Systematics, variation, distribution, and biology of lampreys of the genus Lampetra in Oregon

Based on the number of velar tentacles and the form of longitudinal lingual laminae found in Lampetra (Entosphenus) t. tridentata and its closely related forms, the taxon Entosphenus should not be considered as a genus as commonly adopted, but, along with the taxa Lethenteron and Lampetra, should be regarded as a subgenus of the genus Lampetra. The genus Lampetra is distinct for various reasons, including particularly the character that no cusps are present in the area distal to the lateral circumorals. Six nominal species, belonging to the subgenera Entosphenus and Lampetra, have been known to occur in four of the seven major drainage systems of Oregon. The anadromous L. (E.) t.tridentata, is widespread in the Columbia River and Coastal drainage systems, occurring in most streams with access to the ocean regardless of distance to the ocean, as long as suitable spawning grounds and ammocoete habitats are present. Morphometrics and dentitional features vary little over its geographical range. The number of trunk myomeres and the adult body size vary appreciably so that two categories of regional forms, coastal and inland, may be recognized. The coastal forms are generally smaller and have fewer trunk myomeres compared to those of the larger inland forms. The spawning migration begins from the late spring to late summer for the coastal forms but may occur much earlier for the inland forms. The adult body size appears to be positively correlated with absolute fecundity, but is negatively correlated with relative fecundity. Duration of the larval period is from four to six years. Metamorphosis usually takes place in the fall. Macrophthalmia are known to enter the ocean over a long period, those descending coastal streams enter salt water in the late fall and early winter, whereas the peak of emigration from inland streams is in the early spring. Duration of its marine parasitic phase appears to be from 20 to 40 months. The small landlocked L. (E.) t. kawiaga n. subsp., found only in the Klamath and Goose Lake drainage systems in southern Oregon and northern California, differs from t. tridentata in body size and various meristic and morphometric characters. Its lacustrine parasitic phase is about 12 months long. L. (E.) lethophaga, the nonparasitic derivative of tridentata, occurs in the Klamath and probably also the Goose Lake drainage system. It is characterized by an extension of the larval phase and by a greatly reduced post-larval period. The presumably extinct L. (E. ) minima, a parasitic derivative of tridentata, found formerly only in Miller Lake, Oregon, possessed a number of characters that were concomitants of dwarfism, the distinctive feature of the species. Relationships and evolution among the subgenus Entosphenus were discussed. Distributional records of L. ayresii and L. richardsoni of the subgenus Lampetra in Oregon were given. Evidence indicates that a complex of clinal races, including L. pacifica Vladykov, 1973, may exist in the latter species

Temporal Changes in a Tropical Nekton Assemblage and Performance of a Prawn Selective Gear

The temporal variation of components of a moderately diverse (H=1.46) tropical estuarine fish assemblage (long. 146°30'E, lat. 8°45'S) was directed by salinities that had been determined by local oceanographic and probably topographic conditions. For this assemblage, two types of intrayear component profiles are predicted. Pooled data (1988-91) reveal a large component of regular/resident species (43%) in an assemblage which has been under a narrow temperature regime «5T). These results facilitate a discussion on the relevance and usefulness of three hypotheses often cited in studies concerning species diversity and component characteristics of the subtropical/tropical coastal nonreef fish assemblages. Manifestations of the assemblage are reflected in catch composition and weights of 39 trials conducted for a selective prawning gear whose performance in bycatch reduction, mainly for finfishes, is judged by an index, E, we have previously proposed. This gear is capable of harvesting the prawn while conserving the demersal fish. Behavioral responses to netting of the prawns and the finfishes, especially the nearshore surface schoolers such as leiognathids, are discussed from several points of view. An adaptation in terms of group selection for leiognathids of their locking mechanism of median fin spines has been interpreted. For the purpose of bycatch reduction or E enhancement, suggestions for improvements in net design and trawl configuration by considering the behavioral features of fish are made. Our original formula of E is modified for general use. Bycatch problems in the regional prawn fisheries and their possible impacts on fishery planning and development in Papua New Guinea as a developing country are discussed. The gear tested may offer enormous ecological and economic benefits. The gear is multipurpose, extremely simple, and can also be used as a biological sampler

