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Physiology

University of Pittsburgh Selected to Lead International Trials in COVID-19 Care – UPJ Athletics

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has selected the University of Pittsburgh to lead a trio of Phase 3 clinical trials involving COVID-19 patients. Collectively known as ACTIV-4 Antithrombotics, these trials will explore the use of blood thinners in saving lives and improving care, particularly among adult COVID-19 patients who are at risk of developing life-threatening blood clots.

As the coordinating center for these trials, Pitt is occupying a leading role in the National Institutes of Healths Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) initiative, funded through Operation Warp Speed. Sixother universitiesHarvard University, New York University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of Michigan, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Vermontare also participating in the initiative, which will continue to add qualifying institutions.

This is a massive undertaking supported by the NIHone that is leveraging a global network to help improve patient outcomes for COVID-19, said Anantha Shekhar, who serves as Pitts senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine. It is also a challenge that the University of Pittsburgh, a longtime leader in health care innovation, is perfectly positioned to tackle.

Researchers and clinicians have noted that many patients who have died from COVID-19 formed blood clots throughout their bodies, including in their smallest blood vessels. This unusual clottingone of many life-threatening effects of the diseasecauses multiple health complications, from lung and other organ damage to heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms and strokes.

Antithrombotics, also known as blood thinners or anticoagulants, keep blood protein and plateletsfrom turning into clumps or sticking to each other, but doctors have not yet figured out ifand at what point in the course of COVID-19blood thinners might be effective at treating patients with this condition.

Stephen Wisniewski, vice provost for budget and analytics, and two physician scientists from PittMatthew D. Neal, the Roberta G. Simmons Associate Professor of Surgery; and Frank Sciurba, a professor of medicine and education who directs the Pulmonary Function Exercise Physiology Laboratoryare leading this effort.

Understanding how to treat coagulation risk in COVID-19 patients is critical to lessening the impact of this pandemic, said Wisniewski. Pitts ability to innovate and collaborate enables us to help ensure that these trials will be completed with the rigor and speed necessary to make an impact at this critical moment. In collaboration with the National Institutes of Health and our peer institutions, we will use the combined tools of biology and statistics to advance the treatments of this deadly virus.

ACTIV-4 consists of three platforms: an inpatient platform launching now, an outpatient platformthat will focus on patients who do not need hospitalizationand a post-hospitalization outpatient platform that will focus onpatients who have already been discharged from care.

There is currently no standard of care for anticoagulation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and there is a desperate need for clinical evidence to guide practice, said Francis S. Collins, director of NIH. Conductingtrials using multiple existing networks of research sites provides the scale and speed that will get us answers faster.

The first trial, ACTIV-4 Antithrombotics Inpatient, is a master platform for collaboration among several randomized clinical trial platforms, including PROTECT COVID-19 at NYU Langone Health; the international REMAP-CAP, including leadership from Pitt and UPMC; and ATTACC from Canada. It will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of varying doses of the blood thinner heparin.

The trial will assign patients to either a low or high dose of heparin and, as the trial progresses, additional anticoagulants may be tested, depending on early results. Throughout the study, all participants will receive clinical care as indicated for their condition.

This has been an amazingly cooperative endeavorunequivocally the most rapidly moving, complex but also highly collaborative experience of my life, said Neal. By harmonizing these platforms, well be able to arrive at an answer as to whether antithrombotics can improve outcomes in COVID-19and at what dosesfar faster than we would otherwise.

Neal is co-chair of the protocol development committee and a lead investigator for the ACTIV-4 Antithrombotics Inpatient platform. Sciurba, who also serves as director of UPMCs Pulmonary Physiology Center, is co-chair of the protocol development committee and a lead investigator of the outpatient platform.

While the greatest focus on blood clotting complications has been in the inpatient setting, earlier attention in more stable patients prior to hospitalization may have an important impact on progression to the more serious consequences of COVID-19, said Sciurba.

