Interpreting the diet of extinct ruminants: the case of a non-browsing giraffid

Modern ruminant species have traditionally been placed in three broad dietary categories (browsers, grazers and intermediates) based on their observed feeding habits. Shape analysis of premaxillary outlines of 31 species of ruminants shows that their premaxillae differ according to their dietary category. Browsers have pointed premaxillae and grazers square ones. Intermediate feeders have intermediate outlines.The Miocene giraffid Samotherium boissieri has always been viewed as a specialized browser similar to the modern okapi, Okapia johnstoni. However, the premaxillary shape of S. boissieri falls very close to the mean of the grazers and is most similar to that of the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), a committed grazer.Quantitative analyses of the microscopic wear patterns on the molars reveal significant differences between three modern species from the three dietary groups. S. boissieri has more microscopic scratches on its teeth than either the modern giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis (a browser) or Grant's gazelle Gazella granti (an intermediate feeder). In this respect, it is indistinguishable from the wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus which is a committed grazer.Both of these analyses suggest that this extinct giraffid was a grazer, although we cannot rule out the possibility that it was an intermediate feeder. It was definitely not a specialized browser as are both living members of the Giraffidae.

Download Full-text

Effectiveness of adenotonsillectomy in improving of nocturnal enuresis in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy

International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.26452/ijrps.v9ispl1.1289 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (SPL1) ◽

Author(s):

Kassim R Dekhil ◽

Ali abd-almer Jwad ◽

Abbas Alyasiry

Keyword(s):

Teaching Hospital ◽

Nocturnal Enuresis ◽

Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy ◽

Number Of Children ◽

The Mean ◽

Childhood Condition ◽

Rule Out

Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is an old & common childhood condition. It has been found that,there is a relationship between adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children & nocturnal enuresis. This study was conducted to see the effects of adenotonsillectomy on nocturnal enuresis in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.This study was conducted in Diwaniyah teaching hospital,Diwaniyah city,Iraq from May 2012 to August 2014. The total number of children admitted for adenotonsillectomy or tonsillectomy alone were 287. 76 children out of the total number were included in the study. The children were followed by the same questionnaire for four months postoperatively,including,age,the number of night bed wettings,type of enuresis and the results of urine examinationof total 287 children who were submitted for surgery,76 children were eligible for the study,48 (63.16%) of the total number included in the study were males and 28 (36.84%) were females. The mean age was 7.2 years. Adenotonsillectomy was performed in 64 children,and tonsillectomy in12 children. A complete improvement of nocturnal enuresis (NE) & daytime incontinence was achieved in 32 (42.11%) children. A mild to moderateimprovement was observed in 38 (50%),while no improvement seen in the remaining 6 (7.89%) children postoperatively.Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is an old & common childhood condition & there is a relation between nocturnal enuresis in children & adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Children with nocturnal enuresis should be evaluated by ENT surgeon to rule out any adenotonsillar hypertrophy for possible adenotonsillectomy effect. However,a wide base studies are needed to clarify these results.

Download Full-text

P170 The validity and utility of the SLE-key® rule-out serological test when applied in a selected cohort of patients with SLE and other connective tissue diseases

Rheumatology ◽

10.1093/rheumatology/keab247.165 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 60 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Sheilla Achieng ◽

John A Reynolds ◽

Ian N Bruce ◽

Marwan Bukhari

Keyword(s):

