scholarly journals Scaling of Internal Organs during Drosophila Embryonic Development

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prabhat Tiwari ◽  
Rengarajan Rengarajan ◽  
Timothy E Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Embryo Morphology ◽  
Internal Organs ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Embryo Size ◽  
Type Size ◽  
Animal Size ◽  
Embryo Length

Many species show a diverse range of sizes; for example, domestic dogs have large variation in body mass. Yet, the internal structure of the organism remains similar, i.e. the system scales to organism size. Drosophila melanogaster has been a powerful model system for exploring scaling mechanisms. In the early embryo, gene expression boundaries scale very precisely to embryo length. Later in development, the adult wings grow with remarkable symmetry and scale well with animal size. Yet, our knowledge of whether internal organs initially scale to embryo size remains largely unknown. Here, we utilise artificially small Drosophila embryos to explore how three critical internal organs - the heart, hindgut and ventral nerve cord (VNC) - adapt to changes in embryo morphology. We find that the heart scales precisely with embryo length. Intriguingly, reduction in cardiac cell length, rather than number, appears to be important in controlling heart length. The hindgut - which is the first chiral organ to form - displays scaling with embryo size under large-scale changes in the artificially smaller embryos but shows few hallmarks of scaling within wild-type size variation. Finally, the VNC only displays weak scaling behaviour; even large changes in embryo geometry result in only small shifts in VNC length. This suggests that the VNC may have an intrinsic minimal length, which is largely independent of embryo length. Overall, our work shows that internal organs can adapt to embryo size changes in Drosophila. but the extent to which they scale varies significantly between organs.

Building a Culture of Ethical, Comparable, Authentic Assessment

2019 ◽  
pp. 463-481
Author(s):  
Andrew Reid ◽  
Julie Ballantyne
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Authentic Assessment ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
System Level ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Effective Learning ◽  
School Based ◽  
The Subject

In an ideal world, assessment should be synonymous with effective learning and reflect the intricacies of the subject area. It should also be aligned with the ideals of education: to provide equitable opportunities for all students to achieve and to allow both appropriate differentiation for varied contexts and students and comparability across various contexts and students. This challenge is made more difficult in circumstances in which the contexts are highly heterogeneous, for example in the state of Queensland, Australia. Assessment in music challenges schooling systems in unique ways because teaching and learning in music are often naturally differentiated and diverse, yet assessment often calls for standardization. While each student and teacher has individual, evolving musical pathways in life, the syllabus and the system require consistency and uniformity. The challenge, then, is to provide diverse, equitable, and quality opportunities for all children to learn and achieve to the best of their abilities. This chapter discusses the designing and implementation of large-scale curriculum as experienced in secondary schools in Queensland, Australia. The experiences detailed explore the possibilities offered through externally moderated school-based assessment. Also discussed is the centrality of system-level clarity of purpose, principles and processes, and the provision of supportive networks and mechanisms to foster autonomy for a diverse range of music educators and contexts. Implications for education systems that desire diversity, equity, and quality are discussed, and the conclusion provokes further conceptualization and action on behalf of students, teachers, and the subject area of music.

scholarly journals Modelling Tree Growth in Monospecific Forests from Forest Inventory Data

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 753
Author(s):  
Guadalupe Sáez-Cano ◽  
Marcos Marvá ◽  
Paloma Ruiz-Benito ◽  
Miguel A. Zavala
Keyword(s):  
Tree Growth ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Carbon Sink ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Richards Equation ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Forest Inventories ◽  
Large Scale Data

The prediction of tree growth is key to further understand the carbon sink role of forests and the short-term forest capacity on climate change mitigation. In this work, we used large-scale data available from three consecutive forest inventories in a Euro-Mediterranean region and the Bertalanffy–Chapman–Richards equation to model up to a decade’s tree size variation in monospecific forests in the growing stages. We showed that a tree-level fitting with ordinary differential equations can be used to forecast tree diameter growth across time and space as function of environmental characteristics and initial size. This modelling approximation was applied at different aggregation levels to monospecific regions with forest inventories to predict trends in aboveground tree biomass stocks. Furthermore, we showed that this model accurately forecasts tree growth temporal dynamics as a function of size and environmental conditions. Further research to provide longer term prediction forest stock dynamics in a wide variety of forests should model regeneration and mortality processes and biotic interactions.

A widespread pathway for substitution of adenine by diaminopurine in phage genomes

Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 372 (6541) ◽  
pp. 512-516
Author(s):  
Yan Zhou ◽  
Xuexia Xu ◽  
Yifeng Wei ◽  
Yu Cheng ◽  
Yu Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Restriction Enzymes ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Host Restriction ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Multienzyme System ◽  
Dna Modifications ◽  
Dna Production ◽  
And Function

DNA modifications vary in form and function but generally do not alter Watson-Crick base pairing. Diaminopurine (Z) is an exception because it completely replaces adenine and forms three hydrogen bonds with thymine in cyanophage S-2L genomic DNA. However, the biosynthesis, prevalence, and importance of Z genomes remain unexplored. Here, we report a multienzyme system that supports Z-genome synthesis. We identified dozens of globally widespread phages harboring such enzymes, and we further verified the Z genome in one of these phages, Acinetobacter phage SH-Ab 15497, by using liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and mass spectrometry. The Z genome endows phages with evolutionary advantages for evading the attack of host restriction enzymes, and the characterization of its biosynthetic pathway enables Z-DNA production on a large scale for a diverse range of applications.

