Daily Archives: May 3, 2022

NEW YORK & PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Drawbridge, a premier provider of cybersecurity software and solutions to the alternative investment industry, today unveiled its new corporate brand identity reflecting the companys evolution into a modern technology partner for more than 800 alternative investment funds and their portfolio companies. The rebrand caps a period of continued hyper growth and technology advancements that have enabled Drawbridge to deliver the industry's leading all-in-one cybersecurity platform to help its global clients navigate the dynamic cybersecurity landscape.

Built and led by fintech industry pioneers and cybersecurity experts, Drawbridge enables alternative investment firms to bolster their cybersecurity posture to minimize risk, meet evolving regulatory requirements and confidently transact with clients and counterparties. Its award-winning all-in-one cybersecurity platform enables users to easily perform nonstop due diligence, assess risk, monitor for security breaches and test their protection with unprecedented independence and insight. Drawbridge clients are empowered to continuously detect and remediate cybersecurity vulnerabilities, enabling them to leverage Drawbridges extensive solution portfolio with as much or as little guidance from Drawbridges expert professional services team as possible.

"Drawbridge was founded with a steadfast commitment to client success and technology innovation. While that philosophy has never changed, our business itself has evolved, and we realized our brand needed to evolve with it, said Jason Elmer, Founder and CEO, Drawbridge. The significant investments we have made over the past four years in our people, products and services have enabled us to evolve into a true modern technology company, and were proud that our new brand supports this mission and vision while positioning us for future success.

The rebrand follows a milestone year for Drawbridge marked by product innovation, continued global expansion and a 166% annual increase in its client base. In 2021 Drawbridge secured a growth equity investment from Long Ridge Equity Partners and heavily invested in key industry talent with strategic senior and board appointments and multiple new product offerings. The companys stellar growth is a result of expanded business with existing clients and significant new client acquisitions.

Elmer continued, "The unprecedented geo-political risks and cyber threats weve witnessed over the past several years have demonstrated that the need for robust cybersecurity programs has never been greater, especially in the financial services sector. Were proud that our state-of-the-art platform has made Drawbridge the partner of choice for more than 800 financial services firms that have selected Drawbridge to provide them everything they need to manage their comprehensive cybersecurity programs, molded to each clients specific needs. We are excited to continue evolving in tandem with the dynamic cybersecurity landscape to ensure we have the right talent and technology to help protect our clients against the most daunting cyber threats.

About Drawbridge:

Drawbridge is a premier provider of cybersecurity software and solutions to the alternative investment industry. Its proprietary platform helps firms manage their governance, risk and compliance (GRC) requirements while combatting sophisticated cyber threats and third-party risks. Drawbridge's platform connects business, compliance and IT to empower firms to centralize and manage their most robust security programs, improve their risk profile and raise institutional capital. With a tested team focused on value delivery and a 800+ strong customer base, Drawbridge offers unmatched customer service and flexibility to help businesses proactively manage vulnerabilities, plan for growth and reduce complexity.

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Drawbridge Rebrands to Highlight its Evolution and Commitment to Client Centricity and Innovation - Business Wire

Benedict Wong talks about Wongs evolution from the first film to now in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Like most superheroes, Doctor Strange has a sidekick/partner, and since they both appear in Strange Tales #110, that has been Wong. Single named like Adele, Drake, and Beyonc, the steadfast character who never fails to get the job done has been portrayed by the brilliant Benedict Wong since the first Doctor Strange. Thankfully, the character of Wong had a much-needed overhaul, and in no way resembles his early comic book counterpart as Stranges servant. In the films, he is one of Stranges teachers, his friend, and as of Spider-Man: No Way Home, he is also his boss.

Who is Zombie Strange in Doctor Str...x

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From steadfast music-loving guardian librarian to the Sorceror Supreme, Wong has had quite the journey throughout his time Marvel Cinematic Universe. He may not have headlined many films, but his scene-stealing performances have garnered numerous headlines. He saves Tony Stark in Infinity War then geniusly leaves before it gets really bad. He cracks a joke in the biggest battle the universe has ever seen, and he takes out Abomination by himself in a cage match. Wong has made a huge impact in the MCU and Benedict Wong shares his thoughts about the evolution of the character from the first Doctor Strange film.

RELATED: Sam Raimi Talks Bringing Horror To Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

When I first took the job six years ago, we moved away from the old source material. And we developed and crafted this no-nonsense field general librarian who has continued through 4 or 5 of the movies and is now no-nonsense Sorcerer Supreme. I love where were going with this and the character progression of that. And yeah, well see what unfolds with this.

My biggest fear about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is that they kill Wong. It might be one of those things like when The Walking Dead killed off Glen. Yes makes a meaningful impact on the story, but also there is still so much story left to tell. Benedict Wong steals the show every time he is on screen. Whether it is him asking for a tuna melt or singing karaoke with some new friends after dropping world-breaking news to them. Benedicts Wong words give me equal parts assurance and fear. Because in terms of job progression he is at the top, so that could be it. But as for character, there is still far more to go.

