Unusual Position Research Articles

Fish That Fish for Fish-A Peculiar Location of "Fishing Motoneurons" in the Striated Frogfish Antennarius striatus.

In lophiform teleosts, the first dorsal fin has evolved as a specialized structure called the "illicium" equipped with the esca, which is a modified skin flap used to attract small fish for predation. The motor control system of the illicium, however, remained unknown. The present study investigated the innervation of muscles for the illicium and morphology of motoneurons innervating them in the striated frogfish Antennarius striatus. We found that the dorsal ramus of occipital nerve innervates the muscles. Motoneurons for the illicium are present in the dorsolateral zone of ventral horn at the medullo-spinal boundary level, forming a cluster somewhat distinct from other motoneurons of the ventral horn. Motoneurons for the second to fourth dorsal fins and pectoral fin were located in the ventrolateral and ventromedial zones of ventral horn, respectively, whereas those of the dorsal trunk muscle in the dorsomedial zone of ventral horn. Motoneurons for the first dorsal spine of white-spotted pygmy filefish were also investigated for species comparison and were found to locate in the ventrolateral zone of ventral horn, similarly to the motoneurons for the second to fourth dorsal fins of the frogfish. These results suggest that motoneurons for the illicium have become segregated from other motoneurons to be situated in an unusual dorsal position for a motoneuron pool of a dorsal fin, in concert with the evolution of specialized "fishing behavior" performed by the illicium.

Tuberculous spondylitis: Macromorphological and radiological studies on a skeleton from the Late Iron Age monument of Nor Armavir, Armenia

The skeleton in question derives from the Late Iron Age monument of Nor Armavir and was unearthed from burial No. 19. The deceased was buried in an unusual position. In this article, we characterize the pathological bony changes indicative of tuberculous spondylitis. The skeleton was subject to a detailed macroscopic investigation. Besides age at death estimation and sex determination, a careful palaeopathological evaluation was performed on the bone remains. In addition, volumetric (3D) computed tomography was carried out on four lumbar vertebrae (L2–5) to complement the macromorphology-based diagnosis.

Enhancing statistical chart accessibility for people with low vision: insights from a user test

AbstractA remote user test was performed with two versions (one accessible and one non-accessible) of three types of web-based charts (horizontal bar chart, vertical stacked bar chart, and line chart). The objectives of the test were: (a) to validate a set of heuristic indicators for the evaluation of the accessibility of statistical charts presented in a previous work (Fariñas Falcón et al. in Mediocentro Electrónica 21(1):65–68, 2017); (b) to identify new barriers and preferences for users with low vision in the access and use of this content not previously contemplated. 12 users were tested, with a variety of conditions associated with low vision: low visual acuity (6 users), reduced central vision (2 users), reduced peripheral vision (2 users), blurry vision (1 user), sensitivity to light (3 users), Nystagmus (2 users) and color vision deficiency (CVD) (4 users). From a quantitative standpoint, accessible versions of charts were more efficient, effective, and satisfactory. From a qualitative point of view, results verify the relevance of heuristics H2, Legend; H3, Axes; H6, Data source (as data table); H10, Safe colors; H11, Contrast; H12, Legibility; H13, Image quality; H14, Resize; H16, Focus visible; H17, Independent navigation; related to the proposed tasks. As new observations, tooltips were highly valued by all users, but their implementation must be improved to avoid covering up significant parts of the charts when displayed. The data table has also been frequently used by all users, especially in the non-accessible versions, allowing them to carry out tasks more efficiently. The position and size of the legend can be a significant barrier if it is too small or appears in an unusual position. Finally, despite the limitations related to color perception, some users prefer color graphics to black and white, so, to target all profiles, it is necessary to redundantly encode categories with colors and patterns as well.

