This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Research is increasingly showing the impact of the microbiome -- the diverse microbial communities living within the gut -- on human health. But, _when_ and _how_ is the microbiome established? Two opposing hypotheses have been put forward. For over a century, the prevailing thought has been that the human fetal environment is sterile and that microbes are acquired during and after birth. If this view is correct, the microbiome of infants born via C-section should differ from those born vaginally. Recent studies using molecular techniques, however, suggest that bacterial communities may be present in the placenta, amniotic fluid, and the baby’s first stool. They posit that the acquisition of the gut microbiome, therefore, begins _in utero_. If this is the case, delivery method should have less of an effect on early microbiome assembly..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Biology is designed for multi-semester biology courses for science majors. It is grounded on an evolutionary basis and includes exciting features that highlight careers in the biological sciences and everyday applications of the concepts at hand. To meet the needs of today’s instructors and students, some content has been strategically condensed while maintaining the overall scope and coverage of traditional texts for this course. Instructors can customize the book, adapting it to the approach that works best in their classroom. Biology also includes an innovative art program that incorporates critical thinking and clicker questions to help students understand—and apply—key concepts.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Explain fetal development during the three trimesters of gestationDescribe labor and deliveryCompare the efficacy and duration of various types of contraceptionDiscuss causes of infertility and the therapeutic options available

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Recurrent pregnancy loss – two or more losses before 24 weeks of pregnancy – affects 1-2% of pregnant women. Although some factors have been identified, in most cases the cause is unclear. Researchers are focusing on the critical balance between immune cells and the developing embryo at the maternal-fetal interface. Decidual natural killer (dNK) cells, immune cells in the uterus, must use inflammation to promote the formation of the placenta’s blood supply while also maintaining immune tolerance to prevent damaging the embryo. This delicate balance requires another cell type – trophoblasts, embryonic cells that develop into the placenta. Recently, researchers examining trophoblast-dNK crosstalk found that one important pathway was affected in patients experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss. Autophagy regulates degradation of damaged cells, clearing the way for healthy cells to form tissue..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Placenta development is a critical part of pregnancy in mammals, during which extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells invade uterine tissue and remodel arteries to establish a placenta–uterus connection. Abnormal EVT cell invasion is associated with complications like preeclampsia and miscarriage emphasizing the need to understand the mechanism of this process. The protein GDF-8 is known to stimulate EVT cell invasion by upregulating the protein MMP2, but it’s unclear whether GDF-11, a related embryonic development regulator, plays a similar role. To learn more, researchers recently treated human EVT cells with GDF-11 in vitro. and found that GDF-11 promoted MMP2 expression. Specifically, GDF-11 exerted this effect via the ALK4/5-SMAD2/3 signaling pathways. In addition, GDF-11 upregulated the protein ID2, which was required for MMP2 upregulation and related EVT cell invasion..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"During pregnancy, the placenta acts as a critical bridge between mother and child, providing oxygen and nutrients to the developing baby. One important process in placenta formation is “invasion” of the mother’s blood supply by placental cells called extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). This process is promoted by the enzyme MMP2, whose expression is upregulated by the protein GDF-8, but the exact mechanism is unclear. To learn more, researchers recently examined GDF-8, MMP2, and cell invasion in human EVTs in vitro. They found that treatment with GDF-8 indeed stimulated MMP2 expression in the cells. This effect was blocked by an inhibitor of TGF-β type I receptors, indicating that the TGF-β pathway was involved. Further investigation revealed that the TGF-β signaling proteins Snail and Slug were also upregulated by GDF-8. However, silencing Snail and Slug expression individually showed that only Snail was required for GDF-8-mediated MMP2 stimulation..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Psychology is designed to meet scope and sequence requirements for the single-semester introduction to psychology course. The book offers a comprehensive treatment of core concepts, grounded in both classic studies and current and emerging research. The text also includes coverage of the DSM-5 in examinations of psychological disorders. Psychology incorporates discussions that reflect the diversity within the discipline, as well as the diversity of cultures and communities across the globe.Senior Contributing AuthorsRose M. Spielman, Formerly of Quinnipiac UniversityContributing AuthorsKathryn Dumper, Bainbridge State CollegeWilliam Jenkins, Mercer UniversityArlene Lacombe, Saint Joseph's UniversityMarilyn Lovett, Livingstone CollegeMarion Perlmutter, University of Michigan

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the stages of prenatal development and recognize the importance of prenatal careDiscuss physical, cognitive, and emotional development that occurs from infancy through childhoodDiscuss physical, cognitive, and emotional development that occurs during adolescenceDiscuss physical, cognitive, and emotional development that occurs in adulthood

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the stages of prenatal development and recognize the importance of prenatal careDiscuss physical, cognitive, and emotional development that occurs from infancy through childhoodDiscuss physical, cognitive, and emotional development that occurs during adolescenceDiscuss physical, cognitive, and emotional development that occurs in adulthood