scholarly journals Vertebral morphometrics and lung structure in non-avian dinosaurs

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 180983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Brocklehurst ◽  
Emma R. Schachner ◽  
William I. Sellers
Keyword(s):  
Dorsal Surface ◽  
Exchange Potential ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Gas Barrier ◽  
Hypoxic Conditions ◽  
Lung Structure ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Axial Morphology ◽  
Vertebral Shape ◽  
Shed Light

The lung-air sac system of modern birds is unique among vertebrates. However, debate surrounds whether an avian-style lung is restricted to birds or first appeared in their dinosaurian ancestors, as common osteological correlates for the respiratory system offer limited information on the lungs themselves. Here, we shed light on these issues by using axial morphology as a direct osteological correlate of lung structure, and quantifying vertebral shape using geometric morphometrics in birds, crocodilians and a wide range of dinosaurian taxa. Although fully avian lungs were a rather late innovation, we quantitatively show that non-avian dinosaurs and basal dinosauriforms possessed bird-like costovertebral joints and a furrowed thoracic ceiling. This would have immobilized the lung's dorsal surface, a structural prerequisite for a thinned blood-gas barrier and increased gas exchange potential. This could have permitted high levels of aerobic and metabolic activity in dinosaurs, even in the hypoxic conditions of the Mesozoic, contributing to their successful radiation.

Sentence-Based Experience Logging in New Hearing Aid Users

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3S) ◽  
pp. 631-637
Author(s):  
Katja Lund ◽  
Rodrigo Ordoñez ◽  
Jens Bo Nielsen ◽  
Dorte Hammershøi
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Patient Experiences ◽  
Online Tool ◽  
Rehabilitation Process ◽  
Hearing Rehabilitation ◽  
Clinical Observations ◽  
Hearing Aid Use ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Shed Light

Purpose The aim of this study was to develop a tool to gain insight into the daily experiences of new hearing aid users and to shed light on aspects of aided performance that may not be unveiled through standard questionnaires. Method The tool is developed based on clinical observations, patient experiences, expert involvement, and existing validated hearing rehabilitation questionnaires. Results An online tool for collecting data related to hearing aid use was developed. The tool is based on 453 prefabricated sentences representing experiences within 13 categories related to hearing aid use. Conclusions The tool has the potential to reflect a wide range of individual experiences with hearing aid use, including auditory and nonauditory aspects. These experiences may hold important knowledge for both the patient and the professional in the hearing rehabilitation process.

scholarly journals Molecular survey of vector-borne diseases in two groups of domestic dogs from Lisbon, Portugal

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Mafalda Dordio ◽  
Relja Beck ◽  
Telmo Nunes ◽  
Isabel Pereira da Fonseca ◽  
Jacinto Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Status ◽  
Molecular Methods ◽  
Hepatozoon Canis ◽  
Clinical Approach ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Other Information ◽  
Southern Portugal ◽  
Vector Borne

Abstract Background Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are caused by a wide range of pathogens transmitted by arthropods. They have been an issue of growing importance in recent years; however, there is limited information about the vector-borne pathogens circulating in Portugal. The aim of the present study was to detect canine vector-borne bacteria and protozoa of veterinary and zoonotic importance using molecular methods. Methods One hundred and forty-two dogs from Lisbon, southern Portugal, were tested: 48 dogs from a veterinary hospital clinically suspected of vector-borne diseases and 94 apparently healthy dogs from shelters. Anaplasma spp./Ehrlichia spp., Babesia/Theileria spp., Hepatozoon spp., and Mycoplasma spp. infections were detected by PCR from blood samples and examined under light microscopy. Other information including clinical status and diagnostic test results were collected for each animal. Results Infections were detected by PCR in 48 (33.80%) dogs. Single infections were found in 35 dogs (24.64%), and co-infections were found in 13 (9.15%) dogs. Twenty-nine (20.42%) dogs were positive for Hepatozoon spp., 15 (10.56%) for Mycoplasma spp., 11 (7.75%) for Anaplasma spp./Ehrlichia spp., and six (4.21%) for Babesia spp. DNA sequencing was used to identify Babesia vogeli (2.81%), Babesia canis (1.40%), Hepatozoon canis (20.42%), Mycoplasma haematoparvum (2.11%), Mycoplasma haemocanis (8.45%), Anaplasma platys (7.04%), and Ehrlichia canis (0.70%). Conclusions This is the first molecular identification of B. canis and M. haematoparvum in dogs from southern Portugal. This study highlights the importance of molecular methods to identify CVBD pathogens in endemic areas and helps to guide the clinical approach of veterinarians in practice.

