One of the main obstacles to the development of aquaculture in Senegal is the availability of fry and juveniles in sufficient quantities. The objective of our study is to evaluate the effects of treatment with the hor...One of the main obstacles to the development of aquaculture in Senegal is the availability of fry and juveniles in sufficient quantities. The objective of our study is to evaluate the effects of treatment with the hormone 17 alpha methyl testosterone (17-&-MT) and different doses of Nauclea latifolia root powder on the masculinization rates of tilapia Oreochromis niloticus larvae in Senegal. A total of 450 larvae of Oreochromis niloticus, with an average size of 0.012 g, were placed in 15 aquariums, each containing 30 individuals and fed one of the 5 diets in triplicate. These individuals were fed either a diet containing a plant extract at a dose of 180 mg (T180), 200 mg (T200) and 250 mg (T250) per kg of food, or a diet containing 60 mg/kg of the hormone 17-&-MT (TMT), or a diet without either the plant extract or the hormone (T0). Individuals were fed for 30 days with the treatment diets, and then with the industrial feed for the rest of the experiment. At the end of the study, the results of the masculinization rate were: 80.49%, 73.13%, 69.23%, 66.67% and 45.95% for T250;T200, TMT, T180 and T0 respectively. In summary, we can say that the 250 mg/kg dose provides better masculinization, followed by 200mg/kg and then 17 α MT. For the plant, the increase in the percentage of males is dose-dependent. These results also translate into better growth of individuals in this order. However, the relatively lower survival rates observed in batches treated with Nauclea latifolia extract indicate that these treatments could have a deleterious effect on the survival of Oreochromis niloticus larvae. These results suggest the use of N. latifolia extract at a dose of 250 mg/kg feed for better production of male O. niloticus larvae without compromising their growth.展开更多
Elevated temperature could influence the sex differentiation by altering the expression of sex-related genes in fish.However, the underlying mechanisms by which the gene expression is altered remain poorly understood....Elevated temperature could influence the sex differentiation by altering the expression of sex-related genes in fish.However, the underlying mechanisms by which the gene expression is altered remain poorly understood.Here, we aimed to explore the role of DNA methylation in sex differentiation of zebrafish(Danio rerio) in response to elevated temperature.The results showed that high temperature(33℃) exposure of fish from 20 to 30 days post fertilization(dpf), compared to normal temperature(28℃), resulted in male-biased sex ratio and decreased expression of female-related genes including cyp19a1a, sox9b and esr1.Meanwhile, the expressions of DNA methyltransferases dnmt3a1 and dnmt3a2, and the DNA methylation levels in sox9b and esr1 promoter were significantly increased by high temperature, strongly implying that DNA methylation is involved in high temperature-induced masculinization of zebrafish.Co-treatment with 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine(a DNA methylation inhibitor) attenuated the high temperature-induced masculinizing effect, recovered the expression of esr1 and sox9b, suppressed the transcription of dnmt3a1 and dnmt3a2, and decreased the methylation of esr1 and sox9b promoter, further confirming that DNA methylation plays an important role in high temperature-induced masculinization of zebrafish.Furthermore, the methylation of sox9b promoter decreased the enrichment of transcription factor CREB(cAMP-responsive element binding proteins).Overall, these findings suggest that high temperature induce masculinization of zebrafish by down-regulation of femalerelated genes via DNA methylation, providing a new insight in understanding the epigenetic mechanism of thermal-mediated sex differentiation in fish.展开更多
This study used tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes to explore new,simple methods for lowtemperature-induced masculinization in a cultured fish without the use of ultraviolet irradiation or sex hormones.An orthogonal test ...This study used tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes to explore new,simple methods for lowtemperature-induced masculinization in a cultured fish without the use of ultraviolet irradiation or sex hormones.An orthogonal test L9(3^4)design was used to consider three factors at three levels:treatment starting times(days post-hatch,dph:factor A)of 20,50 and 80 dph;treatment temperatures(factor B)of 13℃,15℃and 17℃;and treatment durations(factor C)of 30,45 and 60 days.A control group was reared at 21±1℃.The experiments were repeated twice.At 230 dph,the gonads were removed from thirty randomly sampled fish in each group.Histological observations and analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP)were used to identified pseudo males,which biological sex was male and genetic sex were female(XX).Treatment group 4(A2B1C2)resulted in the highest proportion of males(75%).According to the intuitive analysis of the orthogonal-array experiments,the optimal combination of lowtemperature-induced masculinization of T.rubripes was A2B1C2.The population sex ratio depended on the three factors in the sequence B→A→C.A comparison of the daily increases in length and weight during and after the low-temperature conditions showed that the absolute daily increases in weight and length were significantly less during treatment than after treatment.Daily increases in weight and length did not significantly differ between the treatment groups and the controls(P>0.05),demonstrating that the growth rate could return to normal after the low-temperature conditions.This study establishes a low-temperatureinduced masculinization technology for T.rubripes and demonstrates that although the growth rate(length and weight)decreased in an array of nine treatment groups during the processing time,it returned to a normal level after processing.The results should serve as a guide for achieving the masculinization of T.rubripes in production.展开更多