Other investigators from Pitt include Maria Mori Brooks, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics and co-director of Pitts Epidemiology Data Center, who is leading the statistical design of the outpatient platform; Alison Morris, chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, who is the co-chair of the protocol development committee of the post-hospitalization outpatient platform; and Abdus S. Wahed, director of PhD Graduate Programs in Pitts Department of Biostatistics, who is leading the statistical design of the post-hospitalization outpatient platform.

Given the unpredictable geographic variability of COVID-19, the ACTIV-4 team is actively recruiting sites with clinical trial experience that have significant COVID-19 burden. To inquire, email ACTIV4siteenroll@pitt.edu.

Scientists and clinicians across Pitts six health sciences schools, along with colleagues from other academic departments, have taken a prominent role in responding to the pandemic. In all, Pitt is home to more than 400 ongoing studies related to COVID-19 and the coronavirus.

Earlier this month, a study led by Derek Angus, distinguished professor and the Mitchell P. Fink Endowed Chair of Pitts Department of Critical Care Medicine, appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association and informed the World Health Organizations recommendation to use steroids to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Additional efforts at Pitt to fight COVID-19 include work led by Paul Duprex, in Pitts Center for Vaccine Research to harness a measles vaccine engineered to express SARS-CoV-2 proteins on its surface to generate immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19.

Also in the Center for Vaccine Research: William Klimstra, an associate professor of immunology, is investigating an antibody therapy called SAB-185 that could be used to both treat COVID-19 and prevent it in front-line workers and military personnel. Last month, clinical staff began injecting SAB-185 into healthy volunteers for a phase I safety study.

Pitts Clinical and Translational Science Institute has awarded nearly $1 million to 17 studies that are exploring different aspects of the pandemic, from modeling the virus to examining how the lungs microbiome may impact infection.

Two pharmaceutical companies, Moderna and AstraZeneca, are also partnering with Pitt and UPMC on vaccine trials. The phase III trials, led by Judy Martin, director of the Pittsburgh Vaccine Clinical Trials Unit and professor of pediatrics, and Sharon Riddler, director of clinical research in Pitts Division of Infectious Diseases, seek to determine if the vaccines can prevent COVID-19 and for how long.

Originally posted here:
University of Pittsburgh Selected to Lead International Trials in COVID-19 Care - UPJ Athletics

Physiology

Suicide Prevention: What Are the Warning Signs, Prevention measures? – Newsd.in

By Dr. Riddhish K. Maru

On World Suicide Prevention Day we look at the tell tale signs and symptoms you can watch out for in case you feel a friend, colleague or a loved one may be contemplating suicide.

The act of killing or trying to harm oneself is called suicide. It is an action against a humans basic survival instinct or against ones nature of procreation, this makes it an interesting subject interesting. Suicide is exclusively almost seen only in the human species and its been known off since immemorial time.

Suicide is the outcome of neurobiological breakdown. The process begins in severe stress and pain which has been generated by due to a serious life crisis. Suicide occurs when the stress induces unbearable pain that feelings of self-control and self-esteem are weakened & death is seen as the only relief.

Suicidal entails changes in the brains chemistry and physiology, an imbalance in serotonin levels. Para suicidal behaviour is seen when there are attempts to deliberately harm self to gain attention.

Incidence:

Suicide is on the rise in this century, 258,075 people committed suicide in India in 2012. Indias suicide rate was 21.1 per 100,000 people, according to WHO.

Psychology of Suicide:

Menninger believed that suicide is inverted homicide. Generally aggression is directed outward, at a person or an object. But when it is directed inwards, it becomes suicide. Freud beliefs were on similar lines but with the parameters of life force (Eros) and death force (Thanatos).

Suicide Warning Signs: F.A.C.T.

F for Feelings:

Hopelessness It will never get any better/Theres nothing anyone can do.

Fear of losing control, fear of going crazy, fear of harming oneself or others.

Helplessness, a feeling that no one cares, everyone would be better off without me.