scholarly journals Hypoxia Transcriptomic Modifications Induced by Proton Irradiation in U87 Glioblastoma Multiforme Cell Line

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 308
Author(s):  
Valentina Bravatà ◽  
Walter Tinganelli ◽  
Francesco P. Cammarata ◽  
Luigi Minafra ◽  
Marco Calvaruso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glioblastoma Multiforme ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Acute Hypoxia ◽  
Hypoxic Condition ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Microarray Gene Expression ◽  
Hypoxic Conditions ◽  
Gene Expression Analyses ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
New Strategies

In Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), hypoxia is associated with radioresistance and poor prognosis. Since standard GBM treatments are not always effective, new strategies are needed to overcome resistance to therapeutic treatments, including radiotherapy (RT). Our study aims to shed light on the biomarker network involved in a hypoxic (0.2% oxygen) GBM cell line that is radioresistant after proton therapy (PT). For cultivating cells in acute hypoxia, GSI’s hypoxic chambers were used. Cells were irradiated in the middle of a spread-out Bragg peak with increasing PT doses to verify the greater radioresistance in hypoxic conditions. Whole-genome cDNA microarray gene expression analyses were performed for samples treated with 2 and 10 Gy to highlight biological processes activated in GBM following PT in the hypoxic condition. We describe cell survival response and significant deregulated pathways responsible for the cell death/survival balance and gene signatures linked to the PT/hypoxia configurations assayed. Highlighting the molecular pathways involved in GBM resistance following hypoxia and ionizing radiation (IR), this work could suggest new molecular targets, allowing the development of targeted drugs to be suggested in association with PT.

SET-VALUED PERFORMANCE APPROXIMATIONS FOR THE QUEUE GIVEN PARTIAL INFORMATION

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Yan Chen ◽  
Ward Whitt
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Decay Rate ◽  
Waiting Time ◽  
Partial Information ◽  
Upper And Lower Bounds ◽  
Interarrival Time ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Third Moment

In order to understand queueing performance given only partial information about the model, we propose determining intervals of likely values of performance measures given that limited information. We illustrate this approach for the mean steady-state waiting time in the $GI/GI/K$ queue. We start by specifying the first two moments of the interarrival-time and service-time distributions, and then consider additional information about these underlying distributions, in particular, a third moment and a Laplace transform value. As a theoretical basis, we apply extremal models yielding tight upper and lower bounds on the asymptotic decay rate of the steady-state waiting-time tail probability. We illustrate by constructing the theoretically justified intervals of values for the decay rate and the associated heuristically determined interval of values for the mean waiting times. Without extra information, the extremal models involve two-point distributions, which yield a wide range for the mean. Adding constraints on the third moment and a transform value produces three-point extremal distributions, which significantly reduce the range, producing practical levels of accuracy.

scholarly journals Beyond cultural and geographical proximity: delving into the factors that influence the dynamics of academic relationships between students in higher education

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José-Vicente Tomás-Miquel ◽  
Jordi Capó-Vicedo
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Academic Networks ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Specific Stage ◽  
The University ◽  
Proximity Dimensions ◽  
Shed Light