This study was carried out to examine the effect of combining factors for immersion technique on masculinization of red tilapia(Oreochromis spp.).Three selected doses(1000,1,500,and 2000μg/L)of 17α-methyltestosteron...This study was carried out to examine the effect of combining factors for immersion technique on masculinization of red tilapia(Oreochromis spp.).Three selected doses(1000,1,500,and 2000μg/L)of 17α-methyltestosterone(17 MT)immersion,2 exposure times(3 and 6 h)once or twice a week,and interaction of these factors were tested.A total of 12 treatment combinations under 3×2×2 factorial experiments in randomized complete block design were conducted to compare with the negative control group(no 17 MT-treated)and positive control group(17 MT-treated feed administration).One hundred red tilapia larvae(14 days post-hatch)were randomly allocated in each treatment and were operated in a 10-L glass jar for 21 days.At the end of the treatment regime,the survival rate was determined.Then,fish were raised in a 150-L glass tank using normal commercial feed for 2 months and sex ratios were determined via the gonad squash technique.None of the immersion treatments tested resulted in a statistically significant(p>0.05)decrease in survival rate.All 17 MT-treated groups produced progenies with a significantly higher(p<0.001)proportion of males than the predicted 1:1 sex ratio.Influences of some factor combinations in the masculinization of red tilapia were observed.The male ratio was significantly affected by the dose-period and dose-frequency treatments(p<0.05).The highest male proportion(95.33%±0.58%)was recorded at 1000μg/L of 17 MT for 6 h once a week which was significantly higher(p<0.05)than other groups.The production cost of the best group was the cheapest(THB0.0066/fish)and decreased from the traditional procedure by about 10.81%.Therefore,this technique could be implemented for decreasing cost and operating process in commercial tilapia farms.展开更多
Background Health promotion(HP)interventions delivered through sports clubs have demonstrated promising outcomes among men,but less is known about which aspects of the interventions work,for whom,and under what circum...Background Health promotion(HP)interventions delivered through sports clubs have demonstrated promising outcomes among men,but less is known about which aspects of the interventions work,for whom,and under what circumstances.This rapid realist review aimed to understand the contexts,mechanisms,and outcomes of HP interventions for men delivered through sports clubs.Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in February 2023 for studies published after 2013 in MEDLINE,Embase,and SPORTDiscus databases.Included studies:(a)were delivered by or in collaboration with sports clubs,(b)targeted men aged 18+years,and(c)reported 1 or more HP outcomes.A grey literature search was also performed.Studies were included in a realist synthesis based on richness and rigor.Hereafter,context-mechanism-outcome(CMO)configurations were developed.Results We identified and screened 3358 studies,finally including 59 studies describing 22 interventions.Most HP interventions were delivered in high income countries,included Caucasian men aged 35-65 years with overweight/obesity,and used professional sports clubs(mostly football)for recruitment and facilities.Quantitative HP outcomes were reported across 19 interventions.Of these 19 interventions,the majority reported on weight(n=18),physical activity(n=12),mental health(n=10),and diet(n=9).We identified 13 CMOs related to how HP interventions affected men's recruitment,engagement,and health behavior maintenance.Conclusion Our findings show that using sports clubs for HP interventions is effective for engaging men.Recruitment was facilitated by leveraging sports clubs’identity,addressing masculinity-related barriers,improving accessibility,and building trust.Engagement was enhanced through shared identity experiences,safe spaces,inclusive competition,and self-efficacy.However,there's limited evidence on behavior maintenance post-intervention,though involving community stakeholders seemed vital.In general,considerations should be made to avoid perpetuating traditional masculine norms,which may exclude some men and reinforce unhealthy behaviors.These findings can guide intervention development,emphasizing the need to harness men's perspectives in the process.展开更多
Dear Editor,Infertility refers to the inability to conceive after one year of regular unprotected intercourse,and as per the available estimates,close to 50 million couples are being affected worldwide[1].In many comm...Dear Editor,Infertility refers to the inability to conceive after one year of regular unprotected intercourse,and as per the available estimates,close to 50 million couples are being affected worldwide[1].In many communities,infertility is regarded as a sign of personal failure,where individuals are blamed for their inability to conceive[2].It is not an unusual practice that people with infertility are excluded from social rituals like baby showers or functions related to parenthood[2].Women are generally considered solely responsible for the condition,while in reality,it can equally affect men[2].On the other hand,men experiencing infertility are subjected to mockery for a reduced sense of masculinity[3].In many communities and cultures,infertility is viewed as a genuine reason for relationship strain and eventually divorce[2].Amid the fear that people will judge them,many couples hide their infertility struggles,and this further plays an important role in increasing stigma[2,3].Further,in some organizations,employers might not consider infertile persons for promotion under the assumption that they do not have many financial responsibilities[3].展开更多
This paper delves into African America writer Octavia Butler’s Hugo-Award winning“Speech Sounds”to explore how the author uses a fictional pandemic as a metaphor to critique toxic masculinity in 1980s American cult...This paper delves into African America writer Octavia Butler’s Hugo-Award winning“Speech Sounds”to explore how the author uses a fictional pandemic as a metaphor to critique toxic masculinity in 1980s American culture.By analyzing the story,it reveals how the unnamed illness functions as a social pathogen,intensifying the negative aspects of hegemonic masculinity,leading to the breakdown of communication and the prevalence of violence.Through the character of Rye,the paper also examines how black feminist resilience offers a counter-narrative to the destructive forces of toxic masculinity.The study concludes that Butler’s work not only exposes the cultural disease of toxic masculinity but also provides a vision of healing and regeneration through communal care and the cultivation of hope,highlighting the power of speculative fiction as a tool for social critique and imagining alternative futures.展开更多
