scholarly journals Caution ahead: reassessing the functional morphology of the respiratory organs in amphibious snails

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12161
Author(s):  
Guido I. Prieto
Keyword(s):  
Functional Morphology ◽  
Three Dimension ◽  
Valuable Source ◽  
Pomacea Maculata ◽  
Visualization Tools ◽  
Similarities And Differences

After a long hiatus, interest in the morphology of the respiratory organs in apple snails (Ampullariidae, Caenogastropoda) and its functional and evolutionary bearings is making a comeback. The variability in the morphology of the gill and lung and its link to different lifestyles and patterns of air dependency within the Ampullariidae make research on the morphology of the respiratory organs particularly suitable for approaching the evolution of terrestriality in animals. Additionally, morphology is a valuable source of hypotheses regarding the several functions the ampullariid respiratory organs have besides respiration. However, this is an underexplored field that only recently has incorporated ultrastructural and three-dimension visualization tools and in which more research is much needed, particularly, comparisons between species representing the diversity within the Ampullariidae. In this paper, I examine Mueck, Deaton & Lee’s (2020a) assessment of the morphology of the gill and lung of Pomacea maculata and compare it with earlier and contemporary studies on other ampullariid species. I show that Mueck, Deaton & Lee’s paper combines significant morphological misinterpretations, conceptual and terminological mistakes, and crucial literature omissions. I also reinterpret their results and point to the similarities and differences between them and available data on other ampullariids.

A Web-Based Tool for Visualization of Biomolecular Network Comparison

2014 ◽  
Vol 556-562 ◽  
pp. 5482-5487
Author(s):  
Hui Ran Zhang ◽  
Xiao Long Shen ◽  
Jiang Xie ◽  
Dong Bo Dai
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Undirected Graphs ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Network Comparison ◽  
Biomolecular Networks ◽  
Biomolecular Network ◽  
Visualization Tools ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Adaptive Visualization

Analyzing similarities and differences between biomolecular networks comparison through website intuitively could be a convenient and effective way for researchers. Although several network comparison visualization tools have been developed, none of them can be integrated into websites. In this paper, a web-based tool kit named dynamically adaptive Visualization of Biomolecular Network Comparison (Bio-NCV) is designed and developed. The proposed tool is based on Cytyoscape.js – a popular open-source library for analyzing and visualizing networks. Bio-NCV integrates arjor.js which including the Barnes-Hut algorithm and the Traer Physics library for processing in order to express the dynamically adaptive initialization. In addition, in order to maintain consistency, the counterparts in other networks will change while the nodes and edges in one of the compared networks change. Furthermore, Bio-NCV can deal with both directed and undirected graphs.

scholarly journals Development of the caudal-fin skeleton reveals multiple convergent fusions within Atherinomorpha

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Thieme ◽  
Peter Warth ◽  
Timo Moritz
Keyword(s):  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Morphological Structure ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Complex Structures ◽  
Caudal Fin ◽  
Developmental Patterns ◽  
Valuable Source ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Fin Development

Abstract Background The caudal fin of teleosts is a highly diverse morphological structure and a valuable source of information for comparative analyses. Within the Atherinomorpha a high variation of conditions of the caudal-fin skeleton can be found. These range from complex but basal configurations to simple yet derived configurations. When comparing atherinomorph taxa, it is often difficult to decide on the homology of skeletal elements if only considering adult specimens. However, observing the development of caudal-fin skeletons allows one to evaluate complex structures, reveal homologies and developmental patterns, and even reconstruct the grundplan of the examined taxa. Results We studied the development of the caudal-fin skeleton in different atheriniform, beloniform and cyprinodontiform species using cleared and stained specimens. Subsequently we compared the development to find similarities and differences in terms of 1) which structures are formed and 2) which structures fuse during ontogeny. For many structures, i.e., the parhypural, the epural(s), the haemal and neural spines of the preural centra and the uroneural, there were either no or only minor differences visible between the three taxa. However, the development of the hypurals revealed a high variation of fusions within different taxa that partly occurred independently in atheriniforms, beloniforms and cyprinodontiforms. Moreover, comparing the development of the ural centra exposed two ways of formation of the compound centrum: 1) in atheriniforms and the beloniforms Oryzias and Hyporhamphus limbatus two ural centra develop and fuse during ontogeny while 2) in cyprinodontiforms and Exocoetidae (Beloniformes) only a single ural centrum is formed during ontogeny. Conclusions We were able to reconstruct the grundplan of the developmental pattern of the caudal-fin skeleton of the Atheriniformes, Beloniformes and Cyprinodontiformes as well as their last common ancestors. We found two developmental modes of the compound centrum within the Atherinomorpha, i.e., the fusion of two developing ural centra in atheriniforms and beloniforms and the development of only one ural centrum in cyprinodontiforms. Further differences and similarities for the examined taxa are discussed, resulting in the hypothesis that the caudal-fin development of a last common ancestor to all atherinomorphs is very much similar to that of extant atheriniforms.