RELATED: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: Michael Waldron and Sam Raimi Discuss The Craziness of Filming During Production Changes

Also, Benedict Wong did say he and Kevin Feige are due for another discussion later in the interview, so it seems unlikely there would need to be another discussion if his character is already gone. But well have to wait and see when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness releases in theaters on May 6, 2022. Tickets are available now.

Release Date:May 6, 2022Director:Sam RaimiScreenplay:Michael WardonProducer:Kevin FeigeExecutive Producers:Louis DEsposito, Victoria Alonso, Eric Hauserman Carroll, Scott Derrickson, Jamie ChristopherCast:Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, with Michael Sthlbarg, Rachel McAdamsDescription:In Marvel Studios Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the MCU unlocks the Multiverse and pushes its boundaries further than ever before. Journey into the unknown with Doctor Strange, who, with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses themind-bendinganddangerousalternaterealitiesoftheMultiversetoconfronta mysteriousnewadversary.

What do you think about Wongs evolution? Do you alreadyhave your ticketstoDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? Will wong keep the title of Sorcerer Supreme? Let us know what you think in the comments below and be sure to share all your theories with us onTwitter.

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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: Benedict Wong Discusses Wong's Evolution from the 1st Film - The Illuminerdi

Zebulon Ellis, Monicaa Blaire, Patrice Lovely and Cheryl ,Pepsii, Riley onstage during Tyler Perrys Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned play at James L Knight Center.Photo: Vallery Jean (Getty Images)

Tyler Perry worked feverishly to raise money for his first play, I Know I Been Changed, which he started writing in 1992. Some of his professions included being a bill collector, car salesman, bartender and waiter. Perry managed to save up $12,000 to put on the production. It took off in its seventh staging in 1998 at House of Blues in Atlanta. The Chitlin Circuit, which brought creative performances to Black venues and communities, can be traced back to Vaudevillian entertainment in the early 20th century. Cut to 1998 an Im doing the exact same thing ... traveling around to African-American people, Perry told The Arsenio Hall Show in 2013. He has written, directed and produced nearly two dozen plays, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Behind Closed Doors and Diary of a Mad Black Woman.

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The Evolution of Tyler Perry - The Root

Howie Roseman shocked the NFL Thursday night when he traded picks 18 and 101 to the Tennessee Titans for Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Brown. The move came as surprise to fans all around the NFL and finally gave the Philadelphia Eagles the big-name wide receiver they have been looking for. With his addition, the offense is going to look a lot different next season.

Prior to Thursday night, the Eagles had the worst wide receiver grouping in the NFC East, a case can be made they now have the best of the division. The addition of A.J. Brown gives them a legitimate wide receiver opposite of DeVonta Smith now. There is no WR1 or WR2 on the Eagles anymore. Its more of a case of having a 1A and 1B situation.

The happiest man in the room now is easily Jalen Hurts. He and Brown share a strong friendship, and Jalen was pulling for the Eagles to trade for the talented receiver. Phillys offensive weapons now consist of Smith, Quez Watkins, Dallas Goedert, and A.J. Brown. Jalen Hurts now has all the talent he needs to prove he is the future of this team.

With the addition of Brown, the Eagles now possess one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. It was no secret they were looking to add wide receiver talent to the team, and they landed one of the best young wide receivers in the NFL. The skillset Brown brings to the table is something this team hasnt seen in years.

His ability to make contested catches is something that matches up perfectly with DeVonta Smiths speed. Brown is also extremely hard to tackle in open space and is one of the most physical wideouts in pro football.

The Eagles offense last season was solely based on the success of the rushing attack. Now, they have the weapons on the outside to cause serious havoc for opposing defenses. With the majority of the offense returning and the addition of a Pro Bowl receiver like A.J. Brown, Philadelphias offense is in a position to put up a lot of points in 2022.

The rushing attack is still there, and its one of the best in the NFL, but with a dynamic duo at wide receiver, the Eagles wont be a one-dimensional offense next year. They have the ability to control the ground game and also make big plays in the air. Hurts has all the tools. Now, it is time for him to show why he is the man for Philadelphia going forward.

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Expect continued evolution in the Eagles offense thanks to A.J. Brown - Inside the Iggles

In 2008, Murakami et al.1 described a partial manus of a theropod dinosaur, consisting of metacarpal I and manual unguals I-2, II-3, and III-4 from the right side in a concretion, from the upper Campanian Osoushinai Formation of the Yezo Group in Nakagawa Town of Hokkaido Island of Japan (Fig.1ac). The Yezo Group is composed of mainly Upper Cretaceous marine sediments and rich in invertebrate and vertebrate fossils, including sharks, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, turtles, pterosaurs, non-avian dinosaurs, and birds. So far, dinosaur materials of hadrosaurids, tyrannosauroid, and nodosaurid, in addition to the Nakagawa theropod, have been reported from the group2,3,4. The Nakagawa specimen was identified as a maniraptoran dinosaur and Murakami et al.1 argued further that it may belong to a derived therizinosaur because of the lack of a groove between the flexor tubercle and the proximal articular surface of the unguals. It was extremely difficult to resolve the identification of Nakagawa specimen to the family level or lower at the time of publication because of the limited comparative information in the literature. However, more recent studies have provided a great deal of information on therizinosaur unguals, permitting comparisons of manual morphologies among therizinosaurs and for testing the phylogenetic status of the Nakagawa specimen5,6,7,8,9,10.

