71,782 research outputs found
Ford Evening Book Talk: Robert P. Watson
No full textMount Vernon welcomes author Robert P. Watson to the Robert H. and Clarice Smith Auditorium to discuss his book The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn: An Untold Story of the American Revolution on Thursday, December 6, 2018. Presented as part of the Ford Evening Book Talks in the Robert H. and Clarice Smith Auditorium, George Washington\u27s Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon, Virginia
Nomenclatural novelties in the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) for the Flora of China
No full textThe revision of the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) for the Flora of China has demonstrated the need to formally publish the following 12 nomenclatural novelties: Acronema minus (M. F. Watson) M. F. Watson & Z. H. Pan, A. brevipedicellatum Z. H. Pan & M. F. Watson, Angelica sinensis var. wilsonii (H. Wolff) Z. H. Pan & M. F. Watson, Harrysmithia franchetii (M. Hiroe) M. L. Sheh, Heracleum candicans var. obtusifolium, (Wall. ex DC.) F. T. Pu & M. F. Watson, Hydrocotyle hookeri ssp. chinensis (Dunn ex R. H. Shan & S. L. Liou) M. F. Watson & M. L. Sheh, H. hookeri ssp. handelii (H. Wolff) M. F. Watson & M. L. Sheh, Libanotis grubovii (V. M. Vinogradova) M. L. Sheh & M. F. Watson, Ligusdcum likiangense (H. Wolff) F. T. Pu & M. F. Watson, L. nematophyllum (Pimenov & Kljuykov) F. T. Pu & M. F. Watson, L. nullivittatum, (K. T. Fu) F. T. Pu & M. F. Watson, Pleurospermum, bicolor (Franch.) C. Norman ex Z. H. Pan & M. F. Watson. In addition, a lectotype is designated for P. govanianum (DC.) Benth. ex C. B. Clarke var. bicolor Franch. (P. bicolor)
A 2 h periodic variation in the low-mass X-ray binary Ser X-1
No full textSpectroscopy of the low-mass X-ray binary Ser X-1 using the Gran Telescopio Canarias have revealed a ?2 h periodic variability that is present in the three strongest emission lines. We tentatively interpret this variability as due to orbital motion, making it the first indication of the orbital period of Ser X-1. Together with the fact that the emission lines are remarkably narrow, but still resolved, we show that a main-sequence K dwarf together with a canonical 1.4 M? neutron star gives a good description of the system. In this scenario, the most likely place for the emission lines to arise is the accretion disc, instead of a localized region in the binary (such as the irradiated surface or the stream-impact point), and their narrowness is due instead to the low inclination (?10°) of Ser X-1
Antennella singulata Watson, 2011, sp. nov.
No full text<i>Antennella singulata</i> sp. nov. <p>Fig. 8 A–H</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> Holotype, NMV F171361, microslide, male colony, on reef, North Arm Channel, Western Port, depth 8 m, coll: J. Watson, 9/01/1997. Paratype, NMV F171362, microslide and remaining preserved material, infertile colony, St Leonards pier, on sponge, depth 3 m, coll: J. Watson, 20/01/2010. Paratype, NMV F171363, microslide and remaining preserved material, St Leonards pier, on sponge, depth 2 m, coll: J. Watson, 8/ 03/2010. Paratype NMV F171374, microslide, female colony, Port Welshpool, Victoria, on <i>Caulerpa</i>, depth 2 m, coll: J. Watson, 25/02/1978. <i>Material in author’s collection</i>: Western Port, Victoria, on wharf piling, coll: J. Watson, depth 3 m, 3/12/1994. Port Welshpool jetty, on the green alga <i>Caulerpa</i>, depth 2 m, coll: J. Watson, 25/2/1978. Gabo Island, eastern Victoria, on red alga and sponge, depth 17 m, coll: J. Watson, 15/2/1972. Coniston Bay, Port Kembla, New South Wales, depth 11 m, on mussels coll: J. Watson, 12/9/1975.</p> <p> <b>Description from holotype and paratypes.</b> Colony arising from a ramified hydrorhiza; stolons tubular, surface moderately smooth, poorly adherent to substrate. Stems erect, monosiphonic, to 5 mm long, typically unbranched, but sometimes with a single short side branch, basal segment of hydrocladium of same diameter as stolon, beginning with one, sometimes two athecate internodes of variable length with a strong transverse node followed by a longer internode with long oblique distal joint, two or three nematothecae in a line along internode.