Variation de la masse et des caractères morphologiques des lémuriens nocturnes dans les forêts primaires et dégradées de Menabe Sud, Belo sur Mer, Madagascar

Forest structure effects primate morphology because it determines the availability and characteristics of resources, such as substrates for locomotion, sleeping trees, and trees food. However, forest degradation may alter environmental condition of habitats and influence lemur behavior and morphology. We evaluated the links between forest degradation, lemur body mass, and lemur morphometric. We surveyed red-tailed sportive lemurs (Lepilemur ruficaudatus) and gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) in the dry, deciduous forest of southern Menabe, Morondava, Madagascar. The study was conducted in the dry season in 2014 (November–December) and 2015 (July–September). Lemur captures were conducted in five forest sites: two primary forest and three disturbed forest. Sherman and Tomahawk style traps were used to capture mouse lemurs. We conducted three capture sessions in site B in 2014 and three capture sessions for each site in 2015, for a total of 5616 night traps. During each capture session, 80 Sherman traps and 24 Tomahawk traps were installed for three consecutive nights. To capture the red-tailed sportive lemur, we used a gun (Dan Inject Model JM air rifle) with a tranquillizer dart to immobilize the animal. We collected morphometric measurements from 232 mouse lemurs and 31 red-tailed sportive lemurs. Botanic plots (5m x 5m) allowed us to characterize the forest characteristics: tree diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, tree abundance, tree crown height and diameter. Tree abundance with DBH ≥ 5 cm and trees diversity varied significantly between sites (P < 0.001). Mouse lemur body mass did not vary with seasonality of the capture (P > 0.05). For mouse lemurs, all morphometric from two populations in the pristine forest were similar (P > 0.05). Mouse lemurs in one disturbed habitat had greater body length and body mass than mouse lemurs in the pristine forest (P < 0.05). The difference may be linked with fruit abundance of two trees species (Tamarindus indica and Ziziphus mauritiana) and more insect availability in the disturbed site. In the altered habitat, mouse lemur females had longest body size and heavier than males (P < 0.05). Red-tailed sportive lemur body mass and length did not change between sites (P > 0.05). Our study is consistent with the hypothesis that lemur morphometric and body mass may change with forest degradation in southern forest of Menabe. Additionally, the range of the response varies between species and sex: mouse lemurs had a wider reaction norm to the habitat disturbance than did red-tailed sportive lemurs. Mouse lemurs may have higher ecological flexibility and tolerance for forest changes, specifically the alteration of forest habitats. Understanding how lemur morphology responds to habitat disturbance may be used as a tool to prioritize lemur conservation.   Résumé La perte d’habitat due à l’activité humaine est une menace qui affecte tous les primates à Madagascar. Les lémuriens, primates arboricoles, ont des réponses variées face au changement de leur habitat. La présente recherche vise à déterminer le lien entre la dégradation forestière, la masse et les caractères morphologiques des lémuriens nocturnes de Menabe Sud : Lepilemur ruficaudatus et Microcebus murinus. L’étude a été effectuée dans cinq sites dont deux sites sont des forêts primaires et trois autres sont des forêts perturbées. La capture et la mesure des caractères morphologiques des lémuriens ont été réalisées entre novembre et décembre 2014, puis entre juillet et septembre 2015. Des parcelles botaniques (5m x 5m) ont été utilisées pour décrire les caractéristiques des sites dont l’abondance des arbres, le diamètre à hauteur de poitrine ou la hauteur et le diamètre de la couronne. La masse de M. murinus n’était pas influencée par la saison de capture (P > 0,05), mais elle variait avec le sexe (P < 0,005) et le site (P < 0,001). Tous les caractères morphologiques de M. murinus dans les deux forêts primaires étaient similaires (P > 0,05). Par contre, dans les forêts perturbées, les femelles de M. murinus étaient plus lourdes et avaient des corps plus longs que les mâles (P < 0,05). La masse et la longueur du corps de L. ruficaudatus entre les différents sites étaient similaires (P > 0,05). Comparé à L. ruficaudatus, M. murinus répondrait davantage à la dégradation forestière. Comprendre l’étendue de la réponse morphologique des lémuriens face à la dégradation de leur habitat pourrait être utilisé comme outil pour prioriser leur conservation

