178,904 research outputs found
Optimal Properties of the Bechhofer-Kulkarni Bernoulli Selection Procedure
No full textOptimal Properties of the Bechhofer-Kulkarni Bernoulli Selection Procedur
Supplemental Material for Whittle, Kulkarni, and Extavour, 2020
No full textSupplemental Figures, Tables and Text Files for the article "Absence of a faster-X effect in beetles (Tribolium, Coleoptera)" by Whittle, Kulkarni, and Extavour, 2020
Lack of the long pentraxin PTX3 promotes autoimmune lung disease but not glomerulonephritis in murine systemic lupus erythematosus.
No full textThe long pentraxin PTX3 has multiple roles in innate immunity. For example, PTX3 regulates C1q binding to pathogens and dead cells and regulates their uptake by phagocytes. It also inhibits P-selectin-mediated recruitment of leukocytes. Both of these mechanisms are known to be involved in autoimmunity and autoimmune tissue injury, e.g. in systemic lupus erythematosus, but a contribution of PTX3 is hypothetical. To evaluate a potential immunoregulatory role of PTX3 in autoimmunity we crossed Ptx3-deficient mice with Fas-deficient (lpr) C57BL/6 (B6) mice with mild lupus-like autoimmunity. PTX3 was found to be increasingly expressed in kidneys and lungs of B6lpr along disease progression. Lack of PTX3 impaired the phagocytic uptake of apoptotic T cells into peritoneal macrophages and selectively expanded CD4/CD8 double negative T cells while other immune cell subsets and lupus autoantibody production remained unaffected. Lack of PTX3 also aggravated autoimmune lung disease, i.e. peribronchial and perivascular CD3+ T cell and macrophage infiltrates of B6lpr mice. In contrast, histomorphological and functional parameters of lupus nephritis remained unaffected by the Ptx3 genotype. Together, PTX3 specifically suppresses autoimmune lung disease that is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Vice versa, loss-of-function mutations in the Ptx3 gene might represent a genetic risk factor for pulmonary (but not renal) manifestations of systemic lupus or other autoimmune diseases
On the Expected Sample Size for the Bechhofer-Kulkarni Bernoulli Selection Procedure
No full textOn the Expected Sample Size for the Bechhofer-Kulkarni Bernoulli Selection Procedur
On the Stochastic Minimization of Sample Size by the Bechhofer-Kulkarni Bernoulli Sequential Selection Procedure
No full textOn the Stochastic Minimization of Sample Size by the Bechhofer-Kulkarni Bernoulli Sequential Selection Procedur
Design and performance of a microelectromagnetic vibration-powered generator
No full textIn this paper we report on the design, simulation and initial results of a microgenerator, which converts external vibrations into electrical energy. Power is generated by means of electromagnetic transduction with static magnets positioned either side of a moving coil located on a silicon structure designed to resonate laterally in the plane of the chip. In this paper the development and fabrication of a micromachined microgenerator that uses standard silicon based fabrication techniques and low cost, batch process is presented. Finite element simulations have been carried out using ANSYS to determine an optimum geometry for the microgenerator. Electromagnetic FEA simulations using Ansoft’s Maxwell 2D software have shown voltage levels of 4 to 9V can be generated from the single beam generator designs. Initial results at atmospheric pressure yield 0.5 µW at 9.81ms-2 and 9.5 kHz and emphasise the importance of reducing unwanted loss mechanisms such as air damping
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The gut-associated lymphoid system
No full textThe gastrointestinal tract is the foremost interface between the host and external environment and in addition to its crucial role in nutrient adsorbsion and amino acid metabolism, it is a fundamental immune organ. It plays a pivotal role in protecting the host against oral pathogens, whilst remaining tolerant to food antigens and the commensal microbiota. Indeed, pathologies such as allergies, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders arise from a failure to control misdirected responses against these harmless antigens. The gut mucosa contains a variety of innate and adaptive immune-associated cell types, up to 70% of all immunocytes. These cells are contained primarily within structured areas of secondary lymphoid tissue, collectively referred to as the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, or GALT. However, the lamina propria also contains numerous cells which function as essential parts of the immune system. The GALT architecture includes aggregated lymphoid follicles called Peyer’s patches, isolated lymphoid follicles and mesenteric lymph nodes. The Peyer’s patches and isolated lymphoid follicles are inductor sites responsible for antigen sampling from the intestinal lumen. The antigens enter via microfold cells which overly these structures and are transported by dendritic cells to the associated mesenteric lymph nodes where they are presented to naïve T-cells. Once activated in an antigen-specific manner, the T-cells then migrate throughout the periphery and the majority home to the gut where they undergo either effector or suppressor activities. This chapter provides an overview of fundamental characteristics and architecture of the gut-associated lymphoid system, current thinking on tolerance induction, lymphocyte trafficking between inductor and effector sites and the prospect of antigen presentation outside the lymphoid complex. Finally, the role of the intestinal microbiota in driving the development of an immune system which responds appropriately to maintain homeostasis in the face of highly diverse challenges is explored
Leptestheria gomantaki Padhye & Kulkarni & Pagni & Rabet 2023, sp. nov.