Map of Japan, showing the location of Nakagawa Town and other dinosaur localities (a). Two other names in red are locations of other therizinosaur materials. This figure was created by using Adobe Photoshop 21.2.0 and Adobe Illustrator 24.2.1 (https://www.adobe.com/). A photo of the concretion containing materials of Paralitherizinosaurus japonicusgen. et sp. nov.before preparation (b). Dark parts in the concretion are exposed bones of Paralitherizinosaurus, showing that all elements were preserved in this block. See Murakami et al.1 for stratigraphic column of the Oshoushinai Formation and the horizon of the specimen. Manual unguals and silhouette of Paralitherizinosaurus japonicus, showing recovered skeletal elements in white (c) (Courtesy of Genya Masukawa). Life reconstruction of Paralitherizinosaurus japonicus (d) (Courtesy of Masato Hattori).

Asian therizinosaurs radiated in the Early Cretaceous, and their diversification continued into the Late Cretaceous. The Late Cretaceous taxa are larger than the Early Cretaceous forms in body size, exemplified by Therizinosaurus cheloniformis from Mongolia with elongate, large and nearly straight manual unguals. Manual unguals of therizinosaurs have a large diversity in shapes and functions. Based on the shape analysis with extinct and extant mammals by Lautenschlager10, basal therizinosaurs, such as Alxasaurus and Erliansaurus, have short and compact unguals for a proposed generalist functionality because these are placed near the boundaries of the morphospace of scansorial, fossorial, and terrestrial mammals, whereas other therizinosaurs with elongate unguals occupy outside of these mammals for potentially different functions. Only Nothronychus has unguals like those found in fossorial mammals. Because some therizinosaurs such as Beipiaosaurus and Therizinosaurus, have similar unguals to those of ornithomimosaurs, elongate unguals are presumed to have a similar function, possibly to pull the base of branches to bring leaves to their heads10.

Therizinosaurs have been found mainly from the Cretaceous deposits in Mongolia and China. All of the Early Cretaceous taxa, except Falcarius, have been named from China so far, and two taxa are recovered from northern (Alxasaurus from the Inner Mongolia)11 and northwestern (Suzhousaurus from Gansu Province) regions12. Other Chinese taxa (Jianchangosaurus, Beipiaosaurus, and Lingyuanosaurus)6,13,14 were recovered from the Jehol Group in the Liaoning Province of China, located in the eastern part of the country. The Late Cretaceous therizinosaurs have been discovered from the Gobi Desert (Inner Mongolia of China and southern Mongolia) except for Nanshiungosaurus (Guangdong Province in the southeastern China along the Pacific). Although it has not been named yet, therizinosaur materials have been recovered from the Bissekty Formation in Uzbekistan, which may represent more than two taxa9. However, we follow Sues and Averianov9 in their treatment of the Bissekty therizinosauroid material as a single taxon. Japan, which was located at the eastern edge of the Asian continent during the Cretaceous before the opening of the Japan Sea during the Miocene, has produced two therizinosaur specimens from the Lower and Upper Cretaceous deposits15,16 (Fig.1a) but neither is named because of the fragmentary nature of the specimens. The Nakagawa specimen is the third therizinosaur from Japan. It is important because it is the youngest occurrence of therizinosaurs from Japan and preserves important elements that enlighten our understanding of its finer-scale taxonomic identification as well as providing insights into and morphological function.

This study will describe the Nakagawa material in detail, compare with other therizinosaurs, demonstrate its phylogenetic placement within Maniraptora/Therizinosauria, quantify the ungual shapes through geometric morphometric analysis to elucidate the evolution and function of therizinosaur claws, and discuss its paleogeographic and paleoecological implications.

Detailed information is provided by Murakami et al.1 and summarized here. This specimen was contained in an isolated concretion as float, sitting near the confluence of the Rubeshibe River and 36 Ten-zawa Creek in Nakagawa Town in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan (Fig.1a). The concretion was discovered in an area where the Nishichirashinai Formation (Coniacian to lower Santonian) is exposed. Murakami et al.1 concluded that it was originally from an upstream area, where the Oshoushinai Formation (early Campanian) crops out because of the presence of the inoceramid bivalve Sphenoceramus in the concretion and the features of lithofaces (heavily bioturbated matrix and fine grain size), which matches the Osoushinai Formation. The depositional environment of this formation is considered as deeper than outer shelf because of the lack of storm deposits. The concretion is roughly 25cm15cm15cm (Fig.1b). It is plausible to consider that all materials belong to a single individual based on its depositional environment and close proximity of all preserved elements as mentioned by Murakami et al.1.

