The gait characteristics associated with arboreal locomotion have been frequently discussed in the context of primate evolution, wherein they present as a trio of distinctive features: a diagonal-sequence, diagonal-couplet gait pattern; a protracted arm at forelimb touchdown; and a hindlimb-biased weight support pattern. The same locomotor characteristics have been found in the woolly opossum, a fine-branch arborealist similar in ecology to some small-bodied primates. To further our understanding of the functional link between arboreality and primate-like locomotion, we present comparative data collected in the laboratory for three musteloid taxa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis is a presentation of a common symptom, acute chest pain, with a rare etiology and the relevant implications of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). In a tertiary hospital in South Florida, during the fall of 2023, an adult female patient with acute chest pain was admitted to the internal medicine ward. The ECG demonstrated no acute ischemic changes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClimbing animals theoretically should optimize the energetic costs of vertical climbing while also maintaining stability. Many modifications to climbing behaviors have been proposed as methods of satisfying these criteria, focusing on controlling the center of mass (COM) during ascent. However, the link between COM movements and metabolic energy costs has yet to be evaluated empirically.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo build a just, equitable, and diverse academy, scientists and institutions must address systemic barriers that sex and gender minorities face. This Commentary summarizes (1) critical context informing the contemporary oppression of transgender people, (2) how this shapes extant research on sex and gender, and (3) actions to build an inclusive and rigorous academy for all.
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