Prosodically determined coordinator placement in Yorùbá

In this paper, we look at the properties of the clausal coordinator sì in Yorùbá. We will show that despite its unusual surface position in the middle field of the second conjunct, the element should still be treated as a proper coordinator and not, as sometimes claimed, as an adverb. We then go on to fully describe the distribution of sì in simple clauses as well as in complex constructions involving focus movement, adverbial or relative clauses. Based on these configurations, we argue that a search for a uniform syntactic position of sì is bound to be unsuccessful. Rather, we claim that the uniform underlying factor in all of these constructions is that sì always right-attaches to the first phonological phrase of the second conjunct clause irrespective of syntactic constituents or islands. We provide evidence for this claim from various phonological processes such as (i) phonological fusion, (ii) the association of floating tones, (iii) assimilation, (iv) tonal OCP-effects, and (v) allomorphy. The present study thus not only solves a curious language-specific puzzle in Yorùbá but also provides a convincing case of prosodically driven clitic displacement to a position after the first phonological/prosodic phrase. In doing so, it falls nicely into emerging typologies of clitic placement patterns in the world’s languages.

Automated systems for diagnosis of dysgraphia in children: a survey and novel framework

Learning disabilities, which primarily interfere with basic learning skills such as reading, writing, and math, are known to affect around 10% of children in the world. The poor motor skills and motor coordination as part of the neurodevelopmental disorder can become a causative factor for the difficulty in learning to write (dysgraphia), hindering the academic track of an individual. The signs and symptoms of dysgraphia include but are not limited to irregular handwriting, improper handling of writing medium, slow or labored writing, unusual hand position, etc. The widely accepted assessment criterion for all types of learning disabilities including dysgraphia has traditionally relied on examinations conducted by medical expert. However, in recent years, artificial intelligence has been employed to develop diagnostic systems for learning disabilities, utilizing diverse modalities of data, including handwriting analysis. This work presents a review of the existing automated dysgraphia diagnosis systems for children in the literature. The main focus of the work is to review artificial intelligence-based systems for dysgraphia diagnosis in children. This work discusses the data collection method, important handwriting features, and machine learning algorithms employed in the literature for the diagnosis of dysgraphia. Apart from that, this article discusses some of the non-artificial intelligence-based automated systems. Furthermore, this article discusses the drawbacks of existing systems and proposes a novel framework for dysgraphia diagnosis and assistance evaluation.

First flower inclusion and fossil evidence of Cryptocarya (Laurales, Lauraceae) from Miocene amber of Zhangpu (China)

Lauraceae have one of the oldest fossil records of angiosperms with the earliest known evidence from the mid-Cretaceous. However, most of these records are based on leaves, especially from the Cenozoic of Asia, which are often challenging to assign to extinct or extant genera or species. In contrast, fossils of reproductive organs are more informative, but remain scarce. We here described the first Cenozoic Lauraceae flower of Asia and confirmed the presence of Cryptocarya in the Miocene Zhangpu flora (Fujian Province, south-eastern China) based on an amber inclusion. We scanned the specimen using synchrotron radiation-based micro-computed tomography (SRμCT) and then compared the fossil with extant flowers of the genus. The present fossil flower is small, bisexual, and polysymmetric, with a whorled and trimerous perianth and androecium along with a hypanthium around the gynoecium. The perianth comprises six undifferentiated tepals, the androecium consists of nine stamens and three innermost staminodes, and the gynoecium of a single carpel with a superior, unilocular (and uniovulate) ovary. Our study also shows that the fossil shares an unusual position of the typical staminal glands and a short androecial tube on the rim of the hypanthium with at least one extant Australian species of Cryptocarya, which have not been reported before. Nowadays, Lauraceae are still present in tropical to subtropical regions, mostly in American and Asian rainforests. The discovery of many Lauraceae leaf fossils in Zhangpu, as well as the amber flower of this study, is consistent with the current reconstruction of the amber source environment as a megathermal seasonal rainforest during the Mid-Miocene.