This study was conducted to determine the effective dose of 17α-methyltestosterone(MT)that produces all-male fry of black-chinned tilapia,Sarotherodon melanotheron.Five concentrations:0,30,60,90 and 120 mg 17α-methy...This study was conducted to determine the effective dose of 17α-methyltestosterone(MT)that produces all-male fry of black-chinned tilapia,Sarotherodon melanotheron.Five concentrations:0,30,60,90 and 120 mg 17α-methyltestosterone(17α-MT)per kilogram feed were prepared using the ethanol evaporation method,and administered orally to black-chinned tilapia fry for 28 days in triplicate aquarium glass tanks.After the treatment period,triplicates of 60 fry from each treatment were stocked in hapas and further cultured in freshwater ponds.They were fed with commercial fish feed ad libitum.The sex ratio,growth performance and survival were evaluated after 60 and 180 days.At the end of the 60-day period,the sex ratio of 30 fish from each treatment was determined by using the gonadal squash method.The remaining 30 fish from each treatment were grown further for 180 days and their sex ratio determined using the genital papillae.The results demonstrated that 17α-methyltestosterone was effective in producing phenotypic male in S.melanotheron.However,in both 60-day and 180-day experiments,no treatment gave 100%male population.The 90 mg/kg MT yielded the highest all-male fish of 84.13%,highest survival of 70%and highest final mean body weight of 103.99±7.92 g.展开更多
In this paper,I examine the Twitter accounts of right-wing extremist groups(RWEGs)in India,arguing that the abjectification of Muslim masculinities is central to the narratives of Hindu supremacist groups.The abjectif...In this paper,I examine the Twitter accounts of right-wing extremist groups(RWEGs)in India,arguing that the abjectification of Muslim masculinities is central to the narratives of Hindu supremacist groups.The abjectification process on Twitter serves as a rhetorical device to:a)criticize and problematize Muslim masculinities;b)idealize and glorify Hindu and white masculinities;c)promote Hindu and white masculine nationalist projects;and d)unify Hindu supremacists against Muslim others.By analyzing the gender ideologies expressed implicitly or explicitly on the Twitter accounts of RWEGs,and using the“Love Jihad”conspiracy case as a focal point,I demonstrate how the abjectification of Muslim masculinities is constructed in opposition to the idealized Hindu masculinities.This study highlights the intersection of gender and nationalism in the digital discourse of Hindu supremacist groups,offering insights into the mechanisms through which social media platforms are used to reinforce and propagate Islamophobic ideologies.展开更多
A multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled superiority trial with 18 months of follow-up was conducted to investigate whether oral zinc supplementation could further promote spermatogenesis in males with isolat...A multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled superiority trial with 18 months of follow-up was conducted to investigate whether oral zinc supplementation could further promote spermatogenesis in males with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism （IHH） receiving sequential purified urinary follicular-stimulating hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin （uFSH/hCG） replacement. Sixty-seven Chinese male IHH patients were recruited from the Departments of Endocrinology in eight tertiary hospitals and randomly allocated into the sequential uFSH/hCG group （Group A, n = 34） or the sequential uFSH plus zinc supplementation group （Group B, n = 33）. In Group A, patients received sequential uFSH （75 U, three times a week every other 3 months） and hCG （2000 U, twice a week） treatments. In Group B, patients received oral zinc supplementation （40 mg day-1） in addition to the sequential uFSH/hCG treatment given to patients in Group A. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a sperm concentration 〉1.0 × 106 ml-1 during the 18 months. The comparison of efficacy between Groups A and B was analyzed. Nineteen of 34 （55.9%） patients receiving sequential uFSH/hCG and 20 of 33 （60.6%） patients receiving sequential uFSH/hCG plus zinc supplementation achieved sperm concentrations ≥1.0 × 106 ml-1 by intention to treat analyses. No differences between Group A and Group B were observed as far as the efficacy of inducing spermatogenesis （P = 0.69）. We concluded that the sequential uFSH/hCG plus zinc supplementation regimen had a similar efficacy to the sequential uFSH/hCG treatment alone. The additional improvement of 40 mg day-1 oral zinc supplementation on spermatogenesis and masculinization in male IHH patients is very subtle.展开更多
Androgens make major contributions to average sex differences in anatomy, physiology, and behavior. Despite having established their crucial role in sexual differentiation, much remains to be learned about how androge...Androgens make major contributions to average sex differences in anatomy, physiology, and behavior. Despite having established their crucial role in sexual differentiation, much remains to be learned about how androgens coordinate their influences. The present study was undertaken to shed light on androgenic effects on the body using self-reported survey data. We analyzed the ratings provided by over 11,000 college students on the magnitude of eleven traits that previous research has shown to be influenced by testosterone or other androgens. Predictably, the average values for all eleven traits were significantly greater in males than in females. Nevertheless, when data were analyzed separately according to sex of the respondents, some of the traits failed to positively correlate with one another, suggesting that not all an-drogen-influenced traits differentiate in a simple fashion. Factor analysis of these eleven traits by sex reinforced this view by identifying four factors. In men, the primary factor loaded most heavily on: masculine body build, masculine mannerisms, overall physical strength, upper body strength, and lower body strength. The primary factor for women was limited to: upper body strength, lower body strength, and overall physical strength. In both sexes, the primary factor was interpreted as reflecting the influence of perinatal and post-pubertal testosterone exposure. The other three factors may reflect the effects of other androgens (e.g., androstenediol), or the influence of female hormones such as estradiol. Findings were discussed in terms of future use of self-reported physiological measures for assessing androgenic effects on the human body.展开更多
