scholarly journals Uncovering the genomic and metagenomic research potential in old ethanol-preserved snakes

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256353
Author(s):  
Claus M. Zacho ◽  
Martina A. Bager ◽  
Ashot Margaryan ◽  
Peter Gravlund ◽  
Anders Galatius ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reference Genome ◽  
Metagenomic Data ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Genetic Profile ◽  
Museum Collections ◽  
History Museum ◽  
The Common ◽  
Genome Scale ◽  
Source Of Information

Natural history museum collections worldwide represent a tremendous resource of information on past and present biodiversity. Fish, reptiles, amphibians and many invertebrate collections have often been preserved in ethanol for decades or centuries and our knowledge on the genomic and metagenomic research potential of such material is limited. Here, we use ancient DNA protocols, combined with shotgun sequencing to test the molecular preservation in liver, skin and bone tissue from five old (1842 to 1964) museum specimens of the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis). When mapping reads to a T. sirtalis reference genome, we find that the DNA molecules are highly damaged with short average sequence lengths (38–64 bp) and high C-T deamination, ranging from 9% to 21% at the first position. Despite this, the samples displayed relatively high endogenous DNA content, ranging from 26% to 56%, revealing that genome-scale analyses are indeed possible from all specimens and tissues included here. Of the three tested types of tissue, bone shows marginally but significantly higher DNA quality in these metrics. Though at least one of the snakes had been exposed to formalin, neither the concentration nor the quality of the obtained DNA was affected. Lastly, we demonstrate that these specimens display a diverse and tissue-specific microbial genetic profile, thus offering authentic metagenomic data despite being submerged in ethanol for many years. Our results emphasize that historical museum collections continue to offer an invaluable source of information in the era of genomics.

scholarly journals Catalog of the bird collection in the Belgrade Natural History Museum: The order Podicipediformes

2005 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 295-304
Author(s):  
Daliborka Barjaktarov
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
Museum Collections ◽  
History Museum ◽  
Natural Heritage ◽  
Podiceps Nigricollis ◽  
Historical Importance ◽  
Podiceps Cristatus ◽  
Podiceps Grisegena ◽  
Source Of Information

The fund of the Belgrade Natural History Museum's ornithological collection has especially great scientific, museological, cultural, and historical importance. The order Podicipediformes was recently chosen for inventory work the results of which are reported here. A total of 57 specimens from three Museum collections and over 20 localities through?out Serbia was inventoried. The most inventory units were recorded in the collection of mounted bird specimens (38), the least in the historical collection (eight). The study collection of birds contains 11 specimens. It was determined that most specimens in the Museum are great crested grebes (Podiceps cristatus). The Museum has the fewest specimens of rednecked grebes (Podiceps grisegena) and no specimens of Slavonian grebe (Podiceps auritus) at all. Podiceps nigricollis and Tachybaptus ruficollis are represented by an approximately equal number of specimens. The paper shows that the collection of grebes in the Belgrade Natural History Museum represents an especially important source of information about the taxon Podicipediformes. It can also be considered a valuable part of our cultural and natural heritage.

Selection by Publication in Economics

2005 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
András Simonovits
Keyword(s):  
Selection Process ◽  
Professional Standards ◽  
Publication Process ◽  
Entry Costs ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
Financial Interests ◽  
Source Of Information

According to the dominant view, the quality of individual scientific papers can be evaluated by the standard of the journal in which they are published. This paper attempts to demonstrate the limits of this view in the field of economics. According to our main findings, a publication frequently serves as a signal of high professional standards rather than as a source of information; referees and editors frequently reject good papers and accept bad ones; citation indices only partially balance the distortions deriving from the selection process; there are essential “entry costs” to the publication process. Moreover, financial interests of publishers may contradict scientific interests. As long as leading economists do not give voice to their dissatisfaction, there is no hope for any reform of the selection process.

The concept of motivation for effective credit risk management

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 2567-2593
Author(s):  
M.V. Pomazanov
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Economic Modeling ◽  
Type I ◽  
Credit Risk Management ◽  
Curve Modeling ◽  
Business Functions ◽  
The Common ◽  
Lending Decisions ◽  
The One

Subject. The study addresses the improvement of risk management efficiency and the quality of lending decisions made by banks. Objectives. The aim is to present the bank management with a fair algorithm for risk management motivation on the one hand, and the credit management (business) on the other hand. Within the framework of the common goal to maximize risk-adjusted income from loans, this algorithm will provide guidelines for ‘risk management’ and ‘business’ functions on how to improve individual and overall efficiency. Methods. The study employs the discriminant analysis, type I and II errors, Lorentz curve modeling, statistical analysis, economic modeling. Results. The paper offers a mechanism for assessing the quality of risk management decisions as opposed to (or in support of) decisions of the lending business when approving transactions. The mechanism rests on the approach of stating type I and II errors and the corresponding classical metric of the Gini coefficient. On the ‘business’ side, the mechanism monitors the improvement or deterioration of the indicator of changes in losses in comparison with the market average. Conclusions. The study substantiates the stimulating ‘rules of the game’ between the ‘business’ and ‘risk management’ to improve the efficiency of the entire business, to optimize interactions within the framework of internal competition. It presents mathematical tools to calculate corresponding indicators of the efficiency of internally competing entities.

scholarly journals Development of a Multidisciplinary Aerodigestive Program: An Institutional Experience

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 535
Author(s):  
Seung Kim ◽  
Mireu Park ◽  
Eunyoung Kim ◽  
Ga Eun Kim ◽  
Jae Hwa Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Multidisciplinary Management ◽  
Neurologic Disease ◽  
Institutional Experience ◽  
Swallowing Difficulty ◽  
The Common ◽  
Chronic Comorbidities

We share our experience on the implementation of a multidisciplinary aerodigestive program comprising an aerodigestive team (ADT) so as to evaluate its feasibility. We performed a retrospective chart review of the patients discussed at the monthly ADT meetings and analyzed the data. A total of 98 children were referred to the ADT during the study period. The number of cases increased steadily from 3.5 cases per month in 2019 to 8.5 cases per month in 2020. The median age of patients was 34.5 months, and 55% were male. Among the chronic comorbidities, neurologic disease was the most common (85%), followed by respiratory (36%) and cardiac (13%) disorders. The common reasons for consultation were suspected aspiration (56%), respiratory difficulty (44%), drooling/stertor (30%), regurgitation/vomiting (18%), and feeding/swallowing difficulty (17%). Following discussions, 58 patients received active interventions, including fundoplication, gastrostomy, laryngomicrosurgery, tracheostomy, and primary dilatation of the airway. According to the questionnaire of the caregiver, the majority agreed that the main symptoms and quality of life of patients had improved (88%), reducing the burden on caregivers (77%). Aerodigestive programs may provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary management for children with complex airway and digestive tract disorders.

scholarly journals Renal Manifestations of Fabry Disease: A Narrative Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 205435812098562
Author(s):  
Cassiano Augusto Braga Silva ◽  
José A. Moura-Neto ◽  
Marlene Antônia dos Reis ◽  
Osvaldo Merege Vieira Neto ◽  
Fellype Carvalho Barreto
Keyword(s):  
Fabry Disease ◽  
Specific Treatment ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Formal Tool ◽  
General Aspects ◽  
Progressive Accumulation ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Worse Prognosis

Purpose of review: In this narrative review, we describe general aspects, histological alterations, treatment, and implications of Fabry disease (FD) nephropathy. This information should be used to guide physicians and patients in a shared decision-making process. Source of information: Original peer-reviewed articles, review articles, and opinion pieces were identified from PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Only sources in English were accessed. Methods: We performed a focused narrative review assessing the main aspects of FD nephropathy. The literature was critically analyzed from a theoretical and contextual perspective, and thematic analysis was performed. Key findings: FD nephropathy is related to the progressive accumulation of GL3, which occurs in all types of renal cells. It is more prominent in podocytes, which seem to play an important role in the pathogenesis of this nephropathy. A precise detection of renal disorders is of fundamental importance because the specific treatment of FD is usually delayed, making reversibility unlikely and leading to a worse prognosis. Limitations: As no formal tool was applied to assess the quality of the included studies, selection bias may have occurred. Nonetheless, we have attempted to provide a comprehensive review on the topic using current studies from experts in FD and extensive review of the literature.

