Nature Methods,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
18(12), P. 1532 - 1541
Published: Nov. 4, 2021
Abstract
Imaging
intact
human
organs
from
the
organ
to
cellular
scale
in
three
dimensions
is
a
goal
of
biomedical
imaging.
To
meet
this
challenge,
we
developed
hierarchical
phase-contrast
tomography
(HiP-CT),
an
X-ray
phase
propagation
technique
using
European
Synchrotron
Radiation
Facility
(ESRF)’s
Extremely
Brilliant
Source
(EBS).
The
spatial
coherence
ESRF-EBS
combined
with
our
beamline
equipment,
sample
preparation
and
scanning
developments
enabled
us
perform
non-destructive,
three-dimensional
(3D)
scans
hierarchically
increasing
resolution
at
any
location
whole
organs.
We
applied
HiP-CT
image
five
types:
brain,
lung,
heart,
kidney
spleen.
provided
structural
overview
each
followed
by
multiple
higher-resolution
volumes
interest,
capturing
organotypic
functional
units
certain
individual
specialized
cells
within
demonstrate
potential
applications
through
quantification
morphometry
glomeruli
identification
regional
changes
tissue
architecture
lung
deceased
donor
coronavirus
disease
2019
(COVID-19).
Royal Society Open Science,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
12(1)
Published: Jan. 1, 2025
Millerettidae
are
a
group
of
superficially
lizard-like
Permian
stem
reptiles
originally
hypothesized
as
relevant
to
the
ancestry
reptile
crown
group,
and
particularly
lepidosaurs
archosaurs.
Since
advent
cladistics,
millerettids
have
typically
been
considered
be
more
distant
relatives
earliest-diverging
parareptiles
therefore
outside
‘Eureptilia’.
Despite
this
cladistic
consensus,
some
conspicuous
features
millerettid
anatomy
invite
reconsideration
their
relationships.
We
provide
detailed
description
late
Milleropsis
pricei
using
synchrotron
X-ray
phase-contrast
micro-computed
tomography
focusing
on
cranial
three
individuals
known
from
burrow
aggregation.
Our
data
reveal
suite
neuroanatomical
shares
with
neodiapsids
that
absent
both
in
other
‘parareptiles’
early
diverging
groups
‘eureptiles’.
Traits
shared
between
include:
presence
tympanic
emargination
quadrate,
quadratojugal
squamosal,
loss
epipterygoid
contribution
basicranial
articulation
suggesting
kinetic
palatoquadrate,
absence
sphenethmoid
pathway
abducens
nerve
through
braincase.
findings
suggest
neurocranium,
region
poorly
sampled
phylogenetic
analyses
due
relative
visual
inaccessibility
poor
preservation,
has
potential
inform
relationships
reptiles.
Current Biology,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
30(20), P. 4033 - 4046.e8
Published: Aug. 6, 2020
Uncertainties
in
the
phylogeny
of
birds
(Avialae)
and
their
closest
relatives
have
impeded
deeper
understanding
early
theropod
flight.
To
help
address
this,
we
produced
an
updated
evolutionary
hypothesis
through
automated
analysis
Theropod
Working
Group
(TWiG)
coelurosaurian
phylogenetic
data
matrix.
Our
larger,
more
resolved,
better-evaluated
TWiG-based
supports
grouping
dromaeosaurids
+
troodontids
(Deinonychosauria)
as
sister
taxon
to
(Paraves)
recovery
Anchiornithinae
earliest
diverging
birds.
Although
will
continue
developing,
our
current
results
provide
a
pertinent
opportunity
evaluate
what
know
about
With
available
for
vaned
feathered
pennaraptorans,
estimate
potential
powered
flight
among
relatives.
We
did
this
by
using
ancestral
state
reconstruction
calculating
maximum
minimum
estimates
two
proxies
potential-wing
loading
specific
lift.
These
confirm
but
its
rarity
ancestors
avialan
(select
unenlagiine
microraptorine
dromaeosaurids).
For
first
time,
find
broad
range
these
neared
wing
lift
thresholds
indicative
potential.
This
suggests
there
was
greater
experimentation
with
wing-assisted
locomotion
before
evolved
than
previously
appreciated.
study
adds
invaluable
support
multiple
origins
theropods
(≥3
times),
which
now
from
already
nearing
associated
thresholds,
provides
framework
further
study.
VIDEO
ABSTRACT.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
12(1)
Published: June 29, 2021
The
question
why
non-avian
dinosaurs
went
extinct
66
million
years
ago
(Ma)
remains
unresolved
because
of
the
coarseness
fossil
record.
A
sudden
extinction
caused
by
an
asteroid
is
most
accepted
hypothesis
but
it
debated
whether
were
in
decline
or
not
before
impact.
We
analyse
speciation-extinction
dynamics
for
six
key
dinosaur
families,
and
find
a
across
dinosaurs,
where
diversification
shifted
to
declining-diversity
pattern
~76
Ma.
investigate
influence
ecological
physical
factors,
that
was
likely
driven
global
climate
cooling
herbivorous
diversity
drop.
latter
due
hadrosaurs
outcompeting
other
herbivores.
also
estimate
risk
related
species
age
during
decline,
suggesting
lack
evolutionary
novelty
adaptation
changing
environments.
These
results
support
environmentally
well
PeerJ,
Journal Year:
2019,
Volume and Issue:
7, P. e7247 - e7247
Published: July 10, 2019
The
last
two
decades
have
seen
a
remarkable
increase
in
the
known
diversity
of
basal
avialans
and
their
paravian
relatives.
lack
resolution
relationships
these
groups
combined
with
attributing
behavior
specialized
taxa
to
base
Paraves
has
clouded
interpretations
origin
avialan
flight.
Here,
we
describe
Hesperornithoides
miessleri
gen.
et
sp.
nov.,
new
theropod
from
Morrison
Formation
(Late
Jurassic)
Wyoming,
USA,
represented
by
single
adult
or
subadult
specimen
comprising
partial,
well-preserved
skull
postcranial
skeleton.
Limb
proportions
firmly
establish
as
occupying
terrestrial,
non-volant
lifestyle.
Our
phylogenetic
analysis
emphasizes
extensive
taxonomic
sampling
robust
character
construction,
recovering
taxon
most
parsimoniously
troodontid
close
Daliansaurus
,
Xixiasaurus
Sinusonasus
.
Multiple
alternative
topologies
similar
degrees
support,
but
proposals
archaeopterygids,
microraptorians,
Rahonavis
being
closer
Pygostylia
than
archaeopterygids
unenlagiines
are
strongly
rejected.
All
parsimonious
results
support
hypothesis
that
each
early
clade
was
plesiomorphically
flightless,
raising
possibility
avian
flight
originated
late
Late
Jurassic
Early
Cretaceous.
