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Differential expression analysis can be a powerful method to investigate expressed differences between closely related species. Our ambition is to highlight differentially expressed nuclear genes to explain the hybrid incompatibilities among the Amazonian, Centro-American and Orinocan semispecies of Drosophila paulistorum. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) establishes the foundation of the study where we first evaluate the influence of two distinct alignment references. We discover the benefits of concatenating a de novo assembly instead of using the genome reference of a close relative. The bioinformatic pipeline handles the interesting inclusion of D. melanogaster and D. willistoni, where their contribution assists in the search for previously studied speciation genes. Among the down- and upregulated subsets we can see a diverse mix of general biological processes such as regulatory functions and transcriptional factors. In the end we uncover potential indications to why the Amazonian seems to be the least compatible semispecie to produce hybrids. This study provides a competitive working frame for comparative RNA-seq studies between closely related species.

The current study sought to explore the effects of eating behaviors on mental health and the internalization of attitudes toward one's appearance. This was performed through a survey distributed through a global online market research firm, Dynata, and gathered 495 eligible participants. Of those, 78 represented the plant-based group, and 417 represented the non-plant-based group. Each completed the survey containing sections with the Mizes Anorectic Cognitions Scale (MACS) to assess if they were at low or high risk for having/developing an eating disorder, a section determining if participants were plant-based (defined as a regimen that encourages whole, plant-based foods and discourages meats, dairy products, and eggs as well as all refined and processed foods (Tuso et al., 2013)) or not, and asking what their perceived benefits were from their plant-based (or lack of plant-based) diet, a section on the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance (SATAQ-4), and finally, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). The status of participants being plant-based or non-plant-based was analyzed as this study sought to explore past research that found plant-based diets to be physically and mentally beneficial (Beezhold et al., 2014; Benefits of Plant-Based Diets, 2021; Daneshzad et al., 2019). A series of statistical tests were conducted on SPSS 28 to analyze which groups (high risk for E.D. and plant-based, high risk for E.D. and non-plant-based, low risk for E.D. and plant-based, or low risk for E.D. and non-plant-based) were statistically significant compared to one another. The findings revealed the plant-based group to contain higher percentage of high risk for eating disorder participants. The plant-based group, regardless of high risk, was negatively associated with higher levels of scores on four out of the five sections including internalization of attitudes towards appearance, weight-based pressures from family, weight-based pressures from peers, and higher levels of reported depression, anxiety, and stress. Pressures felt from the media did not display a statistically significant level of difference between any of the high/low risk and plant-based to high/low risk and non-plant-based. The results were interpreted using social learning theory, which proposes that humans have evolved an advanced capacity for observational learning, enabling them to acquire knowledge, attitudes, values, emotional proclivities, and competencies through information conveyed by a rich variety of actual and symbolic models (Bandura, 2002). This allowed for cause and effects to be hypothesized for why the plant-based group was negatively associated with worse mental health and internalization of attitudes towards appearance. Among these hypothesized causes included participants adopting a plant-based diet due to its growing social media popularity, users learning from observation and leading to aquired knowledge, attitudes, values, and beliefs on the diet. Furthermore, those with an obsession of clean-eating could have led many high-risk for E.D. participants to fulfill their internalized thin-ideal and pressure from family and peers regarding appearance through this popular diet they have observed through social media, which would be consistent with previous studies (Holmgren, 2017; Stewart & Ogden, 2020). Limitations include the small sample size of plant-based dieters without equal representation of low to high risk for E.D.s, along with the limitation on not knowing the reasoning why each participant is plant-based (ethical, environmental, health, diet purposes, or due to social learning and popularity) nor for how long they have adhered to this lifestyle. Future research should expand this study to more locations, analyze for differences based on age groups, and build upon the current study to allow for more generalizability.

