Paleobiogeographic evolution and distribution of Carcharodontosauridae (Dinosauria, Theropoda) during the middle Cretaceous of North Africa

Abstract Over the last few decades, the systematics and evolution of carcharodontosaurids, a group of large predatory dinosaurs, from North Africa have been better understood mainly due the discovery of new species. We review this record here and discuss its importance for understanding the evolution and ecology of these dinosaurs. North Africa has one of the best records of carcharodontosaurid species. These species show dietary specializations and paleogeographic distributions similar to other top predatory theropods such as Abelisauridae and Spinosauridae. However, carcharodontosaurids have a wider distribution than other large theropods. The middle Cretaceous of North Africa was characterized by the niche overlap between large predators. This evidence increases our understanding of the evolution of Carcharodontosauridae in a highly competitive region, a conjuncture rarely reported for large top predators

HISTOLOGIA DE DENTES (DINOSAURIA E CROCODYLOMORPHA) E OSSOS FRAGMENTADOS DO NEOCRETÁCEO DO PONTAL DO TRIÂNGULO MINEIRO E OESTE DE SÃO PAULO

Os estudos histológicos de dentes e ossos de vertebrados extintos têm permitido o avanço no conhecimento sobre aspectos da sua fisiologia, crescimento e ecologia. Neste trabalho são descritos e analisados cortes histológicos de dentes de dinossauro e crocodilomorfo, além de ossos fragmentados indeterminados, provenientes do Pontal do Triângulo Mineiro e oeste de São Paulo.  As microestruturas dentárias observadas incluem os túbulos dentinários e zonas opacas na dentina provavelmente originadas durante o processo tafonômico ou ação de microorganismos. A estrutura da dentina do dente de crocodilomorfo se apresentou mais preservada e foi possível identificar as linhas de von Ebner e uma linha interpretada como a linha de “contorno de Owen”. Os cortes histológicos dos ossos fragmentados também permitiram a observação e descrição da sua microestrutura, indicando que a metodologia de cortes histológicos utilizada é adequada para o estudo vertebrados fósseis provenientes do Neocretáceo do Brasil

Novel track morphotypes from new tracksites indicate increased Middle Jurassic dinosaur diversity on the Isle of Skye, Scotland

Dinosaur fossils from the Middle Jurassic are rare globally, but the Isle of Skye (Scotland, UK) preserves a varied dinosaur record of abundant trace fossils and rare body fossils from this time. Here we describe two new tracksites from Rubha nam Brathairean (Brothers’ Point) near where the first dinosaur footprint in Scotland was found in the 1980s. These sites were formed in subaerially exposed mudstones of the Lealt Shale Formation of the Great Estuarine Group and record a dynamic, subtropical, coastal margin. These tracksites preserve a wide variety of dinosaur track types, including a novel morphotype for Skye: Deltapodus which has a probable stegosaur trackmaker. Additionally, a wide variety of tridactyl tracks shows evidence of multiple theropods of different sizes and possibly hints at the presence of large-bodied ornithopods. Overall, the new tracksites show the dinosaur fauna of Skye is more diverse than previously recognized and give insight into the early evolution of major dinosaur groups whose Middle Jurassic body fossil records are currently sparse

LaMMos - Latching Mechanism based on Motorized-screw for Reconfigurable Robots and Exoskeleton Suits

Reconfigurable robots refer to a category of robots that their components (individual joints and links) can be assembled in multiple configurations and geometries. Most of existing latching mechanisms are based on physical tools such as hooks, cages or magnets, which limit the payload capacity. Therefore, robots re- quire a latching mechanism which can help to reconfigure itself without sacrificing the payload capability. This paper presents a latching mechanism based on the flexible screw attaching principle. In which, actuators are used to move the robot links and joints while connecting them with a motorized-screw and dis- connecting them by unfastening the screw. The brackets used in our mechanism configuration helps to hold maximum force up to 5000N. The LaMMos - Latching Mechanism based on Motorized- screw has been applied to the DeWaLoP - Developing Water Loss Prevention in-pipe robot. It helps the robot to shrink its body to crawl into the pipe with minimum diameter, by recon- figuring the leg positions. And it helps to recover the legs positions to original status once the robot is inside the pipe. Also, LaMMos add stiffness to the robot legs by dynamically integrate them to the structure. Additionally, we present an application of the LaMMos mechanism to exoskeleton suits, for easing the mo- tors from the joints when carrying heavy weights for long periods of time. This mechanism offers many interesting opportunities for robotics research in terms of functionality, pay- load and size.Comment: 14 pages, 15 figure

Isolated theropod teeth from the Upper Cretaceous of Goias State (Brazil): northernmost occurrence of Abelisauridae from the Bauru Basin

