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02), and sCD40L trended higher (adj p = .06) in vaginal cytobrushes of adults. Proteomic analysis of vaginal biopsies showed no significant (adj p  less then  .05) protein or pathway differences between groups. Vaginal microbiomes were not significantly different between groups. No differences were observed between age groups in this PTM model, however, these animals may not reflect biological factors contributing to HIV risk such as those found in their human counterparts. This model is therefore not appropriate to explore human adolescent differences in HIV risk. Young women remain a key population at risk for HIV infection, and there is still a need for comprehensive assessment and intervention strategies for epidemic control of this uniquely vulnerable population.A high prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) has been documented among women living in conflict-affected and refugee-hosting areas, but why this occurs is not well understood. Conflict and displacement deteriorate communities' social cohesion and community connectedness; these neighborhood social environments may influence individual IPV outcomes. We explored neighborhood-level social disorganization and cohesion as predictors of recent IPV in refugee-hosting communities in northern Ecuador by conducting multi-level logistic regression on a longitudinal sample of 1,312 women. Neighborhood social disorganization was marginally positively associated with emotional IPV (AOR 1.17, 95% CI .99, 1.38) and physical and/or sexual IPV (AOR 1.20, 95% CI .96, 1.51). This was partially mediated by neighborhood-level civic engagement in the case of emotional IPV. At the household level, perceived discrimination and experience of psychosocial stressors were risk factors for both types of IPV, whereas social support was protective. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to examine how neighborhood social factors influence IPV outcomes in refugee-hosting communities or in South America. As the world grapples with the largest number of displaced people in history, this research can inform prevention and response programming and reinforces the critical importance of promoting acceptance of refugees and immigrants and positively engaging all community members in civic life in refugee-hosting settings.Despite historical emphasis on "specific" learning disabilities (SLDs), academic skills are strongly correlated across the curriculum. Thus, one can ask how specific SLDs truly are. To answer this question, we used bifactor models to identify variance shared across academic domains (academic g), as well as variance unique to reading, mathematics, and writing. Participants were 686 children ages 8 to 16. Although the sample was overselected for learning disabilities, we intentionally included children across the full range of individual differences in this study in response to growing recognition that a dimensional, quantitative view of SLD is more accurate than a categorical view. Confirmatory factor analysis identified five academic domains (basic reading, reading comprehension, basic math, math problem-solving, and written expression); spelling clustered with basic reading and not writing. In the bifactor model, all measures loaded significantly on academic g. Basic reading and mathematics maintained variance distinct from academic g, consistent with the notion of SLDs in these domains. Writing did not maintain specific variance apart from academic g, and evidence for reading comprehension-specific variance was mixed. Academic g was strongly correlated with cognitive g (r = .72) but not identical to it. Implications for SLD diagnosis are discussed.Sterols are essential lipids for plant growth, and the sterol content is tightly regulated by a fail-safe system consisting of two processes 1) suppression of excess sterol production by a negative regulator of sterol biosynthesis (HIGR STEROL ESTER 1, HISE1), and 2) conversion of excess sterols to sterol esters by PHOSPHOLIPID STEROL ACYLTRANSFERASE 1 (PSAT1) in Arabidopsis thaliana. The hise1-3 psat1-2 double mutant has a 1.5-fold higher sterol content in leaves than the wild type; this upregulates the expression of stress-responsive genes, leading to disruption of cellular activities in leaves. However, the effects of excess sterols on seeds are largely unknown. Here, we show that excess sterols cause multiple defects in seeds. The seeds of hise1-3 psat1-2 plants had a higher sterol content than wild-type seeds and showed a deeper color than wild-type seeds because of the accumulation of proanthocyanidin. The seed coat in the hise1-3 psat1-2 mutant was abnormally wrinkled. learn more Seed coat formation is accompanied by cell death-mediated shrinkage of the inner integument. In the hise1-3 psat1-2 mutant, transmission electron microscopy showed that shrinkage of the integument was impaired, resulting in a thick seed coat and delayed seed germination. Moreover, psat1-2 and hise1-3 psat1-2 seeds displayed defective imbibition. Taken together, the results suggest that excess sterols impair proper seed coat formation, thereby inhibiting seed germination.The formation of the nervous system and its striking complexity is a remarkable feat of development. C. elegans served as a unique model to dissect the molecular events in neurodevelopment, from its early visionaries to the current booming neuroscience community. Soon after being introduced as a model, C. elegans was mapped at the level of genes, cells, and synapses, providing the first metazoan with a complete cell lineage, sequenced genome, and connectome. Here, I summarize mechanisms underlying C. elegans neurodevelopment, from the generation and diversification of neural components to their navigation and connectivity. I point out recent noteworthy findings in the fields of glia biology, sex dimorphism and plasticity in neurodevelopment, highlighting how current research connects back to the pioneering studies by Brenner, Sulston and colleagues. Multifaceted investigations in model organisms, connecting genes to cell function and behavior, expand our mechanistic understanding of neurodevelopment while allowing us to formulate emerging questions for future discoveries.