Under the mass media effect,media both enable and constrain the audience to shape their gender identity.The purpose of this article is to review and consider the role media plays in the process of construction of cont...Under the mass media effect,media both enable and constrain the audience to shape their gender identity.The purpose of this article is to review and consider the role media plays in the process of construction of contemporary gendered identities;especially the relationship among men,masculinity and media.展开更多
In Jacob's Room, Virginia Woolf depicts a couple of womanish male and mannish female characters, coming into being an unsex society, which represents a thought experiment to hope to find a way to overcome the gend...In Jacob's Room, Virginia Woolf depicts a couple of womanish male and mannish female characters, coming into being an unsex society, which represents a thought experiment to hope to find a way to overcome the gender discrimination in the patriarchal world.展开更多
By using stands-in and actual documentary footage,the film version of Forrest Gump presents audiences the turbulent evernts in America from the late 1950's to the 1980's and depicts successfully the panorama o...By using stands-in and actual documentary footage,the film version of Forrest Gump presents audiences the turbulent evernts in America from the late 1950's to the 1980's and depicts successfully the panorama of the whole Ameica in a humorous and impressive way. This essay is to illustrate one of the predominant cultural phenomenons by analysing its stereotyped female characters,its own typical narrative structure and the symbolic ending. From this perspective,the masculine ideology or the male-dominant society is portrayed true to life throughout the film.展开更多
Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea is the classic revisionary novella of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. It rewrites the tragic story of Mr. Rochester's voiceless and lunatic ex-wife, Berthe Mason. This paper turn...Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea is the classic revisionary novella of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. It rewrites the tragic story of Mr. Rochester's voiceless and lunatic ex-wife, Berthe Mason. This paper turns to the intertextual relationship between the two texts and argues that the subversive rewriting of Wide Sargasso Sea destabilizes and deconstructs Mr. Rochester's English identity and masculinity, which are manifestly presented in the pre-text. It therefore renders the young Mr. Rochester problematic and insufficient, reveals"the other side"of the story and articulately tells the truth about who is really the mad one.展开更多
Wittingly concealing the father images in his novel Atonement(2001), McEwan creates the"absence"of traditional hegemonic masculinity, which is a conscious activity in a combined consideration of the figural ...Wittingly concealing the father images in his novel Atonement(2001), McEwan creates the"absence"of traditional hegemonic masculinity, which is a conscious activity in a combined consideration of the figural and thematic progress, the grim social context, as well as his anxiety of influence and identity. Although this manliness is effaced on the surface, regarding the powerful images within, male authority still keeps running through the whole work. Hegemonic masculinity"presents"in manifold transformed and metaphorical forms, invisibly dictating the development of the protagonists and plots. This paper, giving a masculine reading through R.W. Connell's lens, aims to analyze and crystallize McEwan's such male writing, and finally to reach his real concerns: to deconstruct patriarchal culture, to defy dominant discourse, and to build a new order that opens up a real equality and coexistence for both the two sexes.展开更多
1 CASE REPORT In June 2009, a 29-year-old Chinese male was diagnosed as having Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia （chronic phase）; other than a high white blood cell count in peripheral blood...1 CASE REPORT In June 2009, a 29-year-old Chinese male was diagnosed as having Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia （chronic phase）; other than a high white blood cell count in peripheral blood （WBC, 254.00×10^9/L） and splenomegaly, the patient exhibited no abnormal physical signs in mammary glands. He was given hydroxyurea for several days before he received treatment with 400 mg of imatinib mesylate daily.展开更多
Previous research has implicated the involvement of androgens in sex-role orientation in males, from studies of 2nd to 4th digit ratio (a purported marker of prenatal testosterone). The present pilot study investigate...Previous research has implicated the involvement of androgens in sex-role orientation in males, from studies of 2nd to 4th digit ratio (a purported marker of prenatal testosterone). The present pilot study investigates the relationship between salivary testosterone levels and sex-role orientation using Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) scores in adult males. Twenty-one males (aged 18-24) completed the BSRI and provided saliva samples for assay. BSRI Femininity scores were significantly negatively correlated with testosterone levels;the higher the Femininity scores, the lower the testosterone levels. There was no relation of BSRI Masculinity scores with testosterone levels. Our preliminary results add to the research suggesting that sex-role orientation in males may be partially related to underlying hormone levels.展开更多
Arthur Miller is universally recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century in the United States,together with the conscience of American drama.Nevertheless,his works have always been considered as h...Arthur Miller is universally recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century in the United States,together with the conscience of American drama.Nevertheless,his works have always been considered as having misogynic inclinations.This paper,on the basis of gender theories,seeks to undertake an interpretation to the elements of masculinity and femininity regarding female characters in Arthur Miller’s dramas.Taking The Crucible and A Memory of Two Mondays as a case in point,the author seeks to identify and discuss three categories of female characters,comprising“the angel in the house”,the figure of Medea,and the silenced and absent females,in order to deconstruct Miller’s dichotomized outlook on females.展开更多