No full textLeptestheria gomantaki sp. nov. (Figs. 5, 6B, 7B) Leptestheria sp. M089 (Schwentner et al. 2020) Etymology. The species is named after the Indian name for the Goa region, Gomantak. Type locality. A dried temporary pool in sand dunes in Benaulim, India: Goa (15°15′36″N, 73°55′13″E; Date of collection of sediment Oct 2016). The absence of typical aquatic vegetation suggests that water is only present for a short time. Type material. Holotype. One female (without carapace) (in 4% formalin + glycerin) deposited at the Western Regional Centre of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Pune (Registration number: ZSI-WRC C.2074) Other material estudied. One female. Description. Male. Males were not obtained in the rehydrated sediments. Description. Female (holotype). Head. Eyes large, noticeable ocular tubercle but ocular notch not very conspicuous, ocellus elongated with a crescent shape, projecting fornix, rostrum triangular, spine present at the tip of rostrum, spine ~5 times as long as wide and arched, occipital condyle projecting but not prolonged with a pointed apex directed perpendicularly to the dorsal margin, L/W ratio of ~0.6. (Fig. 5A). First antenna. Bulbous and prolonged, more than two times the length of base of second antenna, about 6–8 lobes present on dorsal margin, each lobe lined with several sensillae. Second antenna. Bi-ramous with 14 flagellomeres, each flagellomere bearing about 3–8 long posteriorly projecting spines with acute apices on posterior surface and plumose setae on the anterior face. Carapace. Length. 6.3 mm; Width 3.3 mm (holotype carapace damaged; not measured). Roughly rectangular, straight dorsal and ventral margins, umbone prominent located on the anterior 1/3 rd of the carapace, carapace with 15 + distinct carapace lines, brown in coloration. Trunk. Trunk consisting of 24 segments, each with a pair of thoracopods and decreasing in size posteriorly, the last 6 very small. Thoracopods. As per the genus without any fingerlike exopodite projections, thoracopods 9 and 10 with long epipodites for carrying eggs. Segments 13–24, each bearing bunch of stout posteriorly directed setae with acute apices, number increasing anteriorly first and then slightly decreasing, maximum of 5–7 setae seen per segment (Figs. 5B, 7B). Telson. Broadly rectangular; dorsal margin gently arched, the lateral edge ending with a big spine, ~0.3 times the length of the cercopod; dorsal margin lined with about 30 irregularly sized spines but largest at the posterior end, largest spines ~2 times the length of smallest spines (Figs. 6B, 7B). Cercopods. Long, about ~1.1 times the length of dorsal margin of telson, highly arched and tapering posteriorly; tip exceeding the posterior lateral projection of the telson; 2/3 rd of the anterior part of the dorsal margin gradually increasing posteriorly with largest spines densely packed, the last few (4–5) as long as the breadth of the thickest region of the telson spine (Figs. 5C, 6B). Remarks. The female specimen (holotype) described here was used for obtaining sequences (few limbs), which were subsequently used to generate the phylogeny by Schwentner et al. 2020 (coded M089; Fig. 2 in Schwentner et al. 2020). Males of this species could not be obtained in the sediment rehydration. This species was still recognized as a distinct species because the unique head/cercopod morphology of the female amongst all the other Indian species. The cercopod structure of L. gomantaki resembles the Chinese species Leptestheria kunmingensis Shu, Rogers, Chen & Yang, 2015 female (Shu et al. 2015). This species was seen to co-occur with Eulimnadia bondi, Padhye, Rabet, Kulkarni & Pagni, 2018.Published as part of Padhye, Sameer M., Kulkarni, Mihir R., Pagni, Marco & Rabet, Nicolas, 2023, New leptestherid clam shrimps (Pancrustacea: Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata Leptestheriidae) from peninsular India, pp. 205-220 in Zootaxa 5264 (2) on pages 210-212, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5264.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/783643
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
No full textThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Spariolenus omidvarbrothers Moradmand & Wesal & Kulkarni 2023, sp. n.
