rep FP2020 and FP2030 Country Commitments: A Mixed Method Study of Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Components By ghspjournal.org Published On :: 2024-10-29T12:28:39-07:00 ABSTRACTIntroduction:Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) was established in 2012 with the goal of expanding contraceptive access. By 2020, 46 countries had made commitments to FP2020. A sustained focus on adolescents and youth (AY) began in 2016. During the commitment formulation process, substantial support was offered to countries to develop AY commitments based on sound data, research evidence, and programmatic experience. This study assesses how country commitments under FP2020 and FP2030 have evolved over time with respect to improving attention to and focus on the needs of adolescents and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH).Methods:We analyzed the content of FP2020 and FP2030 country commitments focusing on AY (aged 10–24 years) using a scoring guideline we developed to measure the AY commitments in terms of completeness, clarity, and quality.Results:This analysis shows that FP2030 commitments better articulate strategies and activities to reach AY with contraceptive information and services when compared to FP2020 commitments.Conclusion:FP2030 commitments are stronger in some areas on AYSRH, such as commitment to establish national or local policies, strategies, and guidance for AY programming, specifying the target audience of the AY commitment, and partnering with AY or youth-led organizations in commitments. However, more work remains to be done by countries to dedicate a budget for achieving AY objectives, including measurable targets for monitoring progress, identifying and addressing the root causes that impact AY access to and use of contraception, including child marriage and gender-based violence, and reducing financial barriers to access contraception. Full Article
rep Family Planning, Reproductive Health, and Progress Toward the Sustainable Development Goals: Reflections and Directions on the 30th Anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development By ghspjournal.org Published On :: 2024-10-29T12:28:39-07:00 Full Article
rep Adapting the Social Norms Exploration Tool in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Identify Social Norms for Behavior Change By ghspjournal.org Published On :: 2024-10-29T12:28:39-07:00 ABSTRACTIn the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), male engagement, social norms, and social networks mitigate family planning behavior. We discuss the adaptation of the Social Norms Exploration Tool (SNET), which identifies relevant social norms and community members upholding these norms, to inform the development of family planning interventions in the DRC. The SNET provides activity tools and templates to guide users through the following steps: (1) plan and prepare, (2) identify reference groups, (3) explore social norms, (4) analyze results, and (5) apply findings.The SNET approach resulted in discussion of social norms, particularly around birth spacing and gender norms framing the man as the decision-maker. However, despite applying a methodology specifically designed to identify social norms, other factors limiting use of contraceptive methods were identified in the process, including lack of education, rumors, and misconceptions. Adaptations were needed to include the full range of reference groups due to narrow phrasing of primary questions, and some of the participatory methods were overly complicated. Feedback from experienced data collectors suggested that the social norms framework is not intuitive, is difficult to apply correctly, and may require that data collectors have a stronger foundation in the relevant concepts to produce valid and actionable results.Although the SNET provides language for discussing normative factors and techniques to identify reference groups and social norms, modifications to the implementation process are recommended when adapting the tool for research. Full Article
rep Glatiramer Acetate for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: From First-Generation Therapy to Elucidation of Immunomodulation and Repair [Review Article] By pharmrev.aspetjournals.org Published On :: 2024-10-16T07:40:25-07:00 Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS), with a putative autoimmune origin and complex pathogenesis. Modification of the natural history of MS by reducing relapses and slowing disability accumulation was first attained in the 1990 s with the development of the first-generation disease-modifying therapies. Glatiramer acetate (GA), a copolymer of L-alanine, L-lysine, L-glutamic acid, and L-tyrosine, was discovered due to its ability to suppress the animal model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Extensive clinical trials and long-term assessments established the efficacy and the safety of GA. Furthermore, studies of the therapeutic processes induced by GA in animal models and in MS patients indicate that GA affects various levels of the innate and the adaptive immune response, generating deviation from proinflammatory to anti-inflammatory pathways. This includes competition for binding to antigen presenting cells; driving dendritic cells, monocytes, and B-cells toward anti-inflammatory responses; and stimulating T-helper 2 and T-regulatory cells. The immune cells stimulated by GA reach the CNS and secrete in situ anti-inflammatory cytokines alleviating the pathological processes. Furthermore, cumulative findings reveal that in addition to its immunomodulatory effect, GA promotes neuroprotective repair processes such as neurotrophic factors secretion, remyelination, and neurogenesis. This review aims to provide an overview of MS pathology diagnosis and treatment as well as the diverse mechanism of action of GA. Significance Statement Understanding the complex MS immune pathogenesis provided multiple targets for therapeutic intervention, resulting in a plethora of agents, with various mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety profiles. However, promoting repair beyond the body’s limited spontaneous extent is still a major challenge. GA, one of the first approved disease-modifying therapies, induces diverse immunomodulatory effects. Furthermore, GA treatment results in elevated neurotrophic factors secretion, remyelination and neurogenesis, supporting the notion that immunomodulatory treatment can support in situ a growth-promoting and repair environment. Full Article