AbstractScholars have widely recognised the importance of academic relationships between students at the university. While much of the past research has focused on studying their influence on different aspects such as the students’ academic performance or their emotional stability, less is known about their dynamics and the factors that influence the formation and dissolution of linkages between university students in academic networks. In this paper, we try to shed light on this issue by exploring through stochastic actor-oriented models and student-level data the influence that a set of proximity factors may have on formation of these relationships over the entire period in which students are enrolled at the university. Our findings confirm that the establishment of academic relationships is derived, in part, from a wide range of proximity dimensions of a social, personal, geographical, cultural and academic nature. Furthermore, and unlike previous studies, this research also empirically confirms that the specific stage in which the student is at the university determines the influence of these proximity factors on the dynamics of academic relationships. In this regard, beyond cultural and geographic proximities that only influence the first years at the university, students shape their relationships as they progress in their studies from similarities in more strategic aspects such as academic and personal closeness. These results may have significant implications for both academic research and university policies.

scholarly journals Tropical cyclones cumulatively control regional carbon fluxes in Everglades mangrove wetlands (Florida, USA)

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaochen Zhao ◽  
Victor H. Rivera-Monroy ◽  
Luis M. Farfán ◽  
Henry Briceño ◽  
Edward Castañeda-Moya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclones ◽  
Functional Role ◽  
Net Primary Productivity ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractMangroves are the most blue-carbon rich coastal wetlands contributing to the reduction of atmospheric CO2 through photosynthesis (sequestration) and high soil organic carbon (C) storage. Globally, mangroves are increasingly impacted by human and natural disturbances under climate warming, including pervasive pulsing tropical cyclones. However, there is limited information assessing cyclone’s functional role in regulating wetlands carbon cycling from annual to decadal scales. Here we show how cyclones with a wide range of integrated kinetic energy (IKE) impact C fluxes in the Everglades, a neotropical region with high cyclone landing frequency. Using long-term mangrove Net Primary Productivity (Litterfall, NPPL) data (2001–2018), we estimated cyclone-induced litterfall particulate organic C (litter-POC) export from mangroves to estuarine waters. Our analysis revealed that this lateral litter-POC flux (71–205 g C m−2 year−1)—currently unaccounted in global C budgets—is similar to C burial rates (69–157 g C m−2 year−1) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC, 61–229 g C m−2 year−1) export. We proposed a statistical model (PULITER) between IKE-based pulse index and NPPL to determine cyclone’s impact on mangrove role as C sink or source. Including the cyclone’s functional role in regulating mangrove C fluxes is critical to developing local and regional climate change mitigation plans.

scholarly journals Messianism, rationalism and inter-Asian connections: The Majalis-i Jahangiri (1608–11) and the socio-intellectual history of the Mughal ‘ulama

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinne Lefèvre
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Intellectual History ◽  
State Building ◽  
Specific Role ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
History Of ◽  
Muslim Intellectuals ◽  
Shed Light

Relying on the Majalis-i Jahangiri (1608–11) by ʿAbd al-Sattar b. Qasim Lahauri, this essay explores some of the discussions the Mughal Emperor Jahangir (r. 1605–27) conducted with a wide range of scholars, from Brahmans and ʿulama to Jesuit padres and Jewish savants. By far the most numerous, the debates bearing on Islam and involving Muslim intellectuals are especially significant on several accounts. First, because they illuminate how, following in the steps of his father Akbar (r. 1556–605), Jahangir was able to conciliate his messianic claims with a strong engagement with reason and to turn this combination into a formidable instrument for confession and state building. These conversations also provide promising avenues to think afresh the socio-intellectual history of the Mughal ʿulama inasmuch as they capture the challenges and adjustments attendant on imperial patronage, depict the jockeying for influence and positions among intellectuals (particularly between Indo-Muslim and Iranian lettrés), and shed light on relatively little known figures or on unexplored facets of more prominent individuals. In addition, the specific role played by scholars hailing from Iran—and, to a lesser extent, from Central Asia—in the juridical-religious disputes of the Indian court shows how crucial inter-Asian connections and networks were in the fashioning of Mughal ideology but also the ways in which the ongoing flow of émigré ʿulama was disciplined before being incorporated into the empire.

