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Women remain significantly underrepresented in the construction industry, particularly in the skilled trades. Through qualitative exploratory interviews with six women, this study investigates the career trajectories, worksite barriers, and motivational influences shaping women’s experiences in the construction skilled trades. The research is framed using Donald Super’s Life-Span, Life-Space theory and expectancy-value theory (EVT) to explore how career stages and career value affect women’s experiences. Participants described gender bias, limited mentorship, and restricted advancement opportunities as primary challenges. This study highlights the need for industry-led initiatives to increase early exposure to trades, improve mentorship and sponsorship programs, and create structured pathways for career advancement.

Abstract As part of an effort to identify astrometric evidence of an intermediate-mass black hole in 47Tuc, we construct a new velocity-dispersion profile for the innermost 30 ″ of the cluster using WFPC2 and WFC3 images spanning an unprecedented 22 yr time baseline. The WFPC2 exposures were processed using a deep-learning centering procedure as well as an improved astrometric calibration of the camera. The resulting velocity-dispersion profile has a 1 ″ spatial resolution and error bars that compare very favorably to prior studies.

This commentary addresses a problem of practice related to student disengagement in technology-rich classrooms, where learners are digitally connected but socially and academically disconnected. Although not an empirical study, the commentary draws on instructional examples from secondary- and graduate-level teaching. The authors examine how digital literacy instruction can strengthen engagement, reading comprehension, and ethical participation in online environments. The article highlights strategies such as the workshop model, multimodal composition, digital content curation, and the use of mentor texts to support critical thinking and collaborative learning. These practices aim to develop students’ analytical skills, awareness of audience, and recognition of their own positionality in digital spaces. Across courses, the authors reflected on increased student engagement when digital tools were used not simply for task completion but to support inquiry, discourse, and authentic creation for real audiences.

Objective: Research on use of geosocial networking (GSN) applications (e.g. Grindr, Tinder) by sexual minorities has primarily focused on risky behavior and negative health outcomes (e.g. sexually transmitted infections/HIV, drugs, alcohol, violence) among men who have sex with men. Taking a sex-positive approach, this study aimed to understand how sexual minority GSN app users in the UK and USA perceive impacts on their health and how they manage potential risks. Differences between countries and genders are explored. Design and methods: Qualitative, cross-cultural study in Merseyside (UK) and Connecticut (USA). Photo-elicitation (fake dating profiles) was used in semi-structured interviews conducted with app users seeking same gender partners (n = 31; 15 women, and 16 men) in 2018-2019. Participants were recruited through local LGBTQ+ organizations, social media and from a previous survey, within a quota sampling framework. Transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Perceived positive health impacts included social and romantic/sexual connections, boosts to self-esteem, and pleasurable sexual experiences. Some negative outcomes were reported, mainly by men, including rejection and low self-esteem, and racism and discrimination. Participants of all genders used strategies to reduce risks to health. Women were particularly cautious of men on apps. No differences between UK and the USA were noted. Conclusions: GSN apps can enable positive sexual experiences and have the potential to increase social cohesion and improve mental wellbeing for stigmatized sexual minorities. All participants took measures to protect both their physical safety and mental wellbeing. Using a sex-positive health promotion approach could empower app users to build on their personal strengths and resources. Although GSN app companies may need to do more to tackle discrimination, apps show a promising opportunity for reducing isolation and health inequities. The similarity of the findings in both areas suggests evidence from the USA may be applicable in the UK.

The prevalence of Raynaud phenomenon (RP), defined as skin color changes on acral body segments in response to cold or stress, has been estimated to be 3-5% in population studies.^1,2 In 80-90% of cases, patients are otherwise healthy and are diagnosed with primary RP.^1,3

Abstract Inhibitory Smads (I-Smads) regulate TGF-β/BMP signaling through multiple distinct mechanisms, but whether different tissues preferentially employ specific mechanisms remains unknown. To address this question, we performed structure-function analyses of the Drosophila I-Smad Dad and its vertebrate orthologs Smad6 and Smad7 in neural and wing tissues, measuring in vivo outputs of BMP signaling. We identified a critical 24-amino acid putative DNA-binding domain (DNABD) within the MH1 domain of the Drosophila I-Smad, Dad, that is essential for inhibitory function in wing tissue but unessential in neural tissue. Structural analyses revealed that ΔDNABD disrupts a beta hairpin structure homologous to R-Smad DNA-binding regions. We also found that Dad requires an intact MH1 domain to disrupt wing development, whereas either MH1 or MH2 can independently disrupt BMP signaling in motor neurons. These findings support a model where Dad functions through MH1-mediated transcriptional regulation in wing primordium, but through multiple mechanisms in neurons. Comparative analysis revealed that vertebrate I-Smad orthologs also show tissue-specific activity patterns, with structural predictions suggesting that Smad6 retains ancestral DNA-binding capacity while Smad7 has evolved enhanced MH2-mediated functions. These results reveal context-dependent mechanisms of I-Smads that further the understanding of TGF-β/BMP pathway regulation.

How elderlies participate in social activities is a key issue in coping with aging and has an important impact on elderlies’ well-being. This paper examines the effects of different social participation patterns on the happiness of the elderlies in China. The empirical analysis was conducted based on the data from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) in 2015. The research results show that compared with reemployment after retirement, community governance is a more common way for retired people to be involved in social activities. We found that reemployment significantly reduces the happiness degree of the retired. Furthermore, this negative effect is more significant in samples without a formal labor contract, relatively lower education level, & senior retired people. In contrast, participating in community governance can significantly improve the happiness level of retirees, which is more essential in the sample of the medium education level and junior retirees.