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Interspecific introgression is a potentially important source of novel variation of adaptive significance. Although multiple cases of adaptive introgression are well documented, broader generalizations about its targets and mechanisms are lacking. Multiallelic balancing selection, particularly when acting through rare allele advantage, is an evolutionary mechanism expected to favor adaptive introgression. This is because introgressed alleles are likely to confer an immediate selective advantage, facilitating their establishment in the recipient species even in the face of strong genomic barriers to introgression. Vertebrate major histocompatibility complex genes are well-established targets of long-term multiallelic balancing selection, so widespread adaptive major histocompatibility complex introgression is expected. Here, we evaluate this hypothesis using data from 29 hybrid zones formed by fish, amphibians, squamates, turtles, birds, and mammals at advanced stages of speciation. The key prediction of more extensive major histocompatibility complex introgression compared to genome-wide introgression was tested with three complementary statistical approaches. We found evidence for widespread adaptive introgression of major histocompatibility complex genes, providing a link between the process of adaptive introgression and an underlying mechanism. Our work identifies major histocompatibility complex introgression as a general mechanism by which species can acquire novel, and possibly regain previously lost, variation that may enhance defense against pathogens and increase adaptive potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ismail Raji al-Faruqi and Sayyid Muhammad Naquib al-Attas were the founders of the Islamization of Knowledge movement. As Muslim philosophers, both have their own methods in formulating thoughts that originate from the Qur’an and Sunnah. So this research tries to reveal the method of Ismail Raji al-Faruqi and Sayyid Muhammad Naquib al-Attas in revealing the meanings contained in the verses of the Qur'an. This research uses a descriptive analysis method to compare the interpretation methods used by al-Faruqi and al-Attas. Among the conclusions of this research is that al-Faruqi uses an axiological approach in interpreting the Qur'an, where the verses of the Qur'an have a multi-level axiological value. Whereas al-Attas uses a semantic approach in interpreting the verses of the Qur'an and refers to elements of bil ma'tsur such as the Hadith of the Prophet SAW.

Imam al-Biqāʻī is one of the most prominent Quranic commentators who took care of the objectives of Quranic chapters and became the first scholar to draw attention to this science. Benefited from the science of the Quranic munāsabah, al-Biqāʻī analysed the objectives of the Quranic chapters in his books Naẓm al-Durar fī Tanāsub al-Āyāt wa al-Suwar and Maѕāʻid al-Naẓr li al-Ishrāf ‘alā Maqāѕīd al-Suwar. Therefore, the nature of this paper requires that the researchers rely on the inductive method to reach the views of scholars and Quranic commentators, especially that of al-Biqāʻī on the topic, to prove the approach of al-Biqāʻī in the purposes of the sūrah. The authors argue that relying on the sciences of the Quranic tanāsub and siyāq, al-Biqāʻī concluded that revealing monotheism is the ultimate goal of most of the Quranic chapters. [Imam al-Biqāʻī salah satu tokoh tafsir terpenting yang berkontribusi dalam Ilmu Maqāṣid ṣ al-Suwar al-Qur’āniyyah, bahkan beliau di garda terdepan dalam ilmu ini sebagai perintisnya. Dengan mendalami ilmu Munāsabah al-Quran, beliau menganalisis dan menentukan tujuan surat-surat al-Qur’an sebagaimana tergambar dalam kitabnya yang berjudul Naẓm al-Durar fī Tanāsub al-Āyāt wa al-Suwar dan Maṣāʻid al-Naẓr li al-Ishrāf ʻalā Maqāṣid al-Suwar. Artikel ini menggunakan pendekatan induktif untuk mengumpulkan pendapat para ulama dan para ahli tafsir, khususnya pendapat al-Biqāʻī, terkait disiplin ilmu tersebut untuk menelisik karakteristik pendekatan al-Biqāʻī dalam menentukan tujuan dari surat al-Quran. Kesimpulan dalam penelitian ini adalah bahwa menurut al-Biqāʻī, tauhid adalah tujuan tertinggi di sebagian besar surat al-Quran. Pandangan al-Biqāʻī ini dia dapatkan melalui dua ilmu yang menjadi referensinya, yaitu ilmu al-Tanāsub dan al-Siyāq].

In this study, a functional nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs)-based hydrogel was developed to repair the damaged epidermal skin barrier. NLCs were prepared via a high-energy approach, using argan oil and beeswax as liquid and solid lipids, respectively, and were loaded with ceramides and cholesterol at a physiologically relevant ratio, acting as structural and functional compounds. Employing a series of surfactants and optimizing the preparation conditions, NLCs of 215.5 ± 0.9 nm in size and a negative zeta potential of −42.7 ± 0.9 were obtained, showing acceptable physical and microbial stability. Solid state characterization by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray powder diffraction revealed the formation of imperfect crystal NLC-type. The optimized NLC dispersion was loaded into the gel based on sodium hyaluronate and xanthan gum. The gels obtained presented a shear thinning and thixotropic behavior, which is suitable for dermal application. Incorporating NLCs enhanced the rheological, viscoelastic, and textural properties of the gel formed while retaining the suitable spreadability required for comfortable application and patient compliance. The NLC-loaded gel presented a noticeable occlusion effect in vitro. It provided 2.8-fold higher skin hydration levels on the ex vivo porcine ear model than the NLC-free gel, showing a potential to repair the damaged epidermal barrier and nourish the skin actively.

