Sarira&lt;/em&gt; or gross body, is an observable and visible body that can directly interact with society and the environment. This gross body is formed by gross elements, which have visible and form. &lt;em&gt;Suksma Sarira&lt;/em&gt; or subtle body is a body consisting of subtle elements, such as mind, intelligence, consciousness, divinity, and the faculties. &lt;em&gt;Antah Karana Sarira&lt;/em&gt; or causative body, is the spirit or &lt;em&gt;ātma &lt;/em&gt;which gives life to the body so that the body can carry out activities. Body and spirit need each other, the spirit needs the body for &lt;em&gt;karma&lt;/em&gt;, while the body needs the spirit to live. The essence of human being born is to learn. Is one way of controlling the mind and focusing the mind on God so that the mind is not carried away by the senses which results in attachment. &lt;em&gt;Paramātm&lt;/em&gt;a is the spirit that accompanies &lt;em&gt;ātma &lt;/em&gt;in each of his incarnations, while &lt;em&gt;ātma&lt;/em&gt; is the soul bound by &lt;em&gt;karma&lt;/em&gt;.

Are Tattooing Indicators of Dark Personalities? An Analysis of Body Modification within the Framework of Dark Triad of Personality

There are several displays commonly labeled as body modifications, including body piercings, scarification, tattoos, cutting, etc. In this study, we were focused on one distinct form of body modification, namely tattoos. The current exploratory study investigated the connection between body modifications (BM) and Dark Triad personality for a sample of 77 university students with BM, compared to a control group of 77 non-BM individuals. Three self-administrated questionnaires were used to collect the data: Self-Report Psychopathy Scale-Short Form, Mach-IV scale, and Narcissistic Personality Inventory. The findings suggest that subclinical psychopathy is most strongly connected to body modifications. An increased number of tattoos was also significantly correlated with a higher level of anti-sociality. Participants with visible body modifications had significantly higher affective callousness and overall self-reported subclinical psychopathy levels, compared with individuals with non-visible alterations.

Stigma hurts: exploring employer and employee perceptions of tattoos and body piercings in Nigeria

PurposeThis study draws on social stigma and prejudice to examine the perceptions and beliefs of managers and employees regarding visible tattoos and body piercings, as well as the impact they have on potential employment and human resource management in the global South, using Nigeria as the research context.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a qualitative research approach, drawing on data from 43 semi-structured interviews with employees and managers in Nigeria.FindingsContrary to the popular opinion that tattoos and body piercings are becoming more accepted and mainstream in society, this study finds that some Nigerian employers and employees may stigmatise and discriminate against people with visible tattoos and body piercings. The findings of this study suggest that beliefs about tattoos are predicated on ideologies as well as religious and sociocultural values, which then influence corporate values.Research limitations/implicationsThe extent to which the findings of this research can be generalised is constrained by the limited sample and scope of the research.Practical implicationsReligious and sociocultural preconceptions about people with visible tattoos and body piercings have negative implications for the recruitment and employment of such people and could prevent organisations from hiring and keeping talented employees. This implies that talented employees might experience prejudice at job interviews, preventing them from gaining employment. Furthermore, stigmatising and discriminating against people with visible tattoos and body piercings may lead to the termination of employment of talented employees, which could negatively affect organisational productivity and growth.Originality/valueThis study provides an insight into the employment relations regarding tattoos and body piercing in Nigeria. The study highlights the need for mild beliefs and positive perceptions about people with visible tattoos and unconventional body piercings. There should be a general tolerance of the individual preference for body art and physical appearance, and this tolerance should be incorporated in organisational policies, which are enactments of corporate culture.

Delivering online alternatives to the anatomy laboratory: Early experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social distancing measures due to the COVID‐19 pandemic will make anatomy dissecting room practicals difficult, if not impossible to run at some institutions in the upcoming academic year. The learning community that exists within physical anatomy practicals needs to be moved online. Virtual replacement of visuo‐spatial and social elements of learning anatomy pose particular challenges to educators. Our department has trialed Blackboard Collaborate, an online communication platform in conjunction with Visible Body, a 3D anatomical modeling program. We have delivered 266 hr of synchronous small group teaching to medical and physician associate students. We describe this approach and discuss the relevance of distance learning pedagogy to the design of new online anatomy teaching and development of online learning communities.

Awareness of voluntary action, rather than body ownership, improves motor control

Awareness of the body is essential for accurate motor control. However, how this awareness influences motor control is poorly understood. The awareness of the body includes awareness of visible body parts as one’s own (sense of body ownership) and awareness of voluntary actions over that visible body part (sense of agency). Here, I show that sense of agency over a visible hand improves the initiation of movement, regardless of sense of body ownership. The present study combined the moving rubber hand illusion, which allows experimental manipulation of agency and body ownership, and the finger-tracking paradigm, which allows behavioral quantification of motor control by the ability to coordinate eye with hand movements. This eye–hand coordination requires awareness of the hand to track the hand with the eye. I found that eye–hand coordination is improved when participants experience a sense of agency over a tracked artificial hand, regardless of their sense of body ownership. This improvement was selective for the initiation, but not maintenance, of eye–hand coordination. These results reveal that the prospective experience of explicit sense of agency improves motor control, suggesting that artificial manipulation of prospective agency may be beneficial to rehabilitation and sports training techniques.