Dinosaur fossils are becoming increasingly well-known from the Bauru Basin of Brazil, and represent some of the last occurring dinosaurs in South America before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. However, sampling across the basin is not uniform, and comparatively little is known about the fossils from the northern part of the basin. Our fieldwork team discovered two isolated and well-preserved ziphodont theropod teeth from northern basin strata of the Maastrichtian Marília Formation of the south of the state of Goiás. We here identify them using quantitative analysis of morphometric data and comparisons to teeth previously described in the literature. Our comparisons and analyses indicate that they can be assigned to Abelisauridae. These specimens have little evident crown enamel ornamentation, a characteristic widely present in the teeth of theropods from the Southern Hemisphere. The materials described here are the northernmost Bauru Basin abelisaurids reported so far, demonstrating that these carnivorous dinosaurs were important faunal components across the extent of the basin, as they were in other regions of South America

Avanços nas Técnicas de Cirurgia Geral e Plástica para Correção de Fissura Palatina: Uma Revisão Sistemática

This article aims to evaluate advances in surgical techniques for the correction of cleft palate, highlighting the associated benefits and challenges. The specific objectives include identifying and describing the latest techniques, assessing their effectiveness in improving speech, comparing recovery times and complications, studying the success rate in preventing postoperative complications, and examining the need for complementary interventions such as speech therapy. The methodology used was a descriptive and qualitative bibliographic review, analyzing studies published between 2009 and 2024, in Portuguese and English. The databases consulted were PubMed, Scielo, and Google Scholar. The analysis focused on the effectiveness of surgical techniques in improving speech function, reducing recovery times, preventing postoperative complications, and evaluating the need for complementary interventions. The results indicate that recent advances, such as endoscopic surgery and the use of dynamic tension devices, have shown significant benefits, including less tissue trauma, reduced scarring, and better functional and aesthetic outcomes. Additionally, robotic surgery and 3D printing have contributed to personalized surgical planning, resulting in more precise and predictable procedures. Techniques such as Furlow and Bardach present higher success rates in speech correction and prevention of postoperative complications. The conclusion highlights the critical importance of surgical techniques for the correction of cleft palate, evidencing significant advances and associated challenges. Early surgical correction is essential to restore palate integrity, promoting improvements in speech, feeding, hearing, and facial aesthetics. A multidisciplinary approach involving surgeons, speech therapists, orthodontists, and other healthcare professionals is fundamental to ensure the best long-term outcomes for patients with cleft palate. Continued research in this area is crucial to enhance treatment strategies, ensure the safety and efficacy of procedures, and improve patients' quality of life.Este artigo tem como objetivo geral avaliar os avanços nas técnicas cirúrgicas para a correção de fissura palatina, destacando os benefícios e desafios associados. Os objetivos específicos incluem identificar e descrever as técnicas mais recentes, avaliar sua eficácia na melhora da fala, comparar tempos de recuperação e complicações, estudar a taxa de sucesso na prevenção de complicações pós-operatórias e examinar a necessidade de intervenções complementares, como fonoaudiologia. A metodologia utilizada foi uma revisão bibliográfica descritiva e qualitativa, analisando estudos publicados entre 2009 e 2024, em português e inglês. As bases de dados consultadas foram PubMed, Scielo e Google Scholar. A análise focou na eficácia das técnicas cirúrgicas em melhorar a função da fala, reduzir tempos de recuperação, prevenir complicações pós-operatórias e avaliar a necessidade de intervenções complementares. Os resultados indicam que os avanços recentes, como a cirurgia endoscópica e a utilização de dispositivos de tensão dinâmica, têm mostrado benefícios significativos, incluindo menor trauma tecidual, cicatrizes reduzidas e melhores resultados funcionais e estéticos. Além disso, a cirurgia robótica e a impressão 3D têm contribuído para o planejamento cirúrgico personalizado, resultando em procedimentos mais precisos e previsíveis. Técnicas como a de Furlow e a de Bardach apresentam melhores taxas de sucesso na correção da fala e na prevenção de complicações pós-operatórias. A conclusão destaca a importância crítica das técnicas cirúrgicas para a correção da fissura palatina, evidenciando os avanços significativos e os desafios associados. A correção cirúrgica precoce é essencial para restaurar a integridade do palato, promovendo melhorias na fala, alimentação, audição e estética facial. A abordagem multidisciplinar envolvendo cirurgiões, fonoaudiólogos, ortodontistas e outros profissionais de saúde é fundamental para garantir os melhores resultados a longo prazo para pacientes com fissura palatina. A continuidade de pesquisas nesta área é crucial para aprimorar as estratégias de tratamento, garantir a segurança e eficácia dos procedimentos e melhorar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. &nbsp

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost