Search results for "ARFI"

Defining the Island Dwarfing Rate of an Extinct Sicilian Elephant Using Ancient DNA

2020

Evolution on islands, and the often extreme phenotypic changes associated with it, has attracted much interest from evolutionary biologists. However, measuring the rate of change of a particular phenotypic trait of extinct animals can be challenging, due to the incompleteness of the fossil record. Here, we use combined molecular and fossil evidence to define the minimum and maximum rate of dwarfing in an extinct Mediterranean dwarf elephant from Puntali Cave (Sicily). Despite the challenges associated with recovering ancient DNA from warm climates, we successfully retrieved a mitogenome from a sample with an estimated age between 147,000 and 50,000 years. Our results suggest that this speci…

About the badness of existence and the prospect of extinction

2021

In this paper I consider the case of people who find The Mere Addition Principle counterintuitive. Their particular intuitions may be understood as instances of The Principle of Intrinsic Disvalue of Existence (PIDA). Following this idea Contractualism seems to be an appropriate method to solve population ethics dilemmas. Still, I show that their rejection of The Mere Addition Principle – if understood as an instance of PIDA – is not enough to avoid these dilemmas and to reach a stable equilibrium among their intuitions. In fact, if their denial of The Mere Addition Principle is grounded on PIDA, the consequences which would follow are likely to be unacceptable for many of them. In particul…

Dominant variants in the splicing factor PUF60 cause a recognizable syndrome with intellectual disability, heart defects and short stature

2016

Item does not contain fulltext Verheij syndrome, also called 8q24.3 microdeletion syndrome, is a rare condition characterized by ante- and postnatal growth retardation, microcephaly, vertebral anomalies, joint laxity/dislocation, developmental delay (DD), cardiac and renal defects and dysmorphic features. Recently, PUF60 (Poly-U Binding Splicing Factor 60 kDa), which encodes a component of the spliceosome, has been discussed as the best candidate gene for the Verheij syndrome phenotype, regarding the cardiac and short stature phenotype. To date, only one patient has been reported with a de novo variant in PUF60 that probably affects function (c.505C>T leading to p.(His169Tyr)) associated wi…

A Physiological Approach to Analysing SME Growth Patterns and to Understanding the Distinctions and Similarities between Normal and Abnormal Growth

2010

Building on earlier work on abnormal SME growth trajectories, this paper investigates to what extent the analysis can be extended to the study of an unusual but “normal” growth pattern. The detailed case histories of two firms which might be called micro-giants are presented. These are companies that would be categorised as small firms but are actually competing, and competing successfully, in non-niche markets with much larger firms, or even multinational giants. The resource based view and modelling approaches developed in the earlier non-normal growth situations is then applied to these cases. It is argued that by viewing the management of strategic assets as part of the normal business …

Hydraulic kinetics of the graft union in different Olea europaea L. scion/rootstock combinations

2007

The hydraulic resistance of young olive trees grafted on rootstocks with contrasting size-controlling potential was measured 30, 90, 360 and 480 days after grafting. Olive (Olea europaea L.) clones inducing plant vigorous growth (Leccino ‘Minerva’, LM) or dwarfing (Leccino ‘Dwarf’, LD) were studied in different scion/rootstock combinations (LD/LD, LD/LM, LM/LD, LM/LM). Plants growing on LD root systems developed lower leaf surface areas (about 50% less) than plants grafted on LM rootstocks. Graft union represented the largest fraction (up to 85%) of whole-plant hydraulic resistance 30 days after grafting, and still represented an important fraction of it 2 months later (40–55%). Four-hundre…

Bright spots in the darkness of cancer: A review of starfishes-derived compounds and their anti-tumor action

2019

The fight against cancer represents a great challenge for researchers and, for this reason, the search for new promising drugs to improve cancer treatments has become inevitable. Oceans, due to their wide diversity of marine species and environmental conditions have proven to be precious sources of potential natural drugs with active properties. As an example, in this context several studies performed on sponges, tunicates, mollusks, and soft corals have brought evidence of the interesting biological activities of the molecules derived from these species. Also, echinoderms constitute an important phylum, whose members produce a huge number of compounds with diverse biological activities. In…

Increased water temperature decreases predation rate of an important sea star predator on sea urchins.

2011

Metformin Restores AMPK Alpha-Mediated Autophagy and Prevents Carfilzomib-Induced Cardiotoxicity In Vivo

2018

Abstract Introduction: Carfilzomib (Cfz) significantly prolongs progression-free survival in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients, as highlighted in the ENDEAVOR trial. However, Cfz has high incidences of cardiotoxicity and heart failure, leading to treatment cessation. Thus, there is an imperative need for preventive therapies. The study aimed to i) establish an in vivo Cfz cardiotoxicity protocol, ii) investigate the molecular mechanism, identify molecular targets and iii) based on initial results, investigate the potential protective effect and mechanism of Metformin (Met). Methods: Male, C57BL/6 mice, were randomized in groups as following: Acute protocol (6 days): Control (…

Preliminary report on new echinoderm Lagerstatten from the Upper Ordovician of the eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco.

2006

8 pages (p.23-30); International audience; Four distinct echinoderm Lagerstatten have recently been discovered in the Upper Ordovician of the eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco. They have yielded hundreds of exquisitely preserved specimens. Their taphonomy and associated lithology both suggest rapid, in situ burial. Here we discuss the diverse range of assemblages represented and their significance to the diversity of echinoderms in the Lower Palaeozoic. The oldest assemblage (Izegguirene Formation, lowermost Caradoc) is dominated by eocrinoids, large ophiuroids, and mitrate stylophorans associated with rare crinoids. It shows strong similarities with slightly older faunas described from the under…

Flexural strength and microhardness of anterior composites after accelerated aging

2016

Background This study aimed to evaluate the flexural strength and microhardness of three different anterior composites after 10 000 thermocycles. Material and Methods The mechanical properties of a nano-fill composite (Filtek Ultimate Universal Restorative (FUR) (Enamel)), a nano-hybrid composite (Clearfil Majesty ES2 (ES2) (Enamel)), and a micro-hybrid composite (G Aenial Anterior (GAA)) were investigated in this study. For the microhardness test, 8-mm diameter and 2-mm thickness composite discs were used (n = 10), and for the flexural strength test, 25x2x2 mm bar-shaped specimens were prepared (n = 13). The specimens were tested at 24 h and after 10 000 thermocycles. Data were analyzed us…