Machine-Based Transliterate of Ottoman to Latin-Based Script

In this paper, a machine-based transliterate is presented. The automatic transliteration of Ottoman to the modern Latin Turkish script can open a big window for scientists in fields of history and literature while most of the Turkish people are not familiar with Ottoman script, despite the fact that no concrete solution has been proposed yet for this issue. The proposed method includes several steps since the transliteration process of Ottoman alphabet to Latin base consists of many problems; the first is the basic character mapping which covers the regular pronunciation and orthography mapping. On the other hand, covering other irregular and extraordinary cases is based on rules and normalization. The transliteration system achieved 73.9% accuracy in general.

Transcriptome phylogenies support ancient evolutionary transitions in bioluminescence traits of cypridinid ostracods

Bioluminescence evolved many times independently, leading to dramatic effects on ecosystems by influencing communication both within and between species. One origin of bioluminescence is within cypridinid ostracods. Bioluminescent cypridinids probably all use light as an anti-predator display, while a subset that diversified in the Caribbean also use light for courtship signaling. Despite their importance for understanding the evolution of bioluminescence, very little molecular phylogenetic data are available for cypridinids and the timing of evolutionary transitions of luminous traits is poorly understood. Here, we estimate the first transcriptome-based molecular phylogeny and divergence times of Cypridinidae. Our results strongly support previous hypotheses of a single origin of bioluminescent courtship signaling, nested within a single origin of bioluminescence, and the secondary loss of courtship signaling in Vargula tsujii. We propose the name Luminini for the Tribe of bioluminescent cypridinids and Luxorina for the Sub-tribe of cypridinids with courtship signaling. Our relaxed-clock estimates of divergence times coupled with stochastic character mapping show luminous courtship evolved at least 151 Million Years Ago (MYA) and cypridinid bioluminescence originated at least 197 MYA, making it one of the oldest documented origins of bioluminescence. The molecular phylogeny of cypridinids will serve as a foundation for integrative and comparative studies on the biochemistry, molecular evolution, courtship, diversification, and ecology of cypridinid bioluminescence.

Phylogeny and evolution of habitat preference in Goniurosaurus (Squamata: Eublepharidae) and their correlation with karst and granite-stream-adapted ecomorphologies in species groups from Vietnam

Maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) analyses using two mitochondrial (16S and cyt b) and two nuclear (CMOS and RAG1) genes and 103 specimens recovered the first phylogenies of all 23 extant species of Goniurosaurus. The analyses strongly supported the recognition of four monophyletic species groups with identical inter-specific relationships within the kuroiwae, lichtenfelderi, and yingdeensis groups but discordant topologies at some nodes within the luii group. Both analyses recovered a polyphyletic G. luii with respect to G. kadoorieorum, and owing to the lack of diagnostic characters in the latter, it is considered a junior synonym of G. luii. A stochastic character mapping analysis of karst versus non-karst habitat preference suggested that karstic landscapes may have played a major role in the evolution and diversification of Goniurosaurus. A karst habitat preference is marginally supported as the most probable ancestral condition for Goniurosaurus as well as for the kuroiwae, luii, and yingdeensis groups. However, a non-karst habitat preference is marginally supported as the most probable ancestral condition for the lichtenfelderi group. Multivariate and univariate ecomorphological analyses of the karst-adapted G. catbaensis, G. huuliensis, and G. luii of the luii group and the granite-stream-adapted G. lichtenfelderii of the lichtenfelderi group demonstrated that their markedly statistically different body shapes may be an adaptive response that contributes to habitat partitioning in areas of northern Vietnam where they are nearly sympatric.

Using Character Maps to Learn English Literature

Learning English literature has always been a challenge, as it demands advanced analytical skills, especially when learners are expected to critically analyse and discuss literary texts. Character mapping is proposed as a technique that develops analytical and critical thinking skills among learners. Drawing theoretical basis from cognitive science, constructivism, and cognitive stylistics, character mapping helps learners visualise connections between characters and events in a literary narrative, which then allows better comprehension of the literary text. 18 respondents from a Form 4 secondary school in Sabah, Malaysia, participated in a small-scale action research study. First, their previous experiences learning English literature was extrapolated via a need analysis, after which the respondents were then exposed to character mapping and its underlying principles. Then, they were asked to reflect and provide feedback on their experiences learning English literature using character maps. The feedback indicated positive support from the respondents, suggesting that character mapping can help learners learn English literature more effectively. Key observations include enhanced levels of comprehension, engagement, creativity, memory retention and organisation of thoughts. Two negative feedback were observed: (i) character mapping is time-consuming, and (ii) overusing character mapping might impede learning engagement. Future studies need to recruit larger sample population and potentially an experimental paradigm to investigate the impact of character mapping in greater detail.