This essay examines the configuration of masculinities in salsa dance based on discussions on a popular salsa website,Salsaforums.com.With a thorough combing of the popular threads on male dancers,it contends that in ...This essay examines the configuration of masculinities in salsa dance based on discussions on a popular salsa website,Salsaforums.com.With a thorough combing of the popular threads on male dancers,it contends that in the traditional framework of performance of men in salsa,the issue of masculinity as a social practice embedded in the discursive structuring of various social forces has to be explored from a dynamic and eclectic perspective.Discourses are manifest in the male dancers’pride,insecurity,and anxiety.While trying to retain dispositions or attributes traditionally ascribed to men,however,male salsa dancers are negotiating a salsa masculinity that is multiple,fluid,flexible,and on the way to embrace a more inclusive spectrum of possibilities.展开更多
文摘One of the main obstacles to the development of aquaculture in Senegal is the availability of fry and juveniles in sufficient quantities. The objective of our study is to evaluate the effects of treatment with the hormone 17 alpha methyl testosterone (17-&-MT) and different doses of Nauclea latifolia root powder on the masculinization rates of tilapia Oreochromis niloticus larvae in Senegal. A total of 450 larvae of Oreochromis niloticus, with an average size of 0.012 g, were placed in 15 aquariums, each containing 30 individuals and fed one of the 5 diets in triplicate. These individuals were fed either a diet containing a plant extract at a dose of 180 mg (T180), 200 mg (T200) and 250 mg (T250) per kg of food, or a diet containing 60 mg/kg of the hormone 17-&-MT (TMT), or a diet without either the plant extract or the hormone (T0). Individuals were fed for 30 days with the treatment diets, and then with the industrial feed for the rest of the experiment. At the end of the study, the results of the masculinization rate were: 80.49%, 73.13%, 69.23%, 66.67% and 45.95% for T250;T200, TMT, T180 and T0 respectively. In summary, we can say that the 250 mg/kg dose provides better masculinization, followed by 200mg/kg and then 17 α MT. For the plant, the increase in the percentage of males is dose-dependent. These results also translate into better growth of individuals in this order. However, the relatively lower survival rates observed in batches treated with Nauclea latifolia extract indicate that these treatments could have a deleterious effect on the survival of Oreochromis niloticus larvae. These results suggest the use of N. latifolia extract at a dose of 250 mg/kg feed for better production of male O. niloticus larvae without compromising their growth.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31670517)the Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province,China(No.1606RJZA080)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(No.lzujbky-2016-77)。
文摘Elevated temperature could influence the sex differentiation by altering the expression of sex-related genes in fish.However, the underlying mechanisms by which the gene expression is altered remain poorly understood.Here, we aimed to explore the role of DNA methylation in sex differentiation of zebrafish(Danio rerio) in response to elevated temperature.The results showed that high temperature(33℃) exposure of fish from 20 to 30 days post fertilization(dpf), compared to normal temperature(28℃), resulted in male-biased sex ratio and decreased expression of female-related genes including cyp19a1a, sox9b and esr1.Meanwhile, the expressions of DNA methyltransferases dnmt3a1 and dnmt3a2, and the DNA methylation levels in sox9b and esr1 promoter were significantly increased by high temperature, strongly implying that DNA methylation is involved in high temperature-induced masculinization of zebrafish.Co-treatment with 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine(a DNA methylation inhibitor) attenuated the high temperature-induced masculinizing effect, recovered the expression of esr1 and sox9b, suppressed the transcription of dnmt3a1 and dnmt3a2, and decreased the methylation of esr1 and sox9b promoter, further confirming that DNA methylation plays an important role in high temperature-induced masculinization of zebrafish.Furthermore, the methylation of sox9b promoter decreased the enrichment of transcription factor CREB(cAMP-responsive element binding proteins).Overall, these findings suggest that high temperature induce masculinization of zebrafish by down-regulation of femalerelated genes via DNA methylation, providing a new insight in understanding the epigenetic mechanism of thermal-mediated sex differentiation in fish.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41606178)the Liaoning Department of Education Key Laboratory of Basic Research Project(No.LZ2015010)the Liaoning Doctor Scientific Research Foundation Project(No.201501185)
文摘This study used tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes to explore new,simple methods for lowtemperature-induced masculinization in a cultured fish without the use of ultraviolet irradiation or sex hormones.An orthogonal test L9(3^4)design was used to consider three factors at three levels:treatment starting times(days post-hatch,dph:factor A)of 20,50 and 80 dph;treatment temperatures(factor B)of 13℃,15℃and 17℃;and treatment durations(factor C)of 30,45 and 60 days.A control group was reared at 21±1℃.The experiments were repeated twice.At 230 dph,the gonads were removed from thirty randomly sampled fish in each group.Histological observations and analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP)were used to identified pseudo males,which biological sex was male and genetic sex were female(XX).Treatment group 4(A2B1C2)resulted in the highest proportion of males(75%).According to the intuitive analysis of the orthogonal-array experiments,the optimal combination of lowtemperature-induced masculinization of T.rubripes was A2B1C2.The population sex ratio depended on the three factors in the sequence B→A→C.A comparison of the daily increases in length and weight during and after the low-temperature conditions showed that the absolute daily increases in weight and length were significantly less during treatment than after treatment.Daily increases in weight and length did not significantly differ between the treatment groups and the controls(P>0.05),demonstrating that the growth rate could return to normal after the low-temperature conditions.This study establishes a low-temperatureinduced masculinization technology for T.rubripes and demonstrates that although the growth rate(length and weight)decreased in an array of nine treatment groups during the processing time,it returned to a normal level after processing.The results should serve as a guide for achieving the masculinization of T.rubripes in production.