Seeing, or Seeing Oneself Seen: Nicholas of Cusa’s Contribution in De visione Dei

Nicholas of Cusa's _De visione Dei sive de Icona_ (1453), in addition to its contribution to the question of the vision of God, engages with numerous debates concerning visibility in general, and thus addresses the dimensions of phenomenality--namely, questions concerning the icon as a type of phenomenon, the reversal of vision into a countervision, the distinction between the object or the nonobject of the seen, and the possibility of seeing the other. Jean-Luc Marion's reading of Cusanus' text examines it in relation to these phenomenological issues, and also examines what it contributes to them

Increased IgG4-Positive Plasma Cells in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: A Diagnostic Pitfall of IgG4-Related Disease

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (GPA) may mimic IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) on histologic examination of some biopsies, especially those from head and neck sites. IgG4 immunostain is often performed in this context for differential diagnosis with IgG4-RD. However, the prevalence of IgG4+ cells in GPA has not been explored. We examined the IgG4+ cells in 26 cases confirmed as GPA by a thorough clinical and pathologic assessment. Twenty-six biopsies consisted of 14 sinonasal/oral cavity/nasopharynx, 7 orbit/periorbital, 3 lung/pleura, 1 iliac fossa/kidney, and 1 dura specimens. Eight of 26 (31%) biopsies revealed increased IgG4+ cells (>30/HPF and >40% in IgG4+/IgG+ ratio). The IgG4+ cells and IgG4+/IgG+ ratio ranged 37–137/hpf and 44–83%, respectively. Eight biopsies with increased IgG4+ cells were from sinonasal (n = 4) or orbital/periorbital (n = 4) sites. In conclusion, increased IgG4+ cells are not uncommonly seen in sinonasal or orbital/periorbital biopsies of GPA, which could pose as a diagnostic pitfall

Rethinking Orgnac 3 in Time and Space: Implications for Reconstructing Neandertal Origins

An important aim in paleoanthropological and archaeological research is to clarify the poorly resolved record of the Middle Pleistocene (MP). Filling in the gaps of the Eurasian MP furthers our understanding of the behavioral and biological evolution of archaic humans, Neanderthals, Denisovans and their ancestors. Orgnac 3, located in Mediterranean France, is particularly suited to address these issues. This paper introduces the site to new readers, summarizes the previous work performed on the site and its material, and offers different views based on new analysis of its faunal material. Based on the currently available evidence, the Orgnac 3 sequence is likely far older than previously thought and might date to OISs 12-8, not only 9-8 as traditionally proposed. The hominin teeth, which have not been described in detail or assigned to a taxon, would date to ~375 - 400,000 years ago, the focal period of the Neandertal/Denisovan/modern human population divergence debate. More accurate and precise analyses of Orgnac 3's paleontological, archaeological and geological material are needed to clarify our understanding of hominin evolution during the MP.L’un des objectifs importants de la recherche paléoanthropologique et archéologique est de clarifier les données qui restent encore mal cernées du Pléistocène moyen (PM). Combler les lacunes du PM eurasiatique nous permet de mieux comprendre l'évolution comportementale et biologique des humains archaïques, des Néandertaliens, des Denisoviens, et de leurs ancêtres. Orgnac 3, situé en France méditerranéenne, est particulièrement adapté pour aborder ces questions. Cet article présente le site à de nouveaux lecteurs, résume les travaux antérieurs réalisés sur le site et son matériel, et propose différents points de vue fondés sur une nouvelle analyse de son matériel faunique. Sur la base des éléments de démonstration actuellement disponibles, il faut envisager que la séquence d'Orgnac 3 soit probablement beaucoup plus ancienne que ce qui est généralement accepté. Cette vaste séquence pourrait ainsi dater des OIS 12-8, et non seulement des OIS 9-8 comme cela a été traditionnellement proposé. Les dents d'homininés, qui n'ont pas été décrites en détail ni assignées à un taxon, dateraient d'environ 375 à 400 000 ans, période centrale du débat sur la divergence entre les populations néandertalienne, dénisovienne et humaine moderne. Des analyses plus exactes et plus précises du matériel paléontologique, archéologique et géologique d'Orgnac 3 sont nécessaires pour clarifier notre compréhension de l'évolution des homininés pendant le PM