Situating and Abandoning Geoengineering: A Typology of Five Responses to Dangerous Climate Change

2013 ◽  
Vol 46 (01) ◽  
pp. 23-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Heyward
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Solar Radiation Management ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Government Organizations ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Potential Strategy ◽  
Dangerous Climate Change ◽  
Radiation Management

Geoengineering, the “deliberate, large-scale manipulation of the planetary environment in order to counteract anthropogenic climate change” (Shepherd et al. 2009, 1), is attracting increasing interest. As well as the Royal Society, various scientific and government organizations have produced reports on the potential and challenge of geoengineering as a potential strategy, alongside mitigation and adaptation, to avoid the vast human and environmental costs that climate change is thought to bring (Blackstock et al. 2009; GAO 2010; Long et al. 2011; Rickels et al. 2011). “Geoengineering” covers a diverse range of proposals conventionally divided into carbon dioxide removal (CDR) proposals and solar radiation management (SRM) proposals. This article argues that “geoengineering” should not be regarded as a third category of response to climate change, but should be disaggregated. Technically, CDR and SRM are quite different and discussing them together under the rubric of geoengineering can give the impression that all the technologies in the two categories of response always raise similar challenges and political issues when this is not necessarily the case. However, CDR and SRM should not be completely subsumed into the preexisting categories of mitigation and adaptation. Instead, they can be regarded as two parts of a five-part continuum of responses to climate change. To make this case, the first section of this article discusses whether geoengineering is distinctive, and the second situates CDR and SRM in relation to other responses to climate change.

Genetic analysis of pattern formation in the Arabidopsis embryo

Development ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 27-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerd Jürgens ◽  
Ulrike Mayer ◽  
Torres Ruiz Ramon A. ◽  
Thomas Berleth ◽  
Simon Miséra
Keyword(s):  
Pattern Formation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Flowering Plant ◽  
Abnormal Development ◽  
Mutant Seedling ◽  
Basic Body ◽  
Plant Embryo ◽  
Embryonic Pattern Formation ◽  
Plant Arabidopsis Thaliana

Virtually nothing is known about the mechanisms that generate the basic body pattern in plant embryogenesis. As a first step towards the analysis of pattern formation, we have isolated and begun to characterise putative pattern mutants in the flowering plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. A large-scale screen for morphologically abnormal seedling mutants yielded about 250 lines for further study, and genetic evidence suggests saturation of the genome for this kind of mutation. The phenotypes of putative pattern mutants fall into distinct categories, classes and groups, which may reflect specific aspects of embryonic pattern formation. Mutant seedling phenotypes result from abnormal development in the early embryo. The implications of our findings are discussed with regard to the prospects for a mechanistic understanding of pattern formation in the plant embryo.

Follicular environment as a predictive tool for embryo development and kinetics in cattle

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gláucia Pereira Alves ◽  
Fernanda Bertuccez Cordeiro ◽  
Camila Bruna de Lima ◽  
Kelly Annes ◽  
Érika Cristina dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Follicular Fluid ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Embryo Morphology ◽  
Fluid Composition ◽  
Predictive Tool ◽  
Transcription Pattern ◽  
Transcriptional Pattern

Follicular fluid composition and the transcription pattern of granulosa cells were analysed to better comprehend associations between embryo development and morphokinetics. Bovine follicles were punctured and their respective follicular fluid and granulosa cells were collected. Cumulus–oocyte complexes derived from these follicles were matured and fertilised invitro. Embryo morphology and kinetics were evaluated at 40h after insemination, when embryos were classified as fast (FCL, four or more cells), slow (SCL, 2–3 cells) or non-cleaved (NCL). Their development was followed until the blastocyst stage. Glucose, pyruvate, cholesterol and oestradiol were quantified in the follicular fluid and the transcription pattern of 96 target genes was evaluated in granulosa cells by large-scale quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Follicular fluid from the blastocyst group had increased levels of glucose, total cholesterol and pyruvate compared to the non-blastocyst group, whereas higher levels of oestradiol were observed in the follicular fluid of embryos and blastocysts with fast cleavage. The transcriptional pattern revealed altered metabolic pathways between groups, such as lipid metabolism, cellular stress and cell signalling. In conclusion, both follicular fluid and granulosa cells are associated with the possibility of identifying follicles that may generate embryos with high potential to properly develop to the blastocyst stage.

scholarly journals Facies Evaluation and Depositional Environments of Carbonates of the Bagh Group, Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40
Author(s):  
Sreejita Chatterjee ◽  
Dhiren Kumar Ruidas
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Energy Condition ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Sedimentary Structures ◽  
Nodular Limestone

