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"Dreams of Flight: The Lives of Chinese Women Students in the West" by Fran Martin explores the experiences of middle-class Chinese female students in Melbourne, Australia, within the context of China's ongoing social, political, and economic transformations. The book examines how transnational educational mobility has allowed these young women to shape new forms of identity and feminine gender roles. It also discusses the connection between market socialism, the emerging Chinese middle class, transnational mobility, and the significance of gender in shaping mobility experiences. The book provides a comprehensive exploration of the experiences of Chinese women studying abroad and their impact on gender dynamics. [Extracted from the article]

This article stems from interviews conducted with Chinese women residing in Lisbon, aged 18-34, during the initial phase of fieldwork (2021/2022). As an outcome of my Anthropology Ph.D. project, the focus here is on comprehending the perception of Asian women within the realm of everyday life as fetishized entities and how they persist in (re)shaping their identities. By primarily examining visual “yellow fever” depictions (in Hollywood cinema through films like “The World of Suzie Wong”, “Madame Butterfly”, “Miss Saigon”, and the “Year of the Dragon”, along with interracial Pornography), I endeavor to delve into the impact of “race”, “sexual fetishization”, and the ubiquitous propagation of stereotypical imagery on the lives of the individuals I engage with. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is expressed by several tumors, promoting tumoral immunosuppression by binding to programmed cell death protein (PD-1). PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in human melanoma has been shown to result in tumor regression and prolonged tumor-free survival. Since there are only a few available treatments for equine melanoma, the search for new therapies is important. This work intended to study the immunolabeling of PD-L1 in equine melanocytic tumors. A total of 77 melanocytic tumors were classified as benign or malignant and evaluated by extension of labeling. A total of 59.7% of the tumors showed >50% of immunolabeled cells. Regarding malignant tumors (n = 38), 24 tumors presented >50% of labeled cells, 13 tumors presented between 25–50% and one tumor presented <10%. Regarding benign tumors (n = 39), 22 tumors presented >50% of labeled cells, nine tumors presented 25–50%, three tumors presented 10–25%, two tumors presented <10% and three tumors did not present expression. The results of this study suggest that PD-L1 may have therapeutic potential for equine melanomas. Currently available treatments for equine melanocytic tumors have limitations, mainly due to mass localization and dimension, or the presence of metastases. Therefore, a search for new therapies is necessary. Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is expressed by several tumors, blocking T cell-mediated elimination of the tumor cells by binding to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). A novel therapeutic approach using PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in human melanoma resulted in tumor regression and prolonged tumor-free survival. This study aimed to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1 in equine melanocytic tumors. A total of 77 melanocytic tumors were classified as benign or malignant and evaluated by extension of labeling. A total of 59.7% of the tumors showed >50% of immunolabeled cells. Regarding malignant tumors, 24/38 tumors presented >50% of labeled cells, 13 tumors presented between 25–50% and one tumor presented <10%. Regarding benign tumors, 22/39 tumors presented >50% of labeled cells, nine tumors presented 25–50%, three tumors presented 10–25%, two tumors presented <10% and three tumors did not present expression. Our results suggest that PD-L1 blockade may be a potential target for immunotherapy in equine melanocytic tumors and that future clinical research trials into the clinical efficacy of the anti-PD-L1 antibody are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anticoagulant rodenticides are biocides that interfere with normal blood clotting, inhibit the vitamin K cycle in the liver, and cause death by hemorrhages. Even though the main target of these compounds is rodents, they may affect non-target species such as nocturnal birds of prey that feed on those rodents. To study secondary exposure to ARs, select species that specialize in rodent prey, such as nocturnal birds of prey. Besides their specialized diet in rodents, nocturnal birds of prey are one of the most widely distributed birds in Europe and live in rural and non-rural habitats, making them excellent sentinel species for several studies' ecotoxicology studies. There are numerous studies regarding secondary AR exposure in raptor species all around the world, but evidence for population-level effects is still absent. The objective of this review is to show how ARs have influenced wild nocturnal birds