The word gerbil is a diminutive form of  jerboa , though the jerboas are an unrelated group of rodents occupying a similar ecological niche. One Mongolian species, Meriones unguiculatus, also known as the clawed jird, is a gentle and hardy animal that has become a popular pet.
Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a type of surgery that enables doctors to view the inside of the chest cavity after making only very small incisions. The doctor can examine the outside surface of the lung and the inner surface of the chest wall through a camera attached to the scope.
VAT Defined. Value added tax is a general, broadly-based consumption duty that is calculated as a percentage of price. It is assessed on both goods and services used or consumed within the European Union. Goods sold for immediate export from the EU and/or services purchased by foreign customers are normally not subject to VAT.