Theropoda Marsh17.

Coelurosauria von Huene18.

Therizinosauria Russell19.

Therizinosauridae Maleev20.

Paralitherizinosaurus japonicus gen. et sp. nov.

Zoobank ID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8397F6AE-4791-4EE6-B6CF-B25950FB617C (for this publication), urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7934F3DA-B1CA-4CAA-B5E4-86D41B93E7CE (for the new genus) and urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BC19DCA2-8F4A-4FDC-83C4-B9EB8D3C30EF (for the new species).

Etymology Paralos means by or near the sea in Greek, therizo means reap in Greek, and sauros means reptile in Latin. Specific name, japon refers to Japan.

Holotype NMV-52 (NMV, Nakagawa Museum of Natural History, Japan), a partial vertebra and a partial right hand, including metacarpal I, proximal ends of unguals I and II, and nearly complete ungual III (Fig.1c).

Horizon and locality The Osoushinai Formation (early Campanian) of the Yezo Group in Nakagawa Town in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.

Diagnosis A therizinosaurid with the following unique characters: dorsoventrally flattened metacarpal I (dorsoventral height less than half of transverse width) with no rotation of the axis of the distal end; presence of proximodorsally projecting dorsal lip in digits I and III; a shallow depression at the proximal portion of ungual III-4, connecting to the collateral groove; the presence of proximally extending ventral process; a weak flexor tubercle expressed as a small ridge.

Description and comparisons The original study described four manual elements from the right side (metacarpal I and manual unguals I-2, II-3, and III-4), but this study identified another bone as a partial cervical centrum (Fig.2) although the fragmentary nature of this bone limits the certainty of its identification. We interpret the specimen as the anteroventral portion of a cervical centrum. Therizinosaur presacral vertebrae are highly pneumatic8,14,21, a condition that is present in this specimen. The parapophysis is ventrally placed on the lateral surface. Two laminae, posterodorsal and ventral laminae, extend posterior to the parapophysis. The arrangement of the posterodorsal lamina is similar to the centrodiapophyseal lamina in Northonychus8. Ventral surface is flat and featureless.

A partial vertebra of Paralitherizinosauruss japonicus gen. et sp. nov. in anterior (a) and right lateral (b) views. This figure was created by using Adobe Photoshop 21.2.0 and Adobe Illustrator 24.2.1 (https://www.adobe.com/).

Metacarpal I is nearly complete. It is 57.87mm long, which is approximately twice the length of the transverse width (29.41mm) at the proximal end. In anterior view, the distal half of metacarpal I diverges medially by 17 degrees from the contact surface with metacarpal II (Fig.3a,a,c,c). A similar condition is present in two Chinese therizinosaurids (Alxasaurus and Erliansaurus), while the shaft of metacarpal I is nearly straight in basal therizinosauroids (Falcarius and Jianchangosaurus) and the therizinosaurid Therizinosaurus5,14,22. The shaft width (21.72mm) is roughly two-thirds of the proximal width. The medial border of this element is strongly concave in anterior view (Fig.3a,a), whereas it is nearly straight in Nothronychus and Therizinosaurus and weakly concave in Falcarius, Alxasaurus, and Erliansaurus5,8,11,22,23. The width of the proximal end is greater than the dorsoventral height (24.47mm). In proximal view, the proximal end is triangular with three processes: medial, anterolateral, and posterolateral processes. In their preliminary description of this specimen, Murakami et al.1 noted that the presence of a rectangular buttress was not clear because of its preservation. Our examination shows that the base of the ventrolateral process is preserved, and a ridge extends ventrally from the process, indicating the presence of a rectangular buttress (Fig.3b,b,c,c). The buttress would underlie the ventral surface of the metacarpal II if entirely preserved, and this is a synapomorphic feature for the clade of Therizinosauroidea11. In anterior view, the proximal edge of the proximal end between the dorsal and mediolateral processes is straight as in therizinosaurids (e.g., Alxasaurus and Therizinosaurus). Falcarius has a concave proximal edge of the proximal end for a dorsomedial notch22. The proximal surface has a depression with a size of 21mm14mm (Fig.3e,e). The medial edge of the element bears a medial ridge (Fig.3d,d), connecting the medial process of the proximal end and medial condyle of the distal end. This feature is present only in Therizinosaurus and diagnostic for this taxon5. The cross-section of the shaft is triangular as in Therizinosaurus, whereas it is oval in Falcarius22. It is anteroposteriorly compressed, and its dorsoventral height is 10.12mm, less than half of lateromedial width of the shaft. A rotation of the axis of distal end from the long axis of the element is noted in Falcarius22 and Erliansaurus, but this rotation is absent in Paralitherizinosaurus. The distal end has lateral and medial condyles, separated by a shallow sulcus (Fig.3f,f). The lateral condyle has a circular collateral ligament fossa, whereas the medial condyle lacks a fossa and has a flat medial surface. A collateral ligament fossa is absent in Falcarius22 and Therizinosaurus. The medial condyle is proximally positioned with respect to the lateral condyle in therizinosaurs, but this condition is more subtle in Paralitherizinosaurus.