Overwhelming guilt, shame, and self-hatred.

Pervasive sadness

A for Actions or Events

Drug or alcohol abuse

Themes of death or destruction in talk or written materials (letters, notes)

Nightmares

Recent losses through death, divorce, end of a relationship, separation, loss of job, money, status, pride, self-esteem.

Loss of religious faith or spirituality

Agitation, restlessness

Aggression, recklessness

C for Change

In personality more withdrawn, tired, apathetic, indecisive or more boisterous, talkative, outgoing.

Different temperament than usual.

In thoughts cant concentrate on schoolwork, routine tasks, etc.

In sleep patterns oversleeping, excessive sleeping, insomnia

In eating habits loss of appetite, weight gain/loss, overeating, change in eating rituals

In activities loss of interest in friends, hobbies, personal grooming, or other activities

Sudden improvement after a period of being down or withdrawn, too euphoric

T for Threats

Statements, e.g., How long does it take to bleed to death?

Threats, e.g., I wont be around much longer.

Plans, e.g., putting affairs in order, giving away favourite things, obtaining a weapon.

Gestures, or attempts, e.g., overdose, wrist cutting.

In India, suicide was illegal and a survivor would face jail term of up to one year and fine under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code but Government of India decided to repeal the law in 2014.

Solution:

If you have ever had suicidal thoughts or you know someone who has, the first thing you need to do is accept that it is possible to feel that way. Denial can only lead to more repression and a bigger outburst of events. Secondly, talk to someone about it. It could be your family, friends, colleague or a psychiatrist. And always when you feel things are going out of your control, dont be ashamed to ask for help. These are few ways that suicidal ideas can be identified early and can be addressed. Electro convulsive therapy is the gold standard treatment of suicide.

Supportive psychotherapy is required in each case.

Reducing social isolation,

Preventing social disintegration,

Treating mental disorders by Psychiatrist

Banning of pesticides & ropes

Additionally, a set of state led policies are being enforced to decrease the high suicide rate among farmers of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

(The author is a Psychiatrist, consultant at Practo)

(IANSlife can be contacted at [emailprotected])

IANS

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Suicide Prevention: What Are the Warning Signs, Prevention measures? - Newsd.in

Physiology

News of the Weird | National | lagrandeobserver.com – La Grande Observer

Youre going to need a bigger boat a much bigger boat

BRISTOL, England Paleontologists with the University of Bristol, England, have unveiled the true size of the prehistoric mega-shark megalodon.

Today, the most fearsome living shark is the Great White. Adults can exceed 20 feet in length and bite with a force of two tons.

The University of Bristol in a press release Sept. 3 announced new research estimating the Great Whites fossil relative was more than twice that long and could bite with a force of 10 tons.

The massive predator and star of a share of B movies lived from 23 million to around three million years ago. The fossils of megalodon are mostly huge triangular cutting teeth bigger than a human hand.

Jack Cooper, who completed his masters courses in palaeobiology at the University of Bristols School of Earth Sciences, and colleagues made close comparisons to a diversity of living relatives with ecological and physiological similarities to megalodon, according to the press release, and used a number of mathematical methods to pin down the size and proportions of this monster.

Shark expert Dr. Catalina Pimiento from Swansea University and professor Mike Benton, a palaeontologist at Bristol, supervised the project. Professor Humberto Ferrn of Bristol also collaborated.

The journal Scientific Reports published the research.

I have always been mad about sharks, Cooper said in the press release. As an undergraduate, I have worked and dived with Great whites in South Africa protected by a steel cage of course. Its that sense of danger, but also that sharks are such beautiful and well-adapted animals, that makes them so attractive to study.

Megalodon, he continued, was actually the very animal that inspired me to pursue paleontology in the first place at just 6 years old.

Previously the fossil shark, known formally as Otodus megalodon, was compared with the Great White.

