Aggregation in a Desert Tenebrionid Beetle: A Cost/Benefit Analysis

Parastizopus armaticeps (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), a nocturnal fossorial detritivore inhabiting southern Kalahari dunes, aggregates in burrows during the day. Group size increases during drought but 25% of beetles are still found alone or in pairs. During drought, beetles from large groups leave burrows after sunset synchronously and carlier than pairs and single animals and earlier than beetles of any group size after rain. Detritus from the beetles' major foodplant is scarce and food competition high. Beetles emerging early preferentially select and carry high-quality transportable items into burrows to eat (forage); late-emerging ones feed on the low-quality large twigs on the surface. Foraging is shown to be a strategy to secure food items against surface competitors, not one to reduce body water loss during surface exposure. The costs and benefits of group vs. solitary lifestyles and alternate hypotheses for early and synchronous emergence were tested experimentally. Grouped beetles had lower body water loss rates but, due to competition with burrow mates, higher feeding costs than single ones. It is hunger that advances and thus synchronizes emergence time, not social facilitation. Field data support a model predicting that, for maximal benefits, beetles should alternate between solitary and group life at optimal time intervals.     

Analysis of Cannabis Seizures in NSW,Australia: Cannabis Potency and Cannabinoid Profile

Recent analysis of the cannabinoid content of cannabis plants suggests a shift towards use of high potency plant material with high levels of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and low levels of other phytocannabinoids, particularly cannabidiol (CBD). Use of this type of cannabis is thought by some to predispose to greater adverse outcomes on mental health and fewer therapeutic benefits. Australia has one of the highest per capita rates of cannabis use in the world yet there has been no previous systematic analysis of the cannabis being used. In the present study we examined the cannabinoid content of 206 cannabis samples that had been confiscated by police from recreational users holding 15 g of cannabis or less, under the New South Wales “Cannabis Cautioning” scheme. A further 26 “Known Provenance” samples were analysed that had been seized by police from larger indoor or outdoor cultivation sites rather than from street level users. An HPLC method was used to determine the content of 9 cannabinoids: THC, CBD, cannabigerol (CBG), and their plant-based carboxylic acid precursors THC-A, CBD-A and CBG-A, as well as cannabichromene (CBC), cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THC-V). The “Cannabis Cautioning” samples showed high mean THC content (THC+THC-A = 14.88%) and low mean CBD content (CBD+CBD-A = 0.14%). A modest level of CBG was detected (CBG+CBG-A = 1.18%) and very low levels of CBC, CBN and THC-V (<0.1%). “Known Provenance” samples showed no significant differences in THC content between those seized from indoor versus outdoor cultivation sites. The present analysis echoes trends reported in other countries towards the use of high potency cannabis with very low CBD content. The implications for public health outcomes and harm reduction strategies are discussed.     

医疗器械市场现状、潜力与对策探讨

通过对国内外医疗器械市场现状的描述,分析国内医疗器械市场巨大潜力,从而引发国外医疗器械公司在成功抢占高档医疗器械市场后,又将目光锁定中国医疗器械企业赖依生存的中低档医疗器械和潜在市场。本文只是从经营决策的三个不同角度,即合作对付竞争、再生产品活动,目标市场战略来探讨国内医疗器械企业应对竞争的方法。     

农业生物信息数据库发展现状及应用

农业生物信息数据库是农业科学研究者的基础工具,利用数据库中的大量信息,便于进行农业生物的改良与保护。本文介绍了农业生物信息数据库的发展状况及其应用,并讨论了目前农业生物信息数据库存在的问题。     

The Health Equity and Effectiveness of Policy Options to Reduce Dietary Salt Intake in England: Policy Forecast