Right metacarpal I of Paralitherizinosauruss japonicus gen. et sp. nov. in anterior (a), posterior (b), lateral (c), medial (d), proximal (e), and distal (f) views. (a) to (f) are corresponding images in black and white with labels. This figure was created by using Adobe Photoshop 21.2.0 and Adobe Illustrator 24.2.1 (https://www.adobe.com/).

Manual ungual I-2 preserves only lateral side of the proximal end (Fig.4a,b,a,b). It has a dorsal lip, which is a proximodorsally projecting process above the phalangeal articular surface of manual unguals. This process is commonly seen in manual unguals of therizinosaurs, oviraptorosaurs, and dromaeosaurids24. In derived therizinosaurs, Therizinosauridae, no taxa have a dorsal lip in manual ungual I-2. The only therizinosaur with a dorsal lip is the basal therizinosaur Beipiaosaurus13. In lateral view, the outline of the surface is like the other manual unguals of Paralitherizinosaurus (Fig.4a,a).

Right manual unguals of Paralitherizinosauruss japonicus gen. et sp. nov. Ungual of digit I in lateral (a) and medial (b) view. Ungual of digit II in proximal (c), lateral (d), medial (e), dorsal (f), and ventral (g) views. Ungual of digit III in proximal (h), lateral (i), medial (j), dorsal (k), and ventral (l) views. (a) to (l) are corresponding images in black and white with labels. This figure was created by using Adobe Photoshop 21.2.0 and Adobe Illustrator 24.2.1 (https://www.adobe.com/).

Manual ungual II-3 preserves the proximal portion of the element and exhibits a pronounced dorsal lip as seen in Falcarius, Lingyuanosaurus, Alxasaurus, and Therizinosaurus (Figs. 4df,df and Fig.5)6,11,22,25. The ventral surface of this lip forms a dorsal portion of the phalangeal articular surface. The medial side of the base of the lip has a shallow depression, extending ventrally (Fig.4e,e). The ventral half of the medial surface has a wide depression. A depression on lateral and medial surfaces of proximal portions in Jianchangosaurus, Lingyuanosaurus, and Therizinosaurus is continuous from the collateral groove6,14,25. Ventral to the phalangeal articular surface bears a ventral process, which extends slightly more proximally than the articular surface, similar to the condition observed in Erliansaurus (Fig.4e,e,g,g). It is square in lateral view as in Therizinosaurus. The phalangeal articular surface is divided asymmetrically by a vertical ridge, and the medial side is larger than the lateral side (Fig.4c,c).

Comparisons of manual unguals in digits I-III of therizinosaurs. An image at the lower left corner is a photo of the proximoventral end of Therizinosaurus ungual in oblique view. Not to scale. This figure was created by using Adobe Photoshop 21.2.0 and Adobe Illustrator 24.2.1 (https://www.adobe.com/).

Manual ungual III-4 is transversely narrow as in other unguals (Fig.4k,k,l,l) and strongly curved as in other therizinosaurs, other than Therizinosaurus5,25 (Fig.4i,i,j,j). The collateral groove on the lateral surface of this element approaches the dorsal margin of the ungual distally. Although the distal end is missing, the collateral groove may be extended to the dorsal edge of the distalmost part of the ungual in Paralitherizinosaurus (Fig.4i,i), which is a potential diagnostic feature for Therizinosauroidea6. The groove at the proximal end is close to the ventral edge of the ungual, like the ungual of digit II of Therizinosaurus and isolated unguals from the Bissekty taxon (Fig.5), and is continuous with a shallow depression. This depression is much smaller than the ones observed in Jianchangosaurus, Lingyuanosaurus, Nothronychus, and Therizinosaurus6,8,14, which have a large triangular depression. Extension of the collateral groove to the proximal end is only seen in isolated unguals of the Bissetky taxon (Fig.5). The medial surface of the ungual is flat and featureless (Fig.4j,j). Distally, the collateral groove is faintly present and migrates dorsally towards its tip. In most therizinosaurs, both the lateral and the medial surfaces have distinct collateral grooves. The asymmetry of features on the lateral and the medial surfaces is present to some extent, but this strong asymmetry may be a unique feature for Paralitherizinosaurus. The ungual has a dorsal lip at the proximal end (Fig.4i,i,j,j). In Therizinosauria, a complete set of manual unguals is rarely preserved but has been reported in five taxa (Falcarius, Beipiaosaurus, Martharaptor, Erliansaurus, and Nothronychus). Among these taxa, only two taxa have a dorsal lip, which is present in digits II and III in Falcarius and in digits I in Beipiaosaurus. Three therizinosaurids (Lingyuanosaurus, Alxasaurus, and Nothronychus) preserve the manual ungual of digit III, but none of these taxa preserves a dorsal lip because of damage, suggesting the presence of a dorsal lip in manual ungual III-4 may be unique to Paralitherizinosaurus. At the base of the dorsal lip is a shallow depression as in the ungual of digit II. The phalangeal articular surface is divided by a vertical ridge, but it is nearly symmetrical (Fig.4h,h). Ventral to the articular surface has a ventral process, which extends more proximally than the articular surface. This large ventral process is present in the ungual of the digit III of Erliansaurus. The ventral surface of the ventral process bears a weak ridge, which is a flexor tubercle. The original description of this ungual interpreted that the flexor tubercle was missing because of bioerosion1. Subsequent preparation of this ungual shows that this portion was not damaged and there is an extremely weak flexor tubercle on the ventral surface (Fig.4l,l). A similar condition is present in Therizinosaurus (Fig.5), where the other therizinosaurs have a strong flexor tubercle.