Cooper and his colleagues, for the first time, expanded this analysis to include five modern sharks. Pimiento said in the press release that megalodon is not a direct ancestor of the Great White but is equally related to makos, the salmon shark and porbeagle shark.

We pooled detailed measurements of all five to make predictions about megalodon, he said.

Benton explained the team first had to test whether these five modern sharks changed proportions as they grew to adulthood.

If, for example, they had been like humans, where babies have big heads and short legs, he said according to the press release, we would have had some difficulties in projecting the adult proportions for such a huge extinct shark.

He said they were surprised and relieved to discover the babies of all these modern predatory sharks start out as little adults and dont change in proportion as they get larger.

Cooper added this meant they could take the growth curves of the five modern forms and project the overall shape as they get larger and larger.

Right up to a body more than 52 feet long.

The results suggest at that size, Otodus megalodon likely had a head about 15 feet long, a dorsal fin approximately 5.3 feet tall and a tail almost 13 feet tall.

The reconstruction of the size of megalodon body parts represents a fundamental step towards a better understanding of the physiology of this giant, according to the press release, and the intrinsic factors that may have made it prone to extinction.

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News of the Weird | National | lagrandeobserver.com - La Grande Observer

Physiology

Want to study better? Just two minutes of exercise beforehand could help – KTVZ

If youre feeling a bit sluggish today, just two minutes of exercise could give your brain a boost, a new study shows.

Researchers from Jnkping University in Sweden analyzed a range of 13 studies into the effects of exercise on people aged 18-35 conducted by scientists between 2009 and 2019.

Writing in the journal Translational Sports Medicine last month, they concluded that between two minutes and one hour of aerobic exercise such as running, walking or cycling improves learning and memory functions in young adults.

Exercise at moderate to high intensity, even for just 120 seconds, they added, improved learning memory, planning and problem solving, concentration (and) verbal fluency, with the positive effect lasting up to two hours.

The researchers said there was a connection between exercise and learning ability, which suggests that exercising before you work or study could be beneficial though they said more research was needed to identify optimal exercise strategies.

This systematic review shows that aerobic, physical exercise before encoding improves learning and memory functions in young adults, the authors said.

Encoding, the researchers explained, is the first stage in the brains process of storing information to memory, and is the processing of the information phase.

This is not the first study to show the benefits of exercise for wellbeing.

A study of people with an average age of 66 published in the American Academy of Neurology journal in May found that regular exercise can increase thinking and verbal skills of older adults, too.

This is because increasing the heart rate through exercise pumps more oxygen-rich blood to the brain, stimulating the release of hormones that boost the production of new brain cells.

Even if you start an exercise program later in life, the benefit to your brain may be immense, study author Marc Poulin, an exercise physiology and nutrition professor at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, told CNN at the time.

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Want to study better? Just two minutes of exercise beforehand could help - KTVZ

Physiology

Research Antibodies Market: Report Analysis Global Market Revenue and Share by Manufacturers Boosting the Healthcare Industry Worldwide – Owned

The global research antibodies market is anticipated to rise at a notable pace over the forecast period. Antibodies display exceptional physiological properties that make them sought-after for cell research.

Antibodies display other properties too. As they have the ability to attach to specific molecules, this enables specific molecules to be isolated for research. Hence, this makes for a key factor for continual research to examine the physiology and anatomy of antibodies.

The report serves to identify prevailing growth trends based on which projections made. The report constitutes most relevant data pertaining to comprehend the growth dynamics of research antibodies market. Geographical distribution of the research antibodies market and an analysis of the competitive structure are highlights of the report.

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Global Research Antibodies Witness Most Promising Rise in Demand

Currently, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies are undertaking extensive R&D activities to introduce novel products. These pursuits involve widespread use of antibodies because of their exceptional physiological properties. Therefore, research on antibodies receives a boost for their use in secondary cell research.

At present, stem cell research is finding keen interest of researchers and geneticists. Several studies support the efficacy of stem cell for blood cancers, blood and bone marrow diseases, immune disorders. Lately, stem cells from the umbilical cord and stem cells from the blood stream have been used to treat rare blood related diseases. Due to the dependency an antibodies for stem cell research, researchers are involved to isolate different antibodies molecules. This is aiding growth of research antibodies market.

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The study offers an in-depth assessment of various customers journeys pertinent to the market and its segments. It offers various customer impressions about the products and service use. The analysis takes a closer look at their pain points and fears across various customer touch points. The consultation and business intelligence solutions will help interested stakeholders, including CXOs, define customer experience maps tailored to their needs. This will help them aim at boosting customer engagement with their brands.

Key Players of Research Antibodies Report:

Prominent players in the global research antibodies market include Abcam plc, Agilent Technologies, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

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Research Antibodies Market: Report Analysis Global Market Revenue and Share by Manufacturers Boosting the Healthcare Industry Worldwide - Owned

Physiology

The benefits of using organic beauty – Marie Claire UK

If you're serious about shopping sustainably and ethically, look for the Soil Association COSMOS Organic logo

Did you know there is no legislation in place to monitor the use of the word organic within the beauty industry? Thats why opting for Organic Certification is so important. Heres how.

The insatiable demand for beauty products comes with a major environmental impact, with as much as 70% of plastic waste generated by the industry not being recycled and ending up in landfill.

The way forward is clearly to overhaul the way we package and produce, namely by implementing alternatives to plastic packaging, by establishing responsible recycling schemes, and by making sustainably sourced and organic ingredients the norm. There is firm evidence that consumers are appreciating this shift towards more eco-responsible practises much more right now too.

The good news is that even small changes would make a major positive impact on the environment.For Organic Beauty and Wellbeing Week the Soil Association is urging consumers to make One Small Swap by switching non-organic beauty and wellbeing products to certified organic because these products have followed strict sustainability requirements and will make a world of difference.

Choose organic sanitary care. Natracare are fully committed to making eco-friendly products with zero-waste manufacturing using green energy. The goal for them is to reduce plastic footprint with biodegradable menstrual products by using natural materialsand 100% certified organic cottonso unlike conventional brands, they wont be polluting the earth for the next 500 years.

Another brand doing sustainability thoroughly is Hoama. The founder Enis Anteplioglu believes that preservatives are avoidable and most of the time harmful to ecosystems so has innovated by using bio-phytonic science violet coloured glass bottle technology that helps protect the ingredients.Antelplioglu also supports sustainability through use of ingredients so opts for organic, without any herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, petroleum waxes, and a complete ban on unsustainable ingredients like sandalwood and any plants about to go extinct.

Theres still work to be done, but the industry support for sustainability, with companies like brands Natracare and Hoama, is encouraging, and we hope that more will follow suit and fast.

Beauty is adapting. As weturn to nature for its wellbeing benefits and climate change continues to take devastating turns, there has been a shift towards natural and organic ingredientswhen it comes to skincare and cosmetics and that echoes the clean eating movement in how its driving trends.

Two brands that have helped consumers make their first step into greener living very successfully are Indie Lee and Garniers Organic Range.

Starting her journey with the organic food movement, founder Indie Lee began thinking about the bigger picture and started her mission to create a beauty line that was safe and effective, while educating and empowering others about what they were putting on their skin. Knowing the power that real food has on the healing effect internally, sourcing ingredients from mother nature for skincare became increasingly more important. Additionally, using green chemistry and that science to amplify the potential of their ingredients means you no longer have to sacrifice efficiency when using ingredients that are from nature. For example, they are now able to find peptides and ceramides that are plant-derived. As this green technology evolves organic companies can impact the effectiveness.

Shes also concerned about the environment, rightly sayingthat this is the only earth we have and we can no longer turn a blind eye to the pesticides and herbicides are contaminating our soil and water systems.