Reconsidération d’Orgnac 3 dans le temps et l’espace : implications pour la reconstruction des origines néandertaliennes – version abrégée

L’un des objectifs importants de la recherche paléoanthropologique et archéologique est de clarifier les données qui restent encore mal cernées du Pléistocène moyen (PM). Combler les lacunes du PM eurasiatique nous permet de mieux comprendre l'évolution comportementale et biologique des humains archaïques, des Néandertaliens, des Denisoviens, et de leurs ancêtres. Orgnac 3, situé en France méditerranéenne, est particulièrement adapté pour aborder ces questions. Cet article présente le site à de nouveaux lecteurs, résume les travaux antérieurs réalisés sur le site et son matériel, et propose différents points de vue fondés sur une nouvelle analyse de son matériel faunique. Sur la base des éléments de démonstration actuellement disponibles, il faut envisager que la séquence d'Orgnac 3 soit probablement beaucoup plus ancienne que ce qui est généralement accepté. Cette vaste séquence pourrait ainsi dater des OIS 12-8, et non seulement des OIS 9-8 comme cela a été traditionnellement proposé. Les dents d'homininés, qui n'ont pas été décrites en détail ni assignées à un taxon, dateraient d'environ 375 à 400 000 ans, période centrale du débat sur la divergence entre les populations néandertalienne, dénisovienne et humaine moderne. Des analyses plus exactes et plus précises du matériel paléontologique, archéologique et géologique d'Orgnac 3 sont nécessaires pour clarifier notre compréhension de l'évolution des homininés pendant le PM.An important aim in paleoanthropological and archaeological research is to clarify the poorly resolved record of the Middle Pleistocene (MP). Filling in the gaps of the Eurasian MP furthers our understanding of the behavioral and biological evolution of archaic humans, Neanderthals, Denisovans and their ancestors. Orgnac 3, located in Mediterranean France, is particularly suited to address these issues. This paper introduces the site to new readers, summarizes the previous work performed on the site and its material, and offers different views based on new analysis of its faunal material. Based on the currently available evidence, the Orgnac 3 sequence is likely far older than previously thought and might date to OISs 12-8, not only 9-8 as traditionally proposed. The hominin teeth, which have not been described in detail or assigned to a taxon, would date to ~375 - 400,000 years ago, the focal period of the Neandertal/Denisovan/modern human population divergence debate. More accurate and precise analyses of Orgnac 3's paleontological, archaeological and geological material are needed to clarify our understanding of hominin evolution during the MP

Impact of carbon nanotube length on electron transport in aligned carbon nanotube networks

Here, we quantify the electron transport properties of aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) networks as a function of the CNT length, where the electrical conductivities may be tuned by up to 10× with anisotropies exceeding 40%. Testing at elevated temperatures demonstrates that the aligned CNT networks have a negative temperature coefficient of resistance, and application of the fluctuation induced tunneling model leads to an activation energy of ≈14 meV for electron tunneling at the CNT-CNT junctions. Since the tunneling activation energy is shown to be independent of both CNT length and orientation, the variation in electron transport is attributed to the number of CNT-CNT junctions an electron must tunnel through during its percolated path, which is proportional to the morphology of the aligned CNT network.United States. Army Research Office (contract W911NF-07-D-0004)United States. Army Research Office (contract W911NF-13-D-0001)United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFRL/RX contract FA8650-11-D-5800, Task Order 0003)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (NSF Award No. ECS-0335765)United States. Dept. of Defense (National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