A significant event of marine transgression took place in Central India during Late Turonian-Coniacian. Fossiliferous marine succession of Bagh Group is one of the few carbonate successions exposed in peninsular India which was in focus of the current study for understanding this event. The signatures of this event were identified in the carbonate succession. The carbonates of Bagh Group are composed of two formations: the lower part is represented by Nodular limestone Formation which is overlain by Bryozoan limestone Formation at the top. On the basis of grain size variation and sedimentary structures, the Nodular limestone is divisible into three facies: facies ‘A’, facies ‘B’ and facies ‘C’. A hardground exists between facies B and facies C. Lack of sedimentary structures and high mud content indicates low energy depositional setting for the Nodular limestone Formation. Similarly, Bryozoan limestone Formation is divisible into five facies: facies ‘D’, facies ‘E’, facies ‘F’, facies ‘G’ and facies ‘H’ based on grain size variation and sedimentary structures. All of these five facies are fossiliferous. Glauconites are present within facies ‘G’ and have two modes of occurrence - as infilling within Bryozoan limestone and as altered feldspar. Presence of both small- and large-scale cross-stratification in Bryozoan limestone with lesser mud content are indicative of high energy shallow marine conditions. Large-scale cross-stratifications are possibly representing tidal bars while the small scale cross stratifications are formed in inter bar setting. Presence of reactivation surfaces within facies ‘E’ also supports their tidal origin. Increase in depositional energy condition is also evident from dominated by packstone facies.

scholarly journals Proteomics and metabolomics in cow fertility: a systematic review

Reproduction ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 160 (5) ◽  
pp. 639-658
Author(s):  
Nicolas Aranciaga ◽  
James D Morton ◽  
Debra K Berg ◽  
Jessica L Gathercole
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Technical Standards ◽  
The Impact

Cow subfertility is a multi-factorial problem in many countries which is only starting to be unravelled. Molecular biology can provide a substantial source of insight into its causes and potential solutions, particularly through large scale, untargeted omics approaches. In this systematic review, we set out to compile, assess and integrate the latest proteomic and metabolomic research on cow reproduction, specifically that on the female reproductive tract and early embryo. We herein report a general improvement in technical standards throughout the temporal span examined; however, significant methodological limitations are also identified. We propose easily actionable avenues for ameliorating these shortcomings and enhancing the reach of this field. Text mining and pathway analysis corroborate the relevance of proteins and metabolites related to the triad oxidative stress-inflammation-disease on reproductive function. We envisage a breakthrough in cattle reproductive molecular research within the next few years as in vivo sample techniques are improved, omics analysis equipment becomes more affordable and widespread, and software tools for single- and multi-omics data processing are further developed. Additional investigation of the impact of local oxidative stress and inflammation on fertility, both at the local and systemic levels, is key towards realising the full potential of this field.

Harnessing Collective Intelligence Through Pattern Mining in Social Computational Systems

2018 ◽  
pp. 91-110
Author(s):  
Gaganmeet Kaur Awal ◽  
K. K. Bharadwaj
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Pattern Mining ◽  
Collective Intelligence ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Business Applications ◽  
Computational Systems ◽  
The Web

Due to the digital nature of the web, the social web mimics the real-world social dynamics that manifest themselves as data and can be easily mined as patterns, making the web a fertile ground for business and research-oriented analytical applications. Collective intelligence (CI) is a multifaceted field with roots in sociology, biology, and many other disciplines. Various manifestations of CI support the successful existence of large-scale social systems. This chapter gives an overview of the principles of CI and the concept of “wisdom of crowds” and highlights how to maximize the potential of big data analytics for CI. Also, various techniques and approaches have been described that leverage these CI concepts across a diverse range of ever-evolving social systems for commercial business applications like influence mining, expertise discovery, etc.

Virtual Forensic Anthropology Applications of Advanced Computer Graphics Technology to the Identification of Human Remains

2011 ◽  
pp. 217-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Davy-Jow ◽  
Summer J. Decker ◽  
Damian Schofield
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Human Evolution ◽  
Forensic Anthropology ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Physical Anthropology ◽  
Biological Anthropology ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Research And Teaching ◽  
Case Work ◽  
Advanced Computer

Anthropology is the “study of man” and encompasses a diverse range of topics, including socio-cultural studies, linguistics, archaeology, and physical anthropology. Physical anthropology, or “biological” anthropology, the study of humans both living and deceased, can be further subcategorized into osteology, primatology, human evolution, and forensic anthropology. Forensic anthropology is the application of physical anthropology techniques to medico-legal settings. Virtual Reality (VR) is being applied to forensic anthropology in a multitude of ways to benefit research and teaching. Several large-scale projects have been launched to digitize, reconstruct, and disseminate specimens (for example, http://www.virtual-anthropology.com). This chapter will begin with an overview of the discipline of forensic anthropology and discuss a number of representative applications of VR technology in this field that are changing the way in which case work may be handled in the future.

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