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New therizinosaurid dinosaur from the marine Osoushinai Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Japan) provides insight for function and evolution of...

In the context of Architectural design, the term radical implied design which was extreme in form, scale, structural design or pushing the limits of the materials used for construction. Today, with radical changes in climate and global events that impact how we live, architectural design should address radical changes by shifting from the routine problem-solving approach by setting up new logical relationships to the design issues and arriving at new solutions by being aware of the complex nature of the design situation. This is the starting point for shaping new and more exploratory design processes.

Architecture is a collaborative process, from concept to occupation of the built spaces involving the broader public along with many stakeholders who participate in the design process. Governmental, legal, technical, economic, social, and political systems interact with architecture in complex ways for the duration of a project which can range from 3 to 10 years depending on the type of project.

The design process has to inherently rethink what buildings can adapt to during the life of the building. Awareness of the impact that a building has, beyond its designed lifespan, studying the effects of chosen materials, procurement, building operation, maintenance, resiliency, and end-of-life processes is imperative to imbibe any change.

The changes should be approached with logical thinking and creative realism. Architects have to increase agility & flexibility so that processes, workflows and roles can flex and that they acquire cross-functional knowledge and training.While workflows increase efficiency, it also creates rigidity, as systems have no flexibility to respond to disruptions.

Resilient design firms are able to respond and correct course quickly to accommodate the changes.

Climate change, ecological goals, wellness, economic conditions and social equity are factors for radical change. These changes influence the scale, timelines, budgets, materials, relevance and essence of the programme; so the clarity and transparency of design changes become the source of innovation.

For example, to achieve ecological goals, traditional building materials have to be replaced by ecological processing of building materials, building materials have to be environmental friendly, and the performance of ecological building materials during the life cycle of the building has to be established.

Barcelona Techhas developed biological concrete that grows vertical gardens. The plants capture CO2 from the air and release oxygen. The layer also acts as an insulation which regulates temperatures within the building by absorbing heat and preventing it from entering the building in hot weather or escaping the building in cold weather.

The right combination of nature-based or environmentally friendlier materialslike hempcrete, bio-brick, recycled timber, etc could reduce the carbon impact of construction considerably, compared to buildings made primarily with steel and concrete. The use of bio-materials could turn the building into a biofuel source that could bring the buildings operations beyond net zero.

To mitigate climate change, advanced & clean energy-saving technology has to be implemented from the initial design stage, during the construction and at the operation stages such that energy consumption is efficient. Energy is optimised by recycling of energy, reduction of waste emissions, and energy conservation.

Design has to deal with complex problem situations and despite the strategies and inventive workarounds that have been developed to manage the cognitive load on the designer/design team, dealing with all the information in the complex design situation is not easy. It requires the ability to (repeatedly) frame the complexities in the design situation, propose possible solutions and analyse the efficacy of both of these. A rational problem solving approach would be to refer to similar case studies, assimilate the appropriate R&D and technical data, establish the goal, imbibe the relevant best practices/ codes/ norms and map the tasks to arrive at the solutions.

Managing radical change would require influencing the system, rather than implementation of a plan to solve the problem; and astateof relative stability can be achieved by creating resilience, rather than striving for that so-called solution.

1. The approach should focus on Is this action leading in the desired direction?rather than the emerging design solution.2. Empathising: Understanding the human needs involved.3. Defining: Re-framing and defining the problem in human-centric ways.4. Ideating: Creating multiple ideas in ideation sessions.5. Investing in digital infrastructure and VR, that allows creative freedom for complex designs and for changes to be incorporated with less time and cost.

Views expressed above are the author's own.

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Evolution can be painful, how can designers embrace the opportunity to imagine alternative futures? - Times of India

AAP was the last political party in India to break through in a hypercompetitive arena and then record durable success. In a decade, its talisman Arvind Kejriwal has been sworn in as Delhis chief minister thrice, having led his party to a huge victory in the last two assembly elections. Since then, AAP has spread and is now the ruling party in Punjab.

AAP was forged in the crucible of an anti-corruption movement and was initially powered by volunteerism. Currently, its no different from any political party in its functioning.

