Precision of the Nebra Disc in Astronomical and Geometric Aspect

The astronomical knowledge on the disc has been coded on two planes: horizontal and meridian. The range of sunrise and sunset directions during the year has been described on the horizontal plane. In turn, on the meridian (vertical) plane, the range of changes in the horizontal height and declination of the Sun in the upper culmination during the year and the Moon in its 18.61-year cycle were described. The relationships between the latitude of the place of observation, the horizontal height of the celestial body and its declination were described by means of geometric constructions. The presented article is a continuation of two publications [1] and [2], which describe the decryption of the Nebra disc. These publications were based on the interpretation of the results of angular measurements, made using a protractor with a scale of 0.5 degrees, without the use of a computer. The presented publication is based on a digital disc image obtained by means of its digitization. The obtained data was used for further calculations based on analytical geometry and graphic programs. This allowed to obtain results in a linear measure with a precision of less than 1 mm. PRECYZJA DYSKU Z NEBRY W ASPEKCIE ASTRONOMICZNYM I GEOMETRYCZNYM Wiedza astronomiczna na dysku została zakodowana na dwóch płaszczyznach: horyzontalnej i południkowej. Na płaszczyźnie horyzontalnej (poziomej) opisano zakres kierunków wschodu i zachodu Słońca w ciągu roku. Z kolei na płaszczyźnie południkowej (pionowej) opisano zakres zmiany wysokości horyzontalnej i deklinacji Słońca w kulminacji górnej w ciągu roku oraz Księżyca w jego 18,61-rocznym cyklu. Za pomocą konstrukcji geometrycznych opisano związki między szerokością geograficzną miejsca obserwacji, wysokością horyzontalną ciała niebieskiego i jego deklinacją. Prezentowany artykuł jest kontynuacją dwóch publikacji: [1], [2], w których opisano deszyfrację dysku z Nebry. Publikacje te były oparte na interpretacji wyników pomiarów kątowych, wykonanych za pomocą kątomierza o podziałce 0,5 stopnia, bez użycia komputera. Prezentowana publikacja bazuje na cyfrowym obrazie dysku, uzyskanym za pomocą jego digitalizacji. Uzyskane dane wykorzystano do dalszych obliczeń opartych na geometrii analitycznej oraz programach graficznych.

The effect of photographic light brightness on cup to disc ratio grading

Background Digital optic disc photographs are integral to remote telehealth ophthalmology, yet no quality control standards exist for the brightness setting of the images. This study evaluated the relationship between brightness setting and cup/disc ratio (c/d) grading among glaucoma specialists. Methods Optic disc photographs obtained during routine examinations under anesthesia were collected to construct an image library. For each optic disc, photographs were obtained at 3 light intensity settings: dark, medium, and bright. From the image library, photograph triads (dark, medium and bright) of 50 eyes (50 patients) were used to construct the study set. Nine glaucoma specialists evaluated the c/d of the study set photographs in randomized order. The relationships between the brightness levels and the c/d grading as well as graders’ years in practice and variability were evaluated. Results The c/d were graded as significantly larger in bright photographs when compared to photographs taken at the medium light intensity (0.53 vs 0.48, P < 0.001) as well as those taken at the dark setting (0.47, P < 0.001). In addition, no relationship was found between ophthalmologists’ years in practice and the variability of their c/d grading (P = 0.76). Conclusion Image brightness affects c/d grading of nonstereoscopic disc photographs. The brighter intensity is associated with larger c/d grading. Photograph brightness may be an important factor to consider when evaluating digital disc photographs.

A new miniature Melanesian Forest Frog (Ceratobatrachidae: Cornufer) from New Britain Island, constituting the first record of the subgenus Batrachylodes from outside of the Solomon Archipelago

We describe a new species of Cornufer, subgenus Batrachylodes, from high-elevation forests of New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Eastern Melanesia. The new species, Cornufer exedrus sp. nov., is a biogeographically disjunct member of the Batrachylodes clade, representing the first record of the subgenus from outside of the Solomon Archipelago. The new species is a small terrestrial form from dense, closed-canopy forests above 1500 meters elevation in the Nakanai Mountains of eastern New Britain. It differs from its closest relatives, the other members of the subgenus Batrachylodes, on the basis of its minute body size, degree of digital disc expansion, reduced subdigital tuberculation, color pattern, and other traits related to its small size. We also provide a description of the new species’ simple advertisement call. The diversity of ceratobatrachid frogs of the Bismarck Archipelago is most likely still underestimated despite several recent surveys. Our understanding of evolutionary trends and species boundaries in the subgenus Batrachylodes currently is hampered by lack of genetic samples and call recordings corresponding to voucher specimens of the endemic species of Bougainville Island.

Species boundaries in the Rana arfaki group (Anura: Ranidae) and phylogenetic relationships to other New Guinean Rana

Allozyme electrophoresis is used to explore molecular genetic relationships within the Rana arfaki group and between this group and selected lineages of New Guinean Rana. Rana jimiensis is confirmed as a species distinct from R. arfaki and its range in Papua New Guinea is extended to the Southern Highlands Province and the north-coastal ranges in Sandaun Province. Rana arfaki and R. jimiensis show a high level of genetic differentiation maintained across a wide geographic area and show consistent morphological differences in head shape, tympanum size, degree of digital disc dilation and extent of sexual dimorphism. The two species occur syntopically on the Papuan Plateau, Southern Highlands Province, and are regionally sympatric in Sandaun Province. The observed level of genetic differentiation is equivalent to that reported previously between regionally sympatric members of the Rana papua group. Populations of R. jimiensis from north and south of the central cordillera show no obvious morphological and only minor genetic differentiation. In contrast, R. arfaki shows considerable geographic variation in both morphology and allozymes and may include two or more regionally distinctive forms.