This paper aims to shed light on some of the financial and ethical purposes of Surah Al-Nisa. This Surah had a significant role in transforming the convictions of the pre-Islamic society after many of them became Muslim in not being exposed to the financial transactions of the vulnerable group in the Islamic society through economic and administrative empowerment for them. These verses also come in response to difficult circumstances faced by vulnerable women, orphans, and children and the robbery of their financial rights. This research uses the inductive method to observe the financial verses in Surah AlNisa. Then relies on the analytical approach to study and discuss these verses in their moral purposes in Surah Al-Nisa. One of the research’s most important findings is that Surah Al-Nisa contains many economic and ethical goals. The first is achieving complete support for the weak in the Muslim community. The first category of these vulnerable people is the orphans; by changing the convictions of parents and guardians and waiving arrogant social restrictions. Furthermore, these verses contain some plans and rehabilitation courses that afflict orphans and the vulnerable to show full awareness to carry out their own interests. In addition, these verses teach how to manage their affairs to obtain independence in financial transactions and not to exercise injustice against them and infringement on their Finance rights and consume it

The heritability value for sperm competition success observed in the bulb mite Rhizoglyphus robini, within the range of heritability values for life-history traits under strong directional selection is reported. The results reveal that males produced by sib-mating (F=0.25) have a significant lower sperm competition success than outbred males.

Research has been co0nducted on inbreeding depression in fecundity in bulb mite Rhizoglyphus robini. The author suggests that the lack of purging in inbreeding depression may indicate that this depression has been caused either by detrimental genes or by the breaking down of overdominant relations between alleles.

This study aims to reveal various kinds of human behavior towards their properties and the ideal management of this property from the perspective of the Quran. This research also attempts to link the knowledge of the Quranic maqasid with the financial management carried out by humans to improve their contradictive behavior. By using qualitative methods with inductive descriptive approaches and various sources such as the Quran and its interpretations, journals, magazines, and classical literature, this research found that owning wealth does not contradict the concepts of zuhud and piety. The al-Quran displays human behaviors who manage their wealth well and make their wealth as a ware towards God. Multiple discourses about wealth in the Quran showed that the behavior of adoring wealth is natural and matches the Quranic nature, which adapted to human nature. The treasure and wealth itself belong to God, which humans naturally revere. Humans have different behavior when dealing with wealth. First, worldly behavior is not fair. Second, the behavior of miserly and miserly. Third, moderate behavior that has intelligent management in managing assets. Differences in human behavior in managing these assets are usually determined by their social environment.

Finding suitable sites for landfills is one of the most difficult tasks in solid waste management. The sanitary landfill site selection must address social, environmental and technical concerns. This work aims at assessing the geospatial implications posed by the current Zahrat Al Finjan (ZF) landfill disposal site, located in the north of the West Bank in Jenin districts. GIS-based assessment was employed for different criteria including geology, soil, slope, land use, and stream network. This paper focuses on the assessment of ZF landfill potential environmental impacts on groundwater, sensitive ecosystems, rural areas and land use. The existing soil mantle at the landfill site consisting of clay and marly clay is influenced natural attenuation of the leachate infiltration. Nevertheless, uncontrolled accumulation of the leachate and the absence of a properly treated collection system pose potential contamination risk to shallow groundwater aquifer in the future. Also, gas produced from the landfill is not vented and so leaves from the cover and poses fire risk, and as dissolved in the leachate causes unpleasant odors. Spread of flies, mosquitoes, bird droppings, rodents and spread of stray dogs are other negative impacts of the poorly operated landfill. Monitoring systems and recommendations are proposed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of habitat fragmentation and the resulting decreases in effective population sizes are not easy to document because they take place over many generations and may be affected by factors other than demographic ones. Here, we used 22 microsatellite loci to investigate genetic structure and diversity in populations of edible dormice Glis glis from habitats that varied widely in area and in the degree of connectivity to other populations. We found that populations from the most fragmented north-western region of Poland were characterized by extremely limited gene flow and low genetic diversity compared to less fragmented populations from southern Poland. STRUCTURE analysis revealed three genetic groups in Poland, which might reflect adaptation to environmental conditions across south-north and east-west gradients, but could also be due to historical patterns of post-glacial colonization. The latter hypothesis is suggested by the observation that southern populations from Poland grouped with those from the Balkans based on microsatellite data; however, the fact that all Polish populations shared western mt DNA cytochrome b haplotypes is inconsistent with this scenario. We discuss the consequences of our findings for the conservation of the edible dormouse in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For nonmodel organisms, genome-wide information that describes functionally relevant variation may be obtained by RNA-Seq following de novo transcriptome assembly. While sequencing has become relatively inexpensive, the preparation of a large number of sequencing libraries remains prohibitively expensive for population genetic analyses of nonmodel species. Pooling samples may be then an attractive alternative. To test whether pooled RNA-Seq accurately predicts true allele frequencies, we analysed the liver transcriptomes of 10 bank voles. Each sample was sequenced both as an individually barcoded library and as a part of a pool. Equal amounts of total RNA from each vole were pooled prior to mRNA selection and library construction. Reads were mapped onto the de novo assembled reference transcriptome. High-quality genotypes for individual voles, determined for 23 682 SNPs, provided information on 'true' allele frequencies; allele frequencies estimated from the pool were then compared with these values. 'True' frequencies and those estimated from the pool were highly correlated. Mean relative estimation error was 21% and did not depend on expression level. However, we also observed a minor effect of interindividual variation in gene expression and allele-specific gene expression influencing allele frequency estimation accuracy. Moreover, we observed strong negative relationship between minor allele frequency and relative estimation error. Our results indicate that pooled RNA-Seq exhibits accuracy comparable with pooled genome resequencing, but variation in expression level between individuals should be assessed and accounted for. This should help in taking account the difference in accuracy between conservatively expressed transcripts and these which are variable in expression level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]