INTRODUÇÃO: Os métodos diagnósticos não invasivos, como a ultra-sonografia com Doppler colorido (USDC) e a angiografia por ressonância magnética contrastada (ARMC) têm sido cada vez mais utilizados para o estudo da estenose das artérias carótidas internas (ACI). Nos testes comparativos a arteriografia por subtração digital bidimensional (ASD 2D) tem sido o padrão de referência, porém é um método caro, invasivo e com diversas complicações descritas, além disso, com a realização da arteriografia por subtração digital rotacional (ASD 3D), começou a se interrogar se a ASD 2D não estaria subestimando as estenoses. OBJETIVOS: Comparar as medidas de estenose obtidas pelos métodos não invasivos com a ASD 2D e 3D, utilizando o critério do North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET), além de comparar os dois métodos invasivos entre si, tentando identificar se os métodos não invasivos podem substituir a ASD 2D na rotina e se a ASD 2D tende subestimar a estenose em relação a ASD 3D. MÉTODOS: 92 pacientes que haviam sido indicados de maneira prospectiva e consecutiva para realização da ASD 2D, foram selecionados para o estudo, sendo encaminhados para realizar também a ASD 3D, a ARMC e o USDC. Os resultados das medidas da maior estenose, realizadas através das imagens fonte em estação de trabalho, por dois observadores em consenso, obtidas em cada um dos testes (USDC, ARMC) e dos resultados concordantes dos dois, foi comparada com os exames de referência (ASD 2D e ASD 3D). Foi feita também uma avaliação dos resultados dos exames invasivos entre si. RESULTADOS: 98 ACI foram incluídas no trabalho. Os resultados obtidos pelo coeficiente de correlação de Pearson e pelo coeficiente de correlação intraclasse, que variaram de 0,91 a 0,96, demonstraram respectivamente uma excelente correlação entre as modalidades diagnósticas e que há uma forte concordância entre os seus resultados (ambos com p <0,001). Os valores de sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo, valor preditivo negativo e acurácia das diversas comparações variaram respectivamente de 76 a 100%, de 92 a 100%, 79 a 100%, 90 a 100% e 90 a 100%. DISCUSSÃO: As comparações com maior sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia foram respectivamente a (USDC+ARMC) x ASD 3D com 100%, 100% e 100%; ARMC x ASD 3D com 100%, 96% e 97% e ASD 2D x ASD 3D, com 89%, 94% e 93%. A ASD 2D categorizou as estenoses em 11 casos (11,3%) uma classe abaixo das obtidas na ASD 3D, além de classificar 4 estenoses a menos que a ASD 3D na classe de 70-94%. CONCLUSÕES: Os métodos não invasivos principalmente se avaliados em conjunto podem substituir a ASD 2D na avaliação da estenose da ACI. A ASD 2D tendeu a subestimar levemente as estenoses quando comparada com a ASD 3D / INTRODUCTION: Noninvasive techniques such as Doppler ultrasound (DUS) and contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA) are each day more used in the evaluation of the internal carotid arteries (ICA). On comparison studies 2D digital subtraction angiography (2D DSA) has been considerate as the reference standard, however its an expensive and invasive method, with well known risks, besides the use of 3D digital subtraction angiography (3D DSA) showed that 2D DSA can potentially result in an underestimation of the stenosis. OBJECTIVES: Compare stenosis measurements of noninvasive methods with 2D and 3D DSA, using the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) criteria, compare the two noninvasive methods with each other, trying to identify if they can substitute 2D DSA on the daily basis and if that 2D DSA tends to underestimate the stenosis compared with 3D DSA. METHODS: 92 patients that were prospective and consecutive scheduled for 2D DSA were selected to participate in the study which included perform also a 3D DSA, CEMRA and DUS. The measurements of the greatest stenosis, made with the raw images in a workstation, by two observers in consensus, obtained with each modality (DUS, CEMRA) and the concordant results of both, were compared with the reference standard (2D and 3D DSA). Also a comparison between the invasive methods was made. RESULTS: 98 ICA were included. The results obtained by Pearson correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient, that range from 0.91 and 0.96, showed respectively a excellent correlation between the diagnostic modalities and that there are a great agreement between them (both with p<0.001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy values of the different comparisons range respectively from 76% to 100%, 92 to 100%, 79 to 100%, 90 to 100% and 90 to 100%. DISCUSSION: Comparisons with higher sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were respectively (DUS+CEMRA) x 3D DSA, with 100%, 100% and 100%; CEMRA x 3D DSA with 100%, 96% and 97% and 2D DSA x 3D DSA with 89%, 94% and 93%. 2D DSA categorized 11 cases (11,3%) of ICA stenosis as one category lower than 3D DSA, including 4 less cases of the 70-94% class. CONCLUSIONS: The noninvasive methods, especially if evaluated together, can replace 2D DSA in the study of cervical carotid steno-occlusive disease. 2D DSA tends to lightly underestimate carotid stenosis when compared to 3D DSA