Tides of Influence: Bernard Shaw, the Irish Writer, and World Literature

Bernard Shaw occupies an unusual position in relation to Irish literature – his bona fides as a major world literary figure are acknowledged but his importance to Ireland remains ambiguous. Shaw himself admitted his resistance to narrow views of national identity: ‘I am a tolerably good European in the Nietzschean sense, but a very bad Irishman in the Sinn Fein or Chosen People sense’. Yet because of how he was influenced by and celebrated writers from elsewhere and his successful determination to leave his imprint on and to change the direction of global culture, Shaw is a fascinating case study for the myriad manners and processes by which the Irish writer joins the currents of world literature. This essay argues that Shaw's place in world literature has been misunderstood and seeks to reconsider how both Shaw and other Irish writers have been conceptualized in this context.

The Place of Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Gynecological Pain.

Cannabis sativa (L), a plant with an extensive history of medicinal usage across numerous cultures, has received increased attention over recent years for its therapeutic potential for gynecological disorders such as endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, and primary dysmenorrhea, due at least in part to shortcomings with current management options. Despite this growing interest, cannabis inhabits an unusual position in the modern medical pharmacopoeia, being a legal medicine, legal recreational drug, and an illicit drug, depending on jurisdiction. To date, the majority of studies investigating cannabis use have found that most people are using illicit cannabis, with numerous obstacles to medical cannabis adoption having been identified, including outdated drug-driving laws, workplace drug testing policies, the cost of quality-assured medical cannabis products, a lack of cannabis education for healthcare professionals, and significant and persistent stigma. Although currently lacking robust clinical trial data, a growing evidence base of retrospective data, cohort studies, and surveys does support potential use in gynecological pain conditions, with most evidence focusing on endometriosis. Cannabis consumers report substantial reductions in pelvic pain, as well as common comorbid symptoms such as gastrointestinal disturbances, mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, and poor sleep. Substitution effects were reported, with >50% reduction or cessation in opioid and/or non-opioid analgesics being the most common. However, a substantial minority report not disclosing cannabis consumption to their health professional. Therefore, while such deprescribing trends are potentially beneficial, the importance of medical supervision during this process is paramount given the possibility for withdrawal symptoms.

A multiyear photopolarimetric study of the semi-regular variable V CVn and identification of analog sources

The semi-regular variable star V Canum Venaticorum (V CVn) is well known for its unusual linear polarization position angle (PA). Decades of observing V CVn reveal a nearly constant PA spanning hundreds of pulsation cycles. This phenomenon has persisted through variability that has varied by two magnitudes in optical brightness and through variability in the polarization amplitude over 0.3 and 6.9%. Additionally, the polarization fraction of V CVn varies inversely with brightness. This paper presents polarization measurements obtained over three pulsation cycles. We find that the polarization maximum does not always occur precisely at the same time as the brightness minimum. Instead, we observe a small lead or lag in relation to the brightness minimum, spanning a period of a few days up to three weeks. Furthermore, the PA sometimes exhibits a non-negligible rotation, especially at lower polarization levels. To elucidate the unusual optical behavior of V CVn, we present a list of literature sources that also exhibit polarization variability with a roughly fixed PA. We find this correlation occurs in stars with high tangential space velocities, for instance, “runaway” stars, suggesting that the long-term constant PA is related to how the circumstellar gas is shaped by the star’s high-speed motion through the interstellar medium.

A rare find of a maxillary third molar with five roots: a case report of an unusual morphology.

Third molars are frequently absent or impacted; their unpredictable prevalence and morphology, with frequent anatomical variations, is a challenge for the practitioner. The number of roots of the upper third molars vary from one to five, but five roots upper third molars' cases are extremely rare. The case reported here is of a normotrophic male patient, with no significant general medical history, having extracted an impacted maxillary upper molar, with an unusual position and dimensions and five completely separated formed roots, orientated in diverse directions. It highlights the importance of using the correct surgical technique, without excessive pressure, for avoiding the fracture of the maxillary tuberosity, the displacement of the molar into the pterygopalatine fossa or the opening of the maxillary sinus, especially in the absence of good quality imagistic information like cone-beam computed tomography. The case presented in this paper is very rare and highlights the significance of anatomical knowledge, which is mandatory for managing these cases, to avoid trauma, accidents, and complications and to maintain an optimal time of extraction, since such variations occur, and the conventional radiographs do not offer enough data to clarify the diagnosis.