</p> <p>Hydrocladium comprising alternate long, slender hydrothecate and ahydrothecate internodes; ahydrothecate internode usually the longer, ahydrothecate internode with a transverse to weakly oblique proximal node, sometimes marked only by an indentation in perisarc, distal node long, oblique, ending just below floor of hydrotheca.</p> <p>Hydrotheca cup-shaped, set at an angle of 40–45° to hydrocladial axis, walls straight to slightly expanding, abcauline wall thicker than adcauline, margin transverse to hydrothecal axis, weakly everted, perisarc thinning distally to margin, rim entire, floor of hydrotheca concave, a foramen connecting with internode at base of abcauline wall.</p> <p>Ahydrothecate internode with one median nematotheca almost central on internode, nematotheca bithalamic, base stout, almost adnate to internode, cup reduced to a triangle; three nematothecae on hydrothecate internode, one inferior median, bithalamic, base stout, closely adnate to internode, cup similar to median; twin lateral nematothecae not reaching hydrothecal margin, basal chamber cylindrical, about same length as nematotheca, basal chamber of nematotheca elongate conical, cup wide and shallow, reduced on side facing hydrotheca; median superior nematotheca bithalamic, beak-shaped with stout base, tucked below hydrotheca. Hydrorhiza with scattered nematothecae similar to laterals, but with longer bases.</p> <p>Male gonotheca facing forward along hydrocladium, borne on a pedicel of two or three short segments beside median inferior nematotheca; kidney-shaped to ovoid, walls smooth, perisarc thin; one long conical nematotheca above base, basal chamber of nematotheca long, narrow, cup shallow saucer-shaped. Aperture of gonotheca terminal, circular, slightly oblique to gonothecal axis, operculum a sheet of tissue. Female similar to male, but with two large nematothecae near base, gonophores developing into a single large planula at maturity.</p> <p>Cnidome comprising two categories of nematocysts:</p> <p>i) microbasic mastigophore (?p-mastigophore), capsule bean-shaped, 16– 17 x 10–12 µm, shaft 10–12 µm, inflated about mid length to distal third with two rows of spines, thread thick, moderately long, abundant, site unknown.</p> <p>ii)?isorhiza, capsule small, pyriform, 4– 6 x 2–3 µm, thread thick, moderately long, site unknown.</p> <p>Colour of colonies pale creamy yellow.</p> <p>Hydrocladium</p> <p>basal length of athecate internode 120–320 basal length of nematothecate internode 360–624 diameter of internode 56–64 basal length of nematothecate internode 240–312 basal length of hydrothecate internode 200–224 width at transverse node 48–52 length of abcauline wall 152–160 length of free adcauline wall 112–120 diameter at rim 176–192</p> <p>Nematotheca</p> <p>median, athecate segment, length base 30–40 median, abcauline depth of cup 20–26 median inferior, length base 40–58 median inferior, abcauline depth of cup 28–30 lateral, length of pedicel 50–58 lateral, length of base to cup 24–36 width cup, lateral view 50–51 median superior, length 24–36 gonothecal, length of base 64–88 gonothecal, length of base 80–82 gonothecal, depth of cup 32–40</p> <p>Gonotheca</p> <p>female, length of pedicel 56– 72 female, length 432– 456 female, maximum width 240– 280 male, length of pedicel 80– 11 male, length, excluding pedicel 448– 560 male, maximum width 256–280</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> Six species of <i>Antennella</i> are reported from Australia: <i>A. secundaria</i> (Gmelin, 1791), <i>A. tubulosa</i> (Bale, 1894), <i>A. campanulaformis</i> (Mulder & Trebilcock, 1909) and <i>A. microscopica</i> (Mulder & Trebilcock, 1909), <i>A. dubia</i> Stechow, 1923b and <i>A. siliquosa</i> Stechow, 1923b.