INTRODUÇÃO: Os métodos diagnósticos não invasivos, como a ultra-sonografia com Doppler colorido (USDC) e a angiografia por ressonância magnética contrastada (ARMC) têm sido cada vez mais utilizados para o estudo da estenose das artérias carótidas internas (ACI). Nos testes comparativos a arteriografia por subtração digital bidimensional (ASD 2D) tem sido o padrão de referência, porém é um método caro, invasivo e com diversas complicações descritas, além disso, com a realização da arteriografia por subtração digital rotacional (ASD 3D), começou a se interrogar se a ASD 2D não estaria subestimando as estenoses. OBJETIVOS: Comparar as medidas de estenose obtidas pelos métodos não invasivos com a ASD 2D e 3D, utilizando o critério do North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET), além de comparar os dois métodos invasivos entre si, tentando identificar se os métodos não invasivos podem substituir a ASD 2D na rotina e se a ASD 2D tende subestimar a estenose em relação a ASD 3D. MÉTODOS: 92 pacientes que haviam sido indicados de maneira prospectiva e consecutiva para realização da ASD 2D, foram selecionados para o estudo, sendo encaminhados para realizar também a ASD 3D, a ARMC e o USDC. Os resultados das medidas da maior estenose, realizadas através das imagens fonte em estação de trabalho, por dois observadores em consenso, obtidas em cada um dos testes (USDC, ARMC) e dos resultados concordantes dos dois, foi comparada com os exames de referência (ASD 2D e ASD 3D). Foi feita também uma avaliação dos resultados dos exames invasivos entre si. RESULTADOS: 98 ACI foram incluídas no trabalho. Os resultados obtidos pelo coeficiente de correlação de Pearson e pelo coeficiente de correlação intraclasse, que variaram de 0,91 a 0,96, demonstraram respectivamente uma excelente correlação entre as modalidades diagnósticas e que há uma forte concordância entre os seus resultados (ambos com p <0,001). Os valores de sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo, valor preditivo negativo e acurácia das diversas comparações variaram respectivamente de 76 a 100%, de 92 a 100%, 79 a 100%, 90 a 100% e 90 a 100%. DISCUSSÃO: As comparações com maior sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia foram respectivamente a (USDC+ARMC) x ASD 3D com 100%, 100% e 100%; ARMC x ASD 3D com 100%, 96% e 97% e ASD 2D x ASD 3D, com 89%, 94% e 93%. A ASD 2D categorizou as estenoses em 11 casos (11,3%) uma classe abaixo das obtidas na ASD 3D, além de classificar 4 estenoses a menos que a ASD 3D na classe de 70-94%. CONCLUSÕES: Os métodos não invasivos principalmente se avaliados em conjunto podem substituir a ASD 2D na avaliação da estenose da ACI. A ASD 2D tendeu a subestimar levemente as estenoses quando comparada com a ASD 3D / INTRODUCTION: Noninvasive techniques such as Doppler ultrasound (DUS) and contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA) are each day more used in the evaluation of the internal carotid arteries (ICA). On comparison studies 2D digital subtraction angiography (2D DSA) has been considerate as the reference standard, however its an expensive and invasive method, with well known risks, besides the use of 3D digital subtraction angiography (3D DSA) showed that 2D DSA can potentially result in an underestimation of the stenosis. OBJECTIVES: Compare stenosis measurements of noninvasive methods with 2D and 3D DSA, using the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) criteria, compare the two noninvasive methods with each other, trying to identify if they can substitute 2D DSA on the daily basis and if that 2D DSA tends to underestimate the stenosis compared with 3D DSA. METHODS: 92 patients that were prospective and consecutive scheduled for 2D DSA were selected to participate in the study which included perform also a 3D DSA, CEMRA and DUS. The measurements of the greatest stenosis, made with the raw images in a workstation, by two observers in consensus, obtained with each modality (DUS, CEMRA) and the concordant results of both, were compared with the reference standard (2D and 3D DSA). Also a comparison between the invasive methods was made. RESULTS: 98 ICA were included. The results obtained by Pearson correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient, that range from 0.91 and 0.96, showed respectively a excellent correlation between the diagnostic modalities and that there are a great agreement between them (both with p<0.001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy values of the different comparisons range respectively from 76% to 100%, 92 to 100%, 79 to 100%, 90 to 100% and 90 to 100%. DISCUSSION: Comparisons with higher sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were respectively (DUS+CEMRA) x 3D DSA, with 100%, 100% and 100%; CEMRA x 3D DSA with 100%, 96% and 97% and 2D DSA x 3D DSA with 89%, 94% and 93%. 2D DSA categorized 11 cases (11,3%) of ICA stenosis as one category lower than 3D DSA, including 4 less cases of the 70-94% class. CONCLUSIONS: The noninvasive methods, especially if evaluated together, can replace 2D DSA in the study of cervical carotid steno-occlusive disease. 2D DSA tends to lightly underestimate carotid stenosis when compared to 3D DSA

Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) procedures are advanced and then applied to a quantitative risk assessment for bridge structures. This is achieved by combining IDA with site-dependent hazard-recurrence relations and damage outcomes. The IDA procedure is also developed as a way to select a critical earthquake motion record for a one-off destructive experiment. Three prototype bridge substructures are designed according to the loading and detailing requirements of New Zealand, Japan and Caltrans codes. From these designs 30 percent reduced scale specimens are constructed as part of an experimental investigation. The Pseudodynamic test is then to control on three specimens using the identified critical earthquake records. The results are presented in a probabilistic riskbased format. The differences in the seismic performance of the three different countries' design codes are examined. Each of these current seismic design codes strive for ductile behaviour of bridge substructures. Seismic response is expected to be resulting damage on structures, which may threaten post-earthquake serviceability. To overcome this major performance shortcoming, the seismic behaviour under bi-directional lateral loading is investigated for a bridge pier designed and constructed in accordance with Damage Avoidance principles. Due to the presence of steel armoured rocking interface at the base, it is demonstrated that damage can be avoided, but due to the lack of hysteresis it is necessary to add some supplemental damping. Experimental results of the armoured rocking pier under bi-directional loading are compared with a companion ductile design specimen.