scholarly journals Mind the Gap: Why the Landscape Planning System in Sardinia Does Not Work

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7300
Author(s):  
Anna Maria Colavitti ◽  
Alessio Floris ◽  
Sergio Serra
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Planning ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Planning System ◽  
Local Planning ◽  
The Common ◽  
Regional Landscape ◽  
Landscape Protection

In Italy, after the introduction of the Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape in 2004, the Regional Landscape Plan (RLP) has acquired a coordination role in the urban planning system, for the implementation of policies for landscape protection and valorisation. The case study of the RLP of Sardinia is a paradigmatic application to the coastal area of the island, which is considered most vulnerable and subject to settlement pressure. The objectives of preservation and valorisation of the territorial resources should be transferred into local planning instruments by adopting strategies aimed at the preservation of the consolidated urban fabric, at the requalification and completion of the existing built-up areas according to the principles of land take limitation and increase in urban quality. The paper investigates the state of implementation and the level of integration of landscape contents in the local plans that have been adapted to the RLP, using a qualitative comparative method. In addition, the results of the plan coherence checks, elaborated by the regional monitoring bodies after the adaptation process, have been analysed to identify the common criticalities and weaknesses. The results highlight the lack of effectiveness of the RLP, after more than a decade since its approval, considering the limited number of adequate local plans and the poor quality of their analytical and regulative contents in terms of landscape protection and valorisation. Conclusions suggest some possible ways to revise the RLP, focusing on the participation of local communities and the development of a new landscape culture.

scholarly journals A Mathematical Study of Barcelona Metro Network

Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 557
Author(s):  
Irene Mariñas-Collado ◽  
Elisa Frutos Bernal ◽  
Maria Teresa Santos Martin ◽  
Angel Martín del Rey ◽  
Roberto Casado Vara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clustering Analysis ◽  
Transportation Network ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Statistical Point ◽  
Transport Services ◽  
Urban Public Transport ◽  
The Common ◽  
Subway Stations ◽  
Metro Network

The knowledge of the topological structure and the automatic fare collection systems in urban public transport produce many data that need to be adequately analyzed, processed and presented. These data provide a powerful tool to improve the quality of transport services and plan ahead. This paper aims at studying, from a mathematical and statistical point of view, the Barcelona metro network; specifically: (1) the structural and robustness characteristics of the transportation network are computed and analyzed considering the complex network analysis; and (2) the common characteristics of the different subway stations of Barcelona, based on the passenger hourly entries, are identified through hierarchical clustering analysis. These results will be of great help in planning and restructuring transport to cope with the new social conditions, after the pandemic.

Islam dan Pluralisme Pendidikan Agama

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-316
Author(s):  
Hasruddin Dute
Keyword(s):  
Religious Education ◽  
Education System ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Moral Value ◽  
Formal Institution ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Source Of Information

This study aims to explain Pluralism and Islam as inseparable entities. Can be distinguished conceptually but cannot be separated in real reality. The method used. The method used in this research is library research, or can be used in library materials as a source of information to answer problems about educators in education. Islam and Religious Education Pluralism make religion a concept to create a sense of unity in the realm of ukhuwah basyariyah in advancing and improving the quality of education; Therefore, it is the education system that makes religion a moral value and not a formal institution that is formed. Penelitian bertujuan untuk menjelaskan Pluralisme dan Islam sebagai entitas yang tidak bisa dipisahkan. Dapat dibedakan secara konseptual namun tidak bisa dipisahkan dalam realitas nyata. Metode yang dipakai. Metode yang dipakai di dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian kepustakaan, atau dapat digunakan dalam bahan pustaka sebagai sumber informasi untuk menjawab permasalahan tentang pendidik dalam pendidikan. Islam dan Pluralisme Pendidikan Agama menjadikan agama sebagai konsep untuk menimbulkan rasa persatuan dalam ranah ukhuwah basyariyah dalam memajukan dan meningkatkan mutu pendidikan; Oleh karena itu, sistem pendidikanlah yang menjadikan agama sebagai nilai moral dan bukan lembaga formal yang terbentuk.  

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