Linear Regression ◽

Connective Tissue ◽

Connective Tissue Disease ◽

Negative Correlation ◽

Connective Tissue Diseases ◽

Inflammatory Myositis ◽

The Mean ◽

Negative Rule ◽

Spearman’S Correlation ◽

Rule Out

Abstract Background/Aims We aimed to establish the validity of the SLE-key® rule-out test and analyse its utility in distinguishing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from other autoimmune rheumatic connective tissue diseases. Methods We used data from the Lupus Extended Autoimmune Phenotype (LEAP) study, which included a representative cross-sectional sample of patients with a variety of rheumatic connective tissue diseases, including SLE, mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), inflammatory myositis, systemic sclerosis, primary Sjögren’s syndrome and undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD). The modified 1997 ACR criteria were used to classify patients with SLE. Banked serum samples were sent to Immune-Array’s CLIA- certified laboratory Veracis (Richmond, VA) for testing. Patients were assigned test scores between 0 and 1 where a score of 0 was considered a negative rule-out test (i.e. SLE cannot be excluded) whilst a score of 1 was assigned for a positive rule-out test (i.e. SLE excluded). Performance measures were used to assess the test’s validity and measures of association determined using linear regression and Spearman’s correlation. Results Our study included a total of 155 patients of whom 66 had SLE. The mean age in the SLE group was 44.2 years (SD 13.04). 146 patients (94.1%) were female. 84 (54.2%) patients from the entire cohort had ACR SLE scores of ≤ 3 whilst 71 (45.8%) had ACR SLE scores ≥ 4. The mean ACR SLE total score for the SLE patients was 4.85 (SD 1.67), ranging from 2 to 8, with mean disease duration of 12.9 years. The Sensitivity of the SLE-Key® Rule-Out test in diagnosing SLE from other connective tissue diseases was 54.5%, specificity was 44.9%, PPV 42.4% and NPV 57.1 %. 45% of the SLE patients had a positive rule-out test. SLE could not be ruled out in 73% of the MCTD patients whilst 51% of the UCTD patients had a positive Rule-Out test and >85% of the inflammatory myositis patients had a negative rule-out test. ROC analysis generated an AUC of 0.525 illustrating weak class separation capacity. Linear regression established a negative correlation between the SLE-key Rule-Out score and ACR SLE total scores. Spearman’s correlation was run to determine the relationship between ACR SLE total scores and SLE-key rule-out score and showed very weak negative correlation (rs = -0.0815, n = 155, p = 0.313). Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that when applied in clinical practice in a rheumatology CTD clinic setting, the SLE-key® rule-out test does not accurately distinguish SLE from other CTDs. The development of a robust test that could achieve this would be pivotal. It is however important to highlight that the test was designed to distinguish healthy subjects from SLE patients and not for the purpose of differentiating SLE from other connective tissue diseases. Disclosure S. Achieng: None. J.A. Reynolds: None. I.N. Bruce: Other; I.N.B is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator and is funded by the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre. M. Bukhari: None.

Download Full-text

Can the Expiratory Disproportion Index Distinguish PVFMD from Subglottic Stenosis in Obese Patients?

Annals of Otology Rhinology & Laryngology ◽

10.1177/0003489421990154 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 000348942199015

Author(s):

Kevin Calamari ◽

Stephen Politano ◽

Laura Matrka

Keyword(s):

Vocal Fold ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Subglottic Stenosis ◽

Obese Patients ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Prior Literature ◽

The Mean ◽

Sensitivity Specificity ◽

Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement ◽

Rule Out

Objectives: Expiratory disproportion index (EDI) is the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) divided by peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) multiplied by 100. Prominent EDI (>50) values can differentiate subglottic stenosis (SGS) from paradoxical vocal fold movement disorder (PVFMD), but this has not been verified when considering body habitus. We hypothesize that the predictive value of elevated EDI in differentiating SGS from PVFMD will be lower in obese patients than non-obese patients. Methods: Patients ≥ 18 years old with recorded PFT values, BMI, and airway imaging were reviewed retrospectively from 01/2011 to 10/2018. EDI was recorded for 4 cohorts: non-obese/SGS, non-obese/ PVFMD, obese/SGS, and obese/ PVFMD, to determine the mean EDI and the sensitivity/specificity of an elevated EDI. Results: Mean EDI values were 69.32 and 48.38 in the non-obese SGS and PVFMD groups, respectively ( P < .01). They were 58.89 and 47.67 in the obese SGS and PVFMD groups, respectively ( P < .05). At a threshold of >50, EDI had a sensitivity of 90.0% and specificity of 51.6% in differentiating between SGS and PVFMD cases in non-obese patients and 51.6% and 63.6% in obese patients. Conclusion: Prior literature has established that EDI can distinguish SGS from PVFMD in the general population. Our results show that the mean EDI values were significantly different in both cohorts, but an elevated EDI was not as sensitive at identifying SGS cases in obese patients. This suggests that the EDI should be used with caution in obese patients and should not be relied upon to rule out SGS. Level of Evidence: 3.