rep Enzyme Replacement Therapy for CLN2 Disease: MRI Volumetry Shows Significantly Slower Volume Loss Compared with a Natural History Cohort [CLINICAL PRACTICE] By www.ajnr.org Published On :: 2024-11-07T15:14:12-08:00 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses are a group of neurodegenerative disorders. Recently, enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) was approved for neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2), a subtype of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. The aim of this study was to quantify brain volume loss in CLN2 disease in patients on ERT in comparison with a natural history cohort using MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen (14 female, 5 male) patients with CLN2 disease at 1 UK center were studied using serial 3D T1-weighted MRI (follow-up time, 1–9 years). Brain segmentation was performed using FreeSurfer. Volume measurements for supratentorial gray and white matter, deep gray matter (basal ganglia/thalami), the lateral ventricles, and cerebellar gray and white matter were recorded. The volume change with time was analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model excluding scans before treatment onset. Comparison was made with a published natural history cohort of 12 patients (8 female, 4 male), which was re-analyzed using the same method. RESULTS: Brain volume loss of all segmented brain regions was much slower in treated patients compared with the natural history cohort. For example, supratentorial gray matter volume in treated patients decreased by a mean of 3% (SD, 0.74%) (P < .001) annually compared with an annual volume loss of a mean of 16.8% (SD, 1.5%) (P < .001) in the natural history cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Our treatment cohort showed a significantly slower rate of brain parenchymal volume loss compared with a natural history cohort in several anatomic regions. Our results complement prior clinical data that found a positive response to ERT. We demonstrate that automated MRI volumetry is a sensitive tool to monitor treatment response in children with CLN2 disease. Full Article
rep The diagnostic odyssey of a patient with dihydropyrimidinase deficiency: a case report and review of the literature [RESEARCH REPORT] By molecularcasestudies.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-01-10T08:13:38-08:00 Dihydropyrimidinase (DHP) deficiency is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic variants of DPYS. Patients with DHP deficiency exhibit a broad spectrum of phenotypes, ranging from severe neurological and gastrointestinal involvement to cases with no apparent symptoms. The biochemical diagnosis of DHP deficiency is based on the detection of a significant amount of dihydropyrimidines in urine, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid samples. Molecular genetic testing, specifically the identification of biallelic pathogenic variants in DPYS, has proven instrumental in confirming the diagnosis and facilitating family studies. This case study documents the diagnostic journey of an 18-yr-old patient with DHP deficiency, highlighting features at the severe end of the clinical spectrum. Notably, our patient exhibited previously unreported skeletal features that positively responded to bisphosphonate treatment, contributing valuable insights to the clinical characterization of DHP deficiency. Additionally, a novel DPYS variant was identified and confirmed pathogenicity through metabolic testing, further expanding the variant spectrum of the gene. Our case emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic approach using genetic sequencing and metabolic testing for accurate diagnosis. Full Article
rep PD-L1+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with extremely high mutational burden and microsatellite instability due to acquired PMS2 mutation [RESEARCH REPORT] By molecularcasestudies.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-01-10T08:13:38-08:00 We present a unique case of a single patient presenting with two mutationally distinct, PD-L1+ diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). One of these DLBCLs demonstrated exceptionally high mutational burden (eight disease-associated variants and 41 variants of undetermined significance) with microsatellite instability (MSI) and an acquired PMS2 mutation with loss of PMS2 protein expression, detected postchemotherapy. This report, while highlighting the extent of possible tumor heterogeneity across separate clonal expansions as well as possible syndromic B-cell neoplasia, supports the notion that, although rare, PD-L1 expression and associated states permissive of high mutational burden (such as mismatch repair gene loss of function/MSI) should be more routinely considered in DLBCLs. Appropriate testing may be predictive of outcome and inform the utility of targeted therapy in these genetically diverse and historically treatment-refractory malignancies. Full Article
rep Deep molecular tracking over the 12-yr development of endometrial cancer from hyperplasia in a single patient [RESEARCH REPORT] By molecularcasestudies.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-01-10T08:13:38-08:00 Although the progressive histologic steps leading to endometrial cancer (EndoCA), the most common female reproductive tract malignancy, from endometrial hyperplasia are well-established, the molecular changes accompanying this malignant transformation in a single patient have never been described. We had the unique opportunity to investigate the paired histologic and molecular features associated with the 12-yr development of EndoCA in a postmenopausal female who could not undergo hysterectomy and instead underwent progesterone treatment. Using a specially designed 58-gene next-generation sequencing panel, we analyzed a total of 10 sequential biopsy samples collected over this time frame. A total of eight pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations in seven genes, APC, ARID1A, CTNNB1, CDKN2A, KRAS, PTEN, and TP53, were identified. A PTEN nonsense mutation p.W111* was present in all samples analyzed except histologically normal endometrium. Apart from this PTEN mutation, the only other recurrent mutation was KRAS G12D, which was present in six biopsy samplings, including histologically normal tissue obtained at the patient's first visit but not detectable in the cancer. The PTEN p.W111* mutant allele fractions were lowest in benign, inactive endometrial glands (0.7%), highest in adenocarcinoma (36.9%), and, notably, were always markedly reduced following progesterone treatment. To our knowledge, this report provides the first molecular characterization of EndoCA development in a single patient. A single PTEN mutation was present throughout the 12 years of cancer development. Importantly, and with potential significance toward medical and nonsurgical management of EndoCA, progesterone treatments were consistently noted to markedly decrease PTEN mutant allele fractions to precancerous levels. Full Article
