Patterns of reproduction and development of selected resident teleosts of Florida salt marshes

A wide variety of teleost fishes occur in tidal marshes of Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida, few of which breed in these habitats or remain there for extended periods of time. A significant fraction of teleosts that do so are members of one of five families. Eleven representative species belonging to these families, whose reproduction and development are considered here, include: Adinia xenica, Fundulus confluentus, F. grandis and F. similis (Fundulidae); Cyprinodon variegatus, Floridichthys carpio and Jordanella floridae (Cyprinodontidae); Gambusia holbrooki and Poecilia latipinna (Poeciliidae); Mugil cephalus (Mugilidae); and Dormitator maculatus (Eleotridae). Spawning or birth locations, patterns of growth and development, times of use of the salt marsh as a nursery area, and development of salinity tolerances/osmotic regulatory capabilities were evaluated for each, considering these in the context of variability of environmental conditions, especially of salinity. Five different patterns of reproduction are shown by these 11 species, and only A. xenica appears to be limited to reproducing in the salt marsh environment. Some of these species are capable of reproducing throughout the year. Several of the species are annuals, most others live only 2 or 3 years. Eight species (those other than M. cephalus, A. xenica and G. holbrooki) were found to show no size relationship, large juvenile to adult sizes, in osmotic regulatory capabilities.     

Juvenile bimodal length distribution and sea-run migration of the lower modal group in the Pacific Ocean form of three-spined stickleback

Juvenile three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus in their nursery pond had a bimodal length distribution after October in their first year of life. A sea-run migration of all individuals belonging to the lower modal group was observed, with a peak in early November. These data suggest that partial migration based on the early status of individual juveniles occurs in the Pacific Ocean form of three-spined stickleback.     

Intrinsically altered lung‐resident γδT cells control lung melanoma by producing interleukin‐17A in the elderly

Cancer is an age‐associated disease, potentially related to the altered immune system of elderly individuals. However, cancer has gradually decreased incidence in the eldest globally such as the most common lung cancer, the mechanisms of which remain to be elucidated. In this study, it was found that the number of lung‐resident γδT cells was significantly increased with altered gene expression in aged mice (20–24 months) versus young mice (10–16 weeks). Aged lung Vγ4⁺ and Vγ6⁺ γδT cells predominantly produced interleukin‐17A (IL‐17A), resulting in increased levels in the serum and lungs. Moreover, the aged mice exhibited smaller tumors and reduced numbers of tumor foci in the lungs after challenge with intravenous injection of B16/F10 melanoma cells compared with the young mice. Aged lung Vγ4⁺ and Vγ6⁺ γδT cells were highly cytotoxic to B16/F10 melanoma cells with higher expression levels of CD103. The markedly longer survival of the challenged aged mice was dependent on γδT17 cells, since neutralization of IL‐17A or depletion of indicated γδT cells significantly shortened the survival time. Consistently, supplementation of IL‐17A significantly enhanced the survival time of young mice with lung melanoma. Furthermore, the anti‐tumor activity of aged lung γδT17 cells was not affected by alterations in the load and composition of commensal microbiota, as demonstrated through co‐housing of the aged and young mice. Intrinsically altered lung γδT17 cells underlying age‐dependent changes control lung melanoma, which will help to better understand the lung cancer progression in the elderly and the potential use of γδT17 cells in anti‐tumor immunotherapy.     

MLL与LBL相结合在基层医生胸腔外科临床培训中的应用

目的:探讨传统教学法(LBL)、微课教学法(MLL)、MLL与LBL相结合的教学法在基层医生胸外科临床培训过程中的教学效果。方法:将唐都医院第10期陕西省基层医生培训班的120名基层医生随机分为LBL教学组、MLL教学组、MLL与LBL相结合教学组三组,每组各40人。在培训结束时,采用理论知识考试及实践技能考查进行量化考核,评估三种不同教学方法的教学效果。同时采用问卷调查,评价对三种教学方法的认同度。结果:LBL组学生的理论知识测试成绩较好(P0.005),而实践技能考查成绩较差(P0.001);MLL组学生的理论知识测试成绩较差(P0.005),而实践技能考查成绩较好(P0.001);MLL与LBL相结合组学生在理论知识测试和实践技能考查成绩两方面都较好(P0.0001)。问卷调查结果显示,MLL教学法、MLL与LBL相结合的教学法都得到了较好的认同度(P0.05)。结论:MLL与LBL相结合的教学法不仅提高了基层医师对理论知识的记忆,而且能够使其将所学知识更灵活运用到实践操作中,综合素质也得到很大的提高。     

Observed case of infanticide committed by a resident male central American black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra)

Although infanticide has been witnessed in other species of howler monkey, and has been inferred for Alouatta pigra, an observed case of infanticide has not previously been recorded for this species. Here we describe the killing of a 2-week-old infant by the resident male of a small social group in southern Belize. The infanticide was witnessed as part of an intensive observational study that began in January 2003. The male was known to have resided in the group for at least 4 months, but it is not known whether he was the father of the infant. The literature proposes three main explanations for infanticide: two adaptive hypotheses (sexual selection and resource competition), and one nonadaptive hypothesis (social pathology). Individual cases of infanticide such as this one are important for comparative purposes, but when examined on their own they are difficult to interpret in relation to established theoretical frameworks. The data presented here show some consistency with the sexual-selection and resource-competition hypotheses, but the lack of critical information (i.e., as to paternity) makes it impossible to draw firm conclusions.     

举证责任倒置对医生影响的调查分析

目的:了解举证责任倒置实施以来,该政策对医生的影响及实施中存在的问题。方法:应用自制问卷,对青岛、西安两地9家三甲综合性医院共256名医生进行问卷调查,运用spss16.0进行统计分析。结果:举证责任倒置一方面给医生的医疗行为带来了积极影响,另一方面也给医生带来了较大的心理压力,尤其是发生过纠纷、被起诉的医生,对其以后的行为产生了消极影响。结论:医院除应加强对医生医疗技术、法律知识培训外,还应成立专门的机构来缓解医生的心理压力,解除其心理问题。     

新医改形势下医生劳动价值的体现

医疗服务的生产者是医生,其劳动有实质内涵,价值不同于药品器械,难以用货币衡量,不能用劳动时间来评价。突出医疗卫生事业公益性,探索医院发展要重视医生劳动价值,应进行医院成本核算。用价值理论剖析成本构成,控制医药消费,以病种、诊治次成本研究探索医疗服务定价机制;探讨药事（医疗）服务费种类、价格及核算方法要选择合适的试点,加强监督、考核是必要的。     

Using demographic data to better interpret pitfall trap catches

The results of pitfall trapping are often interpreted as abundance in a particular habitat. At the same time, there are numerous cases of almost unrealistically high catches of ground beetles in seemingly unsuitable sites. The correlation of catches by pitfall trapping with the true distribution and abundance of Carabidae needs corroboration. During a full year survey in 2006/07 in the Lake Elton region (Volgograd Area, Russia), 175 species of ground beetles were trapped. Considering the differences in demographic structure of the local populations, and not their abundances, three groups of species were recognized: residents, migrants and sporadic. In residents, the demographic structure of local populations is complete, and their habitats can be considered "residential". In migrants and sporadic species, the demographic structure of the local populations is incomplete, and their habitats can be considered "transit". Residents interact both with their prey and with each other in a particular habitat. Sporadic species are hardly important to a carabid community because of their low abundances. The contribution of migrants to the structure of carabid communities is not apparent and requires additional research. Migrants and sporadic species represent a "labile" component in ground beetles communities, as opposed to a "stable" component, represented by residents. The variability of the labile component substantially limits our interpretation of species diversity in carabid communities. Thus, the criteria for determining the most abundant, or dominant species inevitably vary because the abundance of migrants in some cases can be one order of magnitude higher than that of residents. The results of pitfall trapping adequately reflect the state of carabid communities only in zonal habitats, while azonal and disturbed habitats are merely transit ones for many species of ground beetles. A study of the demographic structure of local populations and assessment of the migratory/residential status of particular carabid species are potential ways of increasing the reliability of pitfall trap information.     

Fine‐scale movements and behaviors of coyotes (Canis latrans) during their reproductive period

In canids, resident breeders hold territories but require different resources than transient individuals (i.e., dispersers), which may result in differential use of space, land cover, and food by residents and transients. In the southeastern United States, coyote (Canis latrans) reproduction occurs during spring and is energetically demanding for residents, but transients do not reproduce and therefore can exhibit feeding behaviors with lower energetic rewards. Hence, how coyotes behave in their environment likely differs between resident and transient coyotes. We captured and monitored 36 coyotes in Georgia during 2018–2019 and used data from 11 resident breeders, 12 predispersing residents (i.e., offspring of resident breeders), and 11 transients to determine space use, movements, and relationships between these behaviors and landcover characteristics. Average home range size for resident breeders and predispersing offspring was 20.7 ± 2.5 km² and 50.7 ± 10.0 km², respectively. Average size of transient ranges was 241.4 ± 114.5 km². Daily distance moved was 6.3 ± 3.0 km for resident males, 5.5 ± 2.7 km for resident females, and 6.9 ± 4.2 km for transients. We estimated first‐passage time values to assess the scale at which coyotes respond to their environment, and used behavioral change‐point analysis to determine that coyotes exhibited three behavioral states. We found notable differences between resident and transient coyotes in regard to how landcover characteristics influenced their behavioral states. Resident coyotes tended to select for areas with denser vegetation while resting and foraging, but for areas with less dense vegetation and canopy cover when walking. Transient coyotes selected areas closer to roads and with lower canopy cover while resting, but for areas farther from roads when foraging and walking. Our findings suggest that behaviors of both resident and transient coyotes are influenced by varying landcover characteristics, which could have implications for prey.