Also read: Prashant Kishor hints at political plunge, to begin from Bihar

The rarity of enduring success for new political formations in the last few decades should make one sceptical of the ambiguous social media announcement by political consultant Prashant Kishore, suggesting he will soon enter grassroots politics, beginning with Bihar.

He is no stranger to it, having once been associated with JD(U). His real claim to fame is as a consultant to political parties. In this capacity, he has covered almost the entire ideological spectrum in Indian politics. Most recently, he was at the heart of a long presentation to senior functionaries of the Congress, which aimed to provide a pathway to revitalise Indias oldest political party. It didnt go well.

The moot point is if forming a new political party will end well for Kishore. It is hard to discern what his political ideology is. Also, Bihar has a fairly competitive political landscape and breaking in will be hard.

Given the challenges for any new political formation and also considering Kishores background, his social media teaser is bound to be treated sceptically.

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Prashant Kishores political evolution is bound to be treated sceptically - Times of India

Animation is an incredible medium for storytelling, and Disney has continually paved the way with groundbreaking techniques that help expand the possibilities of what animation can create. As their animation style pivoted away from hand-drawn cells, Disney has predominantly featured characters with straight hair, using digital animation to build upon its 2D animation roots. Now, in 2022, Disney has officially presented characters across the entire spectrum of hair textures.

In this video from Insider, we hear from Edna Liliana Valencia Murillo, who served as a consultant for Afro Colombian representation on "Encanto," as she explains how animators were trained to imitate the movement, or lack of movement, that changes from texture to texture. They take us from "Tangled" to "Encanto" to show the decade plus of innovative techniques that allowed them to grow from the straight, blonde tresses of Rapunzel and the sisters in "Frozen," to the rich, textured looks of characters in "Moana" and the family Madrigal of "Encanto."

Read more here:

The Morning Watch: The Evolution Of Disney's Animated Hair, Lord Of The Rings Fanmade Anime & More - /Film

Whether womens orgasm is an adaptation is arguably the most contentious question in the study of the evolution of human sexuality, states a 2012 study. Indeed, the objective behind the existence of female orgasms has eluded scientists for ages they know male orgasms aid reproduction by releasing sperms but cannot figure out why female orgasms exist. And so, different hypotheses to explain their presence have evolved over the years that have inspired lively, if not polarizing, debates.

Now, a new study attempts to add complexity to this discourse. Published inEvolutionary Psychology, the research looks at the evolutionary ropes behind orgasm and sexual desire among females and how it may impact satisfaction in relationships. The incredible variability in orgasm we see among females poses a very interesting evolutionary question, co-author Patrick Nebl, an assistant professor of psychology at Elmhurst University in the U.S., said in a statement, adding that there is still quite a bit of disagreement over whether it has an adaptive function and what that function might be.

One camp argues that women orgasm in service of two adaptive functions. One, of mate selection as a kind of a litmus test allowing women to assess the value of a long-term sexual partner. Two, of pair-bonding, courtesy of the oxytocin released during an orgasm, which aids emotional bonding between partners, ensuring committed, well-bonded parents are around to effectively nurture their offspring.

Another theory suggests that female orgasms through the typical uterine contractions that are involved in it help with sperm retention by causing the ejaculate to be sucked in better for fertilization. Then, theres another hypothesis, which suggests female orgasms serve no purpose; theyre just an evolutionary accident albeit a happy one, of course.

Related on The Swaddle:

How Womens First Sexual Experiences Shape Their Sexual Desires Later in Life

In the present study, the researchers recruited 175 heterosexual, cis-gendered women with an average age of 19 for the study. Upon interviewing the participants, the study authors found a link between female orgasms and greater relationship satisfaction and duration.

It echoes the findings from a 2014 study which, too, support the hypothesis that female orgasm evolved as a mate-selection tool for females and promotes long-term, pair-bonding. The authors, there, had found that the intensity and frequency of female orgasms were related to their male partners family income, his self-confidence, and how attractive he was [in addition to] how many times they had sex per week, and ratings of sexual satisfaction.

Interestingly, an explanation for the orgasm gap the disparity in orgasms between cis-gendered men and women in heterosexual relationships may be embedded in the mate-choice hypothesis. [T]he failure of some women to orgasm regularly is not a dysfunction, but a sophisticated mate-selection strategy that evolved during prehistoric times, a 2005 article in The Guardian states. Women who fail to orgasm during sex may be genetically programmed to weed out unreliable men.

However, is the present study conclusive proof of mate selection being the driving force behind female orgasms? And, does it automatically dismiss other hypotheses? Nebl doesnt think so. I certainly dont think this study proves anything, rather it helps add evidence that orgasm might function as a mate-selection tool that promotes pair bonding, he noted.