rep Pazopanib elicits remarkable response in metastatic porocarcinoma: a functional precision medicine approach [RESEARCH REPORT] By molecularcasestudies.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-01-10T08:13:38-08:00 Metastatic porocarcinomas (PCs) are vanishingly rare, highly aggressive skin adnexal tumors with mortality rates exceeding 70%. Their rarity has precluded the understanding of their disease pathogenesis, let alone the conduct of clinical trials to evaluate treatment strategies. There are no effective agents for unresectable PCs. Here, we successfully demonstrate how functional precision medicine was implemented in the clinic for a metastatic PC with no known systemic treatment options. Comprehensive genomic profiling of the tumor specimen did not yield any actionable genomic aberrations. However, ex vivo drug testing predicted pazopanib efficacy, and indeed, administration of pazopanib elicited remarkable clinicoradiological response. Pazopanib and its class of drugs should be evaluated for efficacy in other cases of PC, and the rationale for efficacy should be determined when PC tumor models become available. A functional precision medicine approach could be useful to derive effective treatment options for rare cancers. Full Article
rep Novel pathogenic PDX1 gene variant in a Korean family with maturity-onset diabetes of the young [VARIANT DISCREPANCY RESOLUTION] By molecularcasestudies.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-01-10T08:13:38-08:00 The diagnosis of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), a monogenic form of diabetes mellitus caused by a mutation in a single gene, is often uncertain until genetic testing is performed. We report a 13-yr-old Korean boy who was initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). MODY was suspected because of his nonobese body habitus and family history of multiple affected members. Targeted panel sequencing of all MODY-related genes was performed using the NextSeq 550Dx platform (Illumina). Sanger sequencing was performed using blood samples from the parents, siblings, and other relatives. A frameshift variant in the 3' region of the last exon of PDX1 was detected in the patient and his family members with diabetes. PP1_Moderate criterion was applied and this variant was confirmed to be the genetic cause of diabetes in the family and classified as likely pathogenic. The study highlights the importance of genetic testing for nonobese, early-onset diabetic patients with multiple affected family members. Increased awareness and aggressive genetic testing for MODY are needed. Full Article
rep Prostate cancer patient stratification by molecular signatures in the Veterans Precision Oncology Data Commons [RESEARCH REPORT] By molecularcasestudies.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-01-10T08:13:38-08:00 Veterans are at an increased risk for prostate cancer, a disease with extraordinary clinical and molecular heterogeneity, compared with the general population. However, little is known about the underlying molecular heterogeneity within the veteran population and its impact on patient management and treatment. Using clinical and targeted tumor sequencing data from the National Veterans Affairs health system, we conducted a retrospective cohort study on 45 patients with advanced prostate cancer in the Veterans Precision Oncology Data Commons (VPODC), most of whom were metastatic castration-resistant. We characterized the mutational burden in this cohort and conducted unsupervised clustering analysis to stratify patients by molecular alterations. Veterans with prostate cancer exhibited a mutational landscape broadly similar to prior studies, including KMT2A and NOTCH1 mutations associated with neuroendocrine prostate cancer phenotype, previously reported to be enriched in veterans. We also identified several potential novel mutations in PTEN, MSH6, VHL, SMO, and ABL1. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed two subgroups containing therapeutically targetable molecular features with novel mutational signatures distinct from those reported in the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer database. The clustering approach presented in this study can potentially be used to clinically stratify patients based on their distinct mutational profiles and identify actionable somatic mutations for precision oncology. Full Article
rep Novel pathogenic UQCRC2 variants in a female with normal neurodevelopment [RESEARCH REPORT] By molecularcasestudies.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-01-10T08:13:38-08:00 Electron transport chain (ETC) disorders are a group of rare, multisystem diseases caused by impaired oxidative phosphorylation and energy production. Deficiencies in complex III (CIII), also known as ubiquinol–cytochrome c reductase, are particularly rare in humans. Ubiquinol–cytochrome c reductase core protein 2 (UQCRC2) encodes a subunit of CIII that plays a crucial role in dimerization. Several pathogenic UQCRC2 variants have been identified in patients presenting with metabolic abnormalities that include lactic acidosis, hyperammonemia, hypoglycemia, and organic aciduria. Almost all previously reported UQCRC2-deficient patients exhibited neurodevelopmental involvement, including developmental delays and structural brain anomalies. Here, we describe a girl who presented at 3 yr of age with lactic acidosis, hyperammonemia, and hypoglycemia but has not shown any evidence of neurodevelopmental dysfunction by age 15. Whole-exome sequencing revealed compound heterozygosity for two novel variants in UQCRC2: c.1189G>A; p.Gly397Arg and c.437T>C; p.Phe146Ser. Here, we discuss the patient's clinical presentation and the likely pathogenicity of these two missense variants. Full Article
