Timber gridshells: beyond the drawing board

In March 2011, a week-long workshop that invited participation from all architecture and architectural technology students at Sheffield Hallam University, UK was organised with the objective of enhancing students’ thinking and experience by construction thinking. It was aimed at creating a sense of realness to realise a design project collectively. Timber was set as the material of exploration. The students had to make use of bending to design and create a timber gridshell structure. This made use of a quality traditionally felt to be a structural weakness of the material. To do this, students form-found non-mathematically and non-digitally using paper gridmats. This paper describes the aims, activity and outcome of the timber gridshell workshop as a way of preparing architects and technologists of the future and introducing the challenges of architectural design in terms of economics and construction process, aesthetics, effective communication and structural intuition by working with a given material – all important aspects in achieving effective architecture

Chemotherapy with BCNU in recurrent glioma: Analysis of clinical outcome and side effects in chemotherapy-naïve patients

Background: To date, standardized strategies for the treatment of recurrent glioma are lacking. Chemotherapy with the alkylating agent BCNU (1,3-bis (2-chloroethyl)-1-nitroso-urea) is a therapeutic option even though its efficacy and safety, particularly the risk of pulmonary fibrosis, remains controversial. To address these issues, we performed a retrospective analysis on clinical outcome and side effects of BCNU-based chemotherapy in recurrent glioma. Methods: Survival data of 34 mostly chemotherapy-naïve glioblastoma patients treated with BCNU at 1st relapse were compared to 29 untreated control patients, employing a multiple Cox regression model which considered known prognostic factors including MGMT promoter hypermethylation. Additionally, medical records of 163 patients treated with BCNU for recurrent glioma WHO grade II to IV were retrospectively evaluated for BCNU-related side effects classified according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 2.0. Results: In recurrent glioblastoma, multiple regression survival analysis revealed a significant benefit of BCNU-based chemotherapy on survival after relapse (p = 0.02; HR = 0.48; 95 % CI = 0.26–0.89) independent of known clinical and molecular prognostic factors. Exploratory analyses suggested that survival benefit was most pronounced in MGMT-hypermethylated, BCNU-treated patients. Moreover, BCNU was well tolerated by 46 % of the 163 patients analyzed for side effects; otherwise, predominantly mild side effects occurred (CTCAE I/II; 45 %). Severe side effects CTCAE III/IV were observed in 9 % of patients including severe hematotoxicity, thromboembolism, intracranial hemorrhage and injection site reaction requiring surgical intervention. One patient presented with a clinically apparent pulmonary fibrosis CTCAE IV requiring temporary mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: In this study, BCNU was rarely associated with severe side effects, particularly pulmonary toxicity, and, in case of recurrent glioblastoma, even conferred a favorable outcome. Therefore BCNU appears to be an appropriate alternative to other nitrosoureas although the efficacy against newer drugs needs further evaluation

The status of the world's land and marine mammals: diversity, threat, and knowledge

Knowledge of mammalian diversity is still surprisingly disparate, both regionally and taxonomically. Here, we present a comprehensive assessment of the conservation status and distribution of the world's mammals. Data, compiled by 1700+ experts, cover all 5487 species, including marine mammals. Global macroecological patterns are very different for land and marine species but suggest common mechanisms driving diversity and endemism across systems. Compared with land species, threat levels are higher among marine mammals, driven by different processes (accidental mortality and pollution, rather than habitat loss), and are spatially distinct (peaking in northern oceans, rather than in Southeast Asia). Marine mammals are also disproportionately poorly known. These data are made freely available to support further scientific developments and conservation action

