The endocranial morphology and inner ear of the abelisaurid theropod Aucasaurus garridoi

A partial cranial endocast and right inner ear of the Cretaceous abelisaurid dinosaur Aucasaurus garridoi were digitally reconstructed from CT scans. The forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain resemble the morphology described for the abelisaurids Majungasaurus and Indosaurus. However, Aucasaurus exhibits a floccular process that is relatively larger than that of Majungasaurus. In Aucasaurus the flocculus is enclosed in an 8-shaped floccular recess, similar in shape and size to that observed in Abelisaurus, suggesting that the two Patagonian taxa were capable of a slightly wider range of movements of the head. Here we describe the second inner ear known for the Abelisauridae. The labyrinth of the inner ear is similar in shape and size to the semicircular canals of Majungasaurus, although the lateral semicircular canal is shorter in Aucasaurus.Fil: Paulina Carabajal, Ariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Provincia del Neuquén. Municipalidad de Plaza Huincul. Museo ; ArgentinaFil: Succar, Cecilia Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Provincia del Neuquén. Municipalidad de Plaza Huincul. Museo ; Argentin

Using Wittgenstein’s family resemblance principle to learn exemplars

The introduction of the notion of family resemblance represented a major shift in Wittgenstein’s thoughts on the meaning of words, moving away from a belief that words were well defined, to a view that words denoted less well defined categories of meaning. This paper presents the use of the notion of family resemblance in the area of machine learning as an example of the benefits that can accrue from adopting the kind of paradigm shift taken by Wittgenstein. The paper presents a model capable of learning exemplars using the principle of family resemblance and adopting Bayesian networks for a representation of exemplars. An empirical evaluation is presented on three data sets and shows promising results that suggest that previous assumptions about the way we categories need reopening

Macro-BIM adoption: Conceptual structures

Building Information Modelling (BIM) concepts and workflows continue to proliferate within organisations, through project teams, and across the whole construction industry. However, both BIM implementation and BIM diffusion are yet to be reliably assessed at market scale. Insufficient research has been conducted to date towards identifying the conceptual structures that would explain and encourage large-scale BIM adoption. This paper introduces a number of macro-adoption models, matrices and charts (Fig. 1). These models can be used to systematically assess BIM adoption across markets, and inform the structured development of country-specific BIM adoption policies. This research is published in two complementary papers combining conceptual structures with data collected from experts across a number of countries. The first paper “Macro-BIM adoption: conceptual structures” delimits the terms used, reviews applicable diffusion models, and clarifies the research methodology. It then introduces five new conceptual constructs for assessing macro-BIM adoption and informing the development of market-scale BIM diffusion policies. The second paper “Macro-BIM adoption: comparative market analysis” employs these concepts and tools to evaluate BIM adoption and analyse BIM diffusion policies across a number of countries. Using online questionnaires and structured interviews, it applies the models, refines the conceptual tools and develops additional assessment metrics. The two papers are complementary and primarily intended to assist policy makers and domain researchers to analyse, develop and improve BIM diffusion policies

Spin wave excitations in a nanowire spin-torque oscillator with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Spin torque oscillators (STOs) are emerging microwave devices that can potentially be used in spin-logic devices and the next-generation high-speed computing architecture. Thanks to their non-linear nature, STOs are easily tunable by the magnetic field and the dc current. Spin Hall nano-oscillators (SHNOs) are promising types of STOs and most of the current studies focus on localized modes that can be easily excited. Here, we study using micromagnetic simulations, the nature of the spin-torque-induced excitations in nanowire devices made of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) material. Our results showed that upon including PMA the excitation of localized and propagating spin wave modes is feasible. We study the nature of the mode excitations as a function of the PMA strength (\text{K}$_u$), and the current. Indeed, we estimate a critical value of \text{K}$_u$ to allow for the excitation of the propagating spin wave. We attribute this mode selectivity between localized and propagating modes to a switch in the sign of the nonlinearity of the system from negative to positive at a non-zero \text{K}$_u$ which is supported by analytical calculations. Our results provide deep insight into engineering reconfigurable microwave devices for future magnonic and computational applications