文摘This study was carried out to examine the effect of combining factors for immersion technique on masculinization of red tilapia(Oreochromis spp.).Three selected doses(1000,1,500,and 2000μg/L)of 17α-methyltestosterone(17 MT)immersion,2 exposure times(3 and 6 h)once or twice a week,and interaction of these factors were tested.A total of 12 treatment combinations under 3×2×2 factorial experiments in randomized complete block design were conducted to compare with the negative control group(no 17 MT-treated)and positive control group(17 MT-treated feed administration).One hundred red tilapia larvae(14 days post-hatch)were randomly allocated in each treatment and were operated in a 10-L glass jar for 21 days.At the end of the treatment regime,the survival rate was determined.Then,fish were raised in a 150-L glass tank using normal commercial feed for 2 months and sex ratios were determined via the gonad squash technique.None of the immersion treatments tested resulted in a statistically significant(p>0.05)decrease in survival rate.All 17 MT-treated groups produced progenies with a significantly higher(p<0.001)proportion of males than the predicted 1:1 sex ratio.Influences of some factor combinations in the masculinization of red tilapia were observed.The male ratio was significantly affected by the dose-period and dose-frequency treatments(p<0.05).The highest male proportion(95.33%±0.58%)was recorded at 1000μg/L of 17 MT for 6 h once a week which was significantly higher(p<0.05)than other groups.The production cost of the best group was the cheapest(THB0.0066/fish)and decreased from the traditional procedure by about 10.81%.Therefore,this technique could be implemented for decreasing cost and operating process in commercial tilapia farms.
基金supported by the 5 Steno Diabetes Centers in Denmark,which are partly funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
文摘Background Health promotion(HP)interventions delivered through sports clubs have demonstrated promising outcomes among men,but less is known about which aspects of the interventions work,for whom,and under what circumstances.This rapid realist review aimed to understand the contexts,mechanisms,and outcomes of HP interventions for men delivered through sports clubs.Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in February 2023 for studies published after 2013 in MEDLINE,Embase,and SPORTDiscus databases.Included studies:(a)were delivered by or in collaboration with sports clubs,(b)targeted men aged 18+years,and(c)reported 1 or more HP outcomes.A grey literature search was also performed.Studies were included in a realist synthesis based on richness and rigor.Hereafter,context-mechanism-outcome(CMO)configurations were developed.Results We identified and screened 3358 studies,finally including 59 studies describing 22 interventions.Most HP interventions were delivered in high income countries,included Caucasian men aged 35-65 years with overweight/obesity,and used professional sports clubs(mostly football)for recruitment and facilities.Quantitative HP outcomes were reported across 19 interventions.Of these 19 interventions,the majority reported on weight(n=18),physical activity(n=12),mental health(n=10),and diet(n=9).We identified 13 CMOs related to how HP interventions affected men's recruitment,engagement,and health behavior maintenance.Conclusion Our findings show that using sports clubs for HP interventions is effective for engaging men.Recruitment was facilitated by leveraging sports clubs’identity,addressing masculinity-related barriers,improving accessibility,and building trust.Engagement was enhanced through shared identity experiences,safe spaces,inclusive competition,and self-efficacy.However,there's limited evidence on behavior maintenance post-intervention,though involving community stakeholders seemed vital.In general,considerations should be made to avoid perpetuating traditional masculine norms,which may exclude some men and reinforce unhealthy behaviors.These findings can guide intervention development,emphasizing the need to harness men's perspectives in the process.
文摘Dear Editor,Infertility refers to the inability to conceive after one year of regular unprotected intercourse,and as per the available estimates,close to 50 million couples are being affected worldwide[1].In many communities,infertility is regarded as a sign of personal failure,where individuals are blamed for their inability to conceive[2].It is not an unusual practice that people with infertility are excluded from social rituals like baby showers or functions related to parenthood[2].Women are generally considered solely responsible for the condition,while in reality,it can equally affect men[2].On the other hand,men experiencing infertility are subjected to mockery for a reduced sense of masculinity[3].In many communities and cultures,infertility is viewed as a genuine reason for relationship strain and eventually divorce[2].Amid the fear that people will judge them,many couples hide their infertility struggles,and this further plays an important role in increasing stigma[2,3].Further,in some organizations,employers might not consider infertile persons for promotion under the assumption that they do not have many financial responsibilities[3].