Karstic Landscapes Are Foci of Species Diversity in the World’s Third-Largest Vertebrate Genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Reptilia: Squamata; Gekkonidae)

Karstic landscapes are immense reservoirs of biodiversity and range-restricted endemism. Nowhere is this more evident than in the world’s third-largest vertebrate genus Cyrtodactylus (Gekkonidae) which contains well over 300 species. A stochastic character mapping analysis of 10 different habitat preferences across a phylogeny containing 345 described and undescribed species recovered a karst habitat preference occurring in 25.0% of the species, whereas that of the other eight specific habitat preferences occurred in only 0.2–11.0% of the species. The tenth category—general habitat preference—occurred in 38.7% of the species and was the ancestral habitat preference for Cyrtodactylus and the ultimate origin of all other habitat preferences. This study echoes the results of a previous study illustrating that karstic landscapes are generators of species diversity within Cyrtodactylus and not simply “imperiled arks of biodiversity” serving as refugia for relics. Unfortunately, the immense financial returns of mineral extraction to developing nations largely outweighs concerns for biodiversity conservation, leaving approximately 99% of karstic landscapes with no legal protection. This study continues to underscore the urgent need for their appropriate management and conservation. Additionally, this analysis supports the monophyly of the recently proposed 31 species groups and adds one additional species group.

Form Recognition dan Character Mapping Menggunakan Image Segmentation dan Optical Character Recognition

Industry 4.0 revolve the way of thinking in manufacturing factory business. Speed and accuracy become the main focus to survive and To growth. This study aims to build a blue print of an system that will increase both speed and accuracy in form input. This research will use several computer vision technologies like CNN that will used to do form classification and image segmentation, there is also OCR that will take specific information from a document that have been classified with CNN and then transform it into a JSON format which have more generic format and can be used in most common platform.

PhyloQuant approach provides insights into Trypanosoma cruzi evolution using a systems-wide mass spectrometry-based quantitative protein profile

The etiological agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, is a complex of seven genetic subdivisions termed discrete typing units (DTUs), TcI-TcVI and Tcbat. The relevance of T. cruzi genetic diversity to the variable clinical course of the disease, virulence, pathogenicity, drug resistance, transmission cycles and ecological distribution requires understanding the parasite origin and population structure. In this study, we introduce the PhyloQuant approach to infer the evolutionary relationships between organisms based on differential mass spectrometry-based quantitative features. In particular, large scale quantitative bottom-up proteomics features (MS1, iBAQ and LFQ) were analyzed using maximum parsimony, showing a correlation between T. cruzi DTUs and closely related trypanosomes’ protein expression and sequence-based clustering. Character mapping enabled the identification of synapomorphies, herein the proteins and their respective expression profiles that differentiate T. cruzi DTUs and trypanosome species. The distance matrices based on phylogenetics and PhyloQuant clustering showed statistically significant correlation highlighting the complementarity between the two strategies. Moreover, PhyloQuant allows the identification of differentially regulated and strain/DTU/species-specific proteins, and has potential application in the identification of specific biomarkers and candidate therapeutic targets.

Differences in developmental potential predict the contrasting patterns of dental diversification in characiform and cypriniform fishes

Morphological diversification during adaptive radiation may depend on factors external or internal to the lineage. We provide evidence for the latter in characiform fishes (tetras and piranhas), which exhibit extensive dental diversity. Phylogenetic character mapping supported regain of lost teeth as contributing to this diversity. To test for latent potential for dentition that would facilitate its evolutionary expansion, we overexpressed a tooth initiation signal, the tumour necrosis factor pathway ligand ectodysplasin , in a model characiform, the Mexican tetra ( Astyanax mexicanus ). This manipulation resulted in extensive ectopic dentition, in contrast with its previously reported limited effect in the zebrafish ( Danio rerio ). Tooth location in the order Cypriniformes, to which the zebrafish belongs, is much more restricted than in characiforms, a pattern that may be explained by differences in the retention of ancestral developmental potential. Our results suggest that differences in evolvability between lineages may lead to contrasting patterns of diversification.

Going underwater: multiple origins and functional morphology of piercing-sucking feeding and tracheal system adaptations in water scavenger beetle larvae (Coleoptera: Hydrophiloidea)

Larvae of water scavenger beetles (Coleoptera: Hydrophiloidea) are adapted to a wide variety of aquatic habitats, but little is known about functional and evolutionary aspects of these adaptations. We review the functional morphology and evolution of feeding strategies of larvae of the families Hydrophilidae and Epimetopidae based on a detailed scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, analysis of video records of feeding behaviour and observations of living larvae. There are two main types of feeding mechanisms: chewing and piercing-sucking. The character mapping using the latest phylogenetic hypothesis for Hydrophiloidea infers the chewing system as the ancestral condition. The piercing-sucking mechanism evolved at least four times independently: once in Epimetopidae (Epimetopus) and three times in Hydrophilidae (Berosini: Berosus + Hemiosus; Laccobiini: Laccobius group; Hydrobiusini: Hybogralius). The piercing-sucking apparatus allows underwater extra-oral digestion and decreases the dependence of larvae on an aerial environment. A detailed study of the tracheal morphology of the piercing-sucking lineages reveals four independent origins of the apneustic respiratory system, all of them nested within lineages with piercing-sucking mouthparts. We conclude that piercing-sucking mouthparts represent a key innovation, which allows for the subsequent adaptation of the tracheal system, influences the diversification dynamics of the lineages and allows the shift to new adaptive zones.