Download Full-text

Morphohistology of the Digestive Tract of the Damsel FishStegastes fuscus(Osteichthyes: Pomacentridae)

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/2012/787316 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Bhaskara Canan ◽

Wallace Silva do Nascimento ◽

Naisandra Bezerra da Silva ◽

Sathyabama Chellappa

Keyword(s):

Digestive Tract ◽

Transition Region ◽

Digestive System ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Muscular Layer ◽

Pyloric Caeca ◽

Anterior Intestine ◽

The Mean ◽

Tidal Pools

This study investigated the morphohistology of the digestive tract and the mean intestinal coefficient of the damsel fishStegastes fuscuscaptured from the tidal pools of Northeastern Brazil. The wall of the digestive tract ofS. fuscusis composed of the tunica mucosa, tunica muscularis, and tunica serosa. The esophagus is short with sphincter and thick distensible wall with longitudinally folded mucosa. Mucous glands are predominant, and the muscular layer of the esophagus presented striated fibers all along its extension. The transition region close to the stomach shows plain and striated muscular fibers. Between the stomach and intestine, there are three pyloric caeca. The intestine is long and thin with four folds around the stomach. The anterior intestine presents folds similar to those of pyloric caeca. The estimated mean intestinal coefficient and characteristics of the digestive system ofS. fuscuspresent morphological adequacy for both herbivorous and omnivorous feeding habits.

Download Full-text

Invertebrate Fossils (Insecta: Trichoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera) from the Pleistocene Scarborough Formation at Toronto, Ontario, and their paleoenvironmental Significance

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/0033-5894(81)90042-9 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 146-166 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Nancy E. Williams ◽

John A. Westgate ◽

D. Dudley Williams ◽

Anne Morgan ◽

Alan V. Morgan

Keyword(s):

Feeding Habits ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Deciduous Species ◽

Forest Environment ◽

Southern Ontario ◽

Plant Remains ◽

The Mean ◽

Terrestrial Insects ◽

Invertebrate Fossils ◽

July Temperature

AbstractLarval caddisfly, chironomid, and beetle remains have been recovered from the Pleistocene Scarborough Formation in the Toronto region of southern Ontario. Three stratigraphic levels were sampled at the northeastern end of the Scarborough Bluffs; the youngest horizon yielded 16 chironomid taxa, 33 caddisfly taxa, and 28 beetle taxa, whereas the two older levels yielded somewhat less diverse assemblages. Only one taxon in each of the caddisfly and chironomid groups was identified from the presumed correlative beds at Woodbridge, Ontario, but numerous beetle fragments were recovered, several of which have been specifically identified and match species found previously in the upper part of the Scarborough Formation. The youngest sampled assemblage in the Scarborough Formation at the northeastern end of the Scarborough Bluffs is interpreted as indicating cool climatic conditions in a boreal forest environment, given the present-day distributions and feeding habits of these river, lake, and terrestrial taxa. The mean July temperature at this time was probably about 15°C, as compared to the present-day value of 20.5°C. The forest was poorer in deciduous species during deposition of the older part of the formation as preserved here. These results agree well with previous interpretations based on plant remains. We suggest that both aquatic and terrestrial insects are good indicators of macroclimate.

Download Full-text

A comparison of African Buffalo, N'Dama and Boran cattle as reservoirs of Trypanosoma vivax for different Glossina species