基金supported by the Ministry of Education Humanities and Social Science Project,Project Title:“A Study of the Writing of Futures in Contemporary Science Fiction by African American Women”(Grant No.22YJC752010)。
文摘This paper delves into African America writer Octavia Butler’s Hugo-Award winning“Speech Sounds”to explore how the author uses a fictional pandemic as a metaphor to critique toxic masculinity in 1980s American culture.By analyzing the story,it reveals how the unnamed illness functions as a social pathogen,intensifying the negative aspects of hegemonic masculinity,leading to the breakdown of communication and the prevalence of violence.Through the character of Rye,the paper also examines how black feminist resilience offers a counter-narrative to the destructive forces of toxic masculinity.The study concludes that Butler’s work not only exposes the cultural disease of toxic masculinity but also provides a vision of healing and regeneration through communal care and the cultivation of hope,highlighting the power of speculative fiction as a tool for social critique and imagining alternative futures.
文摘This study was conducted to determine the effective dose of 17α-methyltestosterone(MT)that produces all-male fry of black-chinned tilapia,Sarotherodon melanotheron.Five concentrations:0,30,60,90 and 120 mg 17α-methyltestosterone(17α-MT)per kilogram feed were prepared using the ethanol evaporation method,and administered orally to black-chinned tilapia fry for 28 days in triplicate aquarium glass tanks.After the treatment period,triplicates of 60 fry from each treatment were stocked in hapas and further cultured in freshwater ponds.They were fed with commercial fish feed ad libitum.The sex ratio,growth performance and survival were evaluated after 60 and 180 days.At the end of the 60-day period,the sex ratio of 30 fish from each treatment was determined by using the gonadal squash method.The remaining 30 fish from each treatment were grown further for 180 days and their sex ratio determined using the genital papillae.The results demonstrated that 17α-methyltestosterone was effective in producing phenotypic male in S.melanotheron.However,in both 60-day and 180-day experiments,no treatment gave 100%male population.The 90 mg/kg MT yielded the highest all-male fish of 84.13%,highest survival of 70%and highest final mean body weight of 103.99±7.92 g.
文摘In this paper,I examine the Twitter accounts of right-wing extremist groups(RWEGs)in India,arguing that the abjectification of Muslim masculinities is central to the narratives of Hindu supremacist groups.The abjectification process on Twitter serves as a rhetorical device to:a)criticize and problematize Muslim masculinities;b)idealize and glorify Hindu and white masculinities;c)promote Hindu and white masculine nationalist projects;and d)unify Hindu supremacists against Muslim others.By analyzing the gender ideologies expressed implicitly or explicitly on the Twitter accounts of RWEGs,and using the“Love Jihad”conspiracy case as a focal point,I demonstrate how the abjectification of Muslim masculinities is constructed in opposition to the idealized Hindu masculinities.This study highlights the intersection of gender and nationalism in the digital discourse of Hindu supremacist groups,offering insights into the mechanisms through which social media platforms are used to reinforce and propagate Islamophobic ideologies.
文摘A multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled superiority trial with 18 months of follow-up was conducted to investigate whether oral zinc supplementation could further promote spermatogenesis in males with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism （IHH） receiving sequential purified urinary follicular-stimulating hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin （uFSH/hCG） replacement. Sixty-seven Chinese male IHH patients were recruited from the Departments of Endocrinology in eight tertiary hospitals and randomly allocated into the sequential uFSH/hCG group （Group A, n = 34） or the sequential uFSH plus zinc supplementation group （Group B, n = 33）. In Group A, patients received sequential uFSH （75 U, three times a week every other 3 months） and hCG （2000 U, twice a week） treatments. In Group B, patients received oral zinc supplementation （40 mg day-1） in addition to the sequential uFSH/hCG treatment given to patients in Group A. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a sperm concentration 〉1.0 × 106 ml-1 during the 18 months. The comparison of efficacy between Groups A and B was analyzed. Nineteen of 34 （55.9%） patients receiving sequential uFSH/hCG and 20 of 33 （60.6%） patients receiving sequential uFSH/hCG plus zinc supplementation achieved sperm concentrations ≥1.0 × 106 ml-1 by intention to treat analyses. No differences between Group A and Group B were observed as far as the efficacy of inducing spermatogenesis （P = 0.69）. We concluded that the sequential uFSH/hCG plus zinc supplementation regimen had a similar efficacy to the sequential uFSH/hCG treatment alone. The additional improvement of 40 mg day-1 oral zinc supplementation on spermatogenesis and masculinization in male IHH patients is very subtle.