BackgroundPublic health action to reduce dietary salt intake has driven substantial reductions in coronary heart disease (CHD) over the past decade, but avoidable socio-economic differentials remain. We therefore forecast how further intervention to reduce dietary salt intake might affect the overall level and inequality of CHD mortality.MethodsWe considered English adults, with socio-economic circumstances (SEC) stratified by quintiles of the Index of Multiple Deprivation. We used IMPACT_SEC, a validated CHD policy model, to link policy implementation to salt intake, systolic blood pressure and CHD mortality. We forecast the effects of mandatory and voluntary product reformulation, nutrition labelling and social marketing (e.g., health promotion, education). To inform our forecasts, we elicited experts’ predictions on further policy implementation up to 2020. We then modelled the effects on CHD mortality up to 2025 and simultaneously assessed the socio-economic differentials of effect.ResultsMandatory reformulation might prevent or postpone 4,500 (2,900–6,100) CHD deaths in total, with the effect greater by 500 (300–700) deaths or 85% in the most deprived than in the most affluent. Further voluntary reformulation was predicted to be less effective and inequality-reducing, preventing or postponing 1,500 (200–5,000) CHD deaths in total, with the effect greater by 100 (−100–600) deaths or 49% in the most deprived than in the most affluent. Further social marketing and improvements to labelling might each prevent or postpone 400–500 CHD deaths, but minimally affect inequality.ConclusionsMandatory engagement with industry to limit salt in processed-foods appears a promising and inequality-reducing option. For other policy options, our expert-driven forecast warns that future policy implementation might reach more deprived individuals less well, limiting inequality reduction. We therefore encourage planners to prioritise equity.     

FIM Imaging and FIMtrack: Two New Tools Allowing High-throughput and Cost Effective Locomotion Analysis

The analysis of neuronal network function requires a reliable measurement of behavioral traits. Since the behavior of freely moving animals is variable to a certain degree, many animals have to be analyzed, to obtain statistically significant data. This in turn requires a computer assisted automated quantification of locomotion patterns. To obtain high contrast images of almost translucent and small moving objects, a novel imaging technique based on frustrated total internal reflection called FIM was developed. In this setup, animals are only illuminated with infrared light at the very specific position of contact with the underlying crawling surface. This methodology results in very high contrast images. Subsequently, these high contrast images are processed using established contour tracking algorithms. Based on this, we developed the FIMTrack software, which serves to extract a number of features needed to quantitatively describe a large variety of locomotion characteristics. During the development of this software package, we focused our efforts on an open source architecture allowing the easy addition of further modules. The program operates platform independent and is accompanied by an intuitive GUI guiding the user through data analysis. All locomotion parameter values are given in form of csv files allowing further data analyses. In addition, a Results Viewer integrated into the tracking software provides the opportunity to interactively review and adjust the output, as might be needed during stimulus integration. The power of FIM and FIMTrack is demonstrated by studying the locomotion of Drosophila larvae.     

以Cytb基因部分序列分析大额牛系统地位及其种群现状

对12头大额牛Cytb基因部分序列447bp进行分析,共发现33个变异位点,定义了4种单倍型;结合GenBank中牛属普通牛、瘤牛、牦牛和印度褐牛4个近缘种的Cytb基因同源区序列进行分析,以水牛作为外群,分别采用邻接(NJ)法和最大简约(MP)法构建分子系统发育树,得到基本一致的拓扑结构,结果表明大额牛是独立于普通牛、瘤牛和印度褐牛之外的Bos属的一个独立的种。同时还指出目前我国有相当比例的大额牛受到外来物种的入侵,我国的大额牛保护工作正面临非常严峻的考验。     

食用菌加工产业研究现状与前景

食用菌加工是利用物理、化学和生物方法处理食用菌子实体或菌丝体,生产食用菌制品。它可以解决食用菌从生产到商品出售所存在的时间矛盾,提高食用菌的商品价值。详细介绍了食用菌的干制加工、盐渍加工及罐藏加工技术,概括了食用菌深加工产业的发展现状及研究进展,提出了对食用菌加工的展望。     

丝状病毒出血热的血清流行病学调查研究及现状

丝状病毒(包括马尔堡与埃波拉病毒)被发现已有40余年,对其自然流行病学尚不清楚。综述了该病血清流行病学调查结果,丝状病毒出现的频率,地理生态学分布,及病毒生物学特性,为该病流行因素提供了信息与框架。然而,对病毒宿主,传入人类的起源、地理分布、具体区域等流行生态学有待进一步研究。     

DNA计算机原理、现状及发展

DNA计算机是一种基于DNA生化反应 ,与传统计算机完全不同的新型生物计算机。本文概述了DNA计算机的原理、特点与现状。并对其发展进行展望     

Quantifying Policy Options for Reducing Future Coronary Heart Disease Mortality in England: A Modelling Study

Aims

To estimate the number of coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths potentially preventable in England in 2020 comparing four risk factor change scenarios.

Methods and Results

Using 2007 as baseline, the IMPACT_SEC model was extended to estimate the potential number of CHD deaths preventable in England in 2020 by age, gender and Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007 quintiles given four risk factor change scenarios: (a) assuming recent trends will continue; (b) assuming optimal but feasible levels already achieved elsewhere; (c) an intermediate point, halfway between current and optimal levels; and (d) assuming plateauing or worsening levels, the worst case scenario. These four scenarios were compared to the baseline scenario with both risk factors and CHD mortality rates remaining at 2007 levels. This would result in approximately 97,000 CHD deaths in 2020. Assuming recent trends will continue would avert approximately 22,640 deaths (95% uncertainty interval: 20,390-24,980). There would be some 39,720 (37,120-41,900) fewer deaths in 2020 with optimal risk factor levels and 22,330 fewer (19,850-24,300) in the intermediate scenario. In the worst case scenario, 16,170 additional deaths (13,880-18,420) would occur. If optimal risk factor levels were achieved, the gap in CHD rates between the most and least deprived areas would halve with falls in systolic blood pressure, physical inactivity and total cholesterol providing the largest contributions to mortality gains.

Conclusions

CHD mortality reductions of up to 45%, accompanied by significant reductions in area deprivation mortality disparities, would be possible by implementing optimal preventive policies.     

我国微生物肥料产业现状及发展方向

文章为辽宁省微生物学会主办的"微生物与现代农业专题论坛"主题报告,从我国微生物肥料产业的现状、存在的主要问题、发展机遇及微生物肥料的产业化方向4个方面对我国微生物肥料产业现状及发展进行了详细阐述和深入分析。     

Sorting through the Wealth of Options: Comparative Evaluation of Two Ultraviolet Disinfection Systems

Background

Environmental surfaces play an important role in the transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens. Because environmental cleaning is often suboptimal, there is a growing demand for safe, rapid, and automated disinfection technologies, which has lead to a wealth of novel disinfection options available on the market. Specifically, automated ultraviolet-C (UV-C) devices have grown in number due to the documented efficacy of UV-C for reducing healthcare-acquired pathogens in hospital rooms. Here, we assessed and compared the impact of pathogen concentration, organic load, distance, and radiant dose on the killing efficacy of two analogous UV-C devices.

Principal Findings

The devices performed equivalently for each impact factor assessed. Irradiation delivered for 41 minutes at 4 feet from the devices consistently reduced C. difficile spores by ∼ 3 log₁₀CFU/cm², MRSA by>4 log₁₀CFU/cm², and VRE by >5 log₁₀CFU/cm². Pathogen concentration did not significantly impact the killing efficacy of the devices. However, both a light and heavy organic load had a significant negative impacted on the killing efficacy of the devices. Additionally, increasing the distance to 10 feet from the devices reduced the killing efficacy to ≤3 log₁₀CFU/cm² for MRSA and VRE and <2 log₁₀CFU/cm² for C.difficile spores. Delivery of reduced timed doses of irradiation particularly impacted the ability of the devices to kill C. difficile spores. MRSA and VRE were reduced by >3 log₁₀CFU/cm² after only 10 minutes of irradiation, while C. difficile spores required 40 minutes of irradiation to achieve a similar reduction.

