Thursday, 19 April 2012

Birds know where they are not wanted

(Seattle, Washington, USA)

(Berlin, Germany)

(European starling, Sturnus vulgaris)

(American robin, Turdus migratorius)

(Hooded crow, Corvus cornix)

 (American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Thursday, 12 April 2012

Conservation design: artistic solutions for biological problems

Who do you call when a pest species invades a public space--animal control? Wildlife managers? Scientists? How about...designers? That's the unique suggestion of a group of international collaborators working to solve the problem of greedy South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens) who have recently taken to begging for food in the fish market of Valdivia, Chile. Because the sea lions are both a nationally protected species and a popular tourist attraction, locals are interested in dealing with them as sensitively as possible. Unfortunately, early management measures, most notably the use of fencing around the market area, failed because they were not consistently employed.

(South American sea lions, Otaria flavescens)

Where some people might view this as a setback, local researchers saw it as an opportunity to explore the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. They placed advertisements for university design students looking to get practical work experience, then challenged applicants to design innovative solutions to human-seal conflicts. Each design was founded on background information--gleaned from newspaper articles, blogs, photographs, videos, and scientific literature--on sea lion biology and attitudes toward human-sea lion interactions. The researchers encouraged designs that would function at a variety of scales, from temporary use by affected individuals to long-term architectural projects designed to benefit the entire riverside area. They also sought ideas that could facilitate different types of human-wildlife contact, including none at all, controlled contact such as that found in zoos, or unlimited, free contact such as that found in the wilderness. In addition to looking for useful, biologically-grounded designs, the researchers wanted outputs that were aesthetically pleasing, durable, and long-lasting.

Despite having keep all of those concerns in mind at once, designers ultimately managed to come up with seven different suggestions that seemed both appropriate and feasible. These were selected as the "finalists" not only because they seemed useful on an individual basis, but also because they could be mixed and matched in different combinations in order to achieve local management goals.

(Distribution of South American sea lions. Although the designs described here were created for use in Valdivia, Chile, they could be useful throughout the sea lions' range, and also for similar species found elsewhere.)

Two of the products are fliers (also suited for poster or sign format) presenting basic information on sea lion behavior--in particular, the animals' body language and signals of agitation and aggression. The first flier is meant to be posted in areas where human-sea lion interactions are undesirable, and thus is devoted to explaining why a distance should be maintained between the two species; the second is meant for distribution in areas where interactions are permitted, and therefore provides information on how to safely engage the animals.

The next two designs are barriers that can function temporarily or can be left in place for longer-term use. Both sets of fencing are made of sturdy metal that curves towards the sea lions, preventing the animals from climbing over into areas where they are unwanted. The barriers are made in segments that can be hooked together to exclude sea lions over different amounts of space. The only difference between the two types of barrier is that one is completely solid, while the other is fitted with a slot through which humans can feed the sea lions fish; the slots have a distinctive pattern that should help the animals recognize, and frequently revisit, areas where they are likely to receive handouts.

(A sea lion visiting Valdivia's fish market)

For situations where humans can wander freely amidst the sea lions (or vice versa, depending on which perspective you take), the designers have created a "fladry umbrella" that can be quickly opened in order to scare off animals that have approached too closely or are becoming aggressive. "Fladry" are ribbons of fabric whose fluttering is unsettling to animals; here, they are combined with bright coloring and an eyespot design to produce an alarming display that should keep sea lions at bay.

The final two design solutions are both longer-term, larger-scale architectural projects that could be installed along the river where the sea lions rest and, when they are not eating handouts, hunt for fish. Both are high, smooth-walled embankments, level with the sidewalk at the top, and with the river bank at the bottom. A curvature in the walls would not only prevent sea lions from climbing up to the sidewalk, but would also provide shade for the animals during sunny days. Rest areas could be built into the bottom of the embankments, providing sea lions a place to nap--and humans a spot to do some wildlife-watching. Whereas one embankment would provide a complete barrier between humans and sea lions, the other includes feeding stations that use the same slot mechanism as above to allow visitors to pass fish through to the other side.

The authors stress that each of these designs is currently only in the "idea" stage and has yet to be made into a testable prototype. Although this will hopefully the be next phase of the project, the main point of the current paper is not to discuss which of these potential solutions will work best in Valdivia, but instead to highlight the utility of collaborations between designers and biologists. For others who wish to follow their footsteps, the authors list a number of things that should be considered both before anyone sits down at the drawing board. To begin with, it is important to research local values in order to understand what type of products will be most useful, and to whom. It is also necessary to understand the biology of the wildlife in question--in particular, what sorts of behaviors they engage in, and where; after all, these are the characteristics driving the need for management activities in the first place. Finally, designers should be aware of how much money is available to fund mitigation efforts. After all, even the most ingenious solution won't be very useful if it is too expensive to implement.

 (Sea lions wait for handouts in Valdivia's fish market)

Once potential ideas have been developed, the researchers strongly advocate the creation of prototypes and the conductance of field research. It is important not only to see how wildlife respond to the proposed designs, but also whether people approve of the products and their installation. In the case of the sea lions, for instance, the researchers indicate a need to ascertain whether the animals learn to cue in to the feeding slots, whether different patterns of fladry umbrella are more or less effective, and whether locals will find the proposed embankments to be aesthetically pleasing enough to be installed in the middle of their city. The creation of multiple different options, such as the seven generated in the current study, is useful for doing side-by-side comparisons of potential management solutions.

The researchers offer one last suggestion to future interdisciplinary collaborators: publish papers detailing the design process. Currently, they say, there is very little literature on conservation design; managers looking for solutions often have to start from scratch. If more people publish information on design proposals, assessments, concerns, and achievements, then advancements in the field will be made more quickly--to the benefit of both humans and wildlife.

Root-Bernstein, M., Rosas, N.A., Osman, L.P., and Ladle, R.J. 2012. Design solutions to coastal human-wildlife conflicts. Journal of Coastal Conservation, online advance publication.

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

Seabirds avoid ship traffic

Cars are the focus of conservation efforts so often that it's easy to forget there are other potentially problematic vehicles out there. Aquatic habitats, for instance, are traversed by a variety of vessels, ranging from small recreational craft to much larger fishing, freight, and military ships. Traffic from these vehicles often disturbs even the bravest wildlife, with impacts on behavior, breeding efforts and reproductive success, and distribution throughout the habitat. Surprisingly, while these general effects have been recognized for a long time, there is a dearth of the sort of species-specific data needed to create management plans allowing humans and wildlife to coexist with minimal conflict.

(The North Sea)

A group of researchers from Germany's University of Kiel recently performed a study to rectify this problem in one of the most highly trafficked marine systems in the world--the German North Sea and the nearby Baltic Sea. This area is inhabited by several species of waterbird known to be particularly sensitive to human activity: red- and black-throated loons (Gavia stellata and G. arctica, respectively), common eiders (Somateria mollissima), long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis), and common and white-winged scoters (Melanitta nigra and M. fusca, respectively). By measuring whether, and how, ship traffic affects the location and behavior of these species, the researchers hoped to understand the potential affects of aquatic vehicular activity on these and other birds throughout the region--information that could then be used to develop appropriate management plans.

The researchers were interested in three major questions. First, do birds distribute themselves in such a way as to avoid the bulk of ship traffic? This was ascertained by conducting survey flights over major shipping zones and counting how many loons were present within shipping lanes and between them. Second,
at what distances will seabirds flush when approached by shipping vessels? Experimental approaches were made towards flocks of sea ducks, and the researchers noted at what distance, and under what environmental conditions, the birds took flight. Third, how quickly do birds resume their "normal" behaviors after being disturbed by ship traffic? This was also determined experimentally, with point counts conducted before and after out-and-back boat trips.

(Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata)

Loons were much more likely to be found between shipping lanes than within them, suggesting that the birds were actively avoiding ship traffic--or, perhaps, indicating that the ships had scared off prey species, requiring the loons to relocate as well. When approached by experimental vessels, sea ducks usually avoided them by taking flight rather than by diving. This, however, was the only commonality across all birds: Some species (particularly common scoters) were much more skittish than others, but there was also high variability within species. Overall, common eiders were the most likely to stand their ground (so to speak), but behavior of all birds was also influenced by flock size, proximity to shipping lanes, and sea state. Interestingly, ducks within shipping lanes flushed much later than those in surrounding areas, suggesting that these birds may have begun to habituate to maritime traffic. After ship passages, different species returned to the trafficked area at different speeds, with common eiders and long-tailed ducks arriving most quickly, and wary common scoters arriving after the greatest delay.

 (Common scoter, Melanitta nigra)

Although reactions to ship disturbances varied as a function of species identity, the overall patterns here suggest that sea birds are fairly sensitive to maritime traffic and attempt to avoid it as much as possible. For instance, while some flocks of common eiders remained in place as ships passed, other flocks flushed while vessels were still over 3 km away. The wariness displayed here has also been observed in response to offshore wind turbines, to which sea birds never seemed to habituate even after years of exposure. This suggests that the best mode of management may be to maintain a handful of shipping lanes from which large vessels never deviate, giving the birds "safe" zones in which they will not be disturbed. The only problem with this plan is that smaller recreational craft can generally travel where they like; thus, it may be necessary to introduce new restrictions for these vehicles.

Species-specific responses may stem from morphological variations that make some species better fliers (or, more specifically "flee-ers") than others. If so, then data on body size and wing shape may be useful in predicting which species will respond most negatively to human disturbance; this could be particularly helpful information when developing management plans in areas for which there are not enough funds to mount full-scale research efforts. However, the researchers caution that these behavioral data do not reflect potential physiological difficulties--such as increased heart rate and stress levels--associated with exposure to human disturbance. Likewise, birds that flee are spending time and energy on flight and relocation, when instead they could be foraging and bulking up. This trade-off is likely to have fitness implications over the long run.

(Common eider, Somateria mollissima)

Because of these other important variables, the researchers see their study as an important first step that needs to be followed with additional research. Future studies, for instance, might examine the effects of ship traffic in other seasons (when birds are in different stages of molt and have different life history motivations), under other vehicular conditions (e.g. different types of craft moving at various speeds), and on other response variables--including those related to physiology and energetics.

For supplementary images associated with this post, visit the Anthrophysis pin board on Pinterest.

Schwemmer, P., Mendel, B., Sonntag, N., Dierschke, V., and Garthe, S. 2011. Effects of ship traffic on seabirds in offshore waters: implications for marine conservation and spatial planning. Ecological Applications 21:1851-1860.

Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Form and potency of urban birdsong are impacted by noise

In 1969 and 1970, the late ornithologist Luis Baptista collected recordings of white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) living in San Francisco, California. At the time he probably never suspected that, 35 years later, one of the hottest topics in the field of avian communication would be human noise-driven variations in birdsong. In 2005, however, researchers David Luther (of George Mason University and the Smithsonian Migratory Center) and Elizabeth Derryberry (of Louisiana State University), recognized that Baptista's recordings offered a treasure trove of information about historical ambient noise levels and bird song characteristics--and provided a baseline to which modern recordings might be compared.
(White-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys)

The two collaborators designed a study allowing them to use Baptista's data to answer three major questions: First, did urban noise levels increase between 1969 and 2005 and, if so, was it related to increases in car traffic? Second, assuming there were changes in ambient noise levels, were there any accompanying adjustments in white-crowned sparrow songs--specifically, did the sparrows show the same sort of song variations previously documented between urban and rural, or noisy and quiet territories? Finally, do current birds respond more strongly to historical or modern songs?

Eight of Baptista's recordings were collected from an area of San Francisco in which resident sparrows sang what has since (appropriately) been labeled the San Francisco dialect. This area was revisited in 2005 so that additional males (a total of 12) could also be recorded. Nearby stands the Golden Gate Bridge, with all its noisy traffic. This inspired the researchers to examine whether long-term changes in ambient noise were related to corresponding variations in traffic; information on both of these variables was extracted from documents produced by local and federal governments.

(The iconic Golden Gate Bridge: a source of noise that impacts local wildlife)

For the final part of the study, Luther visited the territories of 20 resident males and exposed them to broadcasts of both historical and contemporary recordings. Each male heard one pair of songs--only one song per day, randomly selected, and with a rest period of at least two days between each exposure. The intensity of each male's response was assessed in two ways: his general behaviors (speed to approach the speakers, closest approach to the speaker, number of flights near the speaker, number of wing waves) and vocal behavior (latency to deliver the first song, total number of songs produced).

As expected, the researchers found that San Francisco has grown significantly louder over the last 35 years. In fact, with an average increase of slightly over 5 dB (from 66 dB to 71), it has become nearly twice as loud. Over the same time period, traffic flow has increased by 19%. Likewise, male songs changed noticeably between 1969 and 2005. Of 18 song characteristics measured, five varied significantly, and four of these were related to minimum or dominant frequency--the song trait most commonly observed to change in relation to ambient noise levels. Specifically, modern males have shifted their frequencies upward. Contemporary territory holders can clearly distinguish these differences: Males responded to current songs more quickly and more intensely than to those from historical recordings.

(Great tits, Parus major--perhaps the best-studied species in the context of anthropogenic noise)

It is not easy to pinpoint the exact mechanism behind the patterns observed here. They may simply be the result of drift--or, in other words, an artifact of sampling techniques and/or random cultural survival of one type of song versus another. Alternatively, they could represent a true adaptive response to anthropogenic noise. If this is the case, though, it is not clear whether modern song is a result of cultural evolution, behavioral plasticity, or some combination of the two.

In all, though, there is strong evidence that increases in traffic led to increases in ambient noise, which, in turn, led local males to adjust their songs in order to maintain (or even improve) their ability to perform effective vocal displays clearly marking the edges of their territories. The temporal adjustments are particularly striking in comparison with changes made by the same species over the same time period in nearby rural areas. There, several populations of white-crowned sparrows actually sing lower minimum frequencies--a variation caused not by anthropogenic noise (of which there is very little), but by changes to habitat structure. Urban sparrow vocal manipulations are also strikingly similar to those observed elsewhere in several other species of city-dwelling bird, including great tits (Parus major) and song sparrows (Melospiza melodia).

(Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia--another of the growing number of avian species known to vocally respond to anthropogenic noise)

Perhaps the most intriguing finding here is that the vocalizations that are more "appropriate" for a given noise regime are also better at eliciting a response from an avian audience--in this case, potential rival males. This suggests that birds in noisy areas may need to adjust their songs to be able to communicate effectively; those that don't are in danger of being ignored, or at the very least being taken less seriously. While this was only studied here for male-male interactions, it may also be true for male-female interactions, which, obviously, play an important role in perpetuating a species. In the future, then, it will be interesting to see how signal efficacy is impacted by anthropogenic noise, and also to investigate the implications of noise pollution in species that do not display vocal flexibility.

Luther, D.A. and E.P. Derryberry. 2012. Birdsongs keep pace with city life: changes in song over time in an urban songbird affects communication. Animal Behaviour 83:1059-1066.

Guidelines for achieving sustainability

Although conservationists often advocate sustainability, it's not always clear how this concept can be incorporated into our lives in a practical way. It requires people and institutions to use scientific knowledge to shape (or reshape) our ideals, practices, and laws. As a result, it stands at the junction of several fields of study--including (but not limited to) biology, sociology, economics, and philosophy. Previously, the development and implementation of sustainability plans may have been held back by our lack of scientific knowledge, but, according to collaborators writing in a recent issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, the greatest barrier to sustainable living is now our lack of direction.

To combat this problem, the authors have suggested five "priority themes" that should help both governments and individuals incorporate sustainable practices into everyday living. The themes were mainly developed with industrial societies in mind, as these are considered to be "the primary origin of the sustainability crisis," and also because these are the entities "better equipped...to actively address unsustainable behaviors."

The first of the themes is "reforming formal institutions," from local interest groups all the way up to the level of federal governments. Because institutions are "the underlying rules and structures that shape the social, economic, and political transactions within society," reform of these organizations can alter the way that decisions are made and rules are enforced. Integrating environmental policy considerations into basic institutional activities could help ensure that sustainable practices are discussed (and hopefully incorporated) in many sectors, ranging from finance and trade to energy, transport, and urban development.

However, the researchers recognize that institutional changes are driven by individuals, and also that individuals are active in society outside the framework of these organizations. Thus, their second theme is "engaging community in a stronger civil society." Institutions are often focused on "traditional imperatives" that are not easily married with sustainability--for instance, businesses want to make money, but green practices sometimes require large financial investments. Individual citizens, however, are not constrained by these same concerns; just as some communities design shared pastures and parks, so too might individuals come together to develop a "green" culture.

Achieving this will be easier if people remain mindful of the authors' third theme: "curbing consumption and population growth." The researchers suggest we should be particularly careful to minimize "inconspicuous consumption," or the use of objects and practices that are not actually necessary but have been employed for so long that we think of them as such--air conditioning, for instance, or long, hot showers. In order to "reorient economic life," the authors advocate research on the topic of whether, and how, people might be persuaded to "bring their preferences into better alignment with the requirements of ethics and sustainability." Simultaneously addressing population growth will not only have ecological benefits, the researchers argue, but also social ones--improved health, well-being, quality-of-life, and gender equality, to name a few.

Speaking of equality, the fourth theme is "equity and justice," two concepts that the authors admit are often thought to be far removed from the realms of science and conservation policy. However, these are important ideas because they determine who takes responsibility for certain activities or outcomes, and who has a say when decisions are made. For example, it is good to have clear guidelines in place for the disposal of hazardous waste, otherwise the same communities or areas might end up with an unfair amount of toxic garbage; likewise, predetermining who will be tasked with any emergency cleanups will ensure there are not legal hold-ups when and if any leakage does occur.

The final theme is "value and belief systems," which, of course, will influence all of the above. Factors such as age, gender, education level, and social status will cause individual variations in values over time, while societal variations will be driven by socioeconomic development. Because such fluctuations impact "human-environment relationships," the researchers stress the need to keep these factors in mind when developing conservation plans. They hope that we can find inspirations in worldviews that emphasize sustainability--not necessarily as a replacement for current beliefs, but as a "fresh perspective on sustainability problems," and a way to find "alternatives to consumption- and growth-based society." Understanding how these philosophies and emotions will impact each of the above themes, however, will likely require some inspired interdisciplinary research.

On the whole, the authors write, "sustainability requires a social avalanche of unprecedented proportions." Although the avalanche can be started by anyone, the researchers hope that conservation researchers might help initiate change by forging more transdisciplinary alliances--not just among academics but also between academia and other societal institutions. Further, they suggest that researchers should be more vocal in advocating sustainability; by finding novel and exciting ways to discuss this topic in public, scientists might inspire the public and begin to teach by example.

Fischer, J., Dyball, R., Fazey, I., Gross, C., Dovers, S., Ehrlich, P.R., Brulle, R.J., Christensen, C., and Borden, R.J. 2012. Human behavior and sustainability. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10:153-160.

Friday, 6 April 2012

Man's trash is a lizard's treasure?

Veterinarians admonish us not to feed our pets "people food" because it isn't good for them. A logical corollary would then seem to be that wildlife should also be kept away from human fare and the scraps thereof. Indeed, several studies have shown that urban animals nibbling on human trash wind up with some of the same health problems that plague us as a result of consuming greasy, high-carb, packaged foods. Given these patterns, it comes as a bit of a surprise to learn that Australian lace monitors (Varanus varius) may actually benefit from anthropogenic "subsidies" in the form of free meals at the local garbage dump.

(Lace monitor, Varanus varius)

These animals, also known as goannas, were the subject of a study by researchers at the University of Melbourne, Zoos Victoria, and the Australian Wildlife Health Centre. The goannas were examined in situ at four different sites: two undisturbed forests in which resident monitors consumed their natural diets, and two small garbage dumps associated with nearby rural towns. Because the dumps were located at some distance from the towns, and in the middle of small patches of forest, they closely mimicked the natural areas; the only major difference was that goannas near the dumps were able to forage on edible refuse dropped off daily by human neighbors.

In addition to performing point counts to estimate lizard density at each site, the researchers caught as many animals as possible in order to mark and measure them, and to collect a blood sample that could be subjected to a suite of laboratory analyses. Specifically, the scientists could perform counts of both red and white blood cells, assay for liver- and heart-related metabolic syndromes, measure metabolic activity and corticosterone levels, look for the hematozoan parasite Haemogregarina varanicola, and extract genetic data to sex each lizard. Cumulatively, these tests enabled the researchers to compare size, condition, physical health, and stress levels of "natural" and food-supplemented monitors.

(Lace monitor range map)

The first obvious difference between the two types of experimental site was lizard density. Not only were there 35 times as many monitors at subsidized sites, but the same individuals were repeatedly encountered over multiple visits; on the other hand, there were no resightings in natural areas. Unfortunately, it is not yet clear whether garbage dump lizard densities are high because animals from neighboring forest patches migrate there in droves, or because there were a few original colonizers who have successfully survived, reproduced, and created a large local population.
Results from the morphological and physiological measurements indicated that a life of luxury can be found in anthropogenic sites. Monitors near garbage dumps were bigger (in terms of both length and weight) and in better body condition than their counterparts in the control sites; they also had higher red blood cell counts and showed no signs of metabolic syndromes or undue stress (as indicated by aspartate aminotransferase/creatinine kinase and corticosterone levels, respectively).

(Lace monitor basking on top of a backyard BBQ)

Lower levels of plasma glucose, taken into consideration with the high body condition and low corticosterone levels, indicated that supplemented monitors were having to expend less energy to obtain their meals--a finding supported by the observation that lizards at subsidized sites could often be found basking in the sun rather than foraging for a meal. That sounds awfully similar to the sorts of patterns observed in modern humans; thus, it isn't too surprising to note that, like humans who eat highly processed foods, supplemented monitors have higher levels of phosphorous and sodium in their plasma. On the up side, though, they also have fewer blood parasites.

As with the density data, these correlations leave a major question about cause-and-effect: Are supplemented monitors morphologically and physiologically successful because of the abundant human food, or are these types of individuals simply attracted to, and able to live in, anthropogenic areas? Future research will be needed to determine the answer. Either way, these results seem to indicate that garbage dumps, and human-supplemented habitats in general, can be a paradise for wild animals.

(Head shot of a goanna)

However, the study did reveal one additional pattern that suggests there may be more to these habitats than meets the eye. Genetic data indicated that subsidized areas had sex ratios that were nearly 3 times as biased toward males; specifically, there were an average 5.3 males for each female. Unsurprisingly, this sort of bias increases competition for mates and decreases individual breeding success--with a few super-males often emerging to dominate. Not only can this reduce genetic diversity in the population, but it can also lead to higher rates of cannibalism if competitive males eat juveniles before they can grow up to be potential rivals. Cumulatively, these patterns generally render male-biased populations less successful, which means that long-term monitoring will be required to investigate whether human food subsidies are really as beneficial to goannas as they might initially seem.

Jessop, T.S., Smissen, P., Scheelings, F., and Dempster, T. 2012. Demographic and phenotypic effects of human mediated trophic subsidy on a large Australian lizard (Varanus varius): meal ticket or last supper? PLoS ONE 7(4):e34069.

Wednesday, 4 April 2012

Why you should eat your veggies

Many animals use carotenoid-based color signals to indicate their attractiveness, as has previously been discussed here in the context of northern cardinal breeding success. As a refresher, carotenoids are generated by photosynthetic organisms such as plants, bacteria, algae, and fungi, and are responsible for yellowish and reddish coloration--such as cardinals' bright red plumage. Although these hues are typically thought to be "sexy" because they indicate an animal's ability to forage efficiently, they also provide information on an individual's underlying physiology: Because carotenoids help protect tissues against oxidative stress, higher levels of carotenoid coloration may indicate robustness against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers, and other age-related degenerative processes; carotenoids also appear to facilitate immune activity, and may therefore signal the ability to tolerate and/or fight off infection.

Given the desirability of those traits in humans, it might not surprise you to find out that we are but one of the many species expressing carotenoid pigmentation. Indeed, recent work by researchers at the University of St. Andrews' Perception Lab has revealed that even small variations in human carotenoid consumption--mainly in the form of fruits and vegetables--can lead to noticeable differences in skin color; further, these differences are associated with how attractive and healthy other people find us to be.

These findings were the result of a six-week study of 35 volunteers whose fruit/vegetable intake and skin coloration were recorded at three time points (the beginning of the study, 3 weeks in, and 6 weeks in). Coloration was measured using a spectrophotometer, which shines light onto a patch of interest and then records how much of that is reflected and what colors are present in the reflected light; this yields a metric called CIE L*a*b*, which indicates lightness, redness, and yellowness of the patch of skin (or, in this case, 7 different patches distributed across each participant's body).

(Diagram showing how a spectrophotometer works)

On average, volunteers reported eating 3.4 servings of produce per day--or 1.6 fewer servings than the UK-recommended 5 per day. Skin lightness decreased in participants who increased their produce consumption over the course of the study; in other words, these volunteers looked more tan, a pattern that was undoubtedly driven by significant increases in both redness and yellowness. This was only true for CIE L*a*b* measurements across all 7 skin patches, and not just a subset of the three on the face; additionally, these variations were only noticeable across the entire six-week period (e.g., week 0 to week 6) rather than over either of the 3-week sub-periods.

All volunteers who sunbathed, self-tanned, and applied makeup prior to the skin-tone analysis were all dismissed from the study. Still, the researchers wanted to ensure that the patterns observed here really did result from carotenoid consumption. To do this, they examined changes in skin reflectance over the range of wavelengths dominated by carotenoid coloration; experimental patterns were compared to the reflectance curves of three different carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and lycopene), an average across all of these, and melanin--the pigment responsible for darkening our skin by conferring increasingly brown and black tones. The averaged carotenoid curve closely matched the reflectance curve describing the pattern observed in the study participants; this appears to have been driven primarily by lycopene, the carotenoid found in fruits such as tomatoes and papayas. The observed reflectance data were not, however, similar to the curve for melanin. Cumulatively, these findings indicate that increases in fruit and vegetable consumption--particularly of bright red produce--can result in noticeable changes in our complexions.

(Color spectrum. Carotenoids tend to absorb light most in the 400-540 nm range, but reflect light from 540 nm upwards--which is why they look yellow and red to us.)

In order to investigate the potential social ramifications of this, the researchers digitally manipulated photographs of four study subjects (two of each gender) to obtain 22 images per face. The middle face in the resulting continuum was unmanipulated and the entire spread represented a total dietary change of +/- approximately 5.6 produce portions per day. To determine which complexions were deemed most attractive, the researchers repeatedly exposed volunteers to two versions of the same face, one after the other; volunteers then picked which was yellower, healthier-looking, and more attractive. All evaluations were performed within a computer program that was aware of each photograph's actual color measurements; by keeping track of "wrong" answers, the program was able to calculate volunteers' discrimination thresholds--the point at which they were no longer able to perceive differences between photographs.

Faces that were classified as yellower, healthier, and more attractive were those with positive changes in fruit/veg consumption--in other words, those that reflected (no pun intended) higher carotenoid consumption. A difference of just under 2 fruit/veg portions per day was enough to permit discrimination of more yellow skin, while faces were perceived to be healthier and more attractive at 2.9 and 3.3 more produce portions per day, respectively.

 (Tomatoes, which are a great source of the carotenoid lycopene.)

Cumulatively, the researchers emphasize that only a "relatively modest level of dietary change" is required to achieve a yellower, healthier-looking, and more attractive skin tone. Although baseline diet was not found to impact the amount of color change observed over the 6-week study, the authors point out that original skin tone might play an important role; Asian and African individuals, for instance, are already darker than Caucasians and may therefore require larger dietary changes in order to achieve comparably noticeable differences in skin tone. Interestingly, though, a previous study from the same lab found that people of all ethnicities found yellower skin healthier-looking and more attractive, regardless of the ethnicity of the person at whom they were looking. Thus, people of all ethnic backgrounds appear likely to gain similar social benefits--assuming, that is, that looking more attractive is beneficial--from eating more produce.

Eventually, the researchers hope that their results can be used to make healthier diets more appealing. Before they start any big marketing campaigns, though, there are some additional questions they'd like to answer. For instance, do people reach a "saturation point" at which increased carotenoid consumption no longer has positive chromatic benefits? How, exactly, do carotenoids change skin color--is it purely their activity as pigments, or might the patterns also result from interactions between carotenoids and polyphenols, leading to improved blood flow? Finally, will everyone be equally aware of these diet-induced color changes? The average age of volunteers in this study was 18.9, but color vision becomes less acute as people age, suggesting that larger carotenoid fluxes may be required to catch the attention of older viewers. Whatever the answers to these questions, one thing is clear: Our parents were right to admonish us to eat our veggies.

Whitehead, R.D., Re, D., Xiao, D., Ozakinci, G., and Perrett, D.I. 2012. You are what you eat: within-subject increases in fruit and vegetable consumption confer beneficial skin-color changes. PLoS ONE 7(3):e32988.

Sunday, 1 April 2012

A new method for identifying habitats in need of conservation

Conservationists often call for the protection of additional wildlife habitat, and in 2010 many countries signed a pledge to increase the global protected area network from 12% to 17% by 2020. Meeting this goal will be a challenge for a variety of reasons, not least of which is the difficulty in pinpointing which locations merit protection or, when there are several worthy options, which will yield the greatest biological benefits.

(Recent map showing the extent of protected areas worldwide)

After recognizing this potential obstacle, a team of British researchers developed an objective method of "identifying priority areas for conservation," to quote the name of their recent paper in PLoS ONE. They first used pre-existing data on animal distributions in order to calculate the conservation importance of 5x5-km squares around the globe. In this case, the animals of interest were forest-dwelling birds, for which distribution data happen to be extremely detailed; additionally, forest habitats act as a sort of conservation umbrella, since these areas tend to have very high biodiversity. Impact scores indicate how many highly and moderately forest-dependent bird species inhabit each cell, and therefore offer a continuous measure of each cell's potential conservation impact--something of a novelty, since most previous measures tend to be binary or categorical.

The researchers overlaid their scores with several pre-existing datasets in order to further refine their estimates of which regions were in greatest need of conservation action. The first of these examined recent deforestation rates, and therefore pinpointed which areas were most likely susceptible to development; the next contained information on land that is already set aside for bird conservation purposes, thus pinpointing which areas are least regulated and, therefore, most vulnerable; the final dataset focused on areas with the greatest carbon stocks, allowing the researchers to determine how their results might fit in with the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) project, an incentives program that attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding deforestation.

In all, 6,077 bird species (or about 61% of the world's avian biodiversity) were considered in the analyses, and they cumulatively occupied a total of 2.2 million 5x5-km squares. Impact scores ranged from 0 to 4.01; although the average was quite low (0.0026), there was a skew such that only a handful high-scoring cells accounted for just over a quarter of the global sum. In other words, forest bird biodiversity is extremely high in a few key locations, including the Hawaiian Islands,  São Tomé and Príncipe, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, the Atlantic Forests, the northern Andes, and South America. If you examine that list closely, you'll notice that areas with high impact scores tend to be islands, coastal areas, and mountains, with a few tropical lowlands thrown in for good measure; at the other end of the spectrum are low-ranking arctic and arid regions.

(Uses of terrestrial protected areas)

The mean deforestation rate across all cells with data was 1.3%. Deforestation was not necessarily greatest in areas with the highest impact scores, though there were some regions with both high scores and high rates of deforestation; these included the Cordillera La Costa mountain forests, the Halmahera rain forests, Mount Cameroon and Bioko, and Africa's Eastern Arc forests. Perhaps more troubling is the tiny fraction of all forested habitats covered by the current protected area network: Only 9% of the study cells contain protected forest, and 7 of 20 regions with the highest impact scores did not contain any protected forest at all. The good news is that the addition of a few select areas could not only meet the 17% protected area target proposed by the world's governments, but could also preserve nearly three-quarters of the globe's most biodiverse forests.

The researchers found a weak positive relationship between impact scores and carbon stocks, indicating that REDD activities alone will not provide absolute protection to these forests, though they certainly will help. A few "super-ecoregions" had high impact scores, deforestation rates, and carbon stocks, indicating that these areas are likely to be important targets of future conservation projects. These include the Seram rain forests of Indonesia, Borneo and Sumatra lowland rain forests and Sumatran peat swamp forests, Niger Delta swamp forests, Madeira-Tapajos moist forest, and the Isthmian-Atlantic moist forest.

(Recent estimates of the distribution of global biodiversity)

The analytical techniques employed here could easily be applied to other taxa, such as mammals and amphibians; additional groups, however, will need more complete distribution maps before their habitats can be given impact scores. Multispecies analyses will be useful for investigating the extent of overlap for "rarity, endemism, and risk." Despite the likely usefulness of their method, the authors admit that there are some important factors not considered here. For instance, they have not incorporated cost management data that could indicate which areas would give them the most conservation bang for the fewest bucks; further, they have not included data on non-deforestation pressures such as hunting or chemical pollution. However, these are all factors that could be added to later analyses as more information becomes available.

Buchanan, G.M., Donald, P.F., and Butchart, S.H.M. 2011. Identifying priority areas for conservation: a global assessment for forest-dependent birds. PLoS ONE 6(12):e29080.


Leonardo DiCaprio to play the role of his namesake Leonardo da Vinci in new biopic

Leonardo DiCaprio

Paramount Pictures won the auction and beat Universal to gain the rights to recreating the biopic on Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. The book, titled with the famous artist’s name is being written by Steve Jobs biographer, Walter Isaacson. The bidding war between both major production houses ended with Paramount picking up the rights. What’s better, Leonardo DiCaprio will be playing the role of his namesake in the biopic.

Looks like Leo was made for this role. He’s played an artist before, in James Cameron’s Titanic. Not only that, but he’s also been nominated thrice, and won one, Oscar for taking up biopic roles – playing Hugh Glass in The Revenant, Howard Hughes in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator and then Jordan Belfort in The Wolf Of Wall Street.

And as legend would have it, Leonardo DiCaprio is actually named after Leonardo da Vinci. His mother claimed that on a trip to Italy, the then-unborn baby Leo kicked hard in his mother’s stomach as she was observing a portrait of da Vinci.

Leonardo da Vinci
Statue of Leonardo da Vinci in Milan

The biography about Leonardo da Vinci is currently still in writing and will be releasing in October this year. It is being written by famed biographer, Walter Isaacson. His biography on Apple founder Steve Jobs was adapted for the big screen by Trainspotting‘s Danny Boyle.

Leonardo da Vinci is probably one of the most famous names to come out of the Renaissance period in Europe. He was a polymath, having been known as an artist, a thinker, scientist, mathematician, astronomer and much more. He contributed a number of works to the Roman Catholic church, including the famous Vatican art like the Sistine Chapel, The Last Supper and the Pietta, which he carved out of one single block of marble. His works are all over Italy and in museums, including the statue of David, The Vitruvian Man and the Mona Lisa.

Image Credit: Shutterstock


Multivitamin pill Souveraines (1000 pills) by Colman

Multivitamin pill Souveraines (1000 pills) by Colman
Multivitamin pill Souveraines (1000 pills) by Colman Multivitamin pill Souveraines (1000 pills) by Colman

Product Code: COLM491
Reward Points: 82
Availability: In Stock
$ 87.51
Price in reward points: 8250

Add to Wish List Add to Compare
Share |

The multivitamin pill Colman Souveraines multivitamin are excellent for racing pigeons.

They are suitable for
- Preparacióny face fitness contests.
- Preparing to face the young, before mating.
- For growing chicks.
- As recovery after competitions.
- On the move

- Iideal Ideal for the robustness of the bones and stimulates the appetite.
- Essential for a harmonious devel nervous system, brain and sense of direction.

- Speed, distencia medium, long distance, ideal preparation that provides power and strength.
- It stimulates the functions of the brain, muscles and increases the physical possibilities.

- As soon as the dove seems exhausted, Colman pills will give new strength and energy

- The perfect compliment for a pen strong and well structured.
- The necessary vitamins during mudamiento and growth of 7, 8, 9 and 10 (fighter pens) are evident

EMBASE: box of 1000 pills.

Write a review/Feedback

Your Name:

Your email: (will not be exposed is verification)

Your Review: Note: HTML is not translated!

Rating: Bad           Good

Enter the code in the box below:

Composition and Indications: multivitamin, pill, souveraines, (1000, pills), colman, pigeon, products, recovery

Pigeon Products International


Ascend Amphitheater

Come join us during each concert for an elevated premium experience on the lawn.

Enjoy a luxurious space that includes exclusive access to a top-shelf bar, premium service staff, private premium restrooms and striking stage sightlines as well as sweeping views of the entire amphitheater and Nashville skyline.


Slides in this set

Slide 1

Preview of page 1

Structure of DNA 8.1
One Nucleotide
- Deoxyribose/ Ribose and organic base bind through a condensation reaction to form One Nucleotide.
- Two Nucleotides bind to form Dinucleotides through condensation reactions.
- Dinucleotides bind to form polynucleotides through Condensation reactions.
Emily Thomson…read more

Slide 2

Preview of page 2

Structure of DNA 8.1
DNA Structure
- * Thymine is Uracil in RNA.
- C and G form 3 hydrogen bonds.
- A and T form 2 hydrogen bonds.
- C And G are Complimentary.
- A and T are Complimentary.
- DNA forms a double helix.
- Each turn in the double helix has ten base
Advantages for the Functions of DNA:
- It is stable and can pass down generations
without changing.
- It is joined by hydrogen bonds, which are
weak and break easily for DNA replication
and protein synthesis.
- It is extremely large so can carry a lot of
- Deoxyribose-phosphate backbone protects
the genetic information.
Emily Thomson…read more

Slide 3

Preview of page 3

The triplet code 8.2
The triplet code
- Genes are sections of DNA on a chromosome coding for one or more polypeptides.
The Triplet code:
- Only 20 amino acids regularly occur in proteins.
- Each amino acid must have its own code of bases on the DNA.
- Only four different bases are present in DNA.
- If each base coded for a different amino acid, only four amino acids could be coded for.
- Using a pair of bases, 16 (42) different codes are possible, which is still inadequate.
- Three bases produce 64 (43) different codes, more than enough to satisfy the requirement
of 20 amino acids.
- So the code has Three Bases called the triplet code.
- In eukaryotic cells, DNA has parts that do not code for amino acids which are called
Emily Thomson…read more

Slide 4

Preview of page 4

DNA and chromosomes 8.3
Chromosome Structure
- In Prokaryotic cells,
the DNA molecules
are smaller and form
a circle. They do not
associate with
protein molecules
and so do not have
- In Eukaryotic cells,
the DNA molecules
are larger and form a
line. They associate
with proteins to
form structures
Emily Thomson…read more

Slide 5

Preview of page 5

DNA and chromosomes 8.3
Homologous chromosomes and alleles
- The Sperm cell contains the paternal chromosomes and the egg cell contains the
maternal chromosomes and these chromosomes are called the homologous
- The total number of chromosomes are called the diploid number.
- Determining the same genetic characteristics is not the same as being identical.
- A homologous pair is always two chromosomes that determine the same genetic
- Each gene exists in pairs in two or more different forms. These forms are called
- An individual inherits one allele from each of its parents.
- Alleles code for a different polypeptide.
- Changes in the base sequence of an allele may result in a different sequence of
amino acids which can cause the proteins to not function properly.
Emily Thomson…read more

Slide 6

Preview of page 6

Haemoglobin 10.1
- The role of haemoglobin is to transport oxygen.
- To transport oxygen efficiently:
- Readily dissociate from oxygen at those tissues requiring it.
Oxygen carbon dioxide affinity of haemoglobin for
Region of body concentration concentration oxygen result
Gas exchange oxygen
surface high low high association
Respiring tissues low high low dissociation
Emily Thomson…read more

Slide 7

Preview of page 7
Preview of page 7

Slide 8

Preview of page 8
Preview of page 8

No comments have yet been made

Similar Biology resources:

See all Biology resources »


Smoky Flavor Without Wood Or Charcoal - Beef Brisket Gas Grill Recipe

That question would be easy to answer even if all you've ever done is make chicken stew with your slow cooker. It's just so easy and the food tastes better when cooked slowly and evenly in a crock pot.

I remember one of the Nuwave Oven reviews commenting on how tender the brisket crock pot turned out in the Nuwave oven and I was crossing my fingers that she would have the same experience!

Yes, a slow cooking brisket can be used to prepare quick and healthy meals. To use a slow cooking brisket to prepare quick and healthy meals, simply take 5 minutes before you leave for work to place some ingredients into the slow cooking brisket. For example, you could place a sirloin roast on a bed of carrots and onions and set it on low. When you get home your roast will be ready.

Gain liquid or powder laundry detergent -- on rollback pricing to $4.97. Use the $1 off Gain coupon from the September 12 Sunday paper to drop your price to $3.97. You might also consider the BOGO Gain deal happening beef brisket flat cut recipe HEB through October 12th.

This wine is not only Kosher, it is Mevushal (flash-pasteurized) which essentially means it retains its Kosher quality no matter who serves it. Once upon a time Mevushal was synonymous with tasteless, the process essentially boiled the guts out of the wine. This is clearly no longer the case. Let's give it a try.

Whether or not you are a vegetarian yourself, you may wish to keep your baby "veggie" for a while before introducing meat. Try these options for giving your baby enough healthy, muscle-building protein, without the meat.

This is the sidebar.


Forums Archive

"Reading and writing to SD card programatically"

Started 6/15/2007 by Angelo Meneguzzi in Tech Support Forum      (1 posts)

3/7/2006 (9:20 am) by sally zahav

sally zahav
(1 Posts)

For my job, I need to locate a file on an SD card and read it. The end product will be embedded, but for now, I want to work with a card reader that's attached to my PC.
I understand how the FAT works, but I need to see an example of code for the reads (and writes) to the SD card.


Author: Dacher Keltner

Dacher Keltner

illustration snake surrounding white rabbits
Love & Relationships

Why Do Bullies Gain Power?

A Guided Awe Walk Meditation

Tap into a deeper sense of purpose and well-being with the first VR meditation of its kind—A 360 guided mindfulness practice through Muir Woods National Monument.

Body & Mind

Why Do We Feel Awe?

According to Dacher Keltner, there are important evolutionary reasons: It’s good for our minds, bodies, and social connections.


Dance review: Diavolo rocks the stage

In White Bird's season opener the dancers risked and were rewarded

An incredibly strong start to White Bird’s 17th season, Diavolo returned to Portland for the first time since 2003 on Thursday. Under artistic director Jaques Heim, Diavolo has produced boundary-pushing, often dangerous performances under the concept of “architecture in motion” since 1992.

Working with a range of sculptors, architects and designers (including Portland’s local puppeteer Michael Curry), Heim develops massive kinetic playgrounds for his gymnastic dancers by creating structures and apparatus for them to explore and manipulate. These become world-building devices, each transforming the stage with their new demands of movement. It’s impossible not to start imagining the possibilities and lives of these structures as soon as you see them, starting with “how on earth did they ship that thing up here?” In some ways, the performances can be seen as a challenge for the dancers to demonstrate wilder expression for these new worlds than the curious audience can imagine.

Diavolo opened White Bird's 17th season with daring acrobatics./Photo by Alexander Slanger

Diavolo opened White Bird’s 17th season with daring acrobatics./Photo by Alexander Slanger

The first piece, Fluid Infinities (2013), centers on a glossy quarter dome pierced by holes like a moonscape designed by Eero Saarinen, countered by a large transparent tube that would be right at home on the set of the original Star Trek series. After a long intermission, the dome is replaced by a 3000-pound rocking stage that looks like the cross section of a boat with a parquet deck. Diavolo has carried this imposing, playful platform around the world since 2002 to perform their seminal Trajectorie. The show is short, intense, and amazingly entertaining.

All the choreography is produced by the dancers themselves, with Heim facilitating and supervising. One can imagine them creating the work as they collectively educate themselves in the new laws of physics peculiar to each structure. In the Q&A after Friday’s show, Heim estimated the exchange rate of discovery to finished choreography at 10 hours per six seconds—and that’s before practice time.

All the dancers in Diavolo have the sort of startlingly convex musculature that casts sharp, geometric shadows visible from the audience as they flex and contort, the kind of burliness you expect from Olympic athletes. From the moment they engage their devices, the stage is filled with an intensity of focus, training, and mechanical precision I haven’t seen in Portland since Trisha Brown came through. It’s worth mentioning that the TB performance had one moment which could have maimed its dancers with anything less than absolute precision, while Diavolo throws that sort of thing at you faster than you can count. When Heim explained that the troupe’s name comes from the Italian for “Devil” and “Flight,” a murmur of understanding rippled through the audience.

Diavolo's stage that rocks./ Photo by Angela Weiss

Diavolo’s stage that rocks./ Photo by Angela Weiss

At the start of Fluid Infinities, the dome was covered by a glittering curtain and the dancers were preoccupied with the giant tube. Suddenly, an unseen hand began drawing the silky fabric into the largest hole, producing a creepy feeling of gravity. The dancers entered wearing uniforms reminiscent of flight suits as they climbed and slid down the tube which served as their conduit into the strange land of the dome. One by one, they were drawn into its holes by the same theatrical gravity. When they emerged, they were clad in gold lamé leotards, as if dipped in the fabric that had otherwise vanished from the stage.

I think it’s hard for shows that pit a troupe of dancers against elaborate sets to completely avoid the feeling of a room full of people shouting to be heard. (Linda Austen’s recent solo piece with props by David Eckhard, by counterexample felt like an intimate conversation between two strange cronies). I got at least halfway into Infinities before noticing that my thoughts hadn’t wandered at all, but everyone on stage had been moving simultaneously the whole time. I was impressed by the cooperation and understanding that seemed to unite the group’s movements.

Trajectorie made it clear that anything less could be fatal. The principles and features of the architecture for both pieces are rather straightforward. The dome turns, can be climbed, can be entered, can be exited. The “boat” in Trajectorie is flat on top and curved at the bottom—it is a stage that moves, and it can store the dancers power and return it to them. The fact that the device was, in essence, just a stage, exposes the challenge of working with anything as boldly innovative as this “architecture in motion.” If it’s still a stage, the work will live or die on the artistry of what they do within the nature of that stage, not just the novelty of the stage being different from the ones we’re used to.

So much of Trajectorie is immediately, obviously impressive. The dancers are able to match their movements so precisely that they can perform passages on the boat as it pitches up and down at least 100 degrees off axis as if it were a stable stage. Working together like a platoon of soldiers, they rock the contraption to pluck their companions off the stage on one side of a roll, and then drop off another on the return. The exchange between the flat and the rolling stage is fluid and continuous, and no one puts a foot out of place. They quickly establish a dizzying level of control, and then the first dancer goes flying off the edge of the boat into arms waiting below, like the biggest see-saw you ever saw. With almost no warning for the first couple jumps, the audience still gasped and whispered louder with each new leap.

Diavolo dancers are athletic, acrobatic and fearless. /Photo by Kenneth Muck

What is perhaps more impressive is the subtlety with which they handle this beast and when they take risks with it. No one would have complained about a night of acrobatics that built up to a display of leaps and rolls paced like a fireworks show, but instead the handful of jumps we saw were each contingent on their moment in the show, each had their own personality, and each woke up the audience in their own way. Though nearly anything involving 3000 pounds of wood and steel rocking back and forth next to a frenzy of people will be dangerous, the dancers’ proficiency with it creates a false sense of ease. Rather than playing the danger up, the choreography placed the dancers in obvious peril only a couple times, letting them lie in the shadow of the boat for a few thrilling seconds before casually rolling out of its way, letting that ease fall away for just a few seconds. Lion tamers can’t spend the whole performance with their head in the lions’ mouths after all.

The spectacle and wonder of it all was sharpened by this restraint and its alternation with equally precise, quieter moments. My favorite may have been near the beginning, when the platform was rocking perpendicular to the edge of the stage. The dancers took advantage of the fact that they were hidden when the hull rose, and quietly appeared and disappeared in the space between beats, so each new reveal of the stage brought a new arrangement of performers as if they had been beamed down from somewhere. Maybe the moon from the first act.

In the Q&A at the end of the show, the troupe talked with a mix of camaraderie and wonder that reminded me of the dancers in Compagnie Marie Chouinard—like a group of explorers who had just returned from a land few had seen. However, they lacked the almost fearful hesitation to express their challenges and experiences that dancers who have to deal with Marie Chouinard seem to develop. They were on a bizarre and challenging mission, but they had an ease about them that came with the relief of not having to explain why they took such a mission. By treating it with respect and not forgetting to take joy in the challenge, they put on a show that should be genuinely cathartic for anyone who feels like they spend their lives on strange, perilous challenges.

Comments are closed.


The Law Offices of Wallace & Graham
Helping Asbestos & Mesothelioma Victims Nationwide Call for a Free Consultation

February 2015 Archives

Factors that could affect whether a person develops mesothelioma

While it is widely known that exposure to asbestos can cause devastating and ultimately fatal illnesses, not every person who is exposed develops diseases like mesothelioma. In fact, mesothelioma is considered relatively rare.

Work-related deaths peaked in North Carolina in 2014

Why are there so many parties named in many asbestos lawsuits?

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and has learned that exposure has led to a catastrophic illness, you need to understand your legal rights and options. In many cases, it is possible to file a lawsuit, but some people shy away from this decision.

What is a "wrongful death" action?

Navy veterans with asbestos illnesses: Know your legal options

If you or a loved one served in the U.S. Navy, worked in shipbuilding or were employed as a longshoreman, you should understand the risks of asbestos exposure. The men and women who worked in these capacities often came into contact with the toxic material and this exposure could have devastating consequences.

What to know about asbestos and premises liability claims

When people think about premises liability claims, they often think of claims that involve dog bites, slip-and-fall injuries or swimming pool accidents. While these are some of the more common incidents prompting premises liability claims, asbestos exposure can also be grounds for a legal claim against a property owner.

Claiming damages from asbestos requires lawyers with experience

What you need to know if you suffer a work-related illness

Workers across North Carolina are typically eligible to pursue financial relief if they get hurt or develop an occupational disease through the course of their employment. This relief is workers' compensation, and it can be crucial for people to understand what these benefits are and how they can help workers who have gotten sick as a result of asbestos exposure.

An asbestos primer: how does asbestos exposure cause illness?

Most people in North Carolina know that asbestos poses a significant health hazard, but not everyone understands how this material causes illness. In our last blog under the title "Asbestos Primer," we described the physical nature of asbestos: it is a naturally occurring mineral that was commonly used in sulation products, brake linings and valve gaskets before its health risks were discovered. In this post, we will discuss the medical implications of exposure to asbestos-containing products.

525 North Main Street
Salisbury, NC 28144

Toll Free: 888-698-9975
Phone: 704-754-8242
Map & Directions


3 years ago1,000+ Views
Introduction to "Learn Spanish Expressions with songs" Collection
Hi, It’s me again. This time with a new collection that I will hope will help people learn real Spanish in real situations. I don’t actually like using the term “real Spanish” but the reality is a lot of Spanish that is taught is book Spanish. So how to learn to speak like a native? Well songs are a great place to learn. And actually I got the idea for this collection because my friend misinterpreted a song’s meaning because he didn’t know the colloquial use of it. It actually caused him a bit of embarrassment haha. Anyway, in this collection, I will take an expression presented in a song and break it down by literal meaning and colloquial meaning. I will give the literal meaning of each word, as well as the literal meaning of the phrase, while explaining what it actually means when people say this. Hope you all enjoy it!
1 comment
Maybe I'll finally start to learn a second language? I'll give it a try at least, haha, let's see how this goes!
3 years ago·Reply


CompTIA Security Plus Mock Test Q653

Jane, a security analyst, is reviewing logs from hosts across the Internet which her company uses to gather data on new malware. Which of the following is being implemented by Jane’s company?

A. Vulnerability scanner
B. Honeynet
C. Protocol analyzer
D. Port scanner

Correct Answer: B
Section: Threats and Vulnerabilities

The Internet hosts used to gather data on new malware are known as honeypots. A collection of honeypots is known as a honeynet.
increase network security. A honeynet contains one or more honey pots, which are computer systems on the Internet expressly set up to attract and “trap” people who attempt to
penetrate other people’s computer systems. Although the primary purpose of a honeynet is to gather information about attackers’ methods and motives, the decoy network can benefit
its operator in other ways, for example by diverting attackers from a real network and its resources. The Honeynet Project, a non-profit research organization dedicated to computer
security and information sharing, actively promotes the deployment of honeynets.
In addition to the honey pots, a honeynet usually has real applications and services so that it seems like a normal network and a worthwhile target. However, because the honeynet
doesn’t actually serve any authorized users, any attempt to contact the network from without is likely an illicit attempt to breach its security, and any outbound activity is likely evidence
that a system has been compromised. For this reason, the suspect information is much more apparent than it would be in an actual network, where it would have to be found amidst all
the legitimate network data. Applications within a honeynet are often given names such as “Finances” or “Human Services” to make them sound appealing to the attacker.
A virtual honeynet is one that, while appearing to be an entire network, resides on a single server.

Incorrect Answers:
A: A vulnerability scanner is software designed to assess computers, computer systems, networks or applications for weaknesses. This includes applications or default configurations
posing a security risk. In this question, we have computers set up with the aim of being attacked to enable Jane to gather data on new malware. The question is asking about the
computers themselves, not the tools used to assess the computers. These computers form a honeynet.
C: A Protocol Analyzer is a hardware device or more commonly a software program used to capture network data communications sent between devices on a network. This is not
what is described in this question.
D: A port scanner is typically a software application used to scan a system such as a computer or firewall for open ports. A malicious user would attempt to access a system through
an open port. A security administrator would compare the list of open ports against a list of ports that need to be open so that unnecessary ports can be closed thus reducing the
vulnerability of the system. This is not what is described in this question.


Слова на букву hemi-inso (2629) Medical dictionary
На главную О проекте Обратная связь Поддержать проектДобавить в избранное

EN-DE-FR →  Medical dictionary →  (2,4-ance anch-basi basi-chem chem-culi culi-dttp du b-extr extr-hemi hemi-inso insp-line line-metr metr-noe noem-pco pco -post post-retr retr-spas spas-tawa taxa-ulce ulce-℞

Слова на букву hemi-inso (2629)

Tremor affecting the muscles of one side of the body.
A variant truncus arteriosus in which only one pulmonary artery originates from the truncal artery.
A congenital defect of the spine in which one side of a vertebra fails to develop completely.
The state of being hemizygous.
An individual hemizygous with respect to one or more specified loci; e.g., a normal male is a h. with respect to the gene for all X-linked or Y-linked genes in his genome. [ ...
SYN: hemizygous.
Having unpaired genes in an otherwise diploid cell; males are normally h. for genes on both sex chromosomes. SYN: hemizygotic.
SYN: conium.
Combining form denoting blood. SEE ALSO: hem-, hemat-, hemato-. [G. haima]
SYN: hemagglutination.
SYN: hemagglutinin.
An antibody that neutralizes the effects of a hemotoxin, such as the hemolytic material in cobra venom.
Bleeding into the biliary passages, usually as a result of hepatic trauma or a neoplasm in the liver or biliary tract. SYN: hematobilia.
SYN: hemocytoblast. - lymphoid h. of Pappenheim obsolete term for pronormoblast. SEE ALSO: erythroblast.
A proliferative condition of the hematopoietic tissues in general.
Cleansing the blood. [ hemo- + G. katharsis, a cleansing]
Destruction of the blood cells, especially of erythrocytes (hemocytocatheresis). [ hemo- + G. kathairesis, destruction]
Pertaining to or characterized by hemocatheresis.
The system of blood-containing spaces pervading the body in arthropods. [ hemo- + G. koiloma, cavity]
Hemorrhagic cholecystitis.
An inherited disorder in how the body absorbs and stores iron. The excess iron gives the skin a bronze color and damages the liver and other organs. Diabetes is also a part of ...
SYN: hemochromogen.
Term originally used for combinations of ferro- or ferriporphyrins with 2 mol of a nitrogenous base or protein, e.g., pyridine ferroporphyrin. SYN: hemochrome. [ hemo- + G. ...
hemoclasis, hemoclasia
Rupture, dissolution (hemolysis), or other type of destruction of red blood cells. [ hemo- + G. klasis, a breaking]
Pertaining to hemoclasis.
Decrease in the volume of plasma in relation to the number of red blood cells; increase in the concentration of red blood cells in the circulating blood.
An obsolete term for small refractive particles in the circulating blood, probably lipid material associated with fragmented stroma from red blood cells. SYN: blood dust, blood ...
A condition in which there is an abnormal amount of hemoconia in the blood.
Determination of the freezing point of blood. [ hemo- + G. kryos, cold, + skopeo, to examine]
SYN: cytocuprein.
An oxygen-carrying pigment (molecular weights between 0.45 and 13 × 106) of lower sea animals (including molluscs and crustacea) and arthropods; copper is an essential ...
Any cell or formed element of the blood. SYN: hematocyte. [ hemo- + G. kytos, a hollow (cell)]
A blood cell derived from embryonic mesenchyme, characterized by basophilic cytoplasm and a relatively large nucleus with a spongy, loose network of chromatin and several ...
Hemolysis, or other type of destruction of red blood cells. [ hemo- + G. kytos, a hollow (cell), + kathairesis, destruction]
The dissolution of blood cells, including hemolysis. SYN: hematocytolysis. [ hemo- + G. kytos, cell, + lysis, dissolution]
An apparatus for estimating the number of blood cells in a quantitatively measured volume of blood; it consists of a glass pipette with an ampulla for collecting and diluting the ...
The counting of red blood cells.
Fragmentation or disintegration of blood cells by means of mechanical trauma, e.g., compression between hard surfaces. [ hemo- + G. kytos, + tripsis, a grinding]
A protozoon parasite of the blood cells. SYN: hemacytozoon, hematocytozoon. [ hemo- + G. kytos, cell, + zoon, animal]
Diagnosis by means of examination of the blood.
A medical procedure that uses a special machine (a dialysis machine) to filter waste products from the bloodstream and to restore normal constituents to the blood. This ...
A machine for hemodialysis in acute or chronic renal failure; toxic substances in the blood are removed by exposure to dialyzing fluid across a semipermeable membrane. SYN: ...
Blood amylase.
Increase in the volume of plasma in relation to red blood cells; reduced concentration of red blood cells in the circulation.
Relating to the physical aspects of the blood circulation.
The study of the dynamics of the blood circulation. [ hemo- + G. dynamis, power]
Any abnormal condition or disorder of the blood and hemopoietic tissue, used especially with reference to those resulting in changes in the formed elements. SYN: ...
Any disease or abnormal condition of the blood and hemopoietic tissues, exclusive of simple transitory changes. SYN: hematodystrophy.
A process, similar to hemodialysis, by which blood is dialyzed using ultrafiltration, and usually to remove a specific product of fluid volume.
Protozoan flagellates in the family Trypanosomatidae that are parasitic in the blood of many species of domestic and wild animals and birds, and of humans; they include the ...
SYN: hemopoiesis.
SYN: hemopoietic.
The oxygen-carrying pigment and predominant protein in the red blood cells. Hemoglobin forms an unstable, reversible bond with oxygen. In its oxygenated state it is called ...
Hemoglobin A1C
The main fraction of glycosylated hemoglobin (glycohemoglobin) which is hemoglobin to which glucose is bound. Hemoglobin A1C is tested to monitor the long-term control of diabetes ...
Hemoglobin normal values
Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying pigment in the blood, the predominant protein in the red blood cells. In the routine laboratory test for hemoglobin (Hb), it is usually measured ...
Hemoglobin S
The most common type of abnormal hemoglobin and the basis of sickle cell trait and sickle cell anemia. Hemoglobin S differs from normal adult hemoglobin (called hemoglobin A) ...
Hemoglobin, glycosylated
Hemoglobin to which glucose is bound. Glycosylated hemoglobin is tested to monitor the long-term control of diabetes mellitus. The level of glycosylated hemoglobin is increased in ...
The presence of free hemoglobin in the blood plasma, as when intravascular hemolysis occurs. - paroxysmal nocturnal h. an acquired hematopoietic stem cell disorder ...
The presence of hemoglobin in the bile. [hemoglobin + G. chole, bile]
Destruction or chemical splitting of hemoglobin. SYN: hemoglobinopepsia. [hemoglobin + G. lysis, dissolution]
A disorder or disease caused by or associated with the presence of abnormal hemoglobins in the blood, e.g., sickle cell disease, hemoglobin C, D, E, H, or I disorders. ...
SYN: hemoglobinolysis. [hemoglobin + G. pepsis, digestion]
Denoting certain microorganisms that cannot be cultured except in the presence of hemoglobin. [hemoglobin + G. phileo, to love]
The presence of free hemoglobin in the urine, an abnormal finding, that may make the urine look dark. Hemoglobin is the protein in the red blood cells which carries oxygen from ...
Relating to or marked by hemoglobinuria.
A complete detailed record of the findings in a thorough examination of the blood, especially with reference to the numbers, proportions, and morphologic features of the formed ...
A primitive mesenchymal cell believed to be capable of developing into all types of blood cells, including monocytes, and into histiocytes. SYN: Ferrata cell, hematohistioblast. ...
Obsolete term for platelet.
Blood lipase.
A concretion in the wall of a blood vessel. [ hemo- + G. lithos, stone]
SYN: hematology.
1. The blood and lymph, in the sense of a “circulating tissue.” 2. The nutrient fluid of certain invertebrates. [ hemo- + L. lympha, clear water]
Preparation resulting from the lysis of erythrocytes.
1. Any substance elaborated by a living agent and capable of causing lysis of red blood cells and liberation of their hemoglobin. SYN: erythrocytolysin, erythrolysin. 2. A ...
The antigenic material in red blood cells that stimulates the formation of hemolysin.
The destruction of red blood cells which leads to the release of hemoglobin from within the red blood cells into the blood plasma. Etymology: The word "hemolysis" is made up of " ...
Referring to hemolysis, the destruction of red blood cells which leads to the release of hemoglobin from within the red blood cells into the blood plasma. Hemolytic anemia, for ...
Hemolytic disease of the newborn
Abnormal breakup of red blood cells in the fetus or newborn. This is usually due to antibodies made by the mother directed against the baby’s red cells. It is typically ...
Hemolytic jaundice, congenital
Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS)
: A condition involving breakup of red blood cells and kidney failure. There is clumping of platelets (the blood cells responsible for clotting) within the kidney's small blood ...
The production or occurrence of hemolysis.
To produce hemolysis or liberation of the hemoglobin from red blood cells.
Blood in the mediastinum.
SYN: hematometra.
SYN: hematometry.
SYN: hematopathology.
Any abnormal condition or disease of the blood or hemopoietic tissues. SYN: hematopathy. [ hemo- + G. pathos, suffering]
Passage of blood through columns of adsorptive material, such as activated charcoal, to remove toxic substances from the blood. [ hemo- + L. perfusio, to pass through]
Blood in the pericardial sac.
Blood in the peritoneal cavity.
A serum glycoprotein related to β-globulins, with molecular weight around 57,000, containing 22% carbohydrate; important in binding heme and porphyrins, preventing excretion, ...
SYN: hematophagia. [ hemo- + G. phagein, to eat]
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
A rare, cancer-like disorder in which both histiocytes and lymphocytes start to proliferate and attack body tissues or organs. It can be an inherited condition, or it can occur ...
The process of engulfment (and usually destruction) of blood cells by the various types of phagocytic cells; used especially with reference to the engulfment of erythrocytes and ...
hemophil, hemophile
A microorganism growing preferably in media containing blood. [ hemo- + G. philos, fond]
A set of inherited bleeding disorders in which the ability of blood to clot is impaired. * * * An inherited disorder of blood coagulation characterized by a permanent tendency to ...
Hemophilia A
Classic hemophilia due to profound deficiency of factor VIII in the blood, which is necessary for normal clotting. The hemophilia A gene is on the X chromosome, so females ...
Hemophilia B
Hemophilia due to deficiency of coagulation factor IX in the blood which results in prolonged oozing after minor and major injuries, tooth extractions, or surgery. There is ...
A person suffering from hemophilia.
Relating to hemophilia.
Any disease caused by bacteria of the genus Haemophilus.
An abnormal and persistent fear of blood. Sufferers of this very common phobia dread the sight of their own blood, the sight of the blood of another person or an animal, and ...
Blood convection or irrigation of tissues. [ hemo- + G. phoreo, to bear]
hemophthalmia, hemophthalmus
A blood-filled eye. SYN: hematopsia. [ hemo- + G. ophthalmos, eye]
An obsolete term for anemia resulting from abnormal degeneration or destruction, or a deficiency in the formation of red blood cells. [ hemo- + G. phthisis, a wasting away]
SYN: hemopoietic.
Formation or elaboration of blood by the hemopoietic tissues. [ hemo- + G. plasso, to form]
Concurrence of blood and air in the pericardium. SYN: pneumohemopericardium. [ hemo- + G. pneuma, air, + pericardium]
Accumulation of air and blood in the pleural cavity. SYN: pneumohemothorax. [ hemo- + G. pneuma, air, + thorax]
The process of formation and development of the various types of blood cells and other formed elements. SYN: hematogenesis, hematopoiesis, hematosis (1), hemogenesis, ...
Pertaining to or related to the formation of blood cells. SYN: hemafacient, hematogenic (1), hematogenous, hematoplastic, hematopoietic, hemogenic, hemoplastic, ...
SYN: erythropoietin.
SYN: hematoporphyrin.
An antibody that combines with and precipitates soluble antigenic material from erythrocytes.
Protein linked to a metal-porphyrin compound ( e.g., cytochromes, myoglobin, catalase).
Spitting up blood or blood- tinged sputum. Pronounced he-MOP-tis-is. The word “hemoptysis” comes from the Greek “haima” for “blood” + “ptysis” meaning “a ...
hemopyelectasis, hemopyelectasia
Obsolete term for dilation of the pelvis of the kidney with blood and urine. [ hemo- + pyelectasia]
1. A substance or surface that discourages the adherence of blood. 2. Having such an action.
The science of the flow of blood in relation to the pressures, flow, volumes, and resistances in blood vessel s, especially in terms of blood viscosity and red cell deformation ...
Bleeding or the abnormal flow of blood. The patient may have an internal hemorrhage that is invisible or an external hemorrhage that is visible on the outside of the body. ...
Hemorrhage, subarachnoid
Bleeding within the head into the space between two membranes that surround the brain. The bleeding is beneath the arachnoid membrane and just above the pia mater. (The ...
Pertaining to bleeding or the abnormal flow of blood. The patient may have an internal hemorrhagic problem that is not be visible or the patient may have an external hemorrhagic ...
Hemorrhagic diarrhea, E. coli
Bloody colitis (inflammation of the bowel) caused by E. coli, usually by the strain E. coli 0157:H7. The diarrhea is severe with painful abdominal cramps, gross blood in the ...
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome
A number of diseases, also known as hemorrhagic fever, characterized by an abrupt onset of high fever and chills, headache, cold and cough, and pain in the muscles, joints and ...
Hemorrhagic fever, epidemic
A number of diseases characterized by an abrupt onset of high fever and chills, headache, cold and cough, and pain in the muscles, joints and abdomen with nausea and vomiting ...
Cytolysins found in certain venoms and poisonous material from some plants, e.g., rattlesnake venom and ricin; h. cause degeneration and lysis of endothelial cells in ...
Denoting one of the tumors or varices constituting hemorrhoids.
1. Relating to hemorrhoids. 2. Formerly applied to certain arteries and veins supplying the region of the rectum and anus, currently described by “anal” or “rectal.”
Surgical removal of hemorrhoids; usually accomplished by excision of hemorrhoidal tissues by sharp dissection, or by application of elastic ligature at the base of the ...
A varicose condition of the external hemorrhoidal veins causing painful swellings at the anus. SYN: piles. [G. haimorrhois, pl. haimorrhoides, veins likely to bleed, fr. haima, ...
SYN: hematosalpinx.
Vomiting of blood and saliva. [ hemo- + G. sialon, saliva, + emesis, vomiting]
A golden yellow or yellow-brown insoluble protein produced by phagocytic digestion of hematin; found in most tissues, especially in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, in the ...
Accumulation of hemosiderin in tissue, particularly in liver and spleen. See hemochromatosis. [ hemosiderin + -osis, condition] - idiopathic pulmonary h. repeated sudden attacks ...
Presence of blood in the seminal fluid. SYN: hematospermia. [ hemo- + G. sperma, seed] - h. spuria h. occurring in the prostatic urethra. - h. vera h. from the seminal ...
A blood parasite of the order Haemosporidia. [ hemo- + Mod. L. dim. of G. sporos, seed]
Common term for members of the order Haemosporidia.
SYN: hemostasis.
The stoppage of bleeding or hemorrhage. Also, the stoppage of blood flow through a blood vessel or organ of the body. Hemostasis is the arrest of bleeding, whether it be by normal ...
Hemostasis, genetics of
Inherited factors that play a role in hemostasis, the stoppage of blood flow through a blood vessel. There is genetic regulation of proteins involved in hemostasis and ...
1. Any agent that arrests, chemically or mechanically, the flow of blood from an open vessel. 2. An instrument for arresting hemorrhage by compression of the bleeding vessel.
1. Arresting the flow of blood within the vessels. 2. SYN: antihemorrhagic.
SYN: styptic (2). [ hemo- + G. styptikos, astringent]
hemosuccus pancreaticus
Bleeding into the pancreatic duct, usually as a result of trauma, tumor, inflammation, or pseudoaneurysm associated with pseudocyst.
The record produced by hemotachometer. [hemo + tachos + G. gramma, something written]
An instrument for measuring the rapidity of the flow of blood in the arteries. SYN: hematachometer. [ hemo- + G. tachos, swiftness, + metron, measure]
hemotherapy, hemotherapeutics
Treatment of disease by the use of blood or blood derivatives, as in transfusion. SYN: hematherapy.
Blood in the pleural cavity. SYN: hemathorax.
hemotoxic, hematotoxic, hematoxic
1. Causing blood poisoning. 2. SYN: hemolytic.
Any substance that causes destruction of red blood cells, including various hemolysins; usually used with reference to substances of biologic origin, in contrast to chemicals. ...
hemotroph, hemotrophe
The nutritive materials supplied to the embryos of placental mammals through the maternal bloodstream. Cf.:embryotroph, histotroph. [ hemo- + G. trophe, food]
Pertaining to the mechanism by which a substance in or on blood cells, especially the erythrocytes, attracts phagocytic cells; the latter change direction and migrate toward the ...
The presence of blood in the middle ear. SYN: hematotympanum.
Parasitic in the blood of vertebrates; denoting certain protozoa. SYN: hematozoic.
A blood-dwelling parasitic animal such as the trypanosomes or microfilariae of Wuchereria or Brugia. SYN: hematozoon. [ hemo- + G. zoon, animal]
Abbreviation for hereditary erythroblastic multinuclearity associated with positive acidified serum. See H. cells, under cell.
SYN: hyoscyamus.
Lawrence J., U.S. biochemist, 1878–1942. See H.-Hasselbalch equation.
Hendersonula toruloidea
SYN: Nattrassia mangiferae.
Wilhelm, German anatomist, 1834–1896. See H. space.
Friedrich G.J., German anatomist, pathologist, and histologist, 1809–1885. See crypts of H., under crypt, H. ampulla, H. ansa, H. glands, under gland, H. fissures, under ...
The leaves of the Egyptian privet, Lawsonia inermis; used as a cosmetic and hair dye. [Ar. h.]
Camille, Belgian otologist, 1867–1958. See H. sign.
Eduard H., German pediatrician, 1820–1910. See H. chorea, H. purpura, H.- Schönlein purpura, H.- Schönlein syndrome, Schönlein-H. syndrome.
SYN: goundou. [native term on the Gold Coast (Ghana) meaning “dog-nose”]
Victor, French 20th-century biochemist. See Michaelis- Menten equation, H.-Michaelis- Menten equation.
James Paget, U. S. physiologist, *1914. See H.- Gauer response. Joseph, U.S. physicist, 1797–1878. See Dalton-H. law. William, British chemist, 1774–1836. See H. law.
The unit of electrical inductance, when 1 V is induced by a change in current of 1 A/sec. [ Joseph H.]
K., German internist, *1907. See Krebs-H. cycle.
Victor, German anatomist and physiologist, 1835–1924. See H. canal, H. cell, H. disk, H. duct, H. knot, H. line, H. node, H. stripe.
Friedrich W., German anatomist, 1719–1745. See H. ligament.
Acronym that stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air and for High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestor. HEPA filters are used for isolation and immunocompromise units, operating ...
A family of lipid-containing icosahedral DNA-containing viruses 42 mm in diameter whose genome consists of a single molecule of noncovalently closed, circular DNA that is ...
SYN: liver. [L. borrowed fr. G. h., gen. hepatos, the liver] - h. lobatum a fissured liver, from the scars of healed syphilitic gummas.
heparan N-sulfatase
An enzyme that participates in the stepwise degradation of heparan sulfate; heparan N-sulfatase hydrolyzes the sulfate moiety attached to the amino group of the glucosamine ...
heparan sulfate
SYN: heparitin sulfate.
An anticoagulant (anti-clotting) medication. Heparin is useful in preventing thromboembolic complications (clots that travel from their site of origin through the blood stream to ...
Heparin, low-weight
SYN: heparin lyase.
The presence of demonstrable levels of heparin in the circulating blood.
heparinic acid
SYN: heparin.
To perform therapeutic administration of heparin.
heparitin sulfate
A heteropolysaccharide that has the same repeating disaccharide as heparin but with fewer sulfates and more acetyl groups; accumulates in individuals with certain types of ...
hepat-, hepato-
The liver. [G. hepar (hepat-)]
hepatatrophia, hepatatrophy
Atrophy of the liver.
Removal of the liver, whole or in part. [hepat- + G. ektome, excision]
Relating to the liver. [G. hepatikos]
Hepatic artery
Hepatic ductular hypoplasia, syndromatic
Also called Alagille syndrome or arteriohepatic dysplasia, this is a genetic disorder characterized by jaundice in the newborn period, liver disease with cholestasis, ...
Hepatic hemangioma
The most common benign tumor of the liver. It is made up of small blood vessels and is 4-6 times more common in women than men (female hormones may promote their formation and ...
Hepatic vein
One of the veins which drains blood from the liver.
Combined hepaticotomy and choledochotomy.
Establishment of a communication between the hepatic ducts and the duodenum. SYN: hepatoduodenostomy. [hepatico- + duodenostomy]
Establishment of a communication between the hepatic ducts and the intestine. SYN: hepatocholangioenterostomy. [hepatico- + enterostomy]
Establishment of a communication between the hepatic duct and the stomach. [hepatico- + gastrostomy]
Removal of a stone from a hepatic duct. [hepatico- + G. lithos, stone, + tome, a cutting]
The crushing or fragmentation of a biliary calculus in a hepatic duct. [hepatico- + G. lithos, stone, + tripsis, a rubbing]
SYN: hepatopneumonic.
Establishment of an opening into the hepatic duct. [hepatico- + G. stoma, mouth]
Incision into the hepatic duct. [hepatico- + G. tome, incision]
SYN: glycogen.
Relating to hepatitis.
Inflammation of the liver, due usually to viral infection but sometimes to toxic agents. [hepat- + -itis] Previously endemic throughout much of the developing world, viral h. now ...
Hepatitis A immunization
When immediate protection against hepatitis A (infectious hepatitis) is needed, immunoglobulins are used. Protection is effective only if given within 2 weeks of exposure and ...
Hepatitis B immunization
Hepatitis B (hep B) vaccine gives prolonged protection, but 3 shots over a half year are usually required. In the U.S., all infants receive hep B vaccine. Two vaccines ...
Hepatitis D
Liver inflammation due to the hepatitis D virus (HDV), which only causes disease in patients who already have the hepatitis B virus. Transmission is via infected blood, needles, ...
Hepatitis D, E, F, and G
Lesser known (than hepatitis A, B, and C), the most significant of these seems to be type D, or the delta agent, which only causes disease in the presence of the hepatitis B ...
Hepatitis E
A rare form of liver inflammation caused by infection with the hepatitis E virus (HEV). It is transmitted via food or drink handled by an infected person, or through infected ...
Hepatitis F
A rare form of liver inflammation caused by infection with the so-called hepatitis F virus, which may be a mutation of hepatitis B. There is no vaccine or treatment for hepatitis ...
Hepatitis, non-A, non-B
The old name for hepatitis C when the causative virus had not been identified but it was known not to be hepatitis A or B.
Hepatitis, toxic
Hepatitis, viral
Liver inflammation caused by viruses. Specific hepatitis viruses have been labeled A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. While other viruses, such as the mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr) virus ...
Conversion of a loose tissue into a firm mass like the substance of the liver macroscopically, denoting especially such a change in the lungs in the consolidation of pneumonia. - ...
See hepat-.
Having to do with the liver plus the gallbladder, bile ducts, or bile. For example, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can be applied to the hepatobiliary system. Hepatobiliary ...
A malignant tumor of the liver. Hepatoblastoma occurs almost exclusively in young children, more commonly in boys than in girls. The diagnosis of hepatoblastoma is usually made ...
SYN: hepatocellular carcinoma.
Protrusion of part of the liver through the abdominal wall or the diaphragm. [ hepato- + G. kele, hernia]
Hepatocellular carcinoma
A tumor in which the cancer starts during adulthood in cells in the liver. Also called adult primary liver cancer. Primary liver cancer is different from cancer that has ...
SYN: hepaticoenterostomy. [ hepato- + G. chole, bile, + angeion, vessel, + enteron, intestine, + stoma, mouth]
Union of the hepatic duct to the jejunum. [ hepato- + G. chole, bile, + angeion, vessel, + jejunostomy]
Creation of an opening into the common bile duct to establish drainage.
Inflammation of the liver and biliary tree.
SYN: cytocuprein.
Relating to the gallbladder, or to both liver and gallbladder. [ hepato- + G. kystis, bladder]
A genus of blood-parasitizing hemosporines (family Plasmodiidae) with gametocytes in red cells and cystlike exoerythrocytic schizonts in the liver parenchyma; parasitic in Old ...
A parenchymal liver cell.
SYN: hepaticoduodenostomy.
Dysentery associated with liver disease.
Relating to the liver and the intestine. [ hepato- + G. enteron, intestine]
Away from the liver, usually referring to portal blood flow.
Relating to the liver and the stomach.
hepatogenic, hepatogenous
Of hepatic origin; formed in the liver.
Radiography of the liver. [ hepato- + G. graphe, a writing]
Rarely used term for congestion of the liver. [ hepato- + G. haima, blood]
Resembling or like the liver. [ hepato- + G. eidos, resemblance]
An apparatus for the quantitative control and measurement of the pressure and force applied over the liver to test the hepatojugular reflux. [ hepato- + L. jugulum, throat, + ...
SYN: hepatosplenography. [ hepato- + L. lien, spleen, + G. graphe, a writing]
SYN: hepatosplenomegaly.
A concretion in the liver. [ hepato- + G. lithos, stone]
Removal of a calculus from the liver. [ hepato- + G. lithos, stone, + ektome, excision]
Presence of calculi in the liver. [ hepato- + G. lithiasis, presence of a calculus]
A specialist in hepatology.
The branch of medicine concerned with diseases of the liver. [ hepato- + G. logos, study]
A cytolysin that destroys parenchymal cells of the liver.
See malignant h.. [ hepato- + G. -oma, tumor] - malignant h. SYN: hepatocellular carcinoma.
Softening of the liver. [ hepato- + G. malakia, softening]
An enlarged liver. “Hepato-“ comes from the Greek “hepatikos” (of the liver) + “megaly” from the Greek “megas” (big or great) = bigness of the liver.
hepatomegaly, hepatomegalia
Enlargement of the liver. [ hepato- + G. megas, large]
Heavy pigmentation of the liver. [ hepato- + G. melas, black, + -osis, condition]
Umbilical hernia with involvement of the liver. SYN: hepatomphalos. [ hepato- + omphalocele]
SYN: hepatomphalocele.
Death of liver cells.
SYN: hepatorenal.
Enlargement of both liver and kidney or kidneys. [ hepato- + G. nephros, kidney, + megas, great]
Damaging the liver.
Disease of the liver. [ hepato- + G. pathos, suffering]
SYN: perihepatitis.
Toward the liver, usually referring to the normal direction of portal blood flow.
Anchoring of the liver to the abdominal wall. [ hepato- + G. pexis, fixation]
Rounded or nodular tumor of the liver. [ hepato- + G. phyma, tumor]
Relating to the liver and the lungs. SYN: hepaticopulmonary, hepatopulmonary. [ hepato- + G. pneumonikos, pulmonary]
Relating to the portal system of the liver.
A downward displacement of the liver. SYN: wandering liver. [ hepato- + G. ptosis, a falling]

Выполнено за: 0.023 c;


Alnara Therapeutics (Cambridge, MA) a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on liprotamase, a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, for the treatment of pancreatic insufficiency associated with cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, pancreatectomy and other pancreatic conditions, closed a $35M Series B financing. Participants include MPM Capital, Third Rock Ventures, Frazier Healthcare and Bessemer Venture Partners.