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Fulltext Enhanced weight-based clustering algorithm to provide reliable delivery for VANET safety applications

Bello Tambawal A, Md Noor R, Salleh R, Chembe C, Oche M

PLoS One, 2019;14(4):e0214664.
PMID: 30946766 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214664

A vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) is an emerging and promising wireless technology aimed to improve traffic safety and provide comfort to road users. However, the high mobility of vehicles and frequent topology changes pose a considerable challenge to the reliable delivery of safety applications. Clustering is one of the control techniques used in VANET to make the frequent topology changes less dynamic. Nevertheless, research has shown that most of the existing clustering algorithms focus on cluster head (CH) election with very few addressing other critical issues such as cluster formation and maintenance. This has led to unstable clusters which could affect the timely delivery of safety applications. In this study, enhanced weight-based clustering algorithm (EWCA) was developed to address these challenges. We considered any vehicle moving on the same road segment with the same road ID and within the transmission range of its neighbour to be suitable for the cluster formation process. This was attributed to the fact that all safety messages are expected to be shared among the vehicles within the vicinity irrespective of their relative speedto avoid any hazardous situation. To elect a CH, we identified some metrics on the basis of the vehicle mobility information. Each vehicle was associated with a predefined weight value based on its relevance. A vehicle with the highest weight value was elected as the primary cluster head (PCH). We also introduced a secondary cluster head (SeCH) as a backup to the PCH to improve the cluster stability. SeCH took over the leadership whenever the PCH was not suitable for continuing with the leadership. The simulation results of the proposed approach showed a better performance with an increase of approximately40%- 45% in the cluster stability when compared with the existing approaches. Similarly, cluster formation messages were significantly minimized, hence reducing the communication overhead to the system and improving the reliable delivery of the safety applications.

Matched MeSH terms: Computer Communication Networks
Using Non-Professional Interpreters in a Multiethnic Primary Care Clinic

Fredericks C

In multiethnic countries such as Malaysia more than six different languages are spoken by patients in publicly-funded clinics. Sometimes doctors are unable to speak the patient's language and there are no professional interpreters. Research on doctor-patient communication has rarely included the language variable and its impact on information exchange and patient outcome in consultations where the doctor does not speak the patient's language. The few studies carried out in linguistically plural societies show that doctors and patients can face language barriers and trained interpreters are not always available. This paper illustrates some of the problems of using untrained interpreters in a primary care setting. Consultations were audiotaped and the transcripts were used to show how messages underwent distortion, condensation, and omission in interpreter-mediated consultations. Research needs to be carried out based on a model of doctor-patient communication which reflects the realities of the multilingual consultation.

Matched MeSH terms: Communication
Standardization of Nomenclature for Ocular Tuberculosis - Results of Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS) Workshop

Agrawal R, Agarwal A, Jabs DA, Kee A, Testi I, Mahajan S, et al.

Ocul Immunol Inflamm, 2019 Dec 10.
PMID: 31821096 DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2019.1653933

Purpose: To standardize a nomenclature system for defining clinical phenotypes, and outcome measures for reporting clinical and research data in patients with ocular tuberculosis (OTB).Methods: Uveitis experts initially administered and further deliberated the survey in an open meeting to determine and propose the preferred nomenclature for terms related to the OTB, terms describing the clinical phenotypes and treatment and reporting outcomes.Results: The group of experts reached a consensus on terming uveitis attributable to tuberculosis (TB) as tubercular uveitis. The working group introduced a SUN-compatible nomenclature that also defines disease "remission" and "cure", both of which are relevant for reporting treatment outcomes.Conclusion: A consensus nomenclature system has been adopted by a large group of international uveitis experts for OTB. The working group recommends the use of standardized nomenclature to prevent ambiguity in communication and to achieve the goal of spreading awareness of this blinding uveitis entity.