The promise of digital healthcare technologies

Digital health technologies have been in use for many years in a wide spectrum of healthcare scenarios. This narrative review outlines the current use and the future strategies and significance of digital health technologies in modern healthcare applications. It covers the current state of the scientific field (delineating major strengths, limitations, and applications) and envisions the future impact of relevant emerging key technologies. Furthermore, we attempt to provide recommendations for innovative approaches that would accelerate and benefit the research, translation and utilization of digital health technologies

The promise of digital healthcare technologies

Digital health technologies have been in use for many years in a wide spectrum of healthcare scenarios. This narrative review outlines the current use and the future strategies and significance of digital health technologies in modern healthcare applications. It covers the current state of the scientific field (delineating major strengths, limitations, and applications) and envisions the future impact of relevant emerging key technologies. Furthermore, we attempt to provide recommendations for innovative approaches that would accelerate and benefit the research, translation and utilization of digital health technologies

Cost-benefit and discriminant validity of a stepwise dementia case-finding approach in an Asian older adult community

Background Case-finding is a recommended approach for dementia early detection in the community.Aims To investigate the discriminant validity and cost-effectiveness of a stepwise dementia case-finding approach in a Singaporean older adult community.Methods The two-phase study was conducted in the community from 2009 to 2015 in Singapore. A total of 3780 participants (age ≥60 years) completed phase I (a brief cognitive screening); 918 completed phase II and were included in the final analysis. In phase I, all participants were administered the Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) and the Progressive Forgetfulness Question (PFQ). Those who screened positive on either test were invited to phase II, whereby the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a formal neuropsychological battery were administered, followed by the research diagnosis of no cognitive impairment, cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND)-Mild (≤2 impaired cognitive domains), CIND-Moderate (>2 impaired domains) or dementia. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were conducted for the different cognitive instruments. All discriminant indices were calculated, including sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (NPV) and accuracy. Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted by estimating the amount of screening time needed and the number of older adults requiring re-evaluation in two case-finding scenarios, ie, with or without preselection by the PFQ.Results The stepwise case-finding approach (preselection by the PFQ, then MMSE or MoCA or AMT) showed an excellent NPV (>99%) and accuracy (>86%) for excluding dementia-free cases. Without preselection by the PFQ, screening time for the three cognitive tools were 317.5, 317.5 and 254 hours, with 159, 302 and 175 screen-positive older adults involved in further evaluation. By adopting the stepwise case-finding approach, total screening time were 156.5, 156.5 and 126.2 hours, which decreased by 50.7%, 50.7% and 50.3% as compared with those without preselection. Furthermore, after preselection, only 98, 167 and 145 screen-positive older adults required further evaluation, corresponding to a reduction of 38.4%, 44.7% and 17.1% in the numbers compared with those without preselection.Conclusions A stepwise approach for dementia case-finding should be implemented in the community to minimise the time and resources needed for large-scale early detection of dementia

Highly Mimetic Ex Vivo Lung‐Cancer Spheroid‐Based Physiological Model for Clinical Precision Therapeutics

Abstract Lung cancer remains a major health problem despite the considerable research into prevention and treatment methods. Through a deeper understanding of tumors, patient‐specific ex vivo spheroid models with high specificity can be used to accurately investigate the cause, metastasis, and treatment strategies for lung cancer. Biofabricate lung tumors are presented, consisting of patient‐derived tumor spheroids, endothelial cells, and lung decellularized extracellular matrix, which maintain a radial oxygen gradient, as well as biophysicochemical behaviors of the native tumors for precision medicine. It is also demonstrated that the developed lung‐cancer spheroid model reproduces patient responses to chemotherapeutics and targeted therapy in a co‐clinical trial, with 85% accuracy, 86.7% sