Wear and its effects on dental topography measures in howling monkeys (Alouatta palliata).

OBJECTIVES: Three dental topography measurements: Dirichlet Normal Energy (DNE), Relief Index (RFI), and Orientation Patch Count Rotated (OPCR) are examined for their interaction with measures of wear, within and between upper and lower molars in Alouatta palliata. Potential inferences of the "dental sculpting" phenomenon are explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen occluding pairs of howling monkey first molars (15 upper, 15 lower) opportunistically collected from La Pacifica, Costa Rica, were selected to sample wear stages ranging from unworn to heavily worn as measured by the Dentine Exposure Ratio (DER). DNE, RFI, and OPCR were measured from three-dimensional surface reconstructions (PLY files) derived from high-resolution CT scans. Relationships among the variables were tested with regression analyses. RESULTS: Upper molars have more cutting edges, exhibiting significantly higher DNE, but have significantly lower RFI values. However, the relationships among the measures are concordant across both sets of molars. DER and EDJL are curvilinearly related. DER is positively correlated with DNE, negatively correlated with RFI, and uncorrelated with OPCR. EDJL is not correlated with DNE, or RFI, but is positively correlated with OPCR among lower molars only. DISCUSSION: The relationships among these metrics suggest that howling monkey teeth adaptively engage macrowear. DNE increases with wear in this sample presumably improving food breakdown. RFI is initially high but declines with wear, suggesting that the initially high RFI safeguards against dental senescence. OPCR values in howling monkey teeth do not show a clear relationship with wear changes.

Introducing molaR: a New R Package for Quantitative Topographic Analysis of Teeth (and Other Topographic Surfaces)

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New YorkResearchers studying mammalian dentitions from functional and adaptive perspectives increasingly have moved towards using dental topography measures that can be estimated from 3D surface scans, which do not require identification of specific homologous landmarks. Here we present molaR, a new R package designed to assist researchers in calculating four commonly used topographic measures: Dirichlet Normal Energy (DNE), Relief Index (RFI), Orientation Patch Count (OPC), and Orientation Patch Count Rotated (OPCR) from surface scans of teeth, enabling a unified application of these informative new metrics. In addition to providing topographic measuring tools, molaR has complimentary plotting functions enabling highly customizable visualization of results. This article gives a detailed description of the DNE measure, walks researchers through installing, operating, and troubleshooting molaR and its functions, and gives an example of a simple comparison that measured teeth of the primates Alouatta and Pithecia in molaR and other available software packages. molaR is a free and open source software extension, which can be found at the doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.3563.4961(molaR v. 2.0) as well as on the Internet repository CRAN, which stores R packages.

Experimental measurements of the scattered-light polarization from different liquid flows

An experimental system designed to measure very low optical powers, of the order of a few picowatts, is presented. Its main aid is to detect the polarisation state of scattered light from a fluid flow, in different angular directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the flow. A laser beam incident linearly polarized crosses the fluid flow orthogonally. The scattered light is detected by means of a photodetector situated behind a lineal polarizer whose orientation can be rotated. The outgoing electrical signal is amplified by means of a Mode-lockin amplifier and is digitally processed.

Determination of Pelvic Orientation from Ultrasound Images Using Patch-SSMs and a Hierarchical Speed of Sound Compensation Strategy

In the field of computer assisted orthopedic surgery (CAOS) the anterior pelvic plane (APP) is a common concept to determine the pelvic orientation by digitizing distinct pelvic landmarks. As percutaneous palpation is - especially for obese patients - known to be error-prone, B-mode ultrasound (US) imaging could provide an alternative means. Several concepts of using ultrasound imaging to determine the APP landmarks have been introduced. In this paper we present a novel technique, which uses local patch statistical shape models (SSMs) and a hierarchical speed of sound compensation strategy for an accurate determination of the APP. These patches are independently matched and instantiated with respect to associated point clouds derived from the acquired ultrasound images. Potential inaccuracies due to the assumption of a constant speed of sound are compensated by an extended reconstruction scheme. We validated our method with in-vitro studies using a plastic bone covered with a soft-tissue simulation phantom and with a preliminary cadaver trial.