Post-mortem tetramorphism: Four morphological changes within the same corpse.

Transformative processes generally occur singly and jointly involving the whole body. Rarely, they appear simultaneously as distinct transformative phenomena. The case study relates to a corpse found inside a storage tank in a rather unusual position, during the winter months. On external examination carried out at the crime scene, both legs and feet were out of the well bending over the storage tank and showing skeletonisation and tissue defects due to biting inflicted by the environmental macrofauna. The thighs were also skeletonised, inside the well but not immersed in the water, as was the torso which, however, was entirely corified. The colliquated shoulders, head and upper limbs were fully immersed into the water as well as the macerated hands. The corpse was exposed simultaneously to three different environmental conditions: the external setting with changes in temperature, rainfall and the action of the macro fauna, the unventilated and humid setting inside the tank, and lastly the stored water. The corpse, lying in a specific position and being exposed to different atmospheric conditions, underwent four post-mortem changes at the same time, making it challenging to estimate the time of death, based only on the available data and macroscopic findings.

Jumping continents and major host lineages: phylogeny and diversity of the enigmatic Cryptotropidae (Platyhelminthes: Digenea).

Members of several genera in the digenean superfamily Microphalloidea, namely Renschetrema, Rohdetrema, Cryptotropa, Cephalouterina and Pseudocryptotropa, are characterized by an unusual dorsal position of the genital atrium. In the absence of phylogenetic data, their systematic position has been unstable. In the most recent taxonomic revision of the Microphalloidea, they were housed in three different families. We studied the morphology and obtained DNA sequences of several microphallolideans with a dorsal genital pore, collected from vertebrates in Southeast Asia and South America. We used sequences of the nuclear 28S gene to infer a superfamily-level phylogeny and sequences of the mitochondrial cox1 gene for family-level phylogeny and species-level comparisons. Based on the combination of molecular phylogenetic data and morphological features, we restore the Cryptotropidae and synonymize the Renschetrematidae with the Cryptotropidae. We erect new genera Paracryptotropagen. nov. and Armadoatriumgen. nov., provide amended diagnoses of the Cryptotropidae and Renschetrema and provide keys to the identification of genera within the family. We resurrect the genus Novetrema, previously synonymized with Pseudocryptotropa, and remove Renschetrema indicum from Renschetrema. We describe four new species from lizards in Vietnam and birds in the Philippines and Peru. The unique morphological features and unusually broad host associations and geographical distributions of cryptotropids are discussed.

Clawing Through Bits of Glass and Bricks: James Baldwin and Reinhold Niebuhr on the Birmingham Church Bombing

ABSTRACTThis article analyzes the unpublished dialogue between James Baldwin and Reinhold Niebuhr where they discussed the role of the Christian church in the wake of six child murders in Birmingham, Alabama on September 15, 1963. On that catastrophic day—one that is impossible to forget—the Ku Klux Klan bombed The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, and two black boys were subsequently shot and killed. In the wake of that violence, this article will show that for Baldwin, the dynamite that exploded the face of the “alabaster Christ” from the stained‐glass window presents an opportunity for not only a new depiction of Jesus in terms of presentation—but more significantly—a brand‐new Christology rooted in black liberation. Such a reading provides us with an unusual constructive theological position offered by Baldwin, especially once it is read alongside a public essay written by the Association of Artists for Freedom advocating for Black Christmas.