scholarly journals Task-based assessment of visualization tools for the comparison of biological taxonomies

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e25742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilliana Sancho-Chavarria ◽  
Fabian Beck ◽  
Daniel Weiskopf ◽  
Erick Mata-Montero
Keyword(s):  
Information Visualization ◽  
Matrix Representations ◽  
Complex Information ◽  
Analytical Reasoning ◽  
Fundamental Information ◽  
Visualization Tools ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Visualization Systems ◽  
Global Initiatives ◽  
Visual Interfaces

Maintenance and curation of large-sized biological taxonomies are complex and laborious activities. Information visualization systems use interactive visual interfaces to facilitate analytical reasoning on complex information. Several approaches such as treemaps, indented lists, cone trees, radial trees, and many others have been used to visualize and analyze a single taxonomy. In addition, methods such as edge drawing, animation, and matrix representations have been used for comparing trees. Visualizing similarities and differences between two or more large taxonomies is harder than the visualization of a single taxonomy. On one hand, less space is available on the screen to display each tree; on the other hand, differences should be highlighted. The comparison of two alternative taxonomies and the analysis of a taxonomy as it evolves over time provide fundamental information to taxonomists and global initiatives that promote standardization and integration of taxonomic databases to better document biodiversity and support its conservation. In this work we assess how ten user visualization tasks for the curation of biological taxonomies are supported by several visualization tools. Tasks include the identification of conditions such as congruent taxa, splits, merges, and new species added to a taxonomy. We consider tools that have gone beyond the prototype stage, that have been described in peer-reviewed publications, or are in current use. We conclude with the identification of challenges for future development of taxonomy comparison tools.

scholarly journals Turkic Ethnic Realities in the Medieval Manuscript of Kipchak Origin

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Gulnar Nadirova ◽  
Nazym Konkabayeva ◽  
Bayan Zhubatova ◽  
Kunduzay Aubakirova
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Method ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Original Version ◽  
Valuable Source ◽  
Medieval Manuscript ◽  
Historical Method ◽  
Turkic Languages ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
State Library ◽  
Turkish Language

<p>The purpose of our work was to analyze the ethnic realities of the Kipchak language in order to establish its similarities and differences with modern Turkic languages for which this medieval language was a proto-language. The written medieval manuscript in Arabic “Al-Tuhfa al-Zakiyya fi al-Lugha al-Turkiyyah” (Genuine wonder about the Turkish language) was one of the most important and most valuable source for studying the Kipchak language. The main feature of the work was that the original version was written in the Kipchak, as the anonymous author pointed out on the first page of the manuscript, stored in Istanbul, in the Beyazit state library. When studying objects that were far apart from each other in a temporary sense, such as medieval and modern languages, we used the comparative-historical method, and as a result concluded that in some cases there were only phonetic differences, while the syntactic and semantic commonality of lexical and phraseological units persisted. To classify ethnic realities, the statistical method of analysis was used. Ethnographic, cultural and mental realities testified to direct kinship and a single nomadic culture of the speakers of the languages of this group and provided an opportunity to restore the historical stages of the development of the Turkic languages from the Middle Ages to the present day.</p>

Functional significance of preserved color patterns of mollusks from the Gosport Sand (Eocene) of Alabama

1988 ◽  
Vol 62 (01) ◽  
pp. 83-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia H. Kelley ◽  
Charles T. Swann
Keyword(s):  
Functional Morphology ◽  
Functional Significance ◽  
Intraspecific Variability ◽  
Color Pattern ◽  
Color Patterns ◽  
Historical Factors ◽  
Life Mode ◽  
Molluscan Fauna ◽  
Excellent Preservation ◽  
Architectural Constraints