Formation of a single, rotated-Brass (1 1 0)< 5 5 6 > texture by hot cross-rolling of an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr alloy

The present work describes the evolution of a strong, single-component rotated-Brass ((1 1 0) < 5 5 6 >) texture in an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr alloy by an uneven hot cross-rolling with frequent interpass annealing. This texture development is unique because hot rolling of aluminum alloys results in orientation distribution along the ``beta-fibre''. It has been demonstrated that the deformation by cross-rolling of a partially recrystallized grain structure having rotated-Cube and Goss orientations, and the recrystallization resistance of near-Brass-oriented elongated grains play a critical role in development of this texture. (C) 2010 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Orientation Selection and Microstructural Evolution in Directionally Solidified Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.95

Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.95 alloy was directionally solidified by using a modified Bridgman technique at a wide range of growth rates of 5 to 100 cm/h. The directionally grown samples exhibited plane front solidification morphology up to a growth rate of 90 cm/h. Typical island banding feature was observed closer to the chilled end, which eventually gave rise to irregular peritectic coupled growth (PCG). The PCG gained prominence with an increase in the growth rate. The texture study revealed formation of strong aOE (c) 311 > texture in a lower growth rate regime, aOE (c) 110 > and ``rotated aOE (c) 110 > aEuroe in an intermediate growth regime, and aOE (c) 112 > in a higher growth rate regime. In-depth analysis of the atomic configuration of a solid-liquid interface revealed that the growth texture is influenced by the kinetics of atomic attachment to the solid-liquid interface, which is intimately related to a planar packing fraction and an atomic stacking sequence of the interfacial plane. The mechanism proposed in this article is novel and will be useful in addressing the orientation selection mechanism of topologically closed packed intermetallic systems. The samples grown at a higher growth rate exhibit larger magnetostriction (lambda) and d lambda/dH owing to the absence of pro-peritectic (Tb,Dy)Fe-3 and formation of aOE (c) 112 > texture, which lies closer to the easy magnetization direction (EMD).

EBSD study of the orientation dependence of substructure characteristics in a model Fe-30wt%Ni alloy subjected to hot deformation

The aim of the present investigation was to determine the orientation dependence of substructure characteristics in an austenitic Fe−30wt%Ni model alloy subjected to hot plane strain compression. Deformation was carried out at a temperature of 950 °C using a strain rate of 10 s^₋₁ to equivalent strain levels of approximately 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8. The specimens obtained were analysed using a fully automatic electron backscatter diffraction technique. The crystallographic texture was characterized for all the strain levels studied and the subgrain structure was quantified in detail at a strain of 0.4. The substructure characteristics displayed pronounced orientation dependence. The major texture components, namely the copper, S, brass, Goss and rotated Goss, generally contained one or two prominent families of parallel larger-angle extended subboundaries, the traces of which on the longitudinal viewing plane appeared systematically aligned along the {111} slip plane traces, bounding long microbands subdivided into slightly elongated subgrains by short lower-angle transverse subboundaries. Relatively rare cube-orientated grains displayed pronounced subdivision into coarse deformation bands containing large, low-misorientated subgrains. The misorientation vectors across subboundaries largely showed a tendency to cluster around the sample transverse direction. Apart from the rotated Goss texture component, the stored energy levels for the remaining components were principally consistent with the corresponding Taylor factor values.

Effect of orientation stability on recrystallization textures of deformed aluminium single crystals

High purity Al single crystals of the Cube (0 0 1)[1 0 0] and rotated Cube (0 1 1)[0 1 ¯ 1] orientations have been deformed in plane strain compression in a channel die. Deformation was carried out at temperatures between 25 and 600 8C up to strains of 1.2. The as-deformed microstructure has been characterised using electron microscopy and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD).
Annealing was carried out for various times and temperatures. The recrystallized microstructure has been studied using electron microscopy, and the orientation of recrystallized grains determined using EBSD. After cold deformation and annealing both orientations exhibited a random recrystallization texture component. After hot deformation both orientations retained a similar annealing texture to their starting deformation texture. The annealing texture of deformed single crystals was found to be more sensitive to the temperature of deformation than the stability of the orientation.

Orientation dependence of the deformation microstructure in a Fe-30Ni-Nb model austenitic steel subjected to hot uniaxial compression

The present work was aimed at a detailed investigation of the orientation dependence of the microstructure characteristics in a Fe-30Ni-Nb austenitic model steel subjected to hot uniaxial compression at 1198 K (925 °C) at a strain rate of 1 s−1 to several strain levels up to 1.0. The quantification of the substructure evolution as a function of strain was performed for the stable 〈011〉 oriented grains. Other grain orientations were also investigated in detail at a strain of 0.2. The 〈110〉 oriented grains contained self-screening arrays of “microbands” (MBs) aligned with high Schmid factor {111} slip planes. The MB crystallographic alignment was largely maintained up to a strain of 1.0, which suggests that the corresponding boundaries kept continuously rearranging themselves during straining and did not follow the sample shape change. The mean MB spacing decreased and misorientation angle increased with strain towards saturation, indicating the operation of the “repolygonization” dynamic recovery mechanism. The non-〈011〉 oriented grains displayed a strong tendency to split during deformation into deformation bands having alternating orientations and being mutually rotated by large angles. The bands were separated by transition regions comprising arrays of closely spaced, extended sub-boundaries collectively accommodating large misorientations across very small distances.