Matched MeSH terms: Communication
Calculating carbon emissions from personal travelling: insights from a top-down analysis of key calculators

Bekaroo G, Roopowa D, Zakari A, Niemeier D

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2021 Feb;28(7):8853-8872.
PMID: 33078355 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11179-z

Personal travelling unfavourably contributes to the emissions of greenhouse gases, which adversely causes long-term damage to the climate. In order to reduce the associated negative impacts of such activities on the environment, there is a wide consensus that enhancements and innovations in the efficiency of vehicles will not be enough, but behavioural changes are needed. For this, individuals should be able to measure their travel-related carbon emissions, and such emissions could be determined by using personal carbon footprint calculators, which proliferated during the previous decade. However, various research questions related to such calculators are yet to be answered in published literature. As such, this paper investigates how key transport-based calculators account for emissions from personal transport-related activities following a top-down analysis. In this endeavour, ten such calculators are investigated through a set of formulated research questions to analyse their scope, calculation approach used, transparency, consistency of results, communication methods utilized and platform differences. Results revealed that the calculators have varying granularity, have limited transparency, provide significantly inconsistent results in some cases and are not fully engaging end users. Based on limitations identified, recommendations have been proposed through a taxonomy to guide policy-makers towards improving such tools.

Matched MeSH terms: Communication
Fulltext Employer roles and responsibilities in occupational safety and health (OSH) implementation in Malaysia

Mohd Esa Baruji, Sudin, Sham Xahary, Siti Zainatul Arafah, Nuraida Waslee, Siti Nasyrah Ibrahim, Nur Hidayana Abdullah, et al.

Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 2018;15(1):49-55.
MyJurnal

communication, full compliance and good behavior) as among the crucial elements required to be possessed by the principal employers in three sectors, namely manufacturing, public services and construction. In relation to this, this paper will describe the development and validation of instruments prior to the measurement of principal employers’ roles and responsibilities in the implementation of OSH. Three assessment tools were developed, namely the Benchmarking Interview, Questionnaire and Workplace Inspection. Fifteen companies were selected for the benchmarking interview, 50 employers conveniently selected for the survey interview (covering three sectors) and 90 employers selected for the workplace inspection (30 respondents for each sector). The development of benchmarking interview and workplace inspection scores are briefly discussed while the main focus is on the validation of the survey constructs (or items). The reliability check on 53 items representing four elements (i.e., Commitment, Communication, Compliance, Behaviour) of employers’ roles and responsibilities in the implementation of OSH showed that the Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient is more than 0.90 which indicates that the internal consistency is extremely reliable. It also indicates that the set of items in each element are closely related and well understood by the respondents. Validity check on the items based on the Rasch measurement infit and outfit mean square statistics and standardized z-score found that nine items had misfitting values and finally corrected for further analysis. This study had shown that a valid and reliable instruments are important in ensuring that accurate and precise findings are obtained in measuring the roles and responsibilities of principal employer in the implementation of OSH.

Matched MeSH terms: Communication
Breaking News of Cancer Diagnosis: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences and Emotional Needs of Patients With Cancer in a Multiethnic Asian Setting

Wong LP, Kong YC, Bhoo-Pathy NT, Subramaniam S, Bustamam RS, Taib NA, et al.

JCO Oncol Pract, 2021 04;17(4):e548-e555.
PMID: 32986532 DOI: 10.1200/JOP.20.00002

PURPOSE: The breaking of news of a cancer diagnosis is an important milestone in a patient's cancer journey. We explored the emotional experiences of patients with cancer during the breaking of news of a cancer diagnosis and the arising needs in a multiethnic Asian setting with limited supportive cancer care services.
METHODS: Twenty focus group discussions were conducted with 102 Asian patients with cancer from diverse sociodemographic backgrounds. Thematic analysis was performed.
RESULTS: While most participants, especially younger patients with young children, experienced intense emotional distress upon receiving a cancer diagnosis, those with a family history of cancer were relatively calm and resigned. Nonetheless, the prior negative experience with cancer in the family made affected participants with a family history less eager to seek cancer treatment and less hopeful for a cure. Although a majority viewed the presence of family members during the breaking of bad news as important, a minority opted to face it alone to lessen the emotional impact on their family members. Difficulties disclosing the news of a cancer diagnosis to loved ones also emerged as an important need. Sensitive and empathetic patient-physician communication during the breaking of news of a cancer diagnosis was stressed as paramount.
CONCLUSION: A patient-centered communication approach needs to be developed to reduce the emotional distress to patients and their families after the breaking of bad news of a cancer diagnosis. This is expected to positively affect the patients' subsequent coping skills and attitudes toward cancer, which may improve adherence to cancer therapy.