rep Rapid genome diagnosis of alveolar capillary dysplasia leading to treatment in a child with respiratory and cardiac failure [RESEARCH REPORT] By molecularcasestudies.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-01-10T08:13:38-08:00 Alveolar capillary dysplasia (ACD) is a fatal disorder that typically presents in the neonatal period with refractory hypoxemia and pulmonary hypertension. Lung biopsy is traditionally required to establish the diagnosis. We report a 22-mo-old male who presented with anemia, severe pulmonary hypertension, and right heart failure. He had a complicated hospital course resulting in cardiac arrest and requirement for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Computed tomography of the chest showed a heterogenous pattern of interlobular septal thickening and pulmonary edema. The etiology of his condition was unknown, lung biopsy was contraindicated because of his medical fragility, and discussions were held to move to palliative care. Rapid whole-genome sequencing (rWGS) was performed. In 2 d it resulted, revealing a novel FOXF1 gene pathogenic variant that led to the presumptive diagnosis of atypical ACD. Cases of atypical ACD have been reported with survival in patients using medical therapy or lung transplantation. Based on the rWGS diagnosis and more favorable potential of atypical ACD, aggressive medical treatment was pursued. The patient was discharged home after 67 d in the hospital; he is currently doing well more than 30 mo after his initial presentation with only one subsequent hospitalization and no requirement for lung transplantation. Our case reveals the potential for use of rWGS in a critically ill child in which the diagnosis is unknown. rWGS and other advanced genetic tests can guide clinical management and expand our understanding of atypical ACD and other conditions. Full Article
rep Reclassification of the HPGD p.Ala13Glu variant causing primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy [VARIANT DISCREPANCY RESOLUTION] By molecularcasestudies.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-01-10T08:13:38-08:00 Here, we highlight the case of a 31-yr-old man who had clinical features of primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHOAR) and harbored a homozygous variant (c.38C > A, p.Ala13Glu) in the HPGD gene, as indicated by whole-exome sequencing (WES). This variant has been previously classified by our laboratory as a variant of uncertain significance (VUS). However, another patient with the same phenotype and the same homozygous variant in HPGD was subsequently reported. In reassessing the variant, the absence of this variant in the gnomAD population database, supporting computational predictions, observation in homozygosity in two probands, and specificity of the phenotype for HPGD, all provide sufficient evidence to reclassify the HPGD c.38C > A, p.Ala13Glu variant as likely pathogenic. Full Article
rep PBRNs: Past, Present, and Future: A NAPCRG Report on the Practice-Based Research Network Conference. [Family Medicine Updates] By www.annfammed.org Published On :: 2024-09-23T14:00:14-07:00 Full Article
rep The Odyssey of HOMER: Comparative Effectiveness Research on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic [Special Report] By www.annfammed.org Published On :: 2024-09-23T14:00:14-07:00 The usual challenges of conducting primary care research, including randomized trials, have been exacerbated, and new ones identified, during the COVID-19 pandemic. HOMER (Home versus Office for Medication Enhanced Recovery; subsequently, Comparing Home, Office, and Telehealth Induction for Medication Enhanced Recovery) is a pragmatic, comparative-effectiveness research trial that aims to answer a key question from patients and clinicians: What is the best setting in which to start treatment with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder for this patient at this time? In this article, we describe the difficult journey to find the answer. The HOMER study began as a randomized trial comparing treatment outcomes in patients starting treatment with buprenorphine via induction at home (unobserved) vs in the office (observed, synchronous). The study aimed to enroll 1,000 participants from 100 diverse primary care practices associated with the State Networks of Colorado Ambulatory Practices and Partners and the American Academy of Family Physicians National Research Network. The research team faced unexpected challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic and dramatic changes in the opioid epidemic. These challenges required changes to the study design, protocol, recruitment intensity, and funding conversations, as well as patience. As this is a participatory research study, we sought, documented, and responded to practice and patient requests for adaptations. Changes included adding a third study arm using telehealth induction (observed via telephone or video, synchronous) and switching to a comprehensive cohort design to answer meaningful patient-centered research questions. Using a narrative approach based on the Greek myth of Homer, we describe here the challenges and adaptations that have provided the opportunity for HOMER to thrive and find the way home. These clinical trial strategies may apply to other studies faced with similar cultural and extreme circumstances. Full Article
rep Self-Reported PrEP Use and Risk of Bacterial STIs Among Ontarian Men Who Are Gay or Bisexual or Have Sex With Men [Original Research] By www.annfammed.org Published On :: 2024-09-23T14:00:14-07:00 PURPOSE HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may increase rates of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) through risk compensation (eg, an increase in condomless sex or number of partners); however, longitudinal studies exploring the time-dependent nature of PrEP uptake and bacterial STIs are limited. We used marginal structural models to estimate the effect of PrEP uptake on STI incidence. METHODS We analyzed data from the iCruise study, an online longitudinal study of 535 Ontarian GBM from July 2017 to April 2018, to estimate the effects of PrEP uptake on incidence of self-reported bacterial STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) collected with 12 weekly diaries. The incidence rate was calculated as the number of infections per 100 person-months, with evaluation of the STIs overall and individually. We used marginal structural models to account for time-varying confounding and quantitative bias analysis to evaluate the sensitivity of estimates to nondifferential outcome misclassification. RESULTS Participating GBM were followed up for a total of 1,623.5 person-months. Overall, 70 participants (13.1%) took PrEP during the study period. Relative to no uptake, PrEP uptake was associated with an increased incidence rate of gonorrhea (incidence rate ratio = 4.00; 95% CI, 1.67-9.58), but not of chlamydia or syphilis, and not of any bacterial STI overall. Accounting for misclassification, the median incidence rate ratio for gonorrhea was 2.36 (95% simulation interval, 1.08-5.06). CONCLUSIONS We observed an increased incidence rate of gonorrhea associated with PrEP uptake among Ontarian GBM that was robust to misclassification. Although our findings support current guidelines for integrating gonorrhea screening with PrEP services, additional research should consider the long-term impact of PrEP among this population. Annals Early Access article Full Article
