In and out of Madagascar : dispersal to peripheral islands, insular speciation and diversification of Indian Ocean daisy trees (Psiadia, Asteraceae)

This study was supported by the European Union’s HOTSPOTS Training Network (MEST-2005-020561)Madagascar is surrounded by archipelagos varying widely in origin, age and structure. Although small and geologically young, these archipelagos have accumulated disproportionate numbers of unique lineages in comparison to Madagascar, highlighting the role of waif-dispersal and rapid in situ diversification processes in generating endemic biodiversity. We reconstruct the evolutionary and biogeographical history of the genus Psiadia (Asteraceae), a plant genus with near equal numbers of species in Madagascar and surrounding islands. Analyzing patterns and processes of diversification, we explain species accumulation on peripheral islands and aim to offer new insights on the origin and potential causes for diversification in the Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands biodiversity hotspot. Our results provide support for an African origin of the group, with strong support for non-monophyly. Colonization of the Mascarenes took place by two evolutionary distinct lineages from Madagascar, via two independent dispersal events, each unique for their spatial and temporal properties. Significant shifts in diversification rate followed regional expansion, resulting in co-occurring and phenotypically convergent species on high-elevation volcanic slopes. Like other endemic island lineages, Psiadia have been highly successful in dispersing to and radiating on isolated oceanic islands, typified by high habitat diversity and dynamic ecosystems fuelled by continued geological activity. Results stress the important biogeographical role for Rodrigues in serving as an outlying stepping stone from which regional colonization took place. We discuss how isolated volcanic islands contribute to regional diversity by generating substantial numbers of endemic species on short temporal scales. Factors pertaining to the mode and tempo of archipelago formation and its geographical isolation strongly govern evolutionary pathways available for species diversification, and the potential for successful diversification of dispersed lineages, therefore, appears highly dependent on the timing of arrival, as habitat and resource properties change dramatically over the course of oceanic island evolution.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Hierarchical Equations of Motion Approach to Quantum Thermodynamics

We present a theoretical framework to investigate quantum thermodynamic processes under non-Markovian system-bath interactions on the basis of the hierarchical equations of motion (HEOM) approach, which is convenient to carry out numerically "exact" calculations. This formalism is valuable because it can be used to treat not only strong system-bath coupling but also system-bath correlation or entanglement, which will be essential to characterize the heat transport between the system and quantum heat baths. Using this formalism, we demonstrated an importance of the thermodynamic effect from the tri-partite correlations (TPC) for a two-level heat transfer model and a three-level autonomous heat engine model under the conditions that the conventional quantum master equation approaches are failed. Our numerical calculations show that TPC contributions, which distinguish the heat current from the energy current, have to be take into account to satisfy the thermodynamic laws.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures. As a chapter of: F. Binder, L. A. Correa, C. Gogolin, J. Anders, and G. Adesso (eds.), "Thermodynamics in the quantum regime - Recent Progress and Outlook", (Springer International Publishing

The “invisible cholecystectomy”: A transumbilical laparoscopic operation without a scar

Background Looking to further reduce the operative trauma of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, we developed, in patients with no history of cholecystitis and a normal BMI, a scarless operation through the umbilicus. The operative technique, along with the results of the first 10 patients operated in this way, are fully described. Methods 10 female patients underwent transumbilical scarless laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Through the umbilicus, two trocars of 5 mm were introduced parallel to another with a bridge of fascia between them (one for the 5-mm laparoscope and the other for the grasper). With the help of one 1-mm Kirschner wire, introduced at the subcostal line and bent with a special designed device, the gallbladder was pulled up and the triangle of Callot was dissected free, clipped, cut, and the gallbladder was subsequently resected. Finally the gallbladder was taken out through the umbilicus and the umbilicus reconstructed. Results 10 female patients, mean age 36 years (range: 31–49), mean body mass index (BMI) 23 (range: 20–26), after one attack (six patients) or a second attack (four patients) and cholelithiasis confirmed by ultrasonography with no suspicion of inflammation were included in this preliminary study. Mean operative time was 70 minutes (range: 65–85) with no conversions; hospital stay was less than 24 hours with no complications. Conclusion Looking to reduce operative trauma and improve the cosmetic result following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a transumbilical operative technique has been developed. Results of the operative procedure in a selected group of patients are encouraging with no signs of inflammation and normal BMI. The umbilicus can be developed as a natural port for performing various operative procedures with the help of the traction produced by thin Kirschner wires

Quantum Fluctuation Theorems

Recent advances in experimental techniques allow one to measure and control systems at the level of single molecules and atoms. Here gaining information about fluctuating thermodynamic quantities is crucial for understanding nonequilibrium thermodynamic behavior of small systems. To achieve this aim, stochastic thermodynamics offers a theoretical framework, and nonequilibrium equalities such as Jarzynski equality and fluctuation theorems provide key information about the fluctuating thermodynamic quantities. We review the recent progress in quantum fluctuation theorems, including the studies of Maxwell's demon which plays a crucial role in connecting thermodynamics with information.Comment: As a chapter of: F. Binder, L. A. Correa, C. Gogolin, J. Anders, and G. Adesso (eds.), "Thermodynamics in the quantum regime - Fundamental Aspects and New Directions", (Springer International Publishing, 2018

