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

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

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

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

Pretargeted adjuvant radioimmunotherapy with Yttrium-90-biotin in malignant glioma patients: A pilot study

In a previous study we applied a three-step avidin–biotin pretargeting approach to target 90Y-biotin to the tumour in patients with recurrent high grade glioma. The encouraging results obtained in this phase I–II study prompted us to apply the same approach in an adjuvant setting, to evaluate (i) time to relapse and (ii) overall survival. We enrolled 37 high grade glioma patients, 17 with grade III glioma and 20 with glioblastoma, in a controlled open non-randomized study. All patients received surgery and radiotherapy and were disease-free by neuroradiological examinations. Nineteen patients (treated) received adjuvant treatment with radioimmunotherapy. In the treated glioblastoma patients, median disease-free interval was 28 months (range=9–59); median survival was 33.5 months and one patient is still without evidence of disease. All 12 control glioblastoma patients died after a median survival from diagnosis of 8 months. In the treated grade III glioma patients median disease-free interval was 56 months (range=15–60) and survival cannot be calculated as only two, within this group, died. Three-step radioimmunotherapy promises to have an important role as adjuvant treatment in high grade gliomas, particularly in glioblastoma where it impedes progression, prolonging time to relapse and overall survival. A further randomized trial is justified

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

Speeds of dinosaurs from the Albian-Cenomanian of Patagonia and sauropod stance and gait

Estimates of locomotory speeds of small to large-sized Patagonian dinosaurs are presented for the first time. These estimates are inferred from trackways found on fine to coarse-grained brown sandstones located in the lower section of the Candeleros Member of the Río Limay Formation (Albian-Cenomanian), Neuquén Province, Argentina. The method used is based on the measurement of the stride length (distance between two successive prints of the same foot) and of the length of the hindfoot print, which in turn, allows us to estimate the height at the hip joint and, therefore, the approximate size of the animal. The hypothesis of dynamic similarity implies that the movements of geometrically similar animals, although of different sizes, are dynamically similar only when they move with the same Froude number. The dynamically similar movements (i.e., those with equal Froude number) require equal values of relative stride length (ratio between the stride length and the hip joint height). The relationship between the relative stride length and the Froude number allows us to estimate the speeds of dinosaurs. The dinosaurian ichnofauna studied reveals low speeds that range from 0.5 to 2.6 m s⁻¹. Our analyses show that the sauropods responsible for these trackways were either walking very slowly in a bipedal stance or alternatively they were progressing quadrupedally on a slippery surface

A new approach to evaluate the cursorial ability of the giant theropod Giganotosaurus carolinii

The cursorial capability of the South American giant theropod Giganotosaurus carolinii should have been quite limited taking into account the strength indicator of its femur (approximately 7 GPa⁻¹) as well as the risk of experiencing grave or even lethal injuries involved in the falling of this multitonne animal on a run. However, even at low speeds a fall would have caused serious injuries. Thus, in accordance to the approach developed in this study, the maximum speed of Giganotosaurus should be not that which will implicate corporal lesions with minimum probability of lethalness. Instead, its maximum speed should be that which would permit the recovery of body equilibrium as each step is taken. Taking into consideration this approach, an indicator of stability is defined for bipedal, cursorial animals. This indicator is determined by the relationship between the time available for the movement of hip joint during the retraction of a hindlimb and the time needed to move the opposite hindlimb by an angle (in function of the speed) of sufficient magnitude as to facilitate the recovery of body equilibrium. This indicator was used to estimate the maximum speed of locomotion of Giganotosaurus (about 14 m s⁻¹) at which, from a kinematic point of view, the danger of falling does not exist

Thin-Film Photodetectors for the Ultraviolet and Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectral Range

In this paper we report about thin film photodetectors optimized for the detection of the vacuum ultraviolet. The devi'ces are based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon and silicon carbide p-i -n heterostruclUres on glass substrate. At room temperature the photodetectors exhibit values of quantum efficiency of 52 % at 1..=58.4 nm, I % at 1..=400 nm, and 0.1 % at 1..=650 nm. The time response at ultraviolet pulses from an N2 laser gives signals with 6 Ils full wid£h half maximum and 500 ns rise time. Stability of the device is presently affected by light activation of boron dopant occurs in the p-Iayer under U V illumination and ihas been investigated by a simple equivalent circuit of the structure. The effect can be minimized by optimization on the electrode geometry. The devices are suitable for integration in low-cost, large-area arrays