A Self-Consistent Model for Positronium Formation from Helium Atoms

The differential and total cross sections for electron capture by positrons from helium atoms are calculated using a first-order distorted wave theory satisfying the Coulomb boundary conditions. In this formalism a parametric potential is used to describe the electron screening in a consistent and realistic manner. The present procedure is self consistent because (i) it satisfies the correct boundary conditions and post-prior symmetry, and (ii) the potential and the electron binding energies appearing in the transition amplitude are consistent with the wave functions describing the collision system. The results are compared with the other theories and with the available experimental measurements. At the considered range of collision energies, the results agree reasonably well with recent experiments and theories. [Note: This paper will be published on volume 42 of the Brazilian Journal of Physics

Rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair: A multi-centre pilot & feasibility randomised controlled trial (RaCeR)

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a multi-centre randomised controlled trial to compare the clinical and cost-effectiveness of early patient-directed rehabilitation versus standard rehabilitation following surgical repair of the rotator cuff of the shoulder. Design: Two-arm, multi-centre pilot and feasibility randomised controlled trial. Setting: Five National Health Service hospitals in England. Participants: Adults (n = 73) with non-traumatic rotator cuff tears scheduled for repair were recruited and randomly allocated remotely prior to surgery. Interventions: Early patient-directed rehabilitation (n = 37); advised to remove their sling as soon as able and move as symptoms allow. Standard rehabilitation (n = 36); sling immobilisation for four weeks. Measures: (1) Randomisation of 20% or more eligible patients. (2) Difference in time out of sling of 40% or more between groups. (3) Follow-up greater than 70%. Results: 73/185 (39%) potentially eligible patients were randomised. Twenty participants were withdrawn, 11 due to not receiving rotator cuff repair. The between-group difference in proportions of participants who exceeded the cut-off of 222.6 hours out of the sling was 50% (80% CI = 29%, 72%), with the early patient-directed rehabilitation group reporting greater time out of sling. 52/73 (71%) and 52/53 (98%) participants were followed-up at 12 weeks when withdrawals were included and excluded respectively. Eighteen full-thickness re-tears were reported (early patient-directed rehabilitation = 7, standard rehabilitation = 11). Five serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion: A main randomised controlled trial is feasible but would require allocation of participants following surgery to counter the issue of withdrawal due to not receiving surgery

A new Mars Climate Database v5.1

International audienceWhat is the Mars Climate Database? The Mars Climate Database (MCD) is a database of meteorological fields derived from General Circulation Model (GCM) numerical simulations of the Martian atmosphere and validated using available observational data. The MCD includes complementary post-processing schemes such as high spatial resolution interpolation of environmental data and means of reconstructing the variability thereof. The GCM is developed at Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique du CNRS (Paris, France) [1-3] in collaboration with the Open University (UK), the Oxford University (UK) and the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (Spain) with support from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). The MCD is freely distributed and intended to be useful and used in the framework of engineering applications as well as in the context of scientific studies which require accurate knowledge of the state of the Martian atmosphere. The MCD may be accessed either online (in a somewhat simplified form) via an interactive server available at http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr (useful for moderate needs), or from the complete version which includes advanced access and post-processing software (contact [email protected] and/or [email protected] to obtain a free copy). Overview of MCDv5 contents: The MCD provides mean values and statistics of the main meteorological variables (atmospheric temperature, density, pressure and winds) as well as atmospheric composition (including dust and water vapor and ice content), as the GCM from which the datasets are obtained includes water cycle [4-6], chemistry [7,8], and ionosphere [9,10] models. The database extends up to and including the thermosphere[11-13] (~350km). Since the influence of Extreme Ultra Violet (EUV) input from the sun is significant in the latter, 3 EUV scenarios (solar minimum, average and maximum inputs) account for the impact of the various states of the solar cycle

The Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) in girls and women: Developing a conceptual framework for a prevention research agenda

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146323/1/nau23787_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146323/2/nau23787.pd