文摘Androgens make major contributions to average sex differences in anatomy, physiology, and behavior. Despite having established their crucial role in sexual differentiation, much remains to be learned about how androgens coordinate their influences. The present study was undertaken to shed light on androgenic effects on the body using self-reported survey data. We analyzed the ratings provided by over 11,000 college students on the magnitude of eleven traits that previous research has shown to be influenced by testosterone or other androgens. Predictably, the average values for all eleven traits were significantly greater in males than in females. Nevertheless, when data were analyzed separately according to sex of the respondents, some of the traits failed to positively correlate with one another, suggesting that not all an-drogen-influenced traits differentiate in a simple fashion. Factor analysis of these eleven traits by sex reinforced this view by identifying four factors. In men, the primary factor loaded most heavily on: masculine body build, masculine mannerisms, overall physical strength, upper body strength, and lower body strength. The primary factor for women was limited to: upper body strength, lower body strength, and overall physical strength. In both sexes, the primary factor was interpreted as reflecting the influence of perinatal and post-pubertal testosterone exposure. The other three factors may reflect the effects of other androgens (e.g., androstenediol), or the influence of female hormones such as estradiol. Findings were discussed in terms of future use of self-reported physiological measures for assessing androgenic effects on the human body.
文摘Under the mass media effect,media both enable and constrain the audience to shape their gender identity.The purpose of this article is to review and consider the role media plays in the process of construction of contemporary gendered identities;especially the relationship among men,masculinity and media.
文摘In Jacob's Room, Virginia Woolf depicts a couple of womanish male and mannish female characters, coming into being an unsex society, which represents a thought experiment to hope to find a way to overcome the gender discrimination in the patriarchal world.
文摘By using stands-in and actual documentary footage,the film version of Forrest Gump presents audiences the turbulent evernts in America from the late 1950's to the 1980's and depicts successfully the panorama of the whole Ameica in a humorous and impressive way. This essay is to illustrate one of the predominant cultural phenomenons by analysing its stereotyped female characters,its own typical narrative structure and the symbolic ending. From this perspective,the masculine ideology or the male-dominant society is portrayed true to life throughout the film.
文摘Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea is the classic revisionary novella of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. It rewrites the tragic story of Mr. Rochester's voiceless and lunatic ex-wife, Berthe Mason. This paper turns to the intertextual relationship between the two texts and argues that the subversive rewriting of Wide Sargasso Sea destabilizes and deconstructs Mr. Rochester's English identity and masculinity, which are manifestly presented in the pre-text. It therefore renders the young Mr. Rochester problematic and insufficient, reveals"the other side"of the story and articulately tells the truth about who is really the mad one.
文摘Wittingly concealing the father images in his novel Atonement(2001), McEwan creates the"absence"of traditional hegemonic masculinity, which is a conscious activity in a combined consideration of the figural and thematic progress, the grim social context, as well as his anxiety of influence and identity. Although this manliness is effaced on the surface, regarding the powerful images within, male authority still keeps running through the whole work. Hegemonic masculinity"presents"in manifold transformed and metaphorical forms, invisibly dictating the development of the protagonists and plots. This paper, giving a masculine reading through R.W. Connell's lens, aims to analyze and crystallize McEwan's such male writing, and finally to reach his real concerns: to deconstruct patriarchal culture, to defy dominant discourse, and to build a new order that opens up a real equality and coexistence for both the two sexes.
文摘1 CASE REPORT In June 2009, a 29-year-old Chinese male was diagnosed as having Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia （chronic phase）; other than a high white blood cell count in peripheral blood （WBC, 254.00×10^9/L） and splenomegaly, the patient exhibited no abnormal physical signs in mammary glands. He was given hydroxyurea for several days before he received treatment with 400 mg of imatinib mesylate daily.
文摘Previous research has implicated the involvement of androgens in sex-role orientation in males, from studies of 2nd to 4th digit ratio (a purported marker of prenatal testosterone). The present pilot study investigates the relationship between salivary testosterone levels and sex-role orientation using Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) scores in adult males. Twenty-one males (aged 18-24) completed the BSRI and provided saliva samples for assay. BSRI Femininity scores were significantly negatively correlated with testosterone levels;the higher the Femininity scores, the lower the testosterone levels. There was no relation of BSRI Masculinity scores with testosterone levels. Our preliminary results add to the research suggesting that sex-role orientation in males may be partially related to underlying hormone levels.
文摘Arthur Miller is universally recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century in the United States,together with the conscience of American drama.Nevertheless,his works have always been considered as having misogynic inclinations.This paper,on the basis of gender theories,seeks to undertake an interpretation to the elements of masculinity and femininity regarding female characters in Arthur Miller’s dramas.Taking The Crucible and A Memory of Two Mondays as a case in point,the author seeks to identify and discuss three categories of female characters,comprising“the angel in the house”,the figure of Medea,and the silenced and absent females,in order to deconstruct Miller’s dichotomized outlook on females.
文摘This essay examines the configuration of masculinities in salsa dance based on discussions on a popular salsa website,Salsaforums.com.With a thorough combing of the popular threads on male dancers,it contends that in the traditional framework of performance of men in salsa,the issue of masculinity as a social practice embedded in the discursive structuring of various social forces has to be explored from a dynamic and eclectic perspective.Discourses are manifest in the male dancers’pride,insecurity,and anxiety.While trying to retain dispositions or attributes traditionally ascribed to men,however,male salsa dancers are negotiating a salsa masculinity that is multiple,fluid,flexible,and on the way to embrace a more inclusive spectrum of possibilities.
