The evolution of magnanimity

Conspicuous consumption associated with status reinforcement behavior can be explained in terms of costly signaling, or strategic handicap theory, first articulated by Zahavi and later formalized by Grafen. A theory is introduced which suggests that the evolutionary raison d’être of status reinforcement behavior lies not only in its effects on lifetime reproductive success, but in its positive effects on the probability of survival through infrequent, unpredictable demographic bottlenecks. Under some circumstances, such “wasteful” displays may take the form of displays of altruistic behavior and generosity on the part of high status individuals, in that is signals the ability to bear the short-term costs of being generous or “cooperative,” while at the same time reinforcing the long-term benefits of higher status. James L. Boone is an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, where he carries out research in behavioral ecology and the archaeology of complex societies. His current interests are in the evolution of social status reinforcement behavior and variation in patterns of conspicuous consumption in human history.     

Use of N,N -dimethyl- p -phenylenediamine to Evaluate the Oxidative Status of Human Plasma

Oxidative stress has been clearly implicated in human disease by a growing body of scientific evidences. There is no ideal method for the measurement of this parameter. A possible strategy would be to measure simultaneously several biomarkers representing damage to different cellular components or, alternatively, a method able to evaluate the hydroperoxides, intermediate products of oxidation originating from different classes of molecules, such as lipids, peptides, amino acids, etc. can be used. We are introducing a simple, rapid and inexpensive assay to measure the oxidative status of human plasma. It is based on the properties of N, N -dimethyl- p -phenylenediamine (DMPD), a compound able to produce a fairly long-lived radical cation. The absorbance at 505 nm of a DMPD solution in the presence of plasma, which is proportional to the amount of hydroperoxyl compounds, is related to the oxidative status of the sample and could be expressed as hydrogen peroxide equivalents (HPE). This assay was not influenced by freezing-thawing and storage time of the plasma samples. The assay can be automated, performed in a kinetic mode, and used for routine analyses. The DMPD assay alone or in combination with analytical methods for assessing antioxidant capacity is suggested as a reliable tool to obtain information in pathologies related to oxidative stress.     

Biochemical bio markers of pollution in Algerian mouse (Mus spretus) to assess the effects of the AznalcÓllar disaster on Doñana Park (Spain)

On April 25, 1998, a tailings dam of the Aznalcóllar pyrite mine partially collapsed and released to the Guadiamar river acidic water (pH < 3) and mud containing toxic metals (Fe, Zn, Pb, As, Cu, Sb, Co, Tl, Bi, Cd, Ag, Hg, Sr), threatening the Doñana National Park, a Spanish wildlife reserve. To assess possible biological effects in terrestrial ecosystems, biochemical biomarkers have been assayed for the first time in Algerian mice (Mus spretus), a non-protected and free-living species, from several areas of Doñana and Guadiamar. Biomarkers assayed responded to different types of contaminants: I-metals and oxidant compounds (Se-glutathione peroxidase (SeGSHPx) and antioxidant activities, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione redox status); II-Aromatic chemicals (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity); III-Compounds of both types (glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities). Before the Aznalcóllar spill (October 1997), mice from the 'Brazo de la Torre' had SeGSHPx and EROD activities close to animals from the Huelva Industrial Park, suggesting similar levels of oxidant and aromatic contaminants at both sites. Six months after the spill (October 1998), mice from the lower Guadiamar areas ('Cangrejo Grande' and 'Brazo de la Torre') also showed significant increase of soluble and microsomal GST activities, and altered levels of several antioxidant enzymes. Thus, the spilled chemicals could have induced further biological effects in mice from the exposed areas. Although no significant responses to contamination were found after the spill at Doñana core, further investigations should be carried out to monitor the situation.     

Assessment of the health status of Donax trunculus from the Gulf of Tunis using integrative biomarker indices

For a few years, the littoral of the Gulf of Tunis has been subjected to agricultural activities, industrial, urban and tourist development and consequently submitted to the impact of many chemical and physical stressors. Sub-individual responses (biochemical biomarkers) in bivalves can be used as an early warning system for ecotoxicological risk assessment. However, the influence of many confounding factors such as ecological (e.g. temperature and salinity) or physiological (e.g. reproductive and nutritive status) parameters on biomarker responses must be taken carefully into account. The aim of the present study was to integrate into indices (Integrated Biomarker Response: IBR and Health Status Index: HSI) individual responses of biochemical biomarkers (acetylcholinesterase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels, lactate dehydrogenase and metallothionein-like proteins) and energy reserves (glycogen, lipid levels and total protein concentrations) at sub-individual level, and condition index at individual level in Donax trunculus originating from 4 sites contrasted by their level of contamination in the Gulf of Tunis. Integrated biomarkers indices have been revealed to be efficient and easy tools for environmental managers. Responses of IBR and HSI were compared and their strengths and weaknesses discussed. Results showed that HSI could be an easy tool for risk management whereas IBR results were more informative with regard to the temporal contribution of each biomarker considered in the battery used in the present work. In bivalves from the reference Sidi Jehmi site, the contribution of energy reserves and the condition index reflecting a good general health status clearly influenced the temporal variations of IBR whereas in bivalves from the multi-contaminated Radès Méliane site, temporal variations of IBR were induced mainly by the responses of pollution biomarkers. Previous investigations concerning other level of biological organization (population) are in accordance with the present data (Tlili et al., 2010, Tlili et al., 2011).     

哈尔滨市十家医院医疗风险管理现状分析姜乃浒毛静馥△齐英△吴国松赵璐郭思佳刘行宇

目的：通过对哈尔滨市10家医院医疗风险管理现状调查,掌握医院医疗风险管理情况,找出存在的问题,提出改进对策,为医院制定科学、完善的医疗风险管理体系提供参考。方法：运用文献法、访谈法、特尔菲法、头脑风暴法等方法;应用SPSS、EXCEL统计软件对数据进行统计学处理。结果：三级医院在风险管理体系相比于二级医院更为完善;两级医院在医护人员独立工作能力,医疗药品和设备的准入,医疗风险信息系统使用,医护人员培训满意度等方面均具有较大差异;大多数医护人员愿意主动报告医疗纠纷;医患沟通效果较好,科室之间沟通协作也比较好。结论：目标医院基本上建立了医疗风险管理体系,但是在功能上、风险管理措施的制定及落实上尚不完善,医疗风险管理人员的专业素质有待提高,医院医疗风险管理意识尚需加强。     

传染病医院住院部医院感染管理现状及对策

目的：对传染病医院住院部感染管理的现状进行探讨分析,并研究相应的对策。方法：根据卫生部颁布的《医院感染诊断标准》对我院患者进行调查统计,重点对2009、2010、2011年的住院患者的感染率以及患者感染部位进行回顾性统计分析。结果：2009、2010、2011年医院感染率分别为3.07%、2.94%、3.05%。且这三年中,患者感染部位以呼吸道与腹腔为主。结论：通过切实加强传染病医院的医院感染的管理、监督以及控制,有效阻断了医院的院内所存在与潜在的传染源,从而有效降低了患者因医源性感染而患病的几率。     

心理护理干预对白血病患者化疗治疗的重要性

目的：对白血病患者在化疗前后表现的不同心理反应,实施有效的心理护理,引导患者正确面对顽症,积极配合治疗,提高心理承受能力。方法：120例白血病患者,随机选取60例为观察组,60例为对照组,两组患者在化疗前两天均填写SCL-90量表。化疗期间对观察组进行心理干预,一周后两组患者均填写SCL-90量表。结果：观察组经过心理干预后,躯体化、抑郁、焦虑,敌对、恐怖这五个因子,得分显著低于干预前（P〈0．05）;对照组干预前后无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。结论：对白血病患者在化疗前进行有针对性的心理护理,能有效改善患者的负性心理,提高患者的治疗依从性。     

Testosterone dynamics and psychopathic personality traits independently predict antagonistic behavior towards the perceived loser of a competitive interaction

Few studies have investigated the influence of changes in testosterone on subsequent competitive, antagonistic behavior in humans. Further, little is known about the extent to which such effects are moderated by personality traits. Here, we collected salivary measures of testosterone before and after a rigged competition. After the competition, participants were given the opportunity to act antagonistically against the competitor (allocate a low honorarium). We hypothesized that changes in testosterone throughout the competition would predict antagonistic behavior such that greater increases would be associated with the allocation of lower honorariums. Further, we investigated the extent to which personality traits related to psychopathy (fearless dominance, FD; self-centered impulsivity, SCI; and coldheartedness) moderated this relationship. In men (n = 104), greater increases in testosterone and greater FD were associated with more antagonistic behavior, but testosterone concentrations did not interact with personality measures. In women (n = 97), greater FD and SCI predicted greater antagonistic behavior, but there were no significant endocrine predictors or interactions with personality measures. In a secondary set of analyses, we found no support for the dual-hormone hypothesis that the relationship between baseline testosterone concentrations and behavior is moderated by cortisol concentrations. Thus, results are consistent with previous findings that in men, situation-specific testosterone reactivity rather than baseline endocrine function is a better predictor of future antagonistic behavior. The results are discussed with respect to the Challenge Hypothesis and the Biosocial Model of Status, and the possible mechanisms underlying the independent relations of testosterone and personality factors with antagonistic behavior.     

The effects of sex and childlessness on the association between status and reproductive output in modern society

Examining the association between socioeconomic status and reproductive output in modern societies has led to conflicting results. In this study, we used a representative sample of contemporary Swedish men and women to analyze possible reasons for the contradictory results. We found that the relationship between socioeconomic status—described here by income and highest educational level attained—and reproductive output is dependent on sex and the inclusion or exclusion of childless individuals. In men, there is a strong positive association between income/education and average offspring count if childless individuals are included in the analysis; this association is absent when such individuals are excluded. We attribute this reversal mainly to the higher proportion of childless individuals among men of lower socioeconomic background. Among other factors, female choice appears to be a major cause of this association because the proportion of men who never married increased with decreasing income category and educational level. In women, however, including and excluding childless individuals both yielded a negative association between income and average offspring count as well as a null or negative relationship between education and average offspring count.     

上海辰山植物园植物收集的现状和展望

上海辰山植物园于2005年开始筹建,与此同时启动了的植物收集工作。本文就辰山植物园基本情况、植物收集中长远规划、进展及技术策略进行了论述。活植物收集和标本收集是辰山植物园植物收集工作的两个方面。活植物收集包括以华东植物区系植物为主的物种收集和以上海适生的观赏植物为主的园艺品种收集,如鸢尾属、绣球属、荚蓬属、锦带属和绣线菊属的舭赏园艺品种。截止到2010年,辰山植物园共收集了9000种和园艺品种。其中,华东植物区系物种有1700种,来自世界范围专业苗圃的园艺品种有2800个,另有4500种和品种是种植于温室的热带和亚热带植物。目前共收集了近10000份标本,多数为研究和活植物收集的凭证标本,全部存放于上海辰山植物园标本馆（CSH）。