The study of gene families critically depends on the correct reconstruction of gene genealogies, as for instance in the case of transcription factor genes like Hox genes and Dlx gene families. Proteins belonging to the same family are likely to share some of the same protein interaction partners and may thus face a similar selective environment. This common selective environment can induce co-evolutionary pressures and thus can give rise to correlated rates and patterns of evolution among members of a gene family. In this study, we simulate the evolution of a family of sequences which share a set of interaction partners. Depending on the amount of sequence dedicated to protein–protein interaction and the relative rate parameters of sequence evolution three outcomes are possible: if the fraction of the sequence dedicated to interaction with common co-factors is low and the time since divergence is small, the trees based on sequence information tend to be correct. If the time since gene duplication is long two possible outcomes are observed in our simulations. If the rate of evolution of the interaction partner is small compared to the rate of evolution of the focal protein family, the reconstructed trees tend towards star phylogenies. As the rate of evolution of the interaction partner approaches that of the focal protein family the reconstructed phylogenies tend to be incorrectly resolved. We conclude that the genealogies of gene families can be hard to estimate, in particular if the proteins interact with a conserved set of binding partners, as is likely the case for transcription factors.

Seoul, South Korea, October, 2006; Adlerian Counseling Center, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, April, 1982; FEC of Wilmington, Delaware, March, 1982; Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, November, 1981; Plain Local School District, Canton, Ohio, February, 1981

Virtual reality (VR) applications are becoming increasingly popular and are being used in various applications. VR applications can be used to simulate large real-world landscapes in a computer program for various purposes such as entertainment, education or business. Typically, 3-dimensional (3D) and VR applications use environments that are made up of meshes of relatively small size. As the size of the meshes increase, the applications start experiencing lagging and run-time memory errors. Therefore, it is inefficient to upload large-sized meshes into a VR application directly. Manually modelling an accurate real-world environment can also be a complicated task, due to the large size and complex nature of the landscapes. In this research, a method to automatically convert 3D point-clouds of any size and complexity into a format that can be efficiently rendered in a VR application is proposed. Apart from reducing the cost on performance, the solution also reduces the risks of virtual reality induced motion sickness. The pipeline of the system incorporates three main steps: a surface reconstruction step, a texturing step and a segmentation step. The surface reconstruction step is necessary to convert the 3D point-clouds into 3D triangulated meshes. Texturing is required to add a realistic feel to the appearance of themeshes. Segmentation is used to split large-sized meshes into smaller components that can be rendered individually without overflowing the memory. A novel mesh segmentation algorithm, the Triangle Pool Algorithm (TPA) is designed to segment the mesh into smaller parts. To avoid using the complex geometric and surface features of natural scenes, the TPA algorithm uses the colour attribute of the natural scenes for segmentation. The TPA algorithm manages to produce comparable results to those of state-of-the-art 3D segmentation algorithms when segmenting regular 3D objects and also manages to outperform the state-of-the-art algorithms when segmenting meshes of real-world natural landscapes. The VR application is designed using the Unreal and Unity 3D engines. Its principle of operation involves rendering regions closer to the user using highly-detailed multiple mesh segments, whilst regions further away from the user are comprised of a lower detailed mesh. The rest of the segments that are not rendered at a particular time, are stored in external storage. The principle of operation manages to free up memory and also to reduce the amount of computational power required to render highly-detailed meshes. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / MEng / Unrestricted

Introduction: Involvement of the forefoot is common among patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. It results in severe deformities with significant disabilities. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare and assess in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in a South African population the outcomes of severe forefoot deformity reconstruction surgery in the short- to medium-term and in particular focusing on radiological, clinical, and functional outcomes. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of 19 patients who received reconstructive forefoot surgery for forefoot deformities resulting from Rheumatoid Arthritis was undertaken. They all underwent Modified Hoffman Surgical Reconstruction (first MTPJ fusion and lesser toe resection arthroplasty). The patient records between 2013 and 2016 were reviewed. Pre-operative and post-operative outcome scores were collected. Final postoperative radiographs were analyzed. Patients completed Short Form 36 and AOFAS forefoot scores. Post-operative scores were collected 6 months post-op. Results: There were 19 patients in the study with a minimum 6 months follow up. Of the 19 patients 17 (89.5%) were females and 2 (10.5%) males. The mean age was 54.9 ± 9.6 years (range: 34 – 69 years). Most patient outcomes (SF36, AOS alignment, VAS Pain percentage, and VAS Disability percentage) significantly improved with a p value < 0.05, when comparing the pre-operative versus post-operative variable scores. However, only AOS Alignments showed no significant difference between pre-operative and post-operative scores (p>0.05). Conclusion: Reconstructive forefoot surgery with the Modified Hoffman Surgical Reconstruction provides marked radiological correction, with significant improvements in the quality of life of the cohort of patients.

The relationship between leaf physiognomy and precipitation has been explored worldwide in regions under different climate conditions. Unlike the linear relationship established between the percentage of woody dicot species with entire margins and mean annual temperature, precipitation has been reported to correlate to different leaf physiognomic characters depending on the region where the correlation is studied. To investigate if precipitation can be calculated from leaf physiognomic characters on the basis of regional sample sites, data from 50 mesic to humid forests in China were analyzed in this study. With data from Chinese forests, the leaf-area analysis based on linear regression between natural logarithms of leaf size and mean annual precipitation (MAP) shows no significant correlation. Both single and multiple linear regression analyses fail to confirm the correlation between leaf physiognomy and precipitation, which may result from the similarity of modern spatial distribution of temperature and precipitation in China. Our results show that, due to variations in climatic conditions among sampling regions, leaf physiognomic characters that correlate to precipitation are not consistent worldwide, and applications of models without considering regional constraints could mislead our understanding of palaeoclimate. Therefore, when choosing a leaf physiognomic model for palaeoclimate reconstructions, it is important to determine if the leaf physiognomy of the palaeoflora lies within the leaf physiognomic spectrum of the model used.

The relationship between leaf physiognomy and precipitation has been explored worldwide in regions under different climate conditions. Unlike the linear relationship established between the percentage of woody dicot species with entire margins and mean annual temperature, precipitation has been reported to correlate to different leaf physiognomic characters depending on the region where the correlation is studied. To investigate if precipitation can be calculated from leaf physiognomic characters on the basis of regional sample sites, data from 50 mesic to humid forests in China were analyzed in this study. With data from Chinese forests, the leaf-area analysis based on linear regression between natural logarithms of leaf size and mean annual precipitation (MAP) shows no significant correlation. Both single and multiple linear regression analyses fail to confirm the correlation between leaf physiognomy and precipitation, which may result from the similarity of modern spatial distribution of temperature and precipitation in China. Our results show that, due to variations in climatic conditions among sampling regions, leaf physiognomic characters that correlate to precipitation are not consistent worldwide, and applications of models without considering regional constraints could mislead our understanding of palaeoclimate. Therefore, when choosing a leaf physiognomic model for palaeoclimate reconstructions, it is important to determine if the leaf physiognomy of the palaeoflora lies within the leaf physiognomic spectrum of the model used.

The Coexistence Approach was established by Mosbrugger and Utescher (1997) as a plant-based method to reconstruct palaeoclimate by considering recent climatic distribution ranges of the nearest living relatives of each fossil taxon. During its existence for over more than 15. years, its basics have been tested and reviewed in comparison with other terrestrial and marine climate reconstruction techniques and climate modelling data. However, some controversies remain about its underlying data or its applicability in general.In view of these controversies this paper discusses the power and limitations of the Coexistence Approach by summarising past results and new developments. We give insights into the details and problems of each step of the application from the assignment of the fossil plant to the most suitable nearest living relative, the crucial consideration of the usefulness of specific taxa towards their climatic values and the correct interpretation of the software-based suggested palaeoclimatic intervals. Furthermore, we reflect on the fundamental data integrated in the Coexistence Approach by explaining different concepts and usages of plant distribution information and the advantages and disadvantages of modern climatic maps. Additionally, we elaborate on the importance of continually updating the information incorporated in the database due to new findings in e.g., (palaeo-)botany, meteorology and computer technology.Finally, for a transparent and appropriate use, we give certain guidelines for future applications and emphasize to users how to carefully consider and discuss their results. We show the Coexistence Approach to be an adaptive method capable of yielding palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental information through time and space.

A flap is described for recreation of the labia majora. The flap was designed for a young woman who developed vulvar squamous cell carcinoma in-situ after immunosuppression for treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The patient underwent removal of the labia majora, and was reconstructed with a bi-lobed abdominal flap tunneled through the mons pubis. The flap produced a normal genital contour and has functioned well to seven years follow-up.

The late Miocene Xiaolongtan megaflora from Kaiyuan in southeast Yunnan (23°48′45″N, 103°11′52″E, 1050 m a.s.l.) was chosen for palaeoclimatic reconstruction using three quantitative techniques, i.e. the Coexistence Approach (CA), Leaf Margin Analysis (LMA), and the Climate-Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program (CLAMP). The reconstructed climatic parameters are also compared with those of the two adjacent Miocene floras currently available in Yunnan, i.e. the early to middle Miocene carpological Mangdan flora (24°24′N, 97°49′E, 1620 m a.s.l.) and the late Miocene Lühe palynoflora (25°10′N, 101°22′E, 1930 m a.s.l.). Quantitative analyses of the Xiaolongtan flora supports the previous qualitative results of a southern, humid subtropical climate, being more humid and having a slightly higher mean annual temperature (MAT) than today. The MATs calculated by CA, LMA, and CLAMP overlap (16.7-19.2 °C, 22.3 ± 2.05 °C, 18.1 ± 1.2 °C, respectively) and are close to the present day value (19.7 °C). The overlapping of temperatures derived using the three techniques is unusual and probably related to the low latitude of the Xiaolongtan area and the southern subtropical nature of its vegetation. Both the mean temperatures of the warmest month (WMT) and of the coldest month (CMT) reconstructed by CA (WMT = 25.4-26.0 °C, CMT = 7.7-8.7 °C) and CLAMP (WMT = 25.9 ± 1.6 °C, CMT = 10.8 ± 1.9 °C) are similar to those of today (WMT = 24.3 °C, CMT = 12.8 °C), but great changes appear in the mean annual precipitation (MAP). The CLAMP results suggest a higher precipitation (1964 ± 335.9 mm) than CA (1215-1639 mm), but they are much higher than the present MAP (820.5 mm). This is consistent with results from the Lühe palynoflora, which also developed under a warmer subtropical climate with higher precipitation (803.6-1254.7 mm) than that of today (815.9 mm). In contrast, the Mangdan flora, situated in a more complicated topographic region to the west of Xiaolongtan and near the Sino-Myanmar border, implies a slightly lower precipitation (1170-1300 mm) than that of today (1300-1400 mm). Overall, the wetter climate during the late Miocene around the Xiaolongtan area suggests that the Himalayas had not yet uplifted to its present altitudes at that time.

The exposure of social problems such as forced disappearances is necessary for the history of society. The interactive documentary is a new digital proposal for the creation of spaces for the reconstruction of a social memory. In this paper, a content analysis is used to analyze the construction of the interactive narrative for the reconstruction of memory in the webdoc Forensic Landscapes and, with this, to identify its narrative composition in the construction of new spaces for the user’s experience. The interactive documentary generates a shared feeling between the user and the interface due to resources such as hypertextuality, database, narrative elements, representation modalities and interactivity. Thus, immersion is adhered, a new way of exposing a social theme in 360 degrees which recreates a sensory experience within an imaginary universe. Through the story, the memory of the agents involved in forced disappearances in Latin America is reconstructed.