Hoffmanigraptus n. gen., a new retiolitine (Graptolithina), an early member of the Plectograptus lineage from the Silurian of Baltica, Poland

Most upper Homerian and Ludfordian retiolitines have a tubarium with hexagonal meshes and a zigzag pattern in the middle part of their lateral walls, a shallow ancora umbrella, and a free nema. Hoffmanigraptus varsoviensis n. gen., n. sp. is described from isolated, three-dimensional material, from the upper part of the Colonograptus praedeubeli Biozone (upper Homerian, Silurian) of Poland, Baltica, and represents one of the earliest forms with this construction. This type of tubarium is represented by the upper Homerian Doliograptus Lenz & Kozłowska-Dawidziuk, 2002 and Spinograptus Bouček & Münch, 1952, differing from Hoffmanigraptus n. gen. mainly in larger proximal lateral orifices, pattern of clathrial lists on lateral walls, as well as size and shape of tubaria. Hoffmanigraptus n. gen. has a tubarium widening medially, tapering towards the distal end and forming a finite tubarium, with a possible three-vaned nematularium. Flattened specimens Plectograptus? ovatus Kozłowska, Lenz & Štorch, 2001 and Plectograptus? karlsteinensis Kozłowska, Lenz & Štorch, 2001, preserved on a rock surface from the Barrandian area are assigned to the new genus. They are of the same upper Homerian age, and show the main features of the new form. Hoffmanigraptus n. gen. is regarded as an early member of the Plectograptus clade.

China’s Digital Economy

China has one of the most advanced digital economies in the world. This chapter analyses the rise of China’s digital economy and the transformational effect of digital innovation on consumers and throughout China’s economy and society. The ‘platform of platforms’ created by leading firms is critical in China’s digital infrastructure, and the user data generated on these platforms is a new factor in Chinese productivity. The ability of the digital economy to build and address demand in China’s highly differentiated markets is shown in cases such as Xiaomi. The chapter reveals the zigzag pattern of iterative interactions between technology entrepreneurs and policymakers. It presents a detailed case study of mobile payments, explaining the dynamic interactions between firm strategies, user endorsements, and government policies. The rise of the ‘platform of platforms’ has raised concerns about user data safety and fair market competition. The chapter discusses the social and political implications arising from powerful platform firms in the digital economy. It concludes with discussion of the importance of future technologies, including artificial intelligence and the internet of things, especially their applications in the industry internet.

Molecular and morphological characterization of Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber, 1923) Skarbilovich, 1959 from Egypt

The golden potato cyst nematode, Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber, 1923) Skarbilovich (1959) is a damaging soilborne quarantine pest of Solanum tuberosum (potato) and other solanaceous crops worldwide. In spring of 2021 a survey was conducted in area of Abo El Matamer, Bahera governorates in Egypt. Soil samples were taken in zigzag pattern throughout 65 acres of potato cultivated land and processed in Nematology lab, Fayoum University, Egypt. In June 2021, two hundred soil samples were collected from nearby areas to evaluate the distribution of this potato cyst nematode in other cultivated land located in area of first infection but fortunately the golden potato cyst nematode was not detected from neighboring locations. The nematode species was identified by both morphological and molecular means as Globodera rostochiensis. To our knowledge this is the first molecular and morphological characterization of G. rostochiensis from Egypt.

Investigation of Flow of the Disc-and-Doughnut Baffles and 40% Cut Segmental Baffles

Heat exchanger is usually used in manufacturing process. At present, many researchers have efforts to increase the performance of the heat exchanger with less of the cost. This research discussed about the performance of heat exchanger using 40% cut segmental baffles compared with modified double segmental baffles disc-and-doughnut type. In this study, the investigation of the computational results consisted of heat flux, velocity profile along the heat exchanger, pressure distribution and, theoretical heat transfer coefficient and heat exchanger effectiveness. The model was calculated using finite difference method forward modeling with Multiphysics Software and focuses on the performance evaluation of the small shell-and-tube heat exchanger (STHE) – laboratory type. The tubes are composed of 14 tubes with 0.583 m length, triangular 30° rotated pitch. The pipe radius of shell and tube are 0.055 m and 0.00635 m, respectively. The baffle radius of disc and doughnut are 0.055 m and 0.025 m, respectively, and the baffle radius of 40% cut segmental baffles are 0.055 m. Both types of the baffle have a distance of 0.116 m which is evenly distributed along the shell. The generalized minimal residual (GMRES) method for the fluid flow case used as an iterative method for solving some of the complex linear equations shows good performance as in reliability and validity. For the 40% cut segmental baffles, fluid flow makes a zigzag pattern, an Eddy or swirling of a fluid, and there was some back mixing of fluid stream which caused several dead zones along the shell. The occurrence of the dead zones caused the heat transfer to be ineffective and gave lower value compared to the double segmental disc-and-doughnut baffles. The 40% cut segmental baffles was also seen to have a higher pressure at the outlet region than the double segmental disc-and-doughnut baffles. The disc-and-doughnut baffles leads to a turbulent fluid flow which causes an increase in heat transfer characteristics and also lower pressure drop than the 40% cut segmental baffles. Based on the theoretical, both types of disc-and-doughnut baffles and the 40% cut segmental baffles of heat exchanger investigated have highest effectiveness at the lowest mass flow rate of the hot fluids (tube).