In terms of Garniers Organic Range they are big believers that organic farming helps create a healthy living soil that is more resistant to drought, floods and consequently the impacts of climate change. Soil is a non-renewable resource; its preservation is essential for food security and our sustainable future. Organic production enhances soil life, natural soil fertility and water quality.

The organic formulators at Garnier are using ingredients (such as hemp in their new Skincare Restoring Range for stressed skin) that have stood the test of time and are proven to deliver results. When it comes to better skin, it makes sense to turn to nature for solutions.

Look for the Cosmos Organic logo and youll be helping to support the farmers and producers who work hard to grow our ingredients and look after our land for generations to come. By making One Small Swap to a certified organicproduct you can make a world of difference. Look out for the logo.

The benefits of holistic wellbeing includes doing our best to live a healthy lifestyles while doing our bit to take care of the environment.

First, there are scientific benefits to spending more time in nature such as reduction in anxiety and stress. Eating food as close to its natural state as possible, eating organically and shopping at local farmers markets to help reduce greenhouse gasses.

Holistic wellbeing bleeds out into beauty routines too:79% of people say that are more likely to buy a beauty product if it says organic.However, products may claim to be organic but, unlike organic food and drink businesses, beauty brands are not legally obligated to be certified and can claim to be organic even if they contain just 1% organic ingredients. Soil Association Certification means those products must contain 95% organic ingredients so look out for their logo on the packaging.

An intriguing element of holistic wellbeing is the mind-body connection, and a deeper understanding of the 360 experience of being human is integral to the founder of Pinks Boutique, Kirstie Sherriffs approach. She believes that you are not going to be able to fix your skin without changing negative thought patterns or sorting gut health. She is also adamant about the huge benefits of tackling stress, which on a physiological level dumps cortisol in the body, ups inflammation, and makes absorbing goodness from food harder.

Keeping an eye on holistic health includes making love, so when purchasing a lubricant, its important to consider what youre putting on your skin. Choosing to use products like YES that are organic and natural, are designed to match our bodies physiology to match the vaginal pH decreasing the risk of infection. Their natural ingredients including aloe vera, flax seed, cocoa butter, shea butter and calendula oil, whereas, non-organic sexual health products often contain parabens, glycerine, hormones and other known skin irritants such as glycols.

This is not a trend, its a way of life with increasing proof that living this way can increase energy, enhance wellbeing and help us to look healthier and more vibrant.

Original post:
The benefits of using organic beauty - Marie Claire UK

Anatomy

Unique anatomy helps the African wild dog sustain its life on the run – Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The African wild dog distinguishes itself from rival predators like lions and hyenas by using the unique hunting style of chasing prey over long distances until the target collapses from exhaustion, instead of relying upon speed, strength or stealth.

FILE PHOTO: Critically endangered African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) hunt a Bush buck in the Mana Pools National Park, a World Heritage Site, in northern Zimbabwe November 7, 2009. REUTERS/Howard Burditt/File Photo

A comprehensive new anatomical study of this endangered species, also known as the African painted dog or Cape hunting dog, has identified crucial evolutionary adaptations for endurance running in the animals forelimb bones, muscles and ligaments that help sustain its life on the run.

Close-knit nomadic packs of 20 to 30 African wild dogs, native to southern and eastern Africa, hunt prey including antelopes such as impalas, gazelles and kudus using complex coordinated strategies, often traveling up to 30 miles (50 kilometers) daily.

Using their technique called exhaustive predation, they have been documented running 40 mph (64 kph) for up to an hour chasing prey.

Theyre very effective hunters with up to 60% of hunts ending in successful kills, which is higher than lions, at 30%, and hyenas, at 25-30%, said anatomist Heather Smith of Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, who led the research published this week in the journal PeerJ.

These dogs are the only canid - the group spanning dogs, wolves, foxes and related animals - with only four full digits on the front paws. Having only four full toes facilities increased speed and stride length.