The Mechanism of Work-Family Conflict on Emotional Work of Women

Emotional work can help women use visible facial expressions and body movements to improve service quality. Based on cognitive dissonance theory, individual-environment matching theory, and resource preservation theory, this article uses qualitative research methods and analyzes the effects of work-family conflicts of women on emotional work based on questionnaire data from five hundred women mechanism. The research results show that when women experience work-family conflict, they will have a sense of work pressure. Individuals will consume emotional resources in order to relieve the sense of work pressure. When excessive consumption occurs, individuals will perform emotional work in order to prevent the continued loss of resources; when women experience work-family conflict, the higher their perceived organizational support is, the easier it is to reduce emotional work.

Is this what a female yogi looks like? A content analysis of yoga images on Instagram

As yoga continues to increase in global popularity, idealized representations of a thin, athletic ‘yoga body’ have also become more prominent across commercial media. To examine how yoga is typically represented on social media, a content analysis of the posts of female yoga practitioners on Instagram was undertaken. Images were sourced using hashtags #yoga, #yogabody, #yogapractice, and #yogawoman, and 200 females per hashtag were then coded on demographic factors, body shape, activity, objectification, and practice of yoga. Results showed that over 90 % of women in the images were coded as being under 40 years of age with the vast majority in their 20 s. Almost three-quarters of women were perceived to be white, 100 % appeared able bodied. More than 80 % were classed as thin and/or athletic, while less than 15 % displayed average levels of visible body fat. More than 50 % of yoga poses were advanced while a quarter displayed potentially unsafe alignment. The findings demonstrate that the typical ‘yoga body’ on Instagram was perceived to conform to the young, thin/athletic ideal and that overall yoga is not being represented as an inclusive physical practice that can be adapted for women of diverse ages, body types, and abilities.

Feeling of stigmatization and satisfaction with life among Arabic psoriatic patients

BackgroundSatisfaction and stigmatization are experienced differently in different cultural contests, especially, in patients with dermatological diseases affecting visible body parts. Reports in Arabic countries remain rare and very appealing in a multicultural population. AimsTo evaluate feeling of stigmatization and satisfaction with life in Arabic patients with psoriasis and identify predictors of feeling of stigmatization and satisfaction with life. MethodsIn a cross-sectional study design, Arabic patients with psoriasis completed the 6-item stigmatization scale and the satisfaction with life scale. Univariate and forward stepwise multivariate linear regression analyses were used to identify predictors of feeling of stigmatization and satisfaction with life. Covariates included patients' demographics (age, gender and education level), disease-related factors (disease severity, visibility, duration, and impact on quality of life) and patient-related factors (illness acceptance and dermatology self-care education level). ResultsIn total, 199 Arabic psoriatic patients were included in the study. Despite feeling highly stigmatized by their skin disease [mean (95% Confidence Intervals (CI)) of 7.0 (6.3–7.7)], psoriasis patients were generally positive about their overall satisfaction with life (mean (95% CI) of 21.0 (20.0–22.3). Impaired quality of life was the strongest predictor of both higher feeling of stigmatization (β-coefficient 0.39, 95% CI 0.30, 0.47) and less satisfaction with life (−0.36, 95% CI −0.53, −0.20). Higher levels of dermatology self-care education significantly predicted a lower feeling of stigmatization (−0.09, 95% CI −0.16, −0.01). Older patients (0.18, 95% CI 0.05, 0.30) and those with higher illness acceptance levels (0.14, 95% CI 0.03, 0.24) were more satisfied with life. ConclusionsA level of stigmatization was detected in most psoriatic patients including the satisfied ones. Patients with more impaired quality of life experienced higher level of stigmatization and less satisfaction with life. These findings further enforce the multidisciplinary approach in psoriatic patients and highlight the unmet need to include psychologist in the therapeutic algorithm.

Two-Lane Highways Crest Curve Design. The Case Study of Italian Guidelines

The main purpose of the research is to evaluate the crest vertical curves radii Rv, not considering a conventional value of the opposing vehicle height h2, but the average vehicle heights h2(m) and the value of the 15th percentile of the height distribution h2(15) of the passenger car population. The study only considered car models with more than 20,000 registered vehicles in Italy. One hundred and fifteen car models belonging to different brands were taken into consideration, for a total of over 9 million vehicles. For the statistical sample analyzed, the following vehicle heights were estimated: h2(m) = 1.48 m and h2(15) = 1.39 m. The deviations between the crest radii calculated with the Italian standard (h2 = 1.10 m), and those obtained for h2(m) = 1.48 m and h2(15) = 1.39 m are up to 12%. The differences ΔHv between the values of the visible vehicle body height Hv = Hv(t) calculated using, respectively, h2(15) = 1.39 m and h2(m) = 1.48 m are modest. The value h2(m) = 1.48 m could be adopted in order to reduce the highways construction costs. In fact, the research shows that the value h2 = 1.10 m is too conservative and leads to oversizing of the crest vertical curves. Therefore, it would be necessary to make an appropriate choice of h2 value in order to take into account the current heights of passenger cars.