rep A Few Doctors Will See Some of You: The Critical Role of Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) Family Physicians in the Care of Medicaid Beneficiaries [Original Research] By www.annfammed.org Published On :: 2024-09-23T14:00:14-07:00 PURPOSE Despite being key to better health outcomes for patients from racial and ethnic minority groups, the proportion of underrepresented in medicine (URiM) physicians remains low in the US health care system. This study linked a nationally representative sample of family physicians (FPs) with Medicaid claims data to explore the relative contributions to care of Medicaid populations by FP race and ethnicity. METHODS This descriptive cross-sectional study used 2016 Medicaid claims data from the Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System and from 2016-2017 American Board of Family Medicine certification questionnaire responses to examine the diversity and Medicaid participation of FPs. We explored the diversity of FP Medicaid patient panels and whether they saw ≥150 beneficiaries in 2016. Using logistic regression models, we controlled for FP demographics, practice characteristics, and characteristics of the communities in which they practiced. RESULTS Of 13,096 FPs, Latine, Hispanic, or of Spanish Origin (LHS) FPs and non-LHS Black FPs saw more Medicaid beneficiaries compared with non-LHS White and non-LHS Asian FPs. The patient panels of URiM FPs had a much greater proportion of Medicaid beneficiaries from racial and ethnic minority groups. Overall, non-LHS Black and LHS FPs had greater odds of seeing ≥150 Medicaid beneficiaries in 2016. CONCLUSIONS These findings clearly show the critical role URiM FPs play in caring for Medicaid beneficiaries, suggesting physician race and ethnicity are correlated with Medicaid participation. Diversity in the health care workforce is essential for addressing racial health inequities. Policies need to address problems in pathways to medical education, including failures to recruit, nurture, and retain URiM students. Full Article
rep [Evolutionary Biology] How Important Is Variation in Extrinsic Reproductive Isolation to the Process of Speciation? By cshperspectives.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-11-01T06:50:52-07:00 The strength of reproductive isolation (RI) between two or more lineages during the process of speciation can vary by the ecological conditions. However, most speciation research has been limited to studying how ecologically dependent RI varies among a handful of broadly categorized environments. Very few studies consider the variability of RI and its effects on speciation at finer scales—that is, within each environment due to spatial or temporal environmental heterogeneity. Such variation in RI across time and/or space may inhibit speciation through leaky reproductive barriers or promote speciation by facilitating reinforcement. To investigate this overlooked aspect of speciation research, we conducted a literature review of existing studies of variation in RI in the field and then conducted individual-based simulations to examine how variation in hybrid fitness across time and space affects the degree of gene flow. Our simulations indicate that the presence of variation in hybrid fitness across space and time often leads to an increase in gene flow compared to scenarios where hybrid fitness remains static. This observation can be attributed to the convex relationship between the degree of gene flow and the strength of selection on hybrids. Our simulations also show that the effect of variation in RI on facilitating gene flow is most pronounced when RI, on average, is relatively low. This finding suggests that it could serve as an important mechanism to explain why the completion of speciation is often challenging. While direct empirical evidence documenting variation in extrinsic RI is limited, we contend that it is a prevalent yet underexplored phenomenon. We support this argument by proposing common scenarios in which RI is likely to exhibit variability and thus influence the process of speciation. Full Article
rep Necrotizing soft-tissue infections caused by invasive group A Streptococcus [Practice] By www.cmaj.ca Published On :: 2024-11-11T21:05:15-08:00 Full Article
rep Apple Is Reportedly Working on a Smart Home Camera By gizmodo.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 01:29:30 +0000 It will likely release in 2026 and feature Apple Intelligence, according to a reliable analyst. Full Article Apple Apple Intelligence Security Cameras Smart Home
rep Column: Why reporting from South Sudan is so difficult — and critically needed By www.pbs.org Published On :: Sun, 15 Oct 2017 14:27:40 +0000 Simona Foltyn walks down a mountain slope shortly after crossing into South Sudan. Photo by Jason Patinkin In August, fellow reporter Jason Patinkin and I crossed on foot from northern Uganda into rebel-held South Sudan. Over the course of four days, we walked more than 40 miles through the bush, escorted by rebel soldiers, to shed light on one of the world’s most underreported conflicts. Reporting on South Sudan’s war, which began in 2013, has always been a challenge due to the risk and logistical hurdles associated with accessing remote areas where fighting takes place. But over the past year, covering the war and its humanitarian fallout has become particularly difficult. Since the beginning of this year, South Sudan’s government has banned at least 20 foreign journalists in an apparent effort to silence reporters who had a track record of critically reporting on the government. The war has had a devastating impact on South Sudanese communities, but much of it has