Lower Devonian Zosterophyllum-like plants from central Victoria, Australia, and their significance

Three specimens belonging to Zosterophyllaceae are described. Two of these possess bilateral symmetry and are the first to be described with this arrangement from the Lower Devonian of Victoria. One of these specimens is similar to Zosterophyllum fertile, and the other cf. Zosterophyllum sp. A. is unusual in possessing vascularised long stalks. The third specimen described cf. Zosterophyllum sp. B. from Ghin Ghin Road, near Yea possesses a small spike and has sporangia that appear vertically elliptical and similar to some South China taxa. All the specimens are significantly different to previous zosterophyll taxa described from Victoria.

Structural Features of the Mental Foramen in a Saudi Subpopulation: A Retrospective CBCT Study

Introduction. Accurate and precise knowledge about the position, size, and shape of the mental foramen (MF) are critical in avoiding procedural complications. The MF’s anatomical features vary among different ethnic groups, and various radiographic techniques have been used to determine these variations. Aims. To evaluate the MF’s shape, vertical and horizontal positions, and distance from the border of the mandible. To evaluate the differences among genders as they pertain to the right and left sides of the mandible and research the bilateral symmetry regarding the same variables. Materials and Methods. Cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) scans of 155 Saudi patients (69 males and 86 females) who visited the college of dentistry’s clinics were obtained from the college database for this retrospective study. All the scans were analyzed by 3 calibrated examiners. The data collected was analyzed statistically, and results were obtained. Results. The MF was located under the mandibular second premolar in 56.9% of cases, whereas in 26.9% of cases, it was located between the first and second mandibular premolar. The most prevalent position was below the level of the apices of the mandibular premolar teeth (87.2%). The round shape was most frequent (44.9%) compared to the H-oval (34.7%) and V-oval (20.4%). The V-oval shape was more frequent in males, while the H-oval shape was more frequent in females. The average distance from the center of the MF to the mandibular border was 14.03 ± 1.58 mm , with males exhibiting a greater distance than females. Overall, there were no significant differences between the bilateral symmetry and the right and left sides for all parameters. Conclusion. The most common position of the MF was under the root apex of the mandibular second premolar, with an average distance of about 14 mm from the border of the mandible. The position and shape of the MF were the same bilaterally in the majority of individuals.

Bilateral Symmetry of Number and Size of Dental Caries Lesions among Children

Aim. To determine the bilateral occurrence of caries lesions in 5–12-year-old children, and to assess whether one bitewing photograph can predict caries size and occurrence in the homologous tooth on the other side of the mouth. Study design. The study was carried out on 222 medical files of children 5–12 years old who were first examined in the university dental clinic. The presence and size of the caries lesions in the first and second primary molars and first permanent molars were recorded. Results. No correlation was found when comparing the caries lesion distribution of each tooth’s proximal surface. Seventy-one of the X-rays demonstrated a single caries lesion in a first or second primary molar or in a first permanent molar on one side of the mouth, of which 21.3% demonstrated a single caries lesion in the collateral side, 43.6% demonstrated 2 or more lesions, and 35.21% did not have any caries lesion on the collateral side of the mouth. Conclusion. One bitewing cannot determine the presence and size of a caries lesion on the same site of the homologous tooth.

ANALYSIS OF THE ECOLOGICAL STATE OF THE AIR ENVIRONMENT IN THE CITY OF KINESHMA IN THE IVANOVSK REGION BY THE METHOD OF FLUCTUATING ASYMMETRY

Morphological changes occur in the leaves of trees under the influence of various air pollutants. Recording and assessing these changes reflects the state of the environment. The aim of the study was to assess the level of air pollution in the city of Kineshma, Ivanovo region, using the bioindication method. The technique of morphometry of pedunculate oak leaves and calculation of the index of fluctuating asymmetry were used. In all points of the city, a high asymmetry of oak leaf blades was noted, which indicates a critical level of atmospheric pollution. Ecotoxicants contained in emissions from enterprises and vehicles significantly violate the bilateral symmetry of oak leaf blades.

Bilateral symmetry of linear streptomycete chromosomes

Here, we characterize an uncommon set of telomeres from Streptomyces rimosus ATCC 10970, the parental strain of a lineage of one of the earliest-discovered antibiotic producers. Following the closure of its genome sequence, we compared unusual telomeres from this organism with the other five classes of replicon ends found amongst streptomycetes. Closed replicons of streptomycete chromosomes were organized with respect to their phylogeny and physical orientation, which demonstrated that different telomeres were not associated with particular clades and are likely shared amongst different strains by plasmid-driven horizontal gene transfer. Furthermore, we identified a ~50 kb origin island with conserved synteny that is located at the core of all streptomycete chromosomes and forms an axis around which symmetrical chromosome inversions can take place. Despite this chromosomal bilateral symmetry, a bias in parS sites to the right of oriC is maintained across the family Streptomycetaceae and suggests that the formation of ParB/parS nucleoprotein complexes on the right replichore is a conserved feature in streptomycetes. Consequently, our studies reveal novel features of linear bacterial replicons that, through their manipulation, may lead to improvements in growth and productivity of this important industrial group of bacteria.

Radiomic features of breast parenchyma: assessing differences between FOR PROCESSING and FOR PRESENTATION digital mammography

Objective To assess the similarity and differences of radiomics features on full field digital mammography (FFDM) in FOR PROCESSING and FOR PRESENTATION data. Methods 165 consecutive women who underwent FFDM were included. Breasts have been segmented into “dense” and “non-dense” area using the software LIBRA. Segmentation of both FOR PROCESSING and FOR PRESENTATION images have been evaluated by Bland–Altman, Dice index and Cohen’s kappa analysis. 74 textural features were computed: 18 features of First Order (FO), 24 features of Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), 16 features of Gray Level Run Length Matrix (GLRLM) and 16 features of Gray Level Size Zone Matrix (GLSZM). Paired Wilcoxon test, Spearman’s rank correlation, intraclass correlation and canonical correlation have been used. Bilateral symmetry and percent density (PD) were also evaluated. Results Segmentation from FOR PROCESSING and FOR PRESENTATION gave very different results. Bilateral symmetry was higher when evaluated on features computed using FOR PROCESSING images. All features showed a positive Spearman’s correlation coefficient and many FOR-PROCESSING features were moderately or strongly correlated to their corresponding FOR-PRESENTATION counterpart. As regards the correlation analysis between PD and textural features from FOR-PRESENTATION a moderate correlation was obtained only for Gray Level Non Uniformity from GLRLM both on “dense” and “non dense” area; as regards correlation between PD and features from FOR-PROCESSING a moderate correlation was observed only for Maximal Correlation Coefficient from GLCM both on “dense” and “non dense” area. Conclusions Texture features from FOR PROCESSING mammograms seem to be most suitable for assessing breast density.

Effect of Executive Dysfunction on Posture Control and Gait after Stroke

Objective. The purpose of the study was to observe the effects of executive dysfunction (ED) on gait and postural control during walking after stroke. Methods. In this study, 34 subjects with stroke and ED (8 women and 26 men; age, 55.41 ± 7.89 years; time since stroke onset, 1.3 ± 0.12 months) were recruited. Stroop color-word test (SCWT), 10-meter walk test (10MWT), timed-up-and-go test (TUGT), and gait analysis were evaluated. The correlation among the correct number of Stroop tasks (SCWT-C), the number of time-consuming tasks (SCWT-T), the amount of interference (SIE-M and SIE-T) and posture control, and gait-related parameters was analyzed. Results. The results indicated that SCWT-C was negatively correlated with 10MWT, TUGT, and bilateral symmetry ( P < 0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between SCWT-C and stride ( P > 0.05). A significant negative correlation was seen between SCWT-C and bilateral symmetry ( P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between SCWT-T and stride ( P > 0.05). SCWT-T was positively correlated with TUGT, 10MWT, and bilateral symmetry ( P < 0.05). SIE-T was positively correlated with TUGT and bilateral symmetry ( P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between SIE-T and 10MWT or stride ( P > 0.05). SIE-M was positively correlated with TUGT and bilateral symmetry ( P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between SIE-T and 10MWT or stride ( P > 0.05). Conclusions. ED is closely related to the decline in postural control and the occurrence of falls. In the early phases of stroke rehabilitation, physiotherapists should focus on the patients’ executive function to accelerate the recovery of postural control.