Matched MeSH terms: Communication
Role of the CXCR4-SDF1-HMGB1 pathway in the directional migration of cells and regeneration of affected organs

Haque N, Fareez IM, Fong LF, Mandal C, Abu Kasim NH, Kacharaju KR, et al.

World J Stem Cells, 2020 Sep 26;12(9):938-951.
PMID: 33033556 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v12.i9.938

In recent years, several studies have reported positive outcomes of cell-based therapies despite insufficient engraftment of transplanted cells. These findings have created a huge interest in the regenerative potential of paracrine factors released from transplanted stem or progenitor cells. Interestingly, this notion has also led scientists to question the role of proteins in the secretome produced by cells, tissues or organisms under certain conditions or at a particular time of regenerative therapy. Further studies have revealed that the secretomes derived from different cell types contain paracrine factors that could help to prevent apoptosis and induce proliferation of cells residing within the tissues of affected organs. This could also facilitate the migration of immune, progenitor and stem cells within the body to the site of inflammation. Of these different paracrine factors present within the secretome, researchers have given proper consideration to stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF1) that plays a vital role in tissue-specific migration of the cells needed for regeneration. Recently researchers recognized that SDF1 could facilitate site-specific migration of cells by regulating SDF1-CXCR4 and/or HMGB1-SDF1-CXCR4 pathways which is vital for tissue regeneration. Hence in this study, we have attempted to describe the role of different types of cells within the body in facilitating regeneration while emphasizing the HMGB1-SDF1-CXCR4 pathway that orchestrates the migration of cells to the site where regeneration is needed.

Matched MeSH terms: Paracrine Communication
Fulltext Nurturing sexual orientation among children

Nor Sheereen Zulkerfly

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(104):5-5.
MyJurnal

Sexual orientation other than heterosexuality is believed to be unnatural, sinful and dangerous in a country like Malaysia that is steadfast in religion and culture. Children sexual orientation has subsequently been a sensitive, challenging, and frightening topic for parents. Past studies have documented the role of nature and nurture in the development of social orientation. Although preliminary studies have found genetic to be a significant factor, it was inconclusive if it was the only factor in determining sexual orientation. Hence, this paper will highlight the role of parents in nurturing sexual orientation of children. Despite lack of studies in local and Western context, the few stud-ies available indicated that a secure attachment bond between parent and child is essential for healthy psychosexual and identity development. Additionally, this paper highlights the importance of communication, unconditional love and support between parent and child throughout the developmental stages leading to adulthood. Furthermore, this paper will briefly discuss possible treatment options for children with sexual orientation issues and its impact on chil-dren psychological health and well-being. This paper will conclude with suggestions on future research to further understand the development of sexual orientation in children.

Matched MeSH terms: Communication
Fulltext Television advertisement effectiveness in food industry among centennials

Intan Syafinaz Mat Shafie, Yuslina Liza Mohammad Yunus, Nur Izzah Jamil, Aini Hayati Musa

Journal of Academia Universiti Teknologi MARA Negeri Sembilan, 2019;7(101):82-90.
MyJurnal