remained out of the limelight of international media. This systematic crackdown on the foreign press (South Sudanese journalists have long risked imprisonment and death for doing their work) coincided with two important developments. In November 2016, the United Nations warned that the violence being committed against civilians in the southern region of Equatoria risked spiraling into genocide. Then, in February, the UN declared a man-made famine, warning that 100,000 people were at risk of starving to death as a result of civil war. Journalists seeking to cover these events were left with two equally unsavory options: self-censorship or a risky trip to rebel-held parts of the country. Only a handful of journalists have attempted the latter since fighting escalated in July last year. For us, this was our second embed with the rebels this year. Martin Abucha (second from right) rests with his troops in rebel-held South Sudan. Photo by Jason Patinkin We set off from a town in northern Uganda at five in the morning, bouncing along a bumpy dirt track towards the South Sudan border. Crammed into our four-wheel drive were rebel commander Martin Abucha, a dual American and South Sudanese citizen who we planned to profile for our PBS NewsHour Weekend segment, a couple of guides, and several duffle bags stuffed with our tents, sleeping bags, emergency medical kits and provisions to last us four days. Just as the sun began to rise above a distant range of hills that we aimed to cross later that day, our car came to a halt in front of a stream. Because of the rainy reason, it carried more water than usual. It was time to disembark and start walking, or “footing,” as South Sudanese tend to call it. We took off our shoes and waded through the stream’s chilly waters. This was the first of a many rivers we’d have to cross along the way, either on foot or in small flimsy canoes dug out from tree trunks. Each time, we dreaded the idea of falling in with our camera gear. The first part of our journey in northern Uganda felt very much like a hike through a national park. Passing beautiful landscapes and idyllic farming villages, one could almost forget we were headed into a war zone — but we were about to get a reality check. We had just crossed into South Sudan when out of nowhere, two dozen armed men popped out of the tall grass and surrounded us at gunpoint. “Stop! Who are you and where are you going?” a soldier called out in Juba Arabic from his hideout no more than 20 yards away, pointing his AK47 at us. Another one next to him had a rocket-propelled grenade propped on his shoulder, also unequivocally aiming it in our direction. Instinctively, we threw our hands in the air and exchanged a baffled glance. Had we accidentally bumped into government soldiers? Or perhaps we had come onto the “wrong” rebels? Abucha’s group, called the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition, is the biggest but not the only armed group in Equatoria, an area rife with rival militia and bandits who exploit the security vacuum left by war. To our relief, and only after Abucha answered a series of questions, this routine security check quickly gave way to a warm welcome. The platoon would be our escort for the next four days as we trekked to their base and to Loa, Abucha’s hometown. Keeping up with the rebels was no easy task. Given the country’s pervasive lack of basic infrastructure, South Sudanese grow up walking for dozens of miles just to go about their daily lives. For sedentary Westerners, keeping the target pace of “two meters per second” (around five miles an hour) proved challenging amid 90-degree temperatures, all while filming and plowing our way through dense, itchy elephant grass. The upside of the cumbersome terrain was that it kept us safe. During our four-day trip, we didn’t cross a single road, instead walking along a dizzying network of narrow bush paths the rebels seemed to know like the backs of their hands. An unwanted encounter with government troops, who tended to stick to roads and move around in vehicles as opposed to on foot, was highly unlikely. The closest we got to government-controlled area was a visit to Loa, located just two kilometers away from a main road frequently patrolled by government soldiers. We couldn’t stay long, but the hour we spent on the ground offered us a glimpse into what villages must look like in many parts of Equatoria: burned mud huts, looted schools and clinics, fallow fields and – most strikingly – no civilians. The war has had a devastating impact on South Sudanese communities like the one in Loa, but much of it has remained out of the limelight of international media. Our four-day venture into rebel-held South Sudan offered us a rare opportunity to report ground truths, and we are thankful for that. The post Column: Why reporting from South Sudan is so difficult — and critically needed appeared first on PBS NewsHour. Full Article NewsHour Weekend Reporter's Notebook South Sudan
rep Tillerson: ‘Heartbreaking’ reports of suffering in Myanmar By www.pbs.org Published On :: Wed, 18 Oct 2017 15:36:51 +0000 Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Wednesday. WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is condemning reported atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, and he says those responsible — perhaps the country’s military — will be held accountable. Tillerson says accounts of the suffering of the Rohingya are “heartbreaking” — and that if those reports are true, then “someone is going to be held to account for that.” Tillerson — who’s set to visit South Asia next week — is urging the Myanmar government to improve humanitarian access to the population in western Rakhine state. Amnesty International has accused Myanmar’s security forces of killing hundreds of men, women and children during a systematic campaign to expel the Rohingya. More than 580,000 refugees have fled to neighboring Bangladesh since late August. “We really hold the military leadership accountable for what’s happening,” Tillerson said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. “What’s most important to us is that the world can’t just stand idly by and be witness to the atrocities that are being reported in that area.” He also called Wednesday for the U.S. and India to expand strategic ties. He pointedly criticized China, which he accused of challenging international norms needed for global stability. He said the world needed the U.S. and India to have a strong partnership. The two