scholarly journals Book Review: Islam: A Worldwide Encyclopedia

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Paul Fehrmann
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Islamic Studies ◽  
Law And Politics ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Senior Researcher ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Academic Debate

It is clear that the world of Islam is profoundly important, and also that there are wide and conflicting views on Islam today. Similarly, it seems clear that we should pursue efforts to promote the understanding of Islam. In response, a goal of the four volume Islam: A Worldwide Encyclopedia (IAWE) is to give “basic information on Islam” and to “shed light” on “controversial issues” (xxvii). In his opening comments, the editor, a Professor of International Law and Politics at Eskişehir Osmangazi University and Senior Researcher at the Wise Men Center for Strategic Research in Turkey, notes that there have been “a wide range of different interpretations and variations of Islam throughout history” (xxvii). He suggests that Muslims need to revive the “strong tradition of academic debate” that was integral to Islamic studies “in early decades of Islam,” and affirms support for the “diverse and plural nature of contemporary Islamic scholarship” (xxviii). At the same time, he is concerned that “disputed issues” may lead to “biases and stereotypes in the minds of Western people,” and hopes that this new resource can both “contribute to the pursuit of a common ground” between those of different faiths, and help a Western audience become more familiar with what Islam has to offer (xxviii).

scholarly journals Ceramics as the conveyance of art

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 133-139
Author(s):  
Olcay Boratav
Keyword(s):  
Time Perspective ◽  
Background Knowledge ◽  
Original Structure ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Art Form ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Different Shapes ◽  
Different Cultures ◽  
Greek Pottery ◽  
Shed Light

AbstractThe concept of art has varied according to space and time perspective in each and every period and it has emerged in different forms in every culture. Artists or designers produce a wide range of forms with different materials representing the period and culture while creating their ceramics. Ceramics symbolizes a thousand-year-old endeavor as well as being considered as one of the arts. It has shed light on the history in different shapes and cultures in addition to undertaking the task of conveyance of art with original structure and formal style in the works of art. Ceramics makes identity differences thanks to background knowledge, form and decorative techniques and originality. Art is not for society’s sake; it aims to relieve the tension, to satisfy pleasure, to enable people to see and hear, to use and to evaluate. Different cultures have generated new styles in their ceramics by integrating creativity into their own traditions and techniques as well as interacting with Mayan vases and pots, Greek pottery, Anatolian ceramics and tiles. Some of these impacts have been so profound in ceramics that they have been passed on from generation to generation.This paper seeks to address to the following questions: How was ceramics used in different cultures and periods with composition features such as form, decoration, motif and figure; and how has it undertaken the task of conveyance of art by investigating what features they have. Keywords: ceramics, art, conveyance of art, form, figure.

scholarly journals Seeking Practical CDCL Insights from Theoretical SAT Benchmarks

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Elffers ◽  
Jesús Giráldez-Cru ◽  
Stephan Gocht ◽  
Jakob Nordström ◽  
Laurent Simon
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Study ◽  
Boolean Satisfiability ◽  
Proof System ◽  
Sat Solvers ◽  
Proof Search ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Clause Learning ◽  
Resolution Proof ◽  
Shed Light

Over the last decades Boolean satisfiability (SAT) solvers based on conflict-driven clause learning (CDCL) have developed to the point where they can handle formulas with millions of variables. Yet a deeper understanding of how these solvers can be so successful has remained elusive. In this work we shed light on CDCL performance by using theoretical benchmarks, which have the attractive features of being a) scalable, b) extremal with respect to different proof search parameters, and c) theoretically easy in the sense of having short proofs in the resolution proof system underlying CDCL. This allows for a systematic study of solver heuristics and how efficiently they search for proofs. We report results from extensive experiments on a wide range of benchmarks. Our findings include several examples where theory predicts and explains CDCL behaviour, but also raise a number of intriguing questions for further study.

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