</p> <p> In a review of the family Halopterididae Schuchert (1997) examined the type specimen of <i>A. microscopica</i> but found it too fragmentary for confident recognition. No more material of <i>A. microscopica</i> has been found; it is likely to be a poorly preserved specimen of another species of <i>Antennella</i>. <i>A. tubulosa</i> is a rare species which has been recorded only twice, once from the type locality of Port Phillip (Bale 1894) and from Pearson Island in the eastern Great Australian Bight (Watson 1973). Schuchert (1997) redescribed <i>A. campanulaformis</i> from Mulder & Trebilcock’s type material and included <i>A. dubia</i> and <i>A. siliquosa</i> from Western Australia in its synonymy.</p> <p> <i>A. secundaria</i> is a widely distributed species in southern Australia (Stechow 1923b; Watson (1973, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003), Queensland (Pennycuik 1959) and northern Australia (Watson 2000). Schuchert (1997) considered <i>A. secundaria</i> to be a very variable species with one to three median nematothecae on the ahydrothecate internode, suggesting it may prove to be a group of species.</p> <p> The finding of the present material led to re-examination of the author’s extensive collection of <i>Antennella</i> from southeastern Australia. While many specimens bear two to three median inferior nematothecae on the ahydrothecate internode, some from various localities consistently bore only one on a long, slender internode; it is here recognised as a new species, <i>Antennella singulata</i>. <i>A</i>. <i>singulata</i> is closely related to but is distinguished from <i>A. secundaria</i> by the single median nematotheca on the ahydrothecate internode.</p> <p> <i>Antennella singulata</i> occurs on a variety of substrates including soft sponges, mussel shells and algae.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> Named for the single nematotheca on the ahydrothecate internode.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> Western Port, Port Phillip and south-eastern Australian coast to Port Kembla, New South Wales.</p>Published as part of <i>Watson, Jeanette E., 2011, New species, new records and redescriptions of Thecate hydroids (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Leptothecata) from Southern Australia, pp. 1-36 in Zootaxa 3122</i> on pages 15-18, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/203966">10.5281/zenodo.203966</a>
Clinical trial: short-term effects of combination of satavaptan, a selective vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, and diuretics on ascites in patients with cirrhosis without hyponatraemia-a randomized, double-blind,placebo-controlled study
No full textBACKGROUND: There is little information on the effects of vaptans in patients with cirrhosis.
AIM: To investigate the short-term effects of satavaptan, a selective vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist on ascites in cirrhosis without hyponatraemia.
METHODS: A total of 148 patients with cirrhosis, ascites and serum sodium >130 mmol/L were included in a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, controlled study of 14 days comparing three fixed doses of satavaptan (5 mg, 12.5 mg or 25 mg once daily) vs. placebo. Average MELD scores were: 13.4, 12.3, 13.8 and 13.1 respectively. All patients received spironolactone 100 mg/day plus furosemide 20-25 mg/day.
RESULTS: Satavaptan treatment was associated with a decrease in ascites (mean change in body weight was -0.36 kg (+/-3.03) for placebo vs. -2.46 kg (+/-3.11), -2.08 kg (+/-4.17) and -2.28 kg (+/-3.24) for the 5 mg, 12.5 mg and 25 mg doses respectively; P = 0.036, P = 0.041 and P = 0.036 for satavaptan 5, 12.5 and 25 mg/day vs. placebo respectively). Thirst and slight increases in serum sodium were more common in patients treated with satavaptan compared with placebo, while other adverse events were similar.
CONCLUSIONS: The administration satavaptan for a 14-day period is associated with reduction in ascites in patients with moderately severe cirrhosis without hyponatraemia under diuretic treatment
Paleanotus silopsis Watson, 2015, n. sp.