Conclusions

The UV-C devices were equally effective for killing C. difficile spores, MRSA, and VRE. While neither device would be recommended as a stand-alone disinfection procedure, either device would be a useful adjunctive measure to routine cleaning in healthcare facilities.     

Global Coverage of Cetacean Line-Transect Surveys: Status Quo, Data Gaps and Future Challenges

Knowledge of abundance, trends and distribution of cetacean populations is needed to inform marine conservation efforts, ecosystem models and spatial planning. We compiled a geo-spatial database of published data on cetacean abundance from dedicated visual line-transect surveys and encoded >1100 abundance estimates for 47 species from 430 surveys conducted worldwide from 1975–2005. Our subsequent analyses revealed large spatial, temporal and taxonomic variability and gaps in survey coverage. With the exception of Antarctic waters, survey coverage was biased toward the northern hemisphere, especially US and northern European waters. Overall, <25% of the world''s ocean surface was surveyed and only 6% had been covered frequently enough (≥5 times) to allow trend estimation. Almost half the global survey effort, defined as total area (km²) covered by all survey study areas across time, was concentrated in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). Neither the number of surveys conducted nor the survey effort had increased in recent years. Across species, an average of 10% of a species'' predicted range had been covered by at least one survey, but there was considerable variation among species. With the exception of three delphinid species, <1% of all species'' ranges had been covered frequently enough for trend analysis. Sperm whales emerged from our analyses as a relatively data-rich species. This is a notoriously difficult species to survey visually, and we use this as an example to illustrate the challenges of using available data from line-transect surveys for the detection of trends or for spatial planning. We propose field and analytical methods to fill in data gaps to improve cetacean conservation efforts.     

Benefit Cost Analysis of Three Skin Cancer Public Education Mass-Media Campaigns Implemented in New South Wales,Australia

Public education mass media campaigns are an important intervention for influencing behaviour modifications. However, evidence on the effectiveness of such campaigns to encourage the population to reduce sun exposure is limited. This study investigates the benefits and costs of three skin cancer campaigns implemented in New South Wales from 2006–2013. This analysis uses Australian dollars (AUD) and 2010–11 as the currency and base year, respectively. Historical data on skin cancer were used to project skin cancer rates for the period 2006–2020. The expected number of skin cancer cases is derived by combining skin cancer rates, sunburn rates and relative risk of skin cancers due to sun exposure. Counterfactual estimates are based on sunburn exposure in the absence of the campaigns. Monetary values are attached to direct (treatment) and indirect (productivity) costs saved due to fewer skin cancer cases. Monetary benefits are compared with the cost of implementing the campaigns and are presented in the form of a benefit-cost ratio. Relative to the counterfactual (i.e., no campaigns) there are an estimated 13,174 fewer skin cancers and 112 averted deaths over the period 2006–2013. The net present value of these benefits is $60.17 million and the campaign cost is $15.63 million. The benefit cost ratio is 3.85, suggesting that for every $1 invested a return of $3.85 is achieved. Skin cancer public education mass media campaigns are a good investment given the likely extent to which they reduce the morbidity, mortality and economic burden of skin cancer.     

线粒体H~ -ATPase超分子结构及其催化机制的研究现状

质子泵H~ -ATPase广泛存在于线粒体,叶绿体,异养菌和光合细菌中,是生物体能量转换的核心酶,有极为重要的生理作用。近几年来,对H~ -ATPase的结构、功能和调控机制的研究进展很快,对复合体的组装有了进一步的认识。对H~ -ATPase的主要亚基已经完成序列测定及分析,对各亚基生理功能也进行了较为深入的研究。生物化学及分子生物学工作揭示:生物体内以多种方式对编码H~ -ATPase主要亚基的基因表达和该酶的活力进行调控。其中,对于线粒体H~ -ATPasc的研究显得尤为突出。本文综述了线粒体H~ -ATPase的结构、功能、和调节方面的研究现状,并进一步提出了一些值得深入探讨的问题。     

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。