Related on The Swaddle:

How Novels Have Shaped Womens Understanding of Sex in the Absence of Sex Education

Nebl believes the study serves yet another purpose beyond ascertaining the objective behind female orgasms. Orgasm is highly variable between females, and many females struggle with difficulty or inability to achieve orgasm. Struggling with sexual satisfaction affects relationship satisfaction and overall satisfaction and can be distressing, even leading to self-blame The knowledge that variability in female orgasm may be by evolutionary design, rather than being evidence of dysfunction, may provide some solace to women struggling with their sexual satisfaction, he explained.

Indeed, even though female orgasms may still be shrouded in layers of mystery, its reassuring to learn that not orgasming may serve a greater purpose. In the meantime, future research can, perhaps, include more than just heterosexual women to derive their conclusions from a more diverse set of responses.

Deep dives into evolutionary theories aside, one can hope the present study doesnt discourage women in heterosexual relationships from pursuing greater sexual satisfaction especially given the existing orgasm gap, and to add to that, past research suggesting that infrequent orgasms lower peoples expectations of, and even desire for, orgasming. The pursuit of pleasure, as Samatha from Sex And The City would perhaps call it, must continue.

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How the Female Orgasm May Have Evolved to Help With Mate Selection - The Swaddle

As the world increasingly moves to the cloud and digital-everything, organizations risk postures have also changed. Embedding security into the business is the new, must-have approach and product security is the most seamless path to make it happen led by the emergence of the engineering-centric CISO

Many top performers like Netflix, Github, Square have proven that integrating security into writing, building, and shipping code is one of the single most effective ways to improve overall security posture. Thats why mass adoption of DevSecOps is one of the biggest post-pandemic security trends.

Frankly, DevSecOps was already a hot topic pre-pandemic. As the quality and productivity benefits of DevOps have become well-established, layering in security and shifting left with DevSecOps followed as the next logical step.

However, even in 2022, many organizations are still in the early stages of their DevSecOps journey. Security is still often the team of no. Instead of being integrated into the SDLC from the start, security is tacked on post-deployment with vulnerability scanners and penetration tests.

The good news is that businesses recognize the gap and are trying to implement DevSecOps practices. A Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) report (PDF) found that 89% of organizations are actively adopting DevSecOps. Most of those organizations are still in the planning, designing, or implementing phases of their DevSecOps journey, which is indicative of where the market is headed.

In these early stages, organizations need to navigate the cultural and human side of DevSecOps adoption. Security has to stop being the team of no and become ingrained with the development lifecycle. Getting Shift Left right means leaning into the idea that security is everyones responsibility and making security a seamless part of the pipeline instead of something that happens post-deployment.

Getting Shift Left Right: A DevSec Ops Manifesto

What does that mean for the future of the DevSecOps? Heres a short manifesto with implications for the market:

Culture and mindset are more important than tools. I cant overstate this point. Automation and tools are important, but adopting DevSecOps starts with a culture shift. Making the shift from security as a single teams job which often creates an almost combative relationship between security and development to security as a shared responsibility takes time, effort, and dedication. This creates significant demand for consultancies that can help businesses successfully achieve a smooth transition.

Software provenance and software composition analysis (SCA) must become a priority. Supply chain attacks, protestware, and opensource vulnerabilities like Log4Shell have made the importance of securing libraries and dependencies clear. Applications today depend on a wide range of software from third parties, and a security flaw in just one package can have a huge ripple effect. DevSecOps platforms like JFrog and GitLab make it easy for teams to secure their dependencies and trace software provenance can address this problem while easing the adoption of DevSecOps.

Tooling needs to remove friction from security. For DevSecOps to be effective, security needs to be integrated directly into software delivery pipelines. If security integrations create bottlenecks and impede productivity, teams will begin to bypass them. Security must become part of how developers write, build, and deploy, not a separate process. Thats why its imperative for DevSecOps tools to tightly integrate with DevOps workflows. Examples of tooling getting this right include Synk and Veracode.

DevSecOps tooling needs to handle compliance challenges. Compliance with standards like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and SOX is a must for many businesses. Keeping up with all the audits, scans, and requirements often involves significant manual effort. Compliance as code solutions like Concourse Labs and IBMs opensource Trestle (based on NISTs OSCAL models) can add a lot of value here. By streamlining the compliance process with DevSecOps tooling and practices, teams can demonstrate business value and help create a positive feedback loop for broader DevSecOps adoption.

(Youll notice Ive left AppSec tooling out of the mix here. While important, and likely more primed for growth, AppSec is a distinct category that we should view as complementary to DevSecOps. The difference is simple: DevSecOps is everything from code to deploy, AppSec is post-deploy.)

To summarize, most organizations want to adopt DevSecOps practices, but their current practices are closer to traditional waterfall methodologies than the agile practices described in the DevSecOps manifesto above.

Therefore, the immediate hurdle facing most businesses is overcoming the challenges related to people and processes. For providers of DevSecOps services and solutions, the focus should be on removing friction from integrating security and helping teams come together to make security everyones responsibility.

Read more from the original source:

The VC View: The DevSecOps Evolution and Getting "Shift Left" Right - SecurityWeek