But the researchers, using CT-scans and dissection of an African wild dog that died of natural causes at a zoo, discovered a diminutive vestigial first digit underneath the skin of the forepaw. The muscles associated with this digit have been reconfigured and repurposed, assisting with proprioception - the bodys perception of its position and movement.

The researchers also discovered expansions in limb muscles that contain lots of slow-twitch fibers resistant to fatigue and identified a forepaw ligament that may act like a spring to propel the dogs forward. They also observed a reduction in muscles that normally act to rotate the wrist and forearm, illustrating an increased demand for stability.

These dogs are built for stamina, unlike rival predators that use bursts of speed (cheetahs), strength (lions) and stealth (leopards).

However, African wild dogs sometimes lose their kills to these larger, more aggressive carnivores, Smith said.

Reporting by Will Dunham; Editing by Sandra Maler

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Unique anatomy helps the African wild dog sustain its life on the run - Reuters

Anatomy

African wild dogs unique anatomy helps sustain its life on the run – Hindustan Times

The African wild dog distinguishes itself from rival predators like lions and hyenas by using the unique hunting style of chasing prey over long distances until the target collapses from exhaustion, instead of relying upon speed, strength or stealth.

A comprehensive new anatomical study of this endangered species, also known as the African painted dog or Cape hunting dog, has identified crucial evolutionary adaptations for endurance running in the animals forelimb bones, muscles and ligaments that help sustain its life on the run.

Close-knit nomadic packs of 20 to 30 African wild dogs, native to southern and eastern Africa, hunt prey including antelopes such as impalas, gazelles and kudus using complex coordinated strategies, often traveling up to 30 miles (50 kilometers) daily.

Using their technique called exhaustive predation, they have been documented running 40 mph (64 kph) for up to an hour chasing prey.

Theyre very effective hunters with up to 60% of hunts ending in successful kills, which is higher than lions, at 30%, and hyenas, at 25-30%, said anatomist Heather Smith of Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, who led the research published this week in the journal PeerJ.

These dogs are the only canid - the group spanning dogs, wolves, foxes and related animals - with only four full digits on the front paws. Having only four full toes facilities increased speed and stride length.

But the researchers, using CT-scans and dissection of an African wild dog that died of natural causes at a zoo, discovered a diminutive vestigial first digit underneath the skin of the forepaw. The muscles associated with this digit have been reconfigured and repurposed, assisting with proprioception - the bodys perception of its position and movement.

The researchers also discovered expansions in limb muscles that contain lots of slow-twitch fibers resistant to fatigue and identified a forepaw ligament that may act like a spring to propel the dogs forward. They also observed a reduction in muscles that normally act to rotate the wrist and forearm, illustrating an increased demand for stability.

These dogs are built for stamina, unlike rival predators that use bursts of speed (cheetahs), strength (lions) and stealth (leopards).

However, African wild dogs sometimes lose their kills to these larger, more aggressive carnivores, Smith said.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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African wild dogs unique anatomy helps sustain its life on the run - Hindustan Times

Anatomy

Anatomy of a joyless Leftist – Must Read Alaska

By DAN FAGAN

Those who view America as a vile racist and oppressive nation are not interested in hearing otherwise. Challenge them. Go ahead and try. Youll see what I mean.

They demand you see it their way. If you dont? You become the problem. You become racist and oppressor.

Its an arrogant posture. Agree or youre evil. But thats how the cultural Marxists roll. Theyre opinion tyrants. And if they gain power, they become more than opinion tyrants, they become full-blown tyrants.

Kimberly Wallers an opinion tyrant. She works in the nonprofit sector and is currently director of Sultana, the Foraker Groups fiscal sponsorship program. According to Wallers LinkedIn page, shes also the CEO of an organization, Womens Power League of Alaska.

She posted a 1,752 worded open angry letter to me on her Facebook page on Wednesday. Waller didnt like my recent Must Read Alaska column: Saying America is systemically racist is a destructive lie.

My column challenged the take of most speakers at the March on Anchorage Labor Day rally at Townsquare. One after another made the case that Alaska is a deeply racist state. I disagree.