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182000075090 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 106 (3) ◽

pp. 277-282 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

S. K. Moloo ◽

G. Gettinby ◽

R. O. Olubayo ◽

J. M. Kabata ◽

I. O. Okumu

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

African Buffalo ◽

Trypanosoma Vivax ◽

Infection Rates ◽

Glossina Morsitans Centralis ◽

The Mean ◽

N’Dama Cattle ◽

Buffalo Cow

SUMMARYTeneral Glossina morsitans centralis were fed on the flanks of African buffalo, N'Dama or Boran cattle infected with Trypanosoma vivax IL 2337. The infected tsetse were maintained on goats and on day 25 after the infected feed, the surviving tsetse were dissected to determine the infection rates. The mean mature infection rates (% ± S.E.) in the tsetse fed on buffalo, N'Dama and Boran cattle were 34·3 ± 9·9, 33·7 ± 13·4 and 58·9 ± 7·1, respectively. Logistic regression analysis indicated that infection rates in the labrum and hypopharynx of the tsetse were significantly lower when fed on the infected buffalo or N'Dama than Boran cattle. Similarly, the risk of infection was significantly lower in male than female tsetse. When teneral G. m. centralis, G. pallidipes, G. p. gambiensis, G. brevipalpis and G. longipennis were fed simultaneously on either the buffalo cow, the N'Dama bull or the Boran steer infected with T. vivax IL 2337, the mature infection rates were higher in the two morsitans group than the two fusca group tsetse, whilst G. p. gambiensis was relatively refractory to the infection, irrespective of the host species on which they fed. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the infection rates in the labrum and hypopharynx were significantly different amongst the five tsetse species for each of the three infected host animals. Nevertheless, the trypanotolerant African buffalo and N'Dama cattle may serve as reservoirs of T. vivax infection as can trypanosusceptible Boran cattle.

Download Full-text

Quantitative Analyses of Dynamic Strain Sensitivity in Human Skin Mechanoreceptors

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00628.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 92 (6) ◽

pp. 3233-3243 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

Benoni B. Edin

Keyword(s):

Discharge Rate ◽

Receptive Fields ◽

Dynamic Strain ◽

Strain Sensitivity ◽

Power Functions ◽

Discharge Rates ◽

Response Onset ◽

Quantitative Analyses ◽

The Mean ◽

Skin Mechanoreceptors

Microneurographical recordings from 24 slowly adapting (SA) and 16 fast adapting (FA) cutaneous mechanoreceptor afferents were obtained in the human radial nerve. Most of the afferents innervated the hairy skin on the back of the hand. The afferents' receptive fields were subjected to controlled strains in a ramp-and-hold fashion with strain velocities from 1 to 64% · s−1, i.e., strain velocities within most of the physiological range. For all unit types, the mean variation in response onset approached 1 ms for strain velocities >8% · s−1. Except at the highest strain velocities, the first spike in a typical SAIII unit was evoked at strains <0.5% and a typical SAII unit began to discharge at <1% skin strain. Skin strain velocity had a profound effect on the discharge rates of all classes of afferents. The “typical” peak discharge rate at the highest strain velocity studied was 50–95 imp/s−1 depending on unit type. Excellent fits were obtained for both SA and FA units when their responses to ramp stretches were modeled by simple power functions ( r2 > 0.9 for 95% of the units). SAIII units grouped with SAII with respect to onset latency and onset variation but with SAI units with respect to dynamic strain sensitivity. Because both SA and FA skin afferents respond strongly, quickly, and accurately to skin strain changes, they all seem to be able to provide useful information about movement-related skin strain changes and therefore contribute to proprioception and kinesthesia.

Download Full-text

Characterization of Urease-Positive Thermophilic Campylobacter Subspecies by Multilocus Enzyme Electrophoresis Typing

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.69.6.3308-3310.2003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 69 (6) ◽

pp. 3308-3310 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Motoo Matsuda ◽