No full textPaleanotus silopsis n. sp. (Figs 1 H; 7 A −D) Type material. Holotype: NTM W. 24186, Western Pacific Ocean, Australia, QLD, GBR, Lizard Island, Mermaid Cove, 14 º 38.76 ’S, 145 º 27.216 ’E, CReefs, LI- 10-19, coral rubble, 2 m, coll. C. Watson, Sep 2010, (1, 100 NE, L: 11 mm, W: 0.64 mm). Paratype: NTM W. 22923, same details as holotype, (1, 30 E, L: 3.2 mm, W: 0.8 mm). Other material examined. NTM W. 24186, High Rock, CReefs, LI- 10-134 C, 6 m, coral rubble, coll. C. Buxton, Sep 2010, (1 fragment, male); NTM W. 23203, Day Reef, CReefs, LI-09-019, coral rubble, 10 m, coll. M. Blazewicz-Paszokowycz, Feb 2009, (1 NE); AM W. 46151, Lizard Island, MI QLD 2359, (1); SIO A 3633, Indonesia, West Papua, Raja Ampat, Moiskon Island, coll. G. Rouse, 2012, (2: 1, male, 36 E, L: 4.6 mm; W: 0.5 mm; 1, 23NE, anterior end, L: 1.5 mm; W: 0. 35 mm); NTM W. 25639, Philippines, Luzon Island, Batangas Bay, Koala Point, 13 º 44.3 ’N, 120 º 53.4 ’E, rubble & yellow sponge, 10−16 m, coll. San Martin et al., Dec 2010, (1, 64 NE, W: 0.45 mm); NTM W. 24188, Palawan Island, El Nido, 11 º 41 ’N, 119 º 25 ’E, coral rubble with Lithothamnion, small red coralline algae, 3−12 m, Dec 2010, coll. C. Watson et al., (1, 70 NE, ovigerous female, L: 6.5 mm, W: 0.51 mm). P. silopsis species complex NTM W. 25637, Eastern Pacific, Moorea, Outer reef between Opunuhu Bay & Motus Islands, Stn. 487, 15– 18m, coll. J. Moore, Oct 2010, (1, 92E; 1 NE, mid-body fragment, male with sperm, W: 0.37 mm). Description. (based on holotype and other material where noted). Long, slender body with small parapodia, short, notochaetal paleal fans transparent to pale golden colour. Live Philippine specimen with pale body, bright, lightgold paleae. Holotype 100 segments not entire, length 11 mm, width 0.64 mm. Anterior end same as that described for P.s i l u s n. sp. with two pairs of maroon-red eyes dominating prostomium; median antenna comparatively more subulate, not with swollen tip (Fig. 7 A). Notochaetae of mid-body notopodium composed of 2–4 pointed lateral paleae with slender, fine serrate margins, 4–6 ribs; single sub-unit 1 palea with 7–9 ribs; short spine may be present (Fig. 7 C). Main paleae number up to 10 with shallow apices, serrate convex margin to apex (tiny hoods may be present); 14–17 ribs, nearly all with full length b.l. pattern. Median paleae number 3–5 with (13), 14–17 ribs, including 3−4 noticeable raised ribs and up to 14 b.l. ribs; median broad, leaf-shaped with pointed tips (Fig. 7 B, D). Neurochaetae of mid-body neuropodium composed of 2 superior long falcigers; 1 slightly shorter midsuperior; 15 mid-group falciger; about 5 inferior shortest falcigers. Total number approximately 25 with all compound articles slender; ventral cirrus subulate (Fig. 7 C). Remarks. Paleanotus silopsis n. sp. is represented by two entire specimens from Thailand and Indonesia; other specimens are broken with no anterior or posterior ends present. One GBR individual of 100 segments, not entire, has a length of 11 mm. Diagnostic characters of Paleanotus silopsis n. sp. include broad, leaf shaped and pointed median paleae; broad main paleae rounded distally with a slightly more distinct apex; greater degree of serrated paleae margins and b.l. projection and ventral cirri basally more broad (Figs 1 H; 7 B, D). Paleanotus silopsis n. sp. (western Pacific Ocean) is very similar to P. silus n. sp. (eastern Indian Ocean) but possesses median paleae of a different shape with a greater number of ribs and main paleae with a slightly greater number of ribs (detailed comparison in P. s i l u s n. sp. see Remarks). One male from Raja Ampat had sperm visible in segments 6 to 36 of an entire specimen. A Philippine ovigerous female had large eggs, similar in size to those observed in P. silus n. sp. Segments full of gametes may appear bead-like. A live male from Moorea had a clear body with yellow oil globules inside and white pigment on each segment, indicative of white granules; a condition seen in mature Treptopale species (Watson 2010). Eastern Pacific, Moorea specimen (P. silopsis species complex) exhibits characters similar to the western Pacific P. s i l o ps i s n. sp., but agrees more with Caribbean Sea material collected by the