Body mass estimates of an exceptionally complete Stegosaurus (Ornithischia: Thyreophora): comparing volumetric and linear bivariate mass estimation methods

© 2015 The Authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited. The file attached is the published version of the article

Objective assessment of walking impairments in myotonic dystrophy by means of a wearable technology and a novel severity index

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a genetic inherited autosomal dominant disease characterized by multisystem involvement, including muscle, heart, brain, eye, and endocrine system. Although several methods are available to evaluate muscle strength, endurance, and dexterity, there are no validated outcome measures aimed at objectively evaluating qualitative and quantitative gait alterations. Advantageously, wearable sensing technology has been successfully adopted in objectifying the assessment of motor disabilities in different medical occurrences, so that here we consider the adoption of such technology specifically for DM1. In particular, we measured motor tasks through inertial measurement units on a cohort of 13 DM1 patients and 11 healthy control counterparts. The motor tasks consisted of 16 meters of walking both at a comfortable speed and fast pace. Measured data consisted of plantar-flexion and dorsi-flexion angles assumed by both ankles, so to objectively evidence the footdrop behavior of the DM1 disease, and to define a novel severity index, termed SI-Norm2, to rate the grade of walking impairments. According to the obtained results, our approach could be useful for a more precise stratification of DM1 patients, providing a new tool for a personalized rehabilitation approach

Ulnar dimensions and fossoriality in armadillos

Ulnar dimensions were measured in 14 species of armadillos (Xenarthra: Dasypodidae). An index of fossorial ability (IFA) was constructed, relating the length of the olecranon process to the remaining length of the ulna. For comparative purposes, the same measurements were taken in 14 other species of mostly South American mammals belonging to 3 orders and 11 families. The fossorial habits of these mammals were classified into 3 categories: (1) species mostly cursorial and non-digging; (2) species that often dig, but to which digging plays no essential part in their alimentary strategy and are not burrowers; and (3) species that are burrowers. IFA means of the studied mammal orders were compared using one-way analysis of variance on log-transformed data. Bivariate size allometry between ulnar dimensions and body mass was assessed by fitting (least squares and geometric mean) linear regressions of log-transformed data. It is concluded that the IFA discriminates among the species according to their fossorial habits within orders, but it is not equally useful in distinguishing fossorial species between orders. In armadillos, the relationships between ulnar dimensions and body mass are isometrical. Finally, the IFA is independent of body size.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

I Say “no”. You Say “it Isn't”. About a New Understanding of the Concept of Negation

Introduction: In our opinion there is still confusion about the exact meaning of the term negation. As a consequence of this the importance of negation in the psychotherapeutic work is until now underestimated. Objectives For psychiatrists who work according to Fagioli's human birth theory the concept of negation is fundamental. Negation is a notion that refers to unconscious reality. Aims: The task of the psychiatrist is to identify and to interpret the negation in the deformed dream images during the psychotherapeutic process. Methods: In contrast to an intentional lie, which is communicated through verbal speech, negation corresponds to unconscious thoughts, which we can find in dreams. During sleep a transformation occurs, language is altered and expressed through images. Negation deforms the image. This deformation of the image happens in an unconscious process. This negation distorts the reality of the patient and his ability to interact with the other. Corresponding the relationship will be aggressive/destructive. The only way to identify this deformation is dream interpretation. Results: Through this therapeutic process the patient will be able to intuit and realize instead of negate the positive qualities of the other and integrate these into his reality. Only human interaction that is free from negation enable the patient to overcome the ideo-affective splitting, which allows recovery of positive affects and the possibility of developing evolutive relationships. Conclusions: Only a clarification of the term negation allows a psychotherapeutic process with the aim of developing evolutive relationships

Microwave driven synthesis of narrow bandgap alpha-tin nanoparticles on silicon

This work proposes a microwave-based synthetic route for the preparation of tin nanospheres with a diamond-like a-phase structure on silicon. The main characteristics of the synthesized material are an extraordinarily narrow (around 50 meV) direct bandgap and an improved thermal stability (up to 200° C). Structural and compositional characterizations showed a core–shell structure comprised of an outer amorphous oxide shell and inner core containing a-phase tin domains. Microwaves turned out to be instrumental in achieving the specific nanostructures reported, due to their peculiar heating characteristics. Low pressure, low temperature and compatibility with integrated circuits manufacturing represent the most innovative features of the present synthetic process

Klebsiella pneumoniae is able to trigger epithelial-mesenchymal transition process in cultured airway epithelial cells

The ability of some bacterial pathogens to activate Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition normally is a consequence of the persistence of a local chronic inflammatory response or depends on a direct interaction of the pathogens with the host epithelial cells. In this study we monitored the abilities of the K. pneumoniae to activate the expression of genes related to EMT-like processes and the occurrence of phenotypic changes in airway epithelial cells during the early steps of cell infection. We describe changes in the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and increased HIF-1α mRNA expression in cells exposed to K. pneumoniae infection. We also describe the upregulation of a set of transcription factors implicated in the EMT processes, such as Twist, Snail and ZEB, indicating that the morphological changes of epithelial cells already appreciable after few hours from the K. pneumoniae infection are tightly regulated by the activation of transcriptional pathways, driving epithelial cells to EMT. These effects appear to be effectively counteracted by resveratrol, an antioxidant that is able to exert a sustained scavenging of the intracellular ROS. This is the first report indicating that strains of K. pneumoniae may promote EMT-like programs through direct interaction with epithelial cells without the involvement of inflammatory cells

iCollections – Digitising the British and Irish Butterflies in the Natural History Museum, London

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The attached file is the published version of the article.NHM Repositor

Toward A Quantitative Evaluation of the Fall Risk Using the Fusion of Inertial Signals and Electromyography with Wearable Sensors

Freezing of Gait (FOG) is an unpredictable gait disorder typical of Parkinson's Disease (PD). The main goals of this work are detecting FOG episodes, classifying FOG subtypes and analyzing the leg muscles activity toward a deeper insight into the disorder pathophysiology and in the associated risk of fall. Fusion of inertial and electromyographic signals in our wearable system allows distinguishing correctly 98.4% of FOG episodes and monitoring in free-living conditions the activity type and intensity of leg antagonist muscles involved in FOG. This is an advancement in the state-of-art knowledge of PD pathophysiology, possibly allowing the implementation of current therapeutic strategies

Comparison of emissivity Evaluation Methods For Infrared Sources

ABSTRACT This paper starts with a back to basics review of the definition of blackbody emissivity, how it is measured and how it is specified. Infrared source vendors provide emissivity specifications for their blackbodies and source plates, but there is fine print associated with their declarations. While there is an industry agreement concerning the definition of emissivity, the data sheets for blackbodies and source plates are not consistent in how they base their claims. Generally, there are two types of emissivity specifications published in data sheets; one based on design properties of the source and thermometric calibration, and another based on an equivalent radiometric calibrated emissivity. The paper details how the source properties including geometry, surface treatment, and coatings are characterized and result in an emissivity value by design. The other approach is that the emissivity can be claimed to be essentially 100% when measured directly with a radiometer. An argument is derived to show that as the optical parameters of the unit under test and the radiometer diverge, the less useful an equivalent radiometric emissivity claim is. Also discussed, is under what test conditions the absolute emissivity does not matter. Further suggestions on how to achieve the clearest comparative emissivity specifications are presented