Television (TV) advertisements have become one of the most powerful marketing tools in attracting their audience to become potential customers. They are widely used among food industry locally and also internationally. This study is conducted to identify the factors that contribute to an effective TV advertisement in food industry among centennials using predictive analysis. The aims of this study are to; 1) Identify significant factors; Attractive Visual, Persuasive Message and Repetition of Advertisement to the Effectiveness of TV advertisements in food industry. 2) Identify the most contribute significant factors; Attractive Visual, Persuasive Message and Repetition of Advertisement to the Effectiveness of TV advertisements in food industry. Thus, it was tested to 300 respondents in Shah Alam area using convenient sampling technique. Preliminary analysis included reliability analysis, checking for the correlation, multiple linear regression requirement and R-Square score. Correlation analysis shows that there was a significant positive linear relationship between attractive visuals, persuasive message and repetition of advertisements towards Effectiveness of TV advertisements in food industry. Among independent variables entered into the model, persuasive message (t=7.474, p-value=0.000

Matched MeSH terms: Persuasive Communication
Fulltext Assessment of practical science communication skills as a core competency of admission to undergraduate medical programmes: nationwide outcomes and associated factors

Nicholas Pang, Jiann Lin Loo, Yusuf Ibrahim, Pasupuleti Visweswara Rao, Fairrul Kadir, Mohd Saffree Jeffree

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(106):14-14.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Interprofessional scientific communication skills are an essential part of the medical profession. Mul-tiple research suggests poor interprofessional communication has direct correlations with poor patient outcomes. As part of the inaugural Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, a 5-minute station on science com-munication was introduced, assessed on three domains – logical thinking, communication skills, and general impres-sion. This station featured a panicky nurse calling a doctor to get them to calculate doses of a medication, using only upper primary school-level arithmetic and knowledge of ratios. Methods: 255 candidates, grouped into 3 separate geographical groups – Klang Valley, non-Klang Valley, and Borneo – participated in the MMI featuring a science communication station. Candidates were graded in the abovementioned three domains, and correlations were cal-culated between scores and various sociodemographic factors, with an objective written basic science test, and with overall scores. Also, quantitative analysis was done of the “red flag” comments for candidates deemed unsuitable for the practise of medicine. Results: The average scores for West Malaysia for logical thinking scores were higher than Borneo, with non-Klang Valley scores (4.1) significantly higher than Klang Valley (3.6). Communication scores were also significantly lower in Borneo compared to West Malaysia. General impression scores hence also showed a dis-crepancy between West Malaysian and Bornean scores. There were a total of 8 red flags, with reasons ranging from gross miscalculation with misplaced confidence, to nervous breakdowns while performing calculations. Conclusion: The present study showed that there is a distinct separation of science communication scores between geographic re-gions. Also it illustrates the yawning gap between academic knowledge and “translational” scientific knowledge. The results illustrate the need for medical curricula to boost resilience and translational computational skills in medical graduates who will be working in environments that demand usual abilities under unusual and trying circumstances.

Matched MeSH terms: Communication
A Bayesian-Inspired Item Response Theory-Based Framework to Produce Very Short Versions of MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories

Chai JH, Lo CH, Mayor J

J Speech Lang Hear Res, 2020 10 16;63(10):3488-3500.
PMID: 32897770 DOI: 10.1044/2020_JSLHR-20-00361

Purpose This study introduces a framework to produce very short versions of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDIs) by combining the Bayesian-inspired approach introduced by Mayor and Mani (2019) with an item response theory-based computerized adaptive testing that adapts to the ability of each child, in line with Makransky et al. (2016). Method We evaluated the performance of our approach-dynamically selecting maximally informative words from the CDI and combining parental response with prior vocabulary data-by conducting real-data simulations using four CDI versions having varying sample sizes on Wordbank-the online repository of digitalized CDIs: American English (a very large data set), Danish (a large data set), Beijing Mandarin (a medium-sized data set), and Italian (a small data set). Results Real-data simulations revealed that correlations exceeding .95 with full CDI administrations were reached with as few as 15 test items, with high levels of reliability, even when languages (e.g., Italian) possessed few digitalized administrations on Wordbank. Conclusions The current approach establishes a generic framework that produces very short (less than 20 items) adaptive early vocabulary assessments-hence considerably reducing their administration time. This approach appears to be robust even when CDIs have smaller samples in online repositories, for example, with around 50 samples per month-age.

Matched MeSH terms: Communication
Fulltext Prediction of hub genes of Alzheimer's disease using a protein interaction network and functional enrichment analysis

Wee JJ, Kumar S

Genomics Inform, 2020 Dec;18(4):e39.
PMID: 33412755 DOI: 10.5808/GI.2020.18.4.e39

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys affected individuals' memory and reasoning faculties, and consequently, their ability to perform the simplest tasks. This study investigated the hub genes of AD. Proteins interact with other proteins and non-protein molecules, and these interactions play an important role in understanding protein function. Computational methods are useful for understanding biological problems, in particular, network analyses of protein-protein interactions. Through a protein network analysis, we identified the following top 10 hub genes associated with AD: PTGER3, C3AR1, NPY, ADCY2, CXCL12, CCR5, MTNR1A, CNR2, GRM2, and CXCL8. Through gene enrichment, it was identified that most gene functions could be classified as integral to the plasma membrane, G-protein coupled receptor activity, and cell communication under gene ontology, as well as involvement in signal transduction pathways. Based on the convergent functional genomics ranking, the prioritized genes were NPY, CXCL12, CCR5, and CNR2.

Matched MeSH terms: Cell Communication
Cytocompatibility of Titanium Microsphere-Based Surfaces

Huang X, Shan L, Cheng K, Weng W

ACS Biomater Sci Eng, 2017 Dec 11;3(12):3254-3260.
PMID: 33445368 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00551

The topography at the micro/nanoscale level for biomaterial surfaces has been thought to play vital roles in their interactions with cells. However, discovering the interdisciplinary mechanisms underlying how cells respond to micro-nanostructured topography features still remains a challenge. In this work, ∼37 μm 3D printing used titanium microspheres and their further hierarchical micro-nanostructured spheres through hydrothermal treatment were adopted to construct typical model surface topographies to study the preosteoblastic cell responses (adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation). We here demonstrated that not only the hierarchical micro-nanostructured surface topography but also their distribution density played critical role on cell cytocompatibility. The microstructured topography feature surface with middle-density distributed titanium microspheres showed significantly enhanced cell responses, which might be attributed to the better cellular interaction due to the cell aggregates. However, the hierarchical micro-nanostructured topography surface, regardless of the distribution density of titanium microspheres, improved the cell-surface interactions because of the enhanced initial protein adsorption, thereby reducing the cell aggregates and consequently their responses. This work, therefore, provides new insights into the fundamental understanding of cell-material interactions and will have a profound impact on further designing micro-nanostructured topography surfaces to control cell responses.

Matched MeSH terms: Cell Communication
Performance measures of strategic university-industry collaborations in Malaysia: dyadic multicases approach

Chong, Aik Lee, Sakaria Abas, Yee, Angelina Seow Voon

CREAM : Current Research in Malaysia (Penyelidikan Terkini di Malaysia), 2013;2(1):5-24.
MyJurnal

Collaboration without performance measures is likened to a football game without a scoreboard. Traditionally, universities have operated in isolation industry and vice versa. University and industry were formed with different agenda and objectives. Fundamentally, a university is a nonprofit oriented organisation while industry is profit oriented. However, industrialisation and egalitarian awakening in the early 20'" century gradually brought university and industry together. Currently, university and industry are increasingly seeking avenues to collaborate strategically. Nevertheless, 50% to 70% of collaborative efforts fail prematurely due to the lack of performance measures. In light of that, there is a need to search for a set of holistic performance measures. Therefore, this study is undertaken to determine the performance measures of strategic university industry collaborations in Malaysia using dyadic multicases approach. The researcher analyses multiple cases from the perspectives of university and industry within a bounded system via qualitative research methodology. Interviews respondents were from university and industry. From the 68 interviews conducted, university and industry respondents shared their experiences on the need for performance measures to include trust, commitment, enterprise, communication, complementary, flexibility, commercialisation and resources on top of conventional performance measures like agreed objectives, timelines, financial indicators and reporting. With that, a set of holistic performance measures is established from interviews. The main contributions of the research findings are: (i) to policy-making for the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia; and (ii) to the body of knowledge in investigating the performance measures in satisfactory performance of strategic university-industry collaboration.

Matched MeSH terms: Communication
Fulltext Revitalizing community and family case study (CFCS) programme

Fahisham Taib, Nik Mohd Rizal Mohd Fakri

Education in Medicine Journal, 2014;6(3):46-50.
MyJurnal

Community and family case study (CFCS) is a community based educational (CBE) programme commenced in 1980 at School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. It serves to help and resolve health needs of the individual patients, family and their community. This will help to develop generic skills such as organization, communication and problem solving in relation to local norms, beliefs and socio-cultural influences. Students should have good awareness, sensitivity and empathic response based on health needs and environment that they are living in. Knowledge, skills, attitudes, emotions and values are repeatedly exposed to inculcate optimal learning environment with the community, as well as triggered response by the student to give back to the community by volunteerism. CFCS activism can be revitalized within the individual and group context. This can be achieved by multi-dimensional learning, collaborative effort, effective leadership and supervision, creative programme initiation, effectual research activities and sustainable service to the community. It is hopeful with active community engagement, life experiences learning process, self-directed and reflective learning, students are able to acquire refined attributes such as skills, behaviour, knowledge and attitudes, towards successful personal growth and advancement.

Matched MeSH terms: Communication
Fulltext Interpersonal touch: the lost art of mankind - a review

Choy, H.H., Khalib, A.L.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2013;13(1):48-58.
MyJurnal

Surprisingly little was known about the importance of touch in life which was placed at a lower emphasis than the rest-namely visual, auditory, olfactory sense and etc. This writing aimed to decipher the significances of interpersonal touch, its culture, practices, barriers and challenges, which were then conveyed to the public as a form of health promotion. Methodology includes narrative review where the suitable literatures used were searched using ScienceDirect database under the keywords of “Interpersonal Touch”, “Oxytocin” and “Touch”. In this review, we have highlighted some of the most critical points which should have been promoted to the public. For example, touch satisfies individual psychosomatic and psychosocial needs. It forms a non-verbal communication culture which interacts about emotions, trust, compliance and more. Furthermore, it has been linked to the secretion of multifunctional bioactive chemical-oxytocin which was well-known in its therapeutic advantages for a wide range of commonest chronic diseases and social ills. Although some dysfunctional consequences may be resulted, incorporating genuine interpersonal touch into today’s efforts is undeniably viewed as a good option in solving many social problems.

Matched MeSH terms: Nonverbal Communication
Fulltext Opportunities for medical students to perform four common ward procedures in a Malaysian teaching hospital

Siew Kheong Lum, Wei Rong Lee, Syn Dee Ch’ng, Navin Raj a/l Balachandran, Chee Kit Tee

International e-Journal of Science, Medicine & Education, 2013;7(1):10-14.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Undergraduate medical education should be broad-based, holistic, integrated and should promote a framework for the development of higher order cognitive skills like communication, professionalism and teamwork to prepare the student for a life-long challenging medical career. Recent calls for a competency-based medical education require, in addition, competency in clinical and procedural skills prior to graduation. This study investigates how often opportunities exist for medical students to perform four common ward procedures prior to graduation.
Method: A prospective cross-sectional study to assess the opportunities a medical student have in performing four common ward procedures, comprising intravenous cannulation, nasogastric tube insertion, urinary catheterisation and chest tube insertion, in a State General hospital in Malaysia was done.
Results: A medical student has sufficient opportunity to perform only intravenous cannulation prior to graduation. He has a remote chance to insert a urinary catheter and is unlikely to have the opportunity to insert a nasogastric tube or insert a chest tube prior to graduation.
Conclusion: Although competency in clinical skills and procedural skills prior to graduation are desirable, this is increasingly difficult to achieve due to shortage of clinical material, teachers to supervise, the large numbers of medical students and house officers, the short time spent on the main disciplines and the failure of many universities to invest heavily in skills laboratories staffed by full time clinicians. The calls to introduce competency-based medical education in undergraduate medical education, particularly in procedural competence, should take into account the challenges in delivery and the realities in the hospitals today. This is necessary to avoid demoralising students who are unable to achieve their quota of procedures through no fault of theirs.
Keywords: procedural competency, medical education, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Communication
Fulltext Gliding lizards use the position of the sun to enhance social display