DETERMINATION of THE INDIRECT ORIENTATION of ORBITAL PUSHBROOM IMAGES USING CONTROL STRAIGHT LINES

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

[Helminth control in the adult horse: the need for a re-orientation].

The epidemiological situation of strongyle infections in adult horses in Switzerland is characterized by a strong dominance of small strongyles (Cyathostominae) and an overall low level of egg shedding in the faeces. The prevailing attitude towards anthelmintic therapy considers neither husbandry conditions nor pasture hygiene measures. Instead, calendar-based routine medication, comprising usually 3 to 4 annual treatments, is the typical strategy. Such an approach, however, often results in an excessive administration of anthelmintics. With respect to the continuous spread of drug resistant cyathostomins a change of strategy seems inevitable. A consensus has been agreed on between equine parasitologists and clinicians of the Vetsuisse Faculty in Zurich and Berne to focus on the concept of a selective control approach, based on individual faecal egg counts as the central element. It is now recommended that clinically healthy horses (> 4 y) are treated only when their strongyle egg count is equal to or higher than 200 eggs per gram of faeces. A regular analysis of the strongyle population based on larval cultures, the control of drug efficacy, and quarantine measures for incoming horses are mandatory components of the concept. Recent experiences in several pilot farms have indicated that only 4 % of the McMaster analyses resulted in a deworming treatment. For horses that did not receive any nematicidal anthelmintic during the current season, a "safety" treatment is recommended at the end of the grazing period.

The Impact of Internal Market Orientation on Staff Service Behaviours

The impact of service direction, service training and staff behaviours on perceptions of service delivery are examined. The impact of managerial behaviour in the form of internal market orientation (IMO) on the attitudes of frontline staff towards the firm and its consequent influence on their customer oriented behaviours is also examined. Frontline service staff working in the consumer transport industry were surveyed to provide subjective data about the constructs of interest in this study, and the data were analysed using structural equations modelling employing partial least squares estimation. The data indicate significant relationships between internal market orientation (IMO), the attitudes of the employees to the firm and their consequent behaviour towards customers. Customer orientation, service direction and service training are all identified as antecedents to high levels of service delivery. The study contributes to marketing theory by providing quantitative evidence to support assumptions that internal marketing has an impact on services success. For marketing practitioners, the research findings offer additional information about the management, training and motivation of service staff towards service excellence.

The impact of service orientation on relationship quality and future intentions

This paper examines the impact of service orientation (SO) on relationship quality, and its consequences for consumer behaviour in the travel industry. Specifically consumers' positive behavioural intentions, perceptions of switching costs, and consumer activism are examined as consequences of relationship quality (RQ). A sample of leisure and business travellers on a cross sea ferry were surveyed using a consumer intercept methodology. We find that SO has a significant and positive impact on RQ and that RQ has a positive impact on positive behavioural intentions and perceptions of switching costs. Both RQ and switching costs were found to reduce consumer activism. The implications of these findings for service managers and academics are discussed and directions forfuture research presented.

Stretching-induced orientation to improve mechanical properties of electrospun pan nanocomposites

Partially aligned and oriented polyacrylonitrile(PAN)-based nanofibers were electrospun from PAN and SWNTs/PAN in the solution of dimethylformamide(DMF) to make the carbon nanofibers. The as-spun nanofibers were hot-stretched in an oven to enhance its orientation and crystallinity. Then it were stabilized at 250 square under a stretched stress, and carbonized at 1000 square in N-2 atmosphere by fixing the length of the stabilized nanofiber to convert them into carbon nanofibers. With this hot-stretched process and with the introduction of SWNTs, the mechanical properties will be enhanced correspondingly. The crystallinity of the stretched fibers confirmed by X-ray diffraction has also increased. For PAN nanofibers, the improved fiber alignment and crystallinity resulted in the increased mechanical properties, such as the modulus and tensile strength of the nanofibers. It was concluded that the hot-stretched nanofiber and the SWNTs/PAN nanofibers can be used as a potential precursor to produce high-performance carbon composites.