No full text<i>Spariolenus omidvarbrothers</i> sp. n. <p>Figs 1A–C, 2A–D, 9A, 11A–C</p> <p> <b>Type material.</b> <b>Holotype:</b> male, <b> IRAN: <i>Sistan & Baluchestan Province:</i></b> Barashk, Bidan Oasis valley, 26.61 N, 60.35 E, 1336 m, 5 June 2017, M. Moradmand & H. Salehi leg. (SMF). <b>Paratypes:</b> 2 females with same data as for holotype (SMF).</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The species is named in honour of the Omidvar brothers, two Iranian adventurers and explorers who travelled around the world in the 1950s and produced a diary and one of the first travel documentaries from extremely remote areas. Their biography inspired the life of many generations including the first author; noun in apposition.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Males of the new species share the bifurcated ET with <i>S. zagros</i> Moradmand & Jäger, 2011; <i>S. fathpouri</i> Moradmand, 2017; <i>S. mansourii</i>, and <i>S. bakasura</i> <b>sp. n.</b>). They can be distinguished from the latter three species by subequal RET and PET (vs. RET obviously longer than PET). They differ from <i>S. zagros</i> by PET 1/3 of RET in width (vs. similar width of PET and RET in <i>S. zagros</i>) (Fig. 1C). The female epigyne shows a unique MS (widened medially and extended longitudinally, Fig. 2A) (vs. MS narrow and barely visible in the rest of congeners).</p> <p> <b>Male</b> (holotype): <i>Measurements.</i> TL 14.1, PL 6.6, PW 5.7, AW 2.5, OL 7.5, OW 4.5. <i>Eyes</i> (Fig 11A). AME 0.33, ALE 0.75, PME 0.48, PLE 0.83, eye interdistances: AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.03, PME-PME 0.17, PME-PLE 0.62, AME-PME 0.21, ALE-PLE 0.57, clypeus-AME 0.71, clypeus-ALE 0.21. <i>Spination.</i> Palp 131, 101, 2121; Legs: Femur I–III 323(2), IV 321; Patella I–IV 101; Tibia I 131 10, II 232 10, III 1318, IV 2226; Metatarsus I–III 1014, IV 3036. <i>Measurements of palp and legs.</i> Palp 9.8 [3.2, 1.3, 2.2, 3.1], I 40.6 [10.8, 3.8, 11.5, 11.7, 2.8], II 46.0 [12.2, 4.1, 13.7, 13.2, 2.8], III 35.2 [10.1, 3.7, 10.2, 9.1, 2.1], IV 36.0 [10.2, 3.1, 10.2, 10.1, 2.4]. Leg formula: II I IV III. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 5 retromarginal teeth, and 10 intermarginal denticles.</p> <p> <i>Palp.</i> As in diagnosis, with cymbium slightly longer than tibia, BRB present, vRTA shorter than dRTA, dRTA pointed and vRTA rounded in retrolateral view, PET slightly shorter than RET, and both are long and slim, and not covering each other in ventral view. Conductor hyaline and extending beyond or roughly the same length as ET (Figs 1A–C).</p> <p> <i>Colouration.</i> Light brown to beige in body with dim to dark grey bands on carapace and legs. Dorsal opisthosoma with chevron shaped markings (Fig. 11A).</p> <p> <b>Female</b> (paratype): <i>Measurements.</i> TL 13.5, PL 7.2, PW 6.3, AW 3.6, OL 6.3, OW 4.5. <i>Eyes.</i> AME 0.31, ALE 0.80, PME 0.50, PLE 0.97, eye inter distances:AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.07, PME-PME 0.27, PME-PLE 0.63, AME-PME 0.32, ALE-PLE 0.71, clypeus-AME 0.87, clypeus-ALE 0.28. <i>Measurements of palp and legs.</i> Palp 10.4 [3.1, 1.7, 2.3, 3.3], I 32.8 [9.1, 3.8, 9.6, 8.1, 2.2], II [missing], III 29.6 [8.7, 3.5, 8.2, 7.1, 2.1], IV 31.1 [9.1, 3.6, 8.5, 7.8, 2.1]. <i>Spination.</i> Palp 131, 101, 2221, 1014; Legs (leg II missing): Femur I, III 323, IV 321; Patella I, III–IV 001; Tibia I 111(10), III 1118, IV 2126; Metatarsus I, III 1014, IV 3036. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 5 retromarginal teeth, cheliceral furrow with around 20 intermarginal denticles.</p> <p> <i>Female copulatory organ.</i> As in diagnosis, with EF wider than long, AB absent, CO small, MEP diagonaly extended (Fig. 2A); TC extending laterad beyond FC and SC (Figs 2B–C).</p> <p> <i>Colouration.</i> Same as for male but with lighter colour bands on legs (Fig. 11B).</p> <p> <b>Distribution and habitat preferences.</b> Known only from the type locality (Fig. 13). Specimens were collected at night on boulders and rocks. The type locality was an oasis in a small canyon dominated by palm trees (Fig. 11C). An unknown species of the genus <i>Eusparassus</i> Simon, 1903 was sympatrically sampled on plants and vegetation.</p>Published as part of <i>Moradmand, Majid, Wesal, Mohammad Wasil & Kulkarni, Siddharth, 2023, Taxonomic revision of the troglophile Spariolenus spiders (Araneae: Sparassidae) in South and West Asia, pp. 77-95 in Zootaxa 5380 (1)</i> on pages 78-81, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5380.1.6, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10212761">http://zenodo.org/record/10212761</a>
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