Aki Kaneko ◽

Timothy Stanley ◽

B. Cherie Millar ◽

M. Miyajima ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Allelic Variation ◽

Enzyme Electrophoresis ◽

Multilocus Enzyme Electrophoresis ◽

Thermophilic Campylobacter ◽

Variation Data ◽

Quantitative Analyses ◽

The Mean ◽

Campylobacter Lari ◽

Reference Strains

ABSTRACT Thirty-one urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC) isolates, including three reference strains (NCTC12892, NCTC12895 and NCTC12896), and three Campylobacter lari isolates, which were isolated from several countries and sources, were compared genotypically by using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE). We examined allelic variation around seven enzyme loci, including the adenylate kinase, alkaline phosphatase, catalase, fumarase, malic enzyme, malate dehydrogenase, and l-phenylalanyl-l-leucine peptidase loci. MLEE typing revealed the presence of 23 different electrophoretic types (ETs) among the 31 UPTC isolates, and 14 isolates shared six electrophoretic profiles. Three different ETs were identified for the three C. lari isolates examined, and no ETs were shared by UPTC and C. lari isolates. Quantitative analyses were subsequently performed by using allelic variation data, and the results demonstrated that the mean genetic diversity was 0.655. In conclusion, MLEE demonstrated that the UPTC isolates examined are genetically hypervariable and form a cluster separate from the C. lari cluster.

Download Full-text

The use of thiafentanil oxalate and azaperone for reversible immobilisation of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) within a nature reserve — Short communication

Acta Veterinaria Hungarica ◽

10.1556/avet.2015.002 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 63 (1) ◽

pp. 11-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zoltán Szabó ◽

Diederik Venter ◽

Eustatius Luyt ◽

Cobus Raath

Keyword(s):

Recovery Time ◽

Short Communication ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Tuberculin Test ◽

African Buffalo ◽

Syncerus Caffer ◽

High Potency ◽

Reversal Agent ◽

Naltrexone Hydrochloride ◽

The Mean

Although thiafentanil oxalate has been widely used for wildlife immobilisation on different species, no report has been published about its usefulness on African buffalo (Syncerus caffer). Thirty-four African buffaloes were successfully immobilised at Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa in July 2013. The animals were kept in bomas of the nature reserve. The purpose of the immobilisation was to provide opportunity for microchip implantation, ear tag placement, intradermal tuberculin test and blood sampling. All animals were immobilised with thiafentanil oxalate 6 mg/animal (0.007–0.01 mg/kg) and azaperone 40 mg/animal (0.07–0.04 mg/kg) using Dan-inject darts and gun. The opioid reversal agent naltrexone hydrochloride 60 mg/animal (0.07–0.1 mg/kg) was given intravenously to the ear vein. The mean induction time was 3.9 ± 0.2 min, the recovery time was 1.65 ± 0.87 min. The results of the present study indicate that thiafentanil oxalate, this low-volume, high-potency, reversible drug combined with azaperone provides fast induction and smooth recovery. The authors recommend this drug combination as a reliable immobilising regimen for African buffalo.

Download Full-text

Changes in the Morphological Diversity of Larvae of Lance Lacewings, Mantis Lacewings and Their Closer Relatives over 100 Million Years

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12100860 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 860

Author(s):

Joachim T. Haug ◽

Gideon T. Haug ◽

Ana Zippel ◽

Serita van der van der Wal ◽

Patrick Müller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Shape Analysis ◽

Morphological Diversity ◽

Head Capsule ◽

High Availability ◽

Body Region ◽

Ecological Diversity ◽

The Past ◽

Drastic Increase ◽

Quantitative Analyses ◽

Ecological Importance

Neuroptera, the group of lacewings, comprises only about 6000 species in the modern fauna, but is generally assumed to have been more diverse and important in the past. A major factor of the modern-day ecological diversity of the group, and supposedly in the past as well, is represented by the highly specialised larval forms of lacewings. Quantitative analyses of the morphology of larvae revealed a loss of morphological diversity in several lineages. Here we explored the diversity of the larvae of mantis lacewings (Mantispidae), lance lacewings (Osmylidae), beaded lacewings (Berothidae and Rhachiberothidae, the latter potentially an ingroup of Berothidae), and pleasing lacewings (Dilaridae), as well as fossil larvae, preserved in amber, resembling these. We used shape analysis of the head capsule and stylets (pair of conjoined jaws) as a basis due to the high availability of this body region in extant and fossil specimens and the ecological importance of this region. The analysis revealed a rather constant morphological diversity in Berothidae. Mantispidae appears to have lost certain forms of larvae, but has seen a drastic increase of larval diversity after the Cretaceous; this is in contrast to a significant decrease in diversity in adult forms.

Download Full-text