Review of Harpactea ground-dwelling spiders (Araneae: Dysderidae) of Portugal

We revise the Portuguese spiders of the genus Harpactea Bristowe, 1939 (Araneae: Dysderidae). The following seven new species are described: H. adicensis sp. nov., H. crespoi sp. nov., H. dolanskyi sp. nov., H. henriquesi sp. nov., H. korenkoi sp. nov., H. krejcii sp. nov. and H. pekari sp. nov. In three species, H. algarvensis Ferrández, 1990, H. minoccii Ferrández, 1982 and H. tavirensis Wunderlich, 2020 the females are described for the first time. The Portuguese Harpactea spiders belong to two species groups, namely the hombergi group and the corticalis group (sensu Deeleman-Reinhold 1993). The majority of the Portuguese representatives of the corticalis group probably constitute a monophyletic group endemic for the Iberian peninsula, the minoccii subgroup Ferrández, 1990. The synapomorphy of this clade is the unique position of partners during copulation: the male grasps one of the female's chelicerae between his chelicerae. The males' chelicerae are morphologically adapted for this behaviour. Due to this unusual position during copulation the female genitalia are more distant from the male than in other Harpactea species. Therefore, the pedipalps are more elongated . Furthermore, the males of this subgroup possess larger basal part of male copulatory organ (the tegulum), where the ejaculate is stored before copulation. We observed that the males of this subgroup invest significantly more time into single copulation than the other representatives of the corticalis group with smaller tegulum. Therefore, enlargement of the tegulum might reflect different sperm competition strategy, in which males invest more ejaculate in each copulation. In Portugal, Harpactea spiders are frequently found under woody plants that produce slowly decomposing leaf litter, usually Quercus spp., or introduced Eucalyptus sp. These spiders require slightly humid substratum.

Pragmatist quietism: A meta‐ethical system. By Andrew Sepielli, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. 2022. vi + 231 pp. £55 (Hbk)

Pragmatist quietism: A meta‐ethical system. By Andrew Sepielli, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. 2022. vi + 231 pp. £55 (Hbk)

Bilateral ectopic pelvic kidneys: The novel association with liver hemangioma

Background: Renal ectopia is a congenital abnormality in which one or both kidneys are located in an unusual position because of failure of normal ascend from its origin in the true pelvis. Several types of renal ectopia with or without fusion or other associated renal and abdominal visceral abnormalities have been reported. We have previously reported the case forty-one of crossed unfused renal ectopia, and the aim of this paper is to report the association of bilateral ectopic pelvic kidneys with liver hemangioma. Patients and methods: The case of a woman in her mid-forties with renal and hepatic abnormalities on pelvic and abdominal ultrasound was studied. Results: A woman in her mid-forties was having recurrent lower abdominal pain or discomfort and recurrent urinary tract infection. Ultrasound showed that both kidneys were ectopic and were located in the pelvic cavity. Both kidneys were normal in size, texture, parenchymal thickness, and had normal cortico-modularly differentiation. There was mild splitting of the pelvi-calyceal system suggesting infection. Both ureters were normal. The liver was normal in size with homogenous texture, but there was a right lobe well-defined echogenic soft tissue mass, hemangioma. Renal function tests showed normal findings. Conclusion: Bilateral ectopic pelvic kidneys is a rare congenital condition that has not been reported to occur in association with hepatic hemangioma. This paper reports the novel association of bilateral ectopic pelvic kidneys with hepatic hemangioma.