of prey in Europe in the last decades, most affected species, and in summary, explain how they act and the main clinical signals/lesions that can be observed in poisoned birds. Overall, a total of 19 works were included in this review, between the years 1983 to 2021 that satisfied all literature criteria. These 19 papers corresponded to 44 observations of different species, regarding eight types of anticoagulant rodenticide. In the future, more caution is needed in the use of anticoagulants for rodent control where avian predators may be exposed to poisoned prey. Some combinations can be highly lethal to the predator, putting it at risk species that are already treated, therefore new eco-friendly alternatives should be found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn, commonly known as bracken fern, is a cosmopolitan plant species absent only from polar and desert regions. Worldwide, Pteridium aquilinum has been rapidly spreading due to the neglect of agricultural fields and the growing wave of forest fires. This plant has several toxic components such as thiaminases, brains, active glucosides, beta-glucopyranosides and ptaquloside in its constitution that can be lethal to animals. The animals do not normally choose it as food, except in situations of food shortage, in periods of drought, when the ferns are still green or when the animals graze in places with large amounts of the plant in question. In order to revisit the major syndromes caused by P. aquilinum's major toxins, the authors present several cases of acute and chronic ruminant poisoning associated with ingesting P. aquilinum in Portugal in sheep and cattle. The primary associated syndromes observed in animals that consume this plant were thiamine deficiency, blindness in sheep, acute or subacute poisoning with bone marrow depression, and consequently, leucopenia and bladder tumors in cattle. Given the economic impact of the diseases caused by the toxins of this plant, and the possible public health implications, it is imperative to minimize these syndromes in animals and establish measures for their prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Portugal, there are four venomous species, the horned viper (Vipera latastei), seoane (Vipera seoanei), rat snake (Malpolon monspessulanus), and the hooded snake (Macroprotodon brevis ibericus), and in the UK, there is one: the common European adder (Vipera berus). Snake venom is a complex mixture of toxins whose composition varies depending on the family, genera, species, and even subspecies. In Europe, particularly Portugal, there are no published data on the frequency of these types of incidents, but it is estimated to be high, mainly in dogs. Thus, to characterize the injuries caused by the bite of venomous snakes in domestic animals, the authors describe cases in dogs, cats, and goats with a suspected snakebite. Animals presented wounds compatible with snakebites, with two points 1 to 1.8 cm apart that could be noted on the head or limbs. The main clinical signs observed included pain, oedema, and necrosis. From the animals that died, a post-mortem examination revealed subcutaneous and muscular necrosis and hemorrhages of surrounding tissues, including muscles and organic hemorrhages. The severity of envenomation depends on the quantity of inoculated venom; the species, age, size, and previous state of health of the bitten animal; the bite location; and post-bite excitability. With this study, the authors hope to help improve the knowledge regarding snakebites in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea turtles play a vital role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems and should be considered as environmental sentinels to determine pollution rates in marine environments. Several species of sea turtles are endangered or threatened due to a variety of threats, including habitat loss, hunting, accidental catch, and pollution. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in sea turtles have become a new threat that could affect their health and survival. The spread of antibiotic resistance is a major concern in the 21st century, particularly in aquatic environments. Turtles can be exposed to antibiotics from various sources, such as through contaminated water, food or medical treatment. It is quite common to discover antibiotic-resistant genes in the environment and in animals that have never been exposed to antibiotic treatments. However, data on the worldwide incidence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wildlife is still very limited, specifically in marine animals such as sea turtles. Sea turtles can transmit bacteria and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes to humans and other animals. Humans can acquire antibiotic-resistant bacteria by handling contaminated animals or water. The present review aims to compile the most recent studies describing the presence of AMR bacteria in sea turtles and determine how they can impact the ecosystem and human health under the One Health concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]