A Proposed Approach To Comparing the BIM Maturity of Countries

BIM concepts and tools have now proliferated across the construction industry. This is evidenced by the comparative results of BIM adoption rates reported through a number of industry surveys. However these surveys typically cover a small number of industry stakeholders; are intended to establish adoption rates by organizations rather than markets; and are unsupported by theoretical frameworks to guide data collection and analysis. Based on a published theoretical framework, this paper proposes three metrics to augment survey data and help establish the overall BIM maturity of countries. These metrics apply to noteworthy BIM publications (NBP)s and assess their BIM knowledge content (BKC). NBPs are publically-available industry documents intended to facilitate BIM adoption; while BKCs are specialized labels (e.g. report, manual, and contract) used to describe NBP contents. The three metrics - NBP availability, NBP content distribution, and NBP relevance - are applied in assessing the knowledge deliverables of three countries - United States, United Kingdom and Australia - chosen for their similar construction culture and active BIM scene. The paper then discusses how these complementary metrics can inform policy development and identify market-wide knowledge gaps

Electrocardiographic Characteristics of Ventricular Arrhythmia Originating from the Left Coronary Cusp

Aortic cusps originating arrhythmias are rare; they have special electrocardiogram features that help to locate the site of origin. We report on a 20-year-old male patient without structural heart disease presenting with accelerated idioventricular rhythm; electrocardiogram analysis was typical of left coronary cusp origin

Macro-BIM adoption study: establishing Nigeria's BIM maturity.

Construction Industry in Nigeria has since required a disruptive technology to change its construction business and improve its capabilities and productivity. As an on-going research (PhD work) to developing a strategy for an effective Building Information Modelling (BIM) adoption in Nigeria, a macro-BIM adoption study was carried out to establish BIM maturity within the Nigerian construction market. Online questionnaire was used as tool for data collection from the professional stakeholders in the industry. In the process to formulate a National BIM Roadmap, five conceptual macro-BIM maturity models were utilized. The models’ findings act as a guide in developing a national BIM adoption policy. The five applied models helped classify the macro maturity components and the key policies’ deliverables that must be addressed within both the initiation and consultation phases of proposing the Nigerian BIM roadmap. The results established positive progress in awareness and adoption level compared to the 2017 survey. Recommendations are made based on the study findings as to advance into policy development

Thalassemia and Venous Thromboembolism

Although the life expectancy of thalassemia patients has markedly improved over the last few decades, patients still suffer from many complications of this congenital disease. The presence of a high incidence of thromboembolic events, mainly in thalassemia intermedia, has led to the identification of a hypercoagulable state in these patients. In this review, the molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to hypercoagulability in thalassemia are highlighted, with a special focus on thalassemia intermedia being the group with the highest incidence of thrombotic events as compared to other types of thalassemia. Clinical experience and available clues on optimal management are also discussed

Aplicación de la metodología de producción más limpia en el sector metalmecánico de la ciudad de Cartagena

En el presente estudio se describe una guía para la implementación de la metodología de Producción más Limpia en las empresas del sector metalmecánico. Capitulo por capitulo se explican cada una de las fases que conforman esta metodología. El recorrido inicia en la concepción de la idea del estudio a realizar así como las razones que motivaron su elaboración. A continuación se realizó un diagnóstico del sector metalmecánico de la ciudad de Cartagena para evaluar el grado de homogeneidad entre las empresas que lo conforman y los problemas que la atacan; de esta evaluación se escogió una empresa para ser empleada como prueba piloto. Luego se realizó un análisis de los procesos productivos con el fin de identificar los puntos críticos contaminantes y determinar su impacto ambiental. Una vez identificados estos puntos se llevó a cabo un análisis detallado de los procesos involucrados en ellos mediante de diagramas de recorrido, cursogramas analíticos, balances de materia, entre otros, con el fin de generar un portafolio de posibles soluciones para los problemas del sector metalmecánico.Incluye bibliografí

Effect of Exercise Interventions on Fatigue for Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of different exercise interventions on fatigue in patients with breast cancer undergoing active therapy. We found that exercise generally improves fatigue outcomes at 12 weeks after initiation of the exercise intervention. Aerobic exercise intervention improved fatigue, but anaerobic and combination regimens did not show improvement compared to controls. Moreover, no exercise intensity was found to be superior compared to controls. Our findings revealed that there is a need for standardization of exercise regimens in studies in order to identify the most effective exercise regimen