Assessment of the Visual Quality of Sediment Control Structures in Mountain Streams

Sediment control structures such as check dams, groundsills, and revetments are commonly used to balance sediment transport. In this study, we investigated the visual quality of sediment control structures that have been installed to manage mountain streams by analyzing images from the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau (SWCB) of Taiwan. We used visual preference (P) as an indicator in the evaluation of visual quality and considered two softscape elements and four cognitive factors associated with P. The two softscape elements were the visible body of water and vegetation, which were represented by the percentage of visible water (WR) and the percentage of visible greenery (GR). We considered four cognitive factors: naturalness, harmony, vividness, and closeness. Using a questionnaire-based survey, we asked 212 experts and laypeople to indicate their visual preferences (P) for the images. We examined the associations of the P ratings with cognitive factors and softscape elements and then established an empirical relationship between P and the cognitive factors using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that the subjects’ visual preferences were strongly affected by the harmony factor; the subjects preferred the proportion of softscape elements to be 30% WR and 40% GR for optimal harmony, naturalness, and visual quality of the sediment control structures. We discuss the visual indicators, visual aesthetic experiences, and applications of the empirical relationship, and offer insights into the study’s implications.

Occurrence and function of melanin‐based grey coloration in Western Palaearctic songbirds (Aves: Passeriformes)

Melanin is the most common pigment in avian plumage and has various functions, including signalling individual condition, social status, aiding in camouflage and strengthening feathers. To date, most research focusing on melanin‐based colours has focused on eumelanin black and pheomelanin rusty traits. The occurrence and function of grey melanin‐based coloration, however, remains largely unstudied. Using colour plates from a bird identification guide and a comparative phylogenetic approach, we analysed the occurrence and relative patch size of grey plumage regions in 239 passerine species belonging to 36 families occurring in the Western Palaearctic. We proposed four hypotheses to explain the evolution of grey plumage: (1) protection from visually oriented predators, (2) badges of social information, (3) sexually selected ornaments, and (4) visual enhancement of badges and ornamental colour patches via high between‐colour contrast. We tested these hypotheses by analysing the occurrence and relative size of grey patches in relation to ecological and life‐history traits and the occurrence of other colours. Moreover, we surveyed the distribution of grey over avian body regions and its adjacency to other plumage colours. Grey coloration was present in 97 species from 25 families (40.5% of all species and 69.4% of all families sampled, respectively). Our results support the idea that grey plumage evolved to provide cryptic coloration and/or as a sexual signal used in female mate choice. Grey colour occurrence was associated with less concealed nest structure and open habitats, and this effect was especially pronounced in species in which males incubate. In both sexes, grey was more abundant on the head and back regions, which are the most visible body parts during incubation. The occurrence of grey was related to a greater dichromatism and was slightly higher in males than in females, which suggests that it could have evolved in response to female mate choice. No evidence suggests that grey plumage enhances ornamental colours or acts as a competitive signal. The study provides the first insight into potential functions of grey plumage in birds. Further studies at the species level are needed to test our findings.

Ethical and societal challenges in penis transplantation.

To review the current understanding of the ethical and societal difficulties of penile transplantation. Penile transplantation, as with other forms of vascularized composite allotransplantation, has increasing acceptance in society but is still not entirely accepted. Guidelines aiming to help guide future penile transplant programs in an ethical and scientific safe manner were created. Controversies regarding the economic impact, patient safety, and the rights of the patients choosing penile transplant remains. Penile transplantation has excellent functional and cosmetic results in the short-term and medium-term. The penis, similar to the face in facial transplantation, carries emotional gravity that relates to visible body parts of another that live forth in a tangible manner contributing to psychological and ethical challenges for both the individual and society more broadly, healthcare administrators, and healthcare workers. In the context of these challenges, controversies emerge related to issues of judgment about what society can and wants to afford. Effects of toxic immunosuppression in a nonlife saving life-enhancing procedure, as well as costs, become arguments that have to be considered in the context of ethical and societal challenges.

Educating Nurses on Supported Mirror Viewing for Patients After Amputation and Other Visible Disfigurements.

The aim of our study was to test an educational intervention to improve nurses' confidence in supporting and frequency of offering a mirror to patients who have recently suffered visible body disfigurement. Forty-eight registered nurses who worked in two acute care hospitals took part in a mixed-method one-group repeated-measures (pretest and posttest) research study. The educational intervention included a video, a presentation, and a recorded discussion. Study participants experienced a significant increase in confidence in supporting and frequency of offering mirrors to patients. An overarching theme from the qualitative analysis was that the nurse participants perceived assisting patients in viewing their changed bodies in mirrors as "an act of compassion." Four subthemes emerged: (a) seeing mirrors differently, (b) there is only one first time, (c) how can we do this better, and (d) "me too" stories of their own and patients' difficult mirror-viewing experiences. Education enhances nurses' frequency of offering mirrors and supporting patients in mirror viewing after visible disfigurement because of trauma or surgery. Education provides nurses with the necessary skills to assist patients in adapting to an altered body image.