nations share goals of security, free navigation, free trade and fighting terrorism in the Indo-Pacific, and serve as “the eastern and western beacons” for an international rules-based order which is increasingly under strain, he said. Both India and China had benefited from that order, but Tillerson said India had done so while respecting rules and norms, while China had “at times” undermined them. To make his point, he alluded to China’s island building and expansive territorial claims in seas where Beijing has long-running disputes with Southeast Asian neighbors. “China’s provocative actions in the South China Sea directly challenge the international law and norms that the United States and India both stand for,” Tillerson said in an address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. He added that the U.S. seeks constructive relations with China but “won’t shrink” from the challenges it poses when it “subverts the sovereignty of neighboring countries, and disadvantages the U.S. and our friends.” U.S.-India relations have generally prospered in the past decade, in part because of their shared concerns about the rise of China. While President Donald Trump has looked to deepen cooperation with China on addressing the nuclear threat from North Korea, he’s also sought a closer relationship with India, which shares U.S. worries on Islamic extremism. “In this period of uncertainty and angst, India needs a reliable partner on the world stage. I want to make clear: with our shared values and vision for global stability, peace and prosperity, the United States is that partner,” Tillerson said. Tillerson said the U.S. wants to help improve India’s military capabilities, and also improve security cooperation among the region’s major democracies, which included Japan and Australia. Tillerson said the U.S. and India were leading regional efforts on counterterrorism. He called for India’s archrival Pakistan “to take decisive action against terrorist groups based within their own borders that threaten its own people and the broader region.” The post Tillerson: ‘Heartbreaking’ reports of suffering in Myanmar appeared first on PBS NewsHour. Full Article myanmar Rex Tillerson rohingya
rep PM preps for campaign launch By www.dailytelegraph.com.au Published On :: Sat, 25 Jun 2016 07:30:00 GMT ROLLING UPDATES:Malcolm Turnbull heads into tomorrow’s Liberal Party campaign launch with the economy and stability firmly front and centre. Full Article
rep 'Systematic racism' in social work in Scotland to be addressed in review after report By www.heraldscotland.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:23:47 +0000 A national review of social work in Scotland has been launched in a bid to address ‘systemic racism’ within the sector. Full Article
rep Dragon Age: The Veilguard won't get expansions, reports say, as BioWare move to the next Mass Effect By www.rockpapershotgun.com Published On :: Sat, 02 Nov 2024 22:22:11 +0000 BioWare currently has no plans for Dragon Age: The Veilguard expansions, according to reports. Instead the studio will support the fantasy RPG with smaller updates and otherwise turn their full attention towards Mass Effect 5. Read more Full Article Strategy Electronic Arts RPG Dragon Age: The Veilguard Action Adventure Single Player Bioware
rep ESA prepares Hera mission to investigate aftermath of NASA DART impact By www.newscientist.com Published On :: Mon, 19 Feb 2024 11:48:51 +0000 The European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft must be thoroughly tested before being sent to investigate the aftermath of the collision of NASA's DART probe with Dimorphos Full Article
rep What preparing for an asteroid strike teaches us about climate change By www.newscientist.com Published On :: Wed, 06 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Averting an asteroid strike will need many of the same skills we must hone to tackle climate change and future pandemics Full Article
rep How Star Trek-style replicators could lead to a food revolution By www.newscientist.com Published On :: Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Our Future Chronicles column explores an imagined history of inventions and developments yet to come. This time, Rowan Hooper takes us to the early 2030s, when a technological step change enabled us to produce all the food we needed without the use of animals Full Article
rep Gary Lineker replacement decided as BBC tipped for rogue MOTD appointment By www.express.co.uk Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:34:00 +0000 Express Sport writers have decided who should replace Gary Lineker Full Article Football
rep House Republicans demand Biden Cabinet members preserve all documents, communications By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:35:23 -0500 House Republicans on Tuesday demanded that each member of President Biden's cabinet preserve all relevant documents and communications, a move that signals future investigations into the Biden administration. Full Article
rep Senate Republicans set to pick new leader in first open contest in 18 years By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:42:29 -0500 Senate Republicans on Wednesday will elect a new party leader for the first time in nearly two decades. Full Article
rep Inside the report that reveals the extent of DEI spending in HHS By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:21:17 -0500 A new report by OpenTheBooks reveals that the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) employs 294 people in diversity-focused positions, with 182 of them earning six-figure salaries. Full Article
rep Report: NFL intentionally delayed fine for 49ers' Nick Bosa until after election By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 19:46:12 -0500 According to a report Tuesday, the league deliberately decided not to impose an immediate fine on San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa for wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat during a postgame television interview. Full Article
rep Republican Rep. David Valadao wins reelection in heavily Democratic California district By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 21:39:04 -0500 Republican Rep. David Valadao has won reelection in California's 22nd Congressional District, defeating Democrat Rudy Salas for the second time. Full Article