The reaction coordinate mapping in quantum thermodynamics

We present an overview of the reaction coordinate approach to handling strong system-reservoir interactions in quantum thermodynamics. This technique is based on incorporating a collective degree of freedom of the reservoir (the reaction coordinate) into an enlarged system Hamiltonian (the supersystem), which is then treated explicitly. The remaining residual reservoir degrees of freedom are traced out in the usual perturbative manner. The resulting description accurately accounts for strong system-reservoir coupling and/or non-Markovian effects over a wide range of parameters, including regimes in which there is a substantial generation of system-reservoir correlations. We discuss applications to both discrete stroke and continuously operating heat engines, as well as perspectives for additional developments. In particular, we find narrow regimes where strong coupling is not detrimental to the performance of continuously operating heat engines.Comment: 17 pages, 2 tables, 7 figures. As a chapter of: F. Binder, L. A. Correa, C. Gogolin, J. Anders, and G. Adesso (eds.), "Thermodynamics in the quantum regime - Recent Progress and Outlook", (Springer International Publishing

Second law, entropy production, and reversibility in thermodynamics of information

We present a pedagogical review of the fundamental concepts in thermodynamics of information, by focusing on the second law of thermodynamics and the entropy production. Especially, we discuss the relationship among thermodynamic reversibility, logical reversibility, and heat emission in the context of the Landauer principle and clarify that these three concepts are fundamentally distinct to each other. We also discuss thermodynamics of measurement and feedback control by Maxwell's demon. We clarify that the demon and the second law are indeed consistent in the measurement and the feedback processes individually, by including the mutual information to the entropy production.Comment: 43 pages, 10 figures. As a chapter of: G. Snider et al. (eds.), "Energy Limits in Computation: A Review of Landauer's Principle, Theory and Experiments

A computational study of the effect of windscreen shape and flow resistivity on turbulent wind noise reduction

This is the published version. Copyright 2011 Acoustical Society of AmericaIn this paper, numerical simulations are used to study the turbulentwind noise reduction effect of microphone windscreens with varying shapes and flow resistivities. Typical windscreen shapes consisting of circular, elliptical, and rectangular cylinders are investigated. A turbulent environment is generated by placing a solid circular cylinder upstream of the microphone. An immersed-boundary method with a fifth-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory scheme is implemented to enhance the simulation accuracy for high-Reynolds number flow around the solid cylinder as well as at the interface between the open air and the porous material comprising the windscreen. The Navier–Stokes equations for incompressible flow are solved in the open air. For the flow inside the porous material, a modified form of the Zwikker–Kosten equation is solved. The results show that, on average, the circular and horizontal ellipse windscreens have similar overall wind noise reduction performance, while the horizontal ellipse windscreen with medium flow resistivity provides the most effective wind noise reduction among all the considered cases. The vertical ellipse windscreen with high flow resistivity, in particular, increases the wind noise because of increased self-generation of turbulence

Prognostic Utility of Albumin-Bilirubin Grade for Short- and Long-Term Outcomes Following Hepatic Resection for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: a Multi-Institutional Analysis of 706 Patients

Background: The objective of the current study was to define the impact of albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade on short- as well as long-term outcomes among patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Methods: Patients who underwent hepatectomy for ICC between 1990 and 2016 were identified using an international multi-institutional database. Clinicopathologic factors including ALBI score were assessed using bivariate and multivariable analyses, as well as standard survival analyses. Results: Among 706 patients, 453 (64.2%) patients had ALBI grade 1, 231 (32.7%) ALBI grade 2, and 22 (3.1%) had ALBI grade 3. After adjusting for all competing factors, patients with ALBI grade 2/3 had higher odds of a prolonged length-of-stay (>10 days, odds ratio [OR] = 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.47-3.80), perioperative transfusion (OR = 2.15, 95% CI:1.45-3.18) and 90-day mortality (OR = 2.50, 95% CI:1.16-5.38). Median and 5-year overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 41.5 months (IQR:15.7-107.8) and 39.8%, respectively. Of note, median OS incrementally worsened with increased ALBI grade: grade 1, 49.6 months (IQR:18.3-NR) vs grade 2, 29.6 months (IQR:12.6-98.4) vs grade 3, 16.9 months (IQR:6.5-32.4; P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, higher ALBI grade remained associated with higher hazards of death (grade 2/3: hazard ratio = 1.36, 95% CI:1.04-1.78). Conclusion: The ALBI score was associated with both short- and long-term outcomes following resection for ICC and could prove a useful surrogate marker to identify patients at risk for adverse outcomes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Group B Streptococcal Endocarditis in Obstetric and Gynecologic Practice

Background: We describe a case and review ten other instances of group B streptococcal endocarditis in the setting of obstetric and gynecologic practice reported since the last review in 1985. Case: Abortion remains a common antecedent event, but in contrast to earlier reports, most patients did not have underlying valvular disease, the tricuspid valve was most often involved, and mortality was low. Patients with tricuspid valve infection tended to have a subacute course, whereas those with aortic or mitral involvement typically had a more acute, fulminant course. Conclusion: Despite an improvement in mortality, morbidity remains high, with 8 of 11 patients having clinically significant emboli