本文乃是以「身心之學」貫串全文，以「隱喻」凸顯孟子、莊子各自的工夫論特色，而「孟莊之同」（儒道之同）則可謂本文最重要的結論。 首先，由於工夫修養與主體的轉化和提昇密切相關，而現實生命又是以「心—身」共構體存在於世，故工夫修養亦得落實於「心—身」共構體，此即為「身心之學」的內涵之一，也是筆者著意於「身心之學」的原因之一。孟子和莊子的思想皆包含內聖與外王二面，據本文的析論，孟子和莊子各自的內聖外王思想，其實踐起點、轉折樞紐，均結穴於「身心之學」。要言之，「身心之學」實為孟子（儒家）與莊子（道家）內聖修養及外王實踐之根基。 復次，本文分別從「水喻」和「鏡喻」闡明孟子與莊子各自工夫論的特色及其主要精神，且更進一步地掘發「水喻」和「鏡喻」的底蘊：「水：神氣」與「金：真性」。 最後，本文認為儒道之間，大抵於最「根源∕終極」處，及最「基礎」處，可得其同；而在最「基礎」至最「根源∕終極」之間，則呈現千差萬別。具體說明，內聖方面，自現實性復歸本來性，孟子（儒家）和莊子（道家）均可同意「身心之學」是內聖修養之基礎，亦可承認「心—身」共構體共時涵攝神聖∕凡俗、先天∕後天、善∕惡、清∕濁等二面，此乃對生命最基礎處的相同主張；而對宇宙—生命最根源處，孟子（儒家）和莊子（道家）也都深體其乃是「意識、存有與價值三位一體」，或說「宇宙道體—意識主體—價值本體同根同源」，並共同宣稱本性乃是永恆真常（「金：真性」），心氣則為變化不拘（「水：神氣」）。可是，返本復初的工夫，則有萬千法門，亦即對於如何自現實性復歸本來性，孟子（儒家）和莊子（道家）便有不盡相同的教法。 此外，在外王方面，孟子（儒家）和莊子（道家）也均可贊成「身心之學」乃是成就外王事業的依據、基礎，或說「心—身」共構體是向外王領域前進的起點；對孟子（儒家）和莊子（道家）而言，實踐外王的終極理想，皆是祈願蒼生能夠安頓自家性命，內外一切真誠自然，歸德復道——儒家大同言其秩序，道家至德敘其自然，而安樂於內在之秩序，即是自然！同樣的，從「心—身」共構體推廣至成就外王，孟子（儒家）和莊子（道家）的舉措施為，當然有同有異。

This study assessed the impact of the Texas Counselors' Network (TCN) on students of counselors who attended TCN workshops. TCN is a professional organization created in 1996 for the professional development of counselors. TCN impacts primary and secondary school students by providing counselors with selected skills to assist them in helping students. In theory, TCN thus impacts these students by improving overall skills of participating counselors. This study assessed the progress of students before and after implementation of TCN. Students' progress was considered in four areas: Texas Accountability Assessment Scores (TAAS), attendance rates, dropout rates, and high school student enrollment in technical programs. The current study compared student performance in the above four areas during a two to three year period prior to the establishment of TCN, with the initial six years of TCN existence. This study examined data attained through the Texas Educational Agency (TEA) Website using their Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) for four regional TCN groups. The study used a paired t-test to compare the performance of students before versus after counselor participation in network workshops. The findings indicated that overall, counselor participation in TCN could have a significant effect on student performance. In fact, eight tests were run and all were found significant at the .05 alpha level.