The excellent preservation of the molluscan fauna from the Gosport Sand (Eocene) at Little Stave Creek, Alabama, has made it possible to describe the preserved color patterns of 15 species. In this study the functional significance of these color patterns is tested in the context of the current adaptationist controversy. The pigment of the color pattern is thought to be a result of metabolic waste disposal. Therefore, the presence of the pigment is functional, although the patterns formed by the pigment may or may not have been adaptive. In this investigation the criteria proposed by Seilacher (1972) for testing the functionality of color patterns were applied to the Gosport fauna and the results compared with life mode as interpreted from knowledge of extant relatives and functional morphology. Using Seilacher's criteria of little ontogenetic and intraspecific variability, the color patterns appear to have been functional. However, the functional morphology studies indicate an infaunal life mode which would preclude functional color patterns. Particular color patterns are instead interpreted to be the result of historical factors, such as multiple adaptive peaks or random fixation of alleles, or of architectural constraints including possibly pleiotropy or allometry. The low variability of color patterns, which was noted within species and genera, suggests that color patterns may also serve a useful taxonomic purpose.

Local thickness determination by Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 944-945
Author(s):  
Suichu Luo ◽  
John R. Dunlap ◽  
Richard W. Williams ◽  
David C. Joy
Keyword(s):  
Energy Loss ◽  
Analytical Electron Microscopy ◽  
Mean Free Path ◽  
Single Scattering ◽  
Specimen Thickness ◽  
Three Dimension ◽  
Angular Correction ◽  
Electron Intensity ◽  
Image Position ◽  
Inelastic Mean Free Path

In analytical electron microscopy, it is often important to know the local thickness of a sample. The conventional method used for measuring specimen thickness by EELS is:where t is the specimen thickness, λi is the total inelastic mean free path, IT is the total intensity in an EEL spectrum, and I0 is the zero loss peak intensity. This is rigorouslycorrect only if the electrons are collected over all scattering angles and all energy losses. However, in most experiments only a fraction of the scattered electrons are collected due to a limited collection semi-angle. To overcome this problem we present a method based on three-dimension Poisson statistics, which takes into account both the inelastic and elastic mixed angular correction.The three-dimension Poisson formula is given by:where I is the unscattered electron intensity; t is the sample thickness; λi and λe are the inelastic and elastic scattering mean free paths; Si (θ) and Se(θ) are normalized single inelastic and elastic angular scattering distributions respectively ; F(E) is the single scattering normalized energy loss distribution; D(E,θ) is the plural scattering distribution,

Orosensory Perception, Speech Production, and Deafness

1973 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milo E. Bishop ◽  
Robert L. Ringel ◽  
Arthur S. House
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
The Other ◽  
Functional Disorders ◽  
Form Discrimination ◽  
School Subjects ◽  
Oral Form ◽  
Similarities And Differences

The oral form-discrimination abilities of 18 orally educated and oriented deaf high school subjects were determined and compared to those of manually educated and oriented deaf subjects and normal-hearing subjects. The similarities and differences among the responses of the three groups were discussed and then compared to responses elicited from subjects with functional disorders of articulation. In general, the discrimination scores separated the manual deaf from the other two groups, particularly when differences in form shapes were involved in the test. The implications of the results for theories relating orosensory-discrimination abilities are discussed. It is postulated that, while a failure in oroperceptual functioning may lead to disorders of articulation, a failure to use the oral mechanism for speech activities, even in persons with normal orosensory capabilities, may result in poor performance on oroperceptual tasks.

Animals as Social Objects

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verónica Sevillano ◽  
Susan T. Fiske
Keyword(s):  
Social Perception ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Social Responses ◽  
Content Model ◽  
Stereotype Content ◽  
Nonhuman Animals ◽  
Behavioral Tendencies ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Sphere Of Influence

Abstract. Nonhuman animals are typically excluded from the scope of social psychology. This article presents animals as social objects – targets of human social responses – overviewing the similarities and differences with human targets. The focus here is on perceiving animal species as social groups. Reflecting the two fundamental dimensions of humans’ social cognition – perceived warmth (benign or ill intent) and competence (high or low ability), proposed within the Stereotype Content Model ( Fiske, Cuddy, Glick, & Xu, 2002 ) – animal stereotypes are identified, together with associated prejudices and behavioral tendencies. In line with human intergroup threats, both realistic and symbolic threats associated with animals are reviewed. As a whole, animals appear to be social perception targets within the human sphere of influence and a valid topic for research.

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