Your claim that racism fundamentally doesnt exist in our state is an area in which I simply must enlighten you, wrote Waller.

The most common denominator among social justice warriors is the confidence they hold in their beliefs. They own the truth. If youre lucky, theyll enlighten you. But dont ask questions or challenge their ideas in any way. Just listen, accept their truth. Otherwise, youre a racist.

Yourpiece was so over the top that I had to take the time out of my night to share a few truths with you. Yes, truth! I know you are one who believes in the concept, wrote Waller.

I do believe in truth and its my contention the truth is America is not the deeply racist country Waller and her fellow social justice warriors claim it is.

You attacked the speakers, who in your words complained repeatedly about Americas embedded systematic and structural racism. Sharing = complaining for you? wrote Waller.

She then goes onto complain about the widespread racism in Alaska.

Racism lives on running trails, on playgrounds, in schools, in downtown Anchorage, in the MatSu, online, in our damn private driveways, on the job right here in the beautiful state I call home, wrote Waller.

Waller also challenged my belief the only way to reach true equality where all have the same is to redistribute wealth, take away freedom, reward bad decisions and punish good ones.

You show your true face, writing equality for allis impossible without stripping us of our freedoms. Who is us? Are you speaking in code? You should know, we (aka other) can read code, wrote Waller.

And there it is. The accusation you knew was coming. Challenging Marxist wealth redistribution is a racist act in and of itself. But its undeniable different decisions produce different results leading to inequality. Good decisions good consequences. Bad decisions bad consequences.

Are you saying only wealthy (do you really want to say white??) people make good choices and have rightly acquired their fortune through all of their good choices? wrote Waller.

And theres the racist under every bush prism in full display that typically drives social justice warriors like Waller.

Waller received glowing reviews from her followers praising her for having the courage to write such a thing. The bubble Waller lives in was secure as she enjoyed accolades from her like-minded Leftists.

But then I shared her open letter Facebook post on my page with the caption: Thoughts.. Some took issue with Waller. Social justice warriors dont cope well with resistance.

Dan youre soliciting thoughts in regard to this? Do you have your own thoughts, formulated on your own? posted Waller.

As the day rolled on Waller grew increasingly impatient with my lack of response to her open letter.

Dan Fagan youre a coward hiding behind your computer, from a land far far away, sending random folks from your page to mine to post hate / conspiracies. You need backup? Do you need a lifeline? Arent you a writer, a journalist? You have your First Amendment rights but your words dont come without a consequence. How does someone like You, residing in New Orleans, as Im told, come to have a platform where youre marginalizing the very feelings experiences of ALASKANS?! How do you feel its in any way conducive to the art of your craft (using craft loosely) to report so negatively and with such ease on an event in which you were not present, and target the peaceful people who were there but leave out the fact that those same people were subject to intimidation for gatherings peacefully. WITH THEIR CHILDREN. Is this world were supposed to just swallow and accept. How can you justify? You cannot! And neither can your employer. Youre sharing news which is inaccurate, hurtful and wildly biased about a place you dont even live. Do you have children? Do you care? Enjoy your paycheck hope its worth it, wrote Waller.

Such is the life of an enlightened, joyless, angry leftist, full of rage, indignation, judgment, and utter contempt for anyone willing to challenge their view that America is a deeply racist nation.

The woke mob will settle for nothing less than silence, compliance, and obedience. Its why theyre winning. People are afraid to stand up to them, challenge their rhetoric.

Its time to stop being intimidated.

Dan Fagan hosts the number one rated morning drive radio show, weekdays between 5:30 to 8 am on Newsradio 650 KENI. He splits his time between Anchorage and New Orleans.

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Anatomy of a joyless Leftist - Must Read Alaska

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Anatomy of a Late-Round Wide Receiver Breakout – Dynasty League Football

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Anatomy of a Late-Round Wide Receiver Breakout - Dynasty League Football