author. These constitute a new species which will be described as part of a genetic study of the ‘ silus / silopsis ’complex (Watson in prep.). Etymology. The species name silopsis refers to this species being very similar in appearance to silus. Silus refers to the pug-nosed shape of the main paleae and the Latin suffix ‘ opsis ’ refers to a likeness. Habitat / Distribution. Paleanotus silopsis n. sp. is present along the western Pacific Ocean rim at Lizard Island, GBR, Indonesia and the Philippines. Found amongst coral rubble from 1− 16 m.Published as part of Watson, Charlotte, 2015, Seven new species of Paleanotus (Annelida: Chrysopetalidae) described from Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, and coral reefs of northern Australia and the Indo-Pacific: two cryptic species pairs revealed between western Pacific Ocean and the eastern Indian Ocean, pp. 707-732 in Zootaxa 4019 (1) on pages 724-726, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4019.1.24, http://zenodo.org/record/23424
Vortex shedding from tapered, triangular plates: taper and aspect ratio effects
No full textFurther experiments on features of the vortex shedding from tapered flat plates normal to an airstream are described. The work extends that of Castro and Rogers (2002) and concentrates on the study of the effects of varying the spanwise aspect ratio for a fixed shape plate, by appropriate adjustment of end-plates, and of the nature of the shedding as the degree of taper becomes very large, so that the body is more like a triangular plate—e.g. an isosceles triangle—than a slightly tapered plate. With the taper ratio TR defined as the ratio of plate length to average cross-stream width, the paper concentrates on the range 0.58<TR<60. Reynolds numbers, based on the average plate width, exceed 104. It is confirmed that for a small enough taper ratio the geometrical three-dimensionality is sufficiently strong that all signs of periodic vortex shedding cease. For all other cases, however, the flow at different locations along the span can vary substantially, depending on taper. There appear to be at least four different regimes, each appropriate for a different range of taper ratio. These various regimes are described
Effects of a selective vasopressin V-2 receptor antagonist, satavaptan, on ascites recurrence after paracentesis in patients with cirrhosis
No full textBACKGROUND & AIMS: Cirrhotic patients with recurrent ascites frequently require paracentesis despite diuretic therapy. Vasopressin receptor antagonists, by increasing free water clearance, may reduce the recurrence of ascites. To investigate the effects of the addition of a vasopressin V(2) receptor antagonist, satavaptan, to 100mg spironolactone on ascites recurrence after a large volume paracentesis in patients with liver cirrhosis irrespective of the presence of hyponatraemia.
METHODS: One hundred and fifty one cirrhotic patients with recurrent ascites with or without hyponatraemia, and normal to mildly abnormal renal function were randomised in a double-blind study to receive either 5mg (n=39), 12.5mg (n=36), 25mg (n=40) of satavaptan or placebo (n=36) for 12 weeks. Their Child-Pugh scores were 9.2+/-1.3, 8.7+/-1.7, 8.8+/-1.3, and 9.0+/-1.5, respectively.
RESULTS: Median time to first paracentesis was 23, 26, and 17 days with satavaptan 5, 12.5, and 25mg, respectively, versus 14 days with placebo (ns for all doses). The frequency of paracenteses was decreased significantly (p<0.05) in all satavaptan groups versus placebo. Mean increase in ascites was 2.82+/-0.48 L/week for placebo versus 2.12+/-0.40, 2.14+/-0.33, and 2.06+/-0.40 L/week for the 5, 12.5, and 25mg of satavaptan, respectively (ns for all doses). Similar numbers of patients experienced major adverse events in all groups. Increases in serum creatinine, orthostatic changes in systolic pressure and thirst were more common with satavaptan.
CONCLUSIONS: Satavaptan has the potential to reduce recurrence of ascites after a large volume paracentesis at doses from 5 to 25mg in cirrhotic patients with ascites
Durbin Watson test statistics.
No full textNote: Table depicts Durbin Watson test statistics for p = 14 lags. (TIF)</p
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