A stable ultrastructural pattern despite variable cell size in <i>Lithothamnion corallioides</i>

Recent advances on the mechanism and pattern of calcification in coralline algae lead to contradictory conclusions. Coralline calcification appears biologically induced, as suggested by the dependency of its elemental composition on environmental variables. However, evidence of a biologically controlled calcification process, resulting in distinctive patterns at the scale of family, was also observed. In order to clarify the matter, five collections of Lithothamnion corallioides from the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, across a wide depth range (12–66 m) have been analyzed for morphology, anatomy and cell wall crystal patterns of both perithallial and epithallial cells, in order to detect possible ultrastructural changes. L. corallioides shows the alternation of tiers of short-squared and long-ovoid/rectangular cells along the perithallus, forming a typical banding. The perithallial cell length decreases according to water depth and growth-rate, whereas diameter remains constant. Our observations confirm that both epithallial and perithallial cells show primary (PW) and secondary (SW) calcite walls. Rectangular tiles, with the long axis parallel to the cell membrane forming a multi-layered structure, characterize the PW. Flattened squared bricks characterize the SW with roundish outlines enveloping the cell and showing a zigzag pattern. Long and short cells have different thickness of PW and SW, with a thicker SW and PW in short cells. Epithallial cells are one up to three flared cells, with the same shape of the PW and SW crystals. Despite the diverse seafloor environments and the variable L. corallioides growth-rate, the cell walls maintain a consistent ultrastructural pattern, with unaffected crystal shape and arrangement. A comparison with two congeneric species, L. minervae and L. valens, showed similar ultrastructural patterns in SW, but evident differences in the PW crystal shape. Our observations point to a biological control rather than an induction of the calcification process in coralline algae, and suggest a possible new morphological diagnostic tool for species identification, with relevant importance for paleontological application. Finally, secondary calcite, in form of dogtooth crystals that fill the cell lumen, has been observed. It represents a form of early diagenesis in living collections which can have implications in the reliability of climate and paleoclimate studies based on the geochemistry techniques.

IDENTIFICATION OF FINE MOTOR SKILLS IN CHILDREN WITH INTELECTUAL DISABILITY

The purpose of this study was to describe fine motor skills in mentally retarded children. This study involved 20 mentally retarded children in special schools (SLB) in North Lombok. Identification was carried out using several data collection techniques, namely through observation, filling out instruments and interviewing the teacher. Identification of mentally disabled children focuses on several fine motor skills, namely: making curved lines, making horizontal lines, making circle patterns, cutting straight line pattern paper, cutting zigzag pattern paper, cutting circle pattern paper, cutting square pattern paper, simple drawing, coloring using colored pencils, coloring using crayons, and coloring using watercolors. The results of the study used descriptive analysis with two categorizations. Based on the results of the analysis, it was found that out of 20 mentally retarded children can be categorized as follows: on average 68% of children are in the Start Development category (MB), which means that children are starting to be able to do activities, but still with the help of teachers and 32% of children fall into the Developing Appropriate category Hope (BSH). Thus, through this identification it can improve fine motor skills in mentally retarded children by using other interesting methods or strategies. Keywords: skill, finemotor, intelectual disability

Intrapartal cardiotocographic patterns and hypoxia-related perinatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus

Aims In previous reports, cardiotocographic (CTG) fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring has shown only limited benefits in decreasing adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether an association exists between the recently reported ZigZag pattern (FHR baseline amplitude changes of > 25 bpm with a duration of 2–30 min) and asphyxia-related neonatal outcomes in GDM pregnancies. Methods Intrapartal CTGs were recorded in a one-year cohort of 5150 singleton childbirths. The following CTG changes were evaluated: ZigZag pattern, saltatory pattern, late decelerations, episodes of tachycardia and bradycardia, reduced variability, and uterine tachysystole. The cohort was divided into three groups: women with GDM, women with normal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and women with no OGTT performed. Umbilical artery (UA) blood gases, Apgar scores, neonatal respiratory distress, and neonatal encephalopathy were used as outcome variables. Results GDM was diagnosed in 624 (12.1%), OGTT was normal in 4115 (79.9%), and OGTT was not performed in 411 (8.0%) women. Hypoxia-related ZigZag patterns (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.64–2.34) and late decelerations (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.27–2.13) of FHR, as well as a greater risk of fetal asphyxia (UA pH < 7.10 and/or UA BE < -12.0 meq/L and/or Apgar scores < 7 at 5-min) (OR 6.64, 95% CI 1.84–12.03) were observed in those with GDM compared with those without GDM. Conclusions GDM is associated with intrapartal ZigZag pattern and late decelerations, cord blood acidemia and low 5-min Apgar scores at birth indicating increased occurrence of fetal hypoxia in GDM pregnancies.

3D structure and in situ arrangements of CatSper channel in the sperm flagellum

The sperm calcium channel CatSper plays a central role in successful fertilization as a primary Ca2+ gateway into the sperm flagellum. However, the complex subunit composition of CatSper has impeded its reconstitution in vitro and structural elucidation. Here, we applied cryo-electron tomography to visualize the macromolecular organization of the native CatSper channel complex in intact mammalian sperm, as well as identified three additional CatSper-associated proteins. The repeating CatSper units form long zigzag-rows in four nanodomains along the flagella. In both mouse and human sperm, each CatSper repeat consists of a tetrameric pore complex. Murine CatSper contains an additional outwardly directed wing-structure connected to the tetrameric channel. The majority of the extracellular domains form a canopy above each pore-forming channel that interconnects to a zigzag-shaped roof. The intracellular domains link two neighboring channel complexes to a diagonal array. The loss of this intracellular link in Efcab9-/- sperm distorts the longitudinally aligned zigzag pattern and compromises flagellar movement. This work offers unique insights into the mechanisms underlying the assembly and transport of the CatSper complex to generate the nanodomains and provides a long-sought structural basis for understanding CatSper function in the regulation of sperm motility.

Phyllotactic patterning of gerbera flower heads

Phyllotaxis, the distribution of organs such as leaves and flowers on their support, is a key attribute of plant architecture. The geometric regularity of phyllotaxis has attracted multidisciplinary interest for centuries, resulting in an understanding of the patterns in the model plants Arabidopsis and tomato down to the molecular level. Nevertheless, the iconic example of phyllotaxis, the arrangement of individual florets into spirals in the heads of the daisy family of plants (Asteraceae), has not been fully explained. We integrate experimental data and computational models to explain phyllotaxis in Gerbera hybrida. We show that phyllotactic patterning in gerbera is governed by changes in the size of the morphogenetically active zone coordinated with the growth of the head. The dynamics of these changes divides the patterning process into three phases: the development of an approximately circular pattern with a Fibonacci number of primordia near the head rim, its gradual transition to a zigzag pattern, and the development of a spiral pattern that fills the head on the template of this zigzag pattern. Fibonacci spiral numbers arise due to the intercalary insertion and lateral displacement of incipient primordia in the first phase. Our results demonstrate the essential role of the growth and active zone dynamics in the patterning of flower heads.

A Symmetric Key Multiple Color Image Cipher Based on Cellular Automata, Chaos Theory and Image Mixing

The transmission of significant masses of sensitive and secret images over a public network is inevitable, and demands effective tools and technology to safeguard and conceal the data. In this paper, a symmetric multiple color image encryption technique is proposed by adopting a dual permutation and dual substitution framework. Firstly, the input images are combined into a large image and then segmented into many small and equal-sized pure-image elements. Secondly, using the elementary cellular automata Rule-30, these pure-image elements are permuted to obtain mixed-image elements. Thirdly, second-level permutation is undertaken on the mixed-image elements by applying zigzag pattern scanning. Fourthly, pixel values are substituted by employing the circular shift method; subsequently, second-level pixel substitution is realized through using chaotic random sequences from a 2D logistic map. Finally, the big encrypted image is segmented into smaller encrypted images. Additionally, the keys are calculated from the input images to attain input sensitivity. The efficiency of this method is quantified, based on the unified average changing intensity (UACI), information entropy, number of pixels change rate (NPCR), key sensitivity, key space, histogram, peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and correlation coefficient (CC) performance metrics. The outcome of the experiments and a comparative analysis with two similar methods indicate that the proposed method produced high security results.