rep Tennis: Former Davis Cup rep boost for Bay By www.sport.co.uk Published On :: Fri, 25 Jan 2019 21:44:00 +0000 … advice from former New Zealand Davis Cup player Dan Willman, who has … challenges Taranaki for the Christie Cup, the symbol of Central … place at the World Junior Davis Cup tournament in the Czech … ; Willman added. The Christie Cup has been played for since …. Full Article
rep 'Bring on Lampard and Morris!' - Chelsea fans react to reports of Gianfranco Zola exit By www.sport.co.uk Published On :: Sun, 16 Jun 2019 08:20:00 +0000 The Italian is reportedly set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of his contract.. Full Article
rep England v Czech Republic in Pictures By www.telegraph.co.uk Published On :: Tue, 22 Jun 2021 21:10:56 GMT Full Article structure:sport topics:organisations/england-football-team
rep Charlie Webster: Coaches' suspected child abuse must be reported By www.telegraph.co.uk Published On :: Sun, 03 Oct 2021 09:12:18 GMT Full Article topics:things/abuse topics:organisations/uk-athletics structure:sport structure:womens-sport structure:athletics storytype:standard
rep The hot flush that stole a world title: special report on sport and the menopause By www.telegraph.co.uk Published On :: Thu, 28 Oct 2021 06:00:00 GMT Full Article structure:darts structure:equestrianism structure:sport structure:womens-sport topics:things/menopause structure:golf storytype:standard
rep London state school pupils revive Rugby Fives and prepare to take on 'the poshies' By www.telegraph.co.uk Published On :: Mon, 20 Jun 2022 08:00:00 GMT Full Article topics:things/school-sports structure:sport structure:school-sport storytype:standard
rep Cybersecurity top revenue driver for bulk of MSPs, Kaseya report finds By www.itbusiness.ca Published On :: Wed, 06 Mar 2024 02:33:44 +0000 Kaseya, a provider of unified IT management and security software for managed service providers (MSPs) and small to midsize business (SMBs), today released its 2024 MSP Benchmark Report, which surveyed close to 1,000 MSPs from the Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and APAC (Asia Pacific) regions and includes responses from both IT professionals […] The post Cybersecurity top revenue driver for bulk of MSPs, Kaseya report finds first appeared on ITBusiness.ca. Full Article Managed Services & Outsourcing Security AI ai-ml cybersecurity Kaseya msps SMBs Survey Top Story
rep Rise of the superbaby? US startup offers genetic IQ screening for wealthy elite: report By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Sun, 20 Oct 2024 21:41:29 -0400 U.S.-based startup company Heliospect Genomics reportedly is offering wealthy couples embryo screening for IQ and other traits at $50,000 for 100 embryos. Full Article a9f4cec8-f174-58c5-8724-21636f21cd43 fnc Fox News fox-news/science/natural-science/genetics fox-news/science fox-news/health fox-news/us fox-news/lifestyle fox-news/science article
rep Here's what happens to Sen. Rubio's seat if he becomes secretary of state and who could replace him By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:25:10 -0500 Speculation has already run rampant on who Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will appoint to replace Sen. Marco Rubio if Rubio becomes President-elect Trump's secretary of state. Full Article 40b2164f-a0ab-5ce9-8b39-2d935f9c83ea fnc Fox News fox-news/politics fox-news/us/us-regions/southeast/florida fox-news/person/ron-desantis fox-news/person/marco-rubio fox-news/politics article
rep Justice Alito plans to remain on Supreme Court, resisting pressure to step aside: report By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:54:31 -0500 Trump would face little to no resistance in confirming his picks for Supreme Court justices in the majority-GOP Congress, but Alito has no plans to step down. Full Article 1d64196e-023c-541f-87d2-a212a18f112b fnc Fox News fox-news/politics fox-news/politics/judiciary/supreme-court fox-news/politics/executive fox-news/person/donald-trump fox-news/politics/elections fox-news/politics/judiciary fox-news/politics article
rep FSAI warns of rise in ‘complex’ food incidents in annual report By www.foodsafetynews.com Published On :: Wed, 06 Nov 2024 05:03:00 +0000 In its annual report, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) warned that food incidents are becoming more complex and often serious. FSAI marked its 25th anniversary in 2023. External challenges impacting food safety include the potential for supply disruption due to political unrest in the Middle East and the... Continue Reading Full Article Government Agencies World annual report food fraud food incidents Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) official controls Salmonella
rep Republican Gabe Evans wins Colorado's 8th Congressional District, beating incumbent Yadira Caraveo By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 22:01:40 -0500 The Associated Press has declared a winner in Colorado's 8th Congressional District which has been one of the most closely watched races in the country. Full Article a466e502-3378-573c-8ecc-0e628d1b45ea fnc Fox News fox-news/politics fox-news/us/us-regions/west/colorado fox-news/politics/elections fox-news/politics/house-of-representatives fox-news/politics article
rep Republican David Valadao wins re-election to US House in California's 22nd Congressional District By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 22:17:03 -0500 Incumbent Republican David Valadao is projected to emerge victorious in California's 22nd Congressional District. The highly contested race was considered to be a tossup. Full Article 4451eb0e-c159-5978-bbc9-ce2be1359320 fnc Fox News fox-news/politics fox-news/us/us-regions/west/california fox-news/us/congress fox-news/politics/elections/house-of-representatives fox-news/politics article
rep Senator-elect Jim Justice's team clarifies report claiming famous pooch Babydog banned from Senate floor By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 22:34:44 -0500 Senator-elect Jim Justice's office has clarified reports that his famous pooch Babydog was banned from the Senate floor, saying Justice never intended to bring the dog onto the floor. Full Article 5e83cc3c-0f20-531a-a467-f5c5e2547352 fnc Fox News fox-news/politics fox-news/politics/senate fox-news/politics/elections/senate fox-news/us/us-regions/southeast/west-virginia fox-news/politics article
rep Microsoft reports big profits amid massive AI investments By arstechnica.com Published On :: Wed, 30 Oct 2024 22:00:34 +0000 Xbox hardware sales dropped 29 percent, but that barely made a dent. Full Article Tech Activision AI azure earnings microsoft