Klomp DA, Stuart-Fox D, Das I, Ord TJ

Biol Lett, 2017 Feb;13(2).
PMID: 28179410 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0979

Effective communication requires animal signals to be readily detected by receivers in the environments in which they are typically given. Certain light conditions enhance the visibility of colour signals and these conditions can vary depending on the orientation of the sun and the position of the signaller. We tested whether Draco sumatranus gliding lizards modified their position relative to the sun to enhance the conspicuousness of their throat-fan (dewlap) during social display to conspecifics. The dewlap was translucent, and we found that lizards were significantly more likely to orient themselves perpendicular to the sun when displaying. This increases the dewlap's radiance, and likely, its conspicuousness, by increasing the amount of light transmitted through the ornament. This is a rare example of a behavioural adaptation for enhancing the visibility of an ornament to distant receivers.

Matched MeSH terms: Animal Communication
Fulltext Three-dimensional cell culture at the frontiers of in vitro cancer research: present perspectives

Lee, Soo Leng, Zainal Ariff Abdul Rahman, Tsujigiwa, Hidetsugu, Takabatake, Kiyofumi, Nakano, Keisuke, Chai, Wen Lin, et al.

Ann Dent, 2016;23(1):13-22.
MyJurnal

In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) in vitro cell culture models have earned great attention, especially in the field of human cancer disease modelling research as they provide a promising alternative towards the conventional two-dimensional (2D) monolayer culture of cells with improved tissue organization. In 2D cell culture systems, the complexity of cells on a planar surface does not accurately reflects the in vivo cellular microenvironment. Cells propagated in 3D cell culture model, on the other hand, exhibit physiologically relevant cell-to-cell interactions and cell-to-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, important in maintaining a normal homeostasis and specificity of tissues. This review gives an overview on 2D models and their limitations, followed by 3D cell culture models, their advantages, drawbacks and challenges in present perspectives. The review also highlights the dissimilarities of 2D and 3D models and the applicability of 3D models in current cancer research

Matched MeSH terms: Cell Communication
Deep-time convergent evolution in animal communication presented by shared adaptations for coping with noise in lizards and other animals

Ord TJ, Klomp DA, Summers TC, Diesmos A, Ahmad N, Das I

Ecol Lett, 2021 Sep;24(9):1750-1761.
PMID: 34196091 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13773

Convergence in communication appears rare compared with other forms of adaptation. This is puzzling, given communication is acutely dependent on the environment and expected to converge in form when animals communicate in similar habitats. We uncover deep-time convergence in territorial communication between two groups of tropical lizards separated by over 140 million years of evolution: the Southeast Asian Draco and Caribbean Anolis. These groups have repeatedly converged in multiple aspects of display along common environmental gradients. Robot playbacks to free-ranging lizards confirmed that the most prominent convergence in display is adaptive, as it improves signal detection. We then provide evidence from a sample of the literature to further show that convergent adaptation among highly divergent animal groups is almost certainly widespread in nature. Signal evolution is therefore curbed towards the same set of adaptive solutions, especially when animals are challenged with the problem of communicating effectively in noisy environments.

Matched MeSH terms: Animal Communication

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