The mammals of Angola

Scientific investigations on the mammals of Angola started over 150 years ago, but information remains scarce and scattered, with only one recent published account. Here we provide a synthesis of the mammals of Angola based on a thorough survey of primary and grey literature, as well as recent unpublished records. We present a short history of mammal research, and provide brief information on each species known to occur in the country. Particular attention is given to endemic and near endemic species. We also provide a zoogeographic outline and information on the conservation of Angolan mammals. We found confirmed records for 291 native species, most of which from the orders Rodentia (85), Chiroptera (73), Carnivora (39), and Cetartiodactyla (33). There is a large number of endemic and near endemic species, most of which are rodents or bats. The large diversity of species is favoured by the wide range of habitats with contrasting environmental conditions, while endemism tends to be associated with unique physiographic settings such as the Angolan Escarpment. The mammal fauna of Angola includes 2 Critically Endangered, 2 Endangered, 11 Vulnerable, and 14 Near-Threatened species at the global scale. There are also 12 data deficient species, most of which are endemics or near endemics to the countryinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Age structure of a population of Praomys tullbergi in Nigerian rainforests

1) This paper analyses the age structure of a population of Praomys tullbergi (Thomas) (Rodentia, Muridae) living in the tropical rain forest zone of western Nigeria. The age-class of each individual was assessed by the amount of wear on the three upper left molar teeth.1) La structure par âges d’une population de Praomys tullbergi (Thomas) a été étudiée en zone forestière dans le S.-O. de la Nigeria. Des catégories d’âge ont été établies en se basant sur le degré d’usure des trois molaires supérieures gauches. 2) La même analyse a été faite sur une seconde série de crânes provenant d’individus d’âges connus élevés en laboratoire. Cela a permis d’assigner un âge réel probable aux catégories d’âge dentaire établies par ailleurs. 3) La structure par âges de la population sauvage reste relativement la même tout au cours de l’année. De jeunes individus sont présents chaque mois, en plus forte proportion cependant après les «pics» de reproduction. La majorité de la population piégée appartient aux catégories d’âge moyennes, et est âgée de 4 à 10 mois. Les individus les plus vieux, un an environ et plus, se rencontrent également à tous les mois de l’année. 4) La structure de population mise en évidence par la présente étude correspond bien avec celle que suggèrent les caractéristiques reproductrices de l’espèce et, dans leur ensemble, avec les résultats d’une étude de terrain faite dans la même région. 5) Les femelles peuvent avoir leurs premiers jeunes à l’âge de 4 mois environ et sont capables de continuer à se reproduire jusqu’à l’âge de 12 mois au moins. Le potentiel reproducteur de certaines femelles peut donc être très élevé dans ce milieu. 6) Les plus vieux individus capturés avaient environ 21 mois. Les deux sexes ont apparemment les mêmes chances d’atteindre un âge avancé. 7) Le taux de survie (après la phase de séjour au nid pour laquelle nous n’avons pas de données) est relativement bon. La moitié de la population atteint 8 mois environ, et 18 % dépassent l’âge d’un an. La majorité de la population est remplacée tous les 12 à 15 mois. 8) On a étudié les rapports entre le poids du corps et la longueur occipito-nasale du crâne d’une part, les classes d’âge d’autre part, chez les mâles et femelles sauvages. Nos résultats suggèrent que ces deux variables peuvent être utilisées pour estimer de façon raisonnable la classe d’âge à laquelle appartient un individu vivant. En captivité, la corrélation est cependant moins bonne, mais la longueur occipito-nasale peut donner des indications utiles sur l’âge. 9) La structure de population de Praomys tullbergi dans le S.-O. de la Nigeria est voisine de celle des rongeurs ougandais de forêt. Par contre, elle diffère considérablement de la structure de population des Praomys de savanne. Le taux de renouvellement de la population et la longévité moyenne de ces rongeurs sont probablement influencés par la saisonnalité du milieu et les différences de modalités reproductrices qui en résultent. Une comparaison est faite entre une population de Praomys (Myomys) daltoni vivant à 50 km de distance environ, mais en savane.Happold David C. D. Age structure of a population of Praomys tullbergi in Nigerian rainforests. In: La Terre et La Vie, Revue d'Histoire naturelle, tome 33, n°2, 1979. pp. 253-274

A population study on small rodents in the tropical rain forest of Nigeria

Happold David C. D. A population study on small rodents in the tropical rain forest of Nigeria. In: La Terre et La Vie, Revue d'Histoire naturelle, tome 31, n°3, 1977. pp. 385-458

The shrews of Nigeria (Mammalia: Soricidae)

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