Bilateral Ectopic Pelvic Kidneys: The Novel Association with Liver Hemangioma

Background Renal ectopia is a congenital abnormality in which one or both kidneys are located in an unusual position because of failure of normal ascend from its origin in the true pelvis. Several types of renal ectopia with or without fusion or other associated renal and abdominal visceral abnormalities have been reported. We have previously reported the case forty-one of crossed unfused renal ectopia, and the aim of this paper is to report the association of bilateral ectopic pelvic kidneys with liver hemangioma. Patients and methods The case of a woman in her mid-forties with renal and hepatic abnormalities on pelvic and abdominal ultrasound was studied. Results A woman in her mid-forties was having recurrent lower abdominal pain or discomfort and recurrent urinary tract infection. Ultrasound showed that both kidneys were ectopic and were located in the pelvic cavity. Both kidneys were normal in size, texture, parenchymal thickness, and had normal cortico-modularly differentiation. There was mild splitting of the pelvi-calyceal system suggesting infection. Both ureters were normal. The liver was normal in size with homogenous texture, but there was a right lobe well-defined echogenic soft tissue mass, hemangioma. Renal function tests showed normal findings. Conclusion Bilateral ectopic pelvic kidneys is a rare congenital condition that has not been reported to occur in association with hepatic hemangioma. This paper reports the novel association of bilateral ectopic pelvic kidneys with hepatic hemangioma.

An Aberrant Position of Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheter in Extreme Preterm Infant

The use of a Percutaneously inserted central catheter (PICC) has increased with improved survival of extremely premature infants. Catheter malposition and perforation are associated with serious complications. PICC line position always needs to be confirmed after insertion. An Anteroposterior (AP) view radiograph is commonly used to confirm catheter tip position. We report a case of an unusual PICC position despite confirmation of the PICC tip position on the AP view radiograph. It is a potentially fatal complication and timely intervention can be lifesaving. Performing lateral X-rays to confirm the PICC tip or USG-guided placement of the catheter tip can prevent untoward serious complications. In the case of ascites, upper-extremity catheter insertion should be preferred instead of lower-extremity central venous catheters.

A Rare Presentation of Subhepatic Caecum and Appendix with Atrophic Gall Bladder in a Cadaver

A case of subhepatic, mobile caecum and appendix was found in a 65-year-old male cadaver. The appendix was attached to the right wall of caecum, in addition, a small and atrophic gall bladder, only 1.5 cm in length, was noted in the fossa for gall bladder of liver, connected to the right colic flexure by a cystocolic peritoneal band. The case was found during the routine dissection for the undergraduate medical students. This kind of finding has not been reported in any previous literature associated with subhepatic caecum. This unusual position of appendix might cause atypical sign and symptoms during episode of acute appendicitis. This might affect the gall bladder, located in close vicinity, leading to inflammation, atrophy and adhesion to the adjacent right colic flexure. This type of case might cause diagnostic and management challenges for the clinicians and complicated disease conditions in the patients.

Cтихиры «ин роспев с отменами» в партесных рукописях государевых певчих дьяков Петровской эпохи

The article is devoted to a newly found musical-theoretical term of Russian partes music of the first quarter of the 18th century, applied to a modified, “different”, “arbitrary” version of the chant of festive verses and indicating the presence of “cancellations” in it. The term was found in two manuscripts associated with the Choir of the Sovereign's Singing Deacons of the time of Peter’s era, in two formulations: "another chant with cancellations" and "arbitrariness with cancellation". Both manuscripts are four-part adaptations of the Znamenny Chant Holidays, preserved in the form of a score and as a set of parts. The description of the singing manuscripts of the Archive of the Armory Chamber of the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts, which is currently being carried out by the author together with N. Yu. Plotnikova, provided material for the article. Source research suggests that the term "with cancellations" belongs to the sovereign's singer Deacon Alexei Mikhailovich Protopopov, who worked in the court choir at the same time as his alleged relative, the usher Ivan Mikhailovich Protopopov. The article analyzes the unusual moments of partes chants that are not specific for znamenny chant, where many random sharps and flats appear. The author convinces that sharps and flats at that time could be used in two ways: in the modern sense and as modal signs indicating an unusual position of the “obikhodnyy” scale as a result of its mutation. In addition to the frequently encountered mutations one tone down, in the verse of the Annunciation “The Sacrament from the Ages” there are mutations one tone up and even two tones up. Fret shifts, so rare in Znamenny singing, are written in unusual sharps and flats, designated by the indicated term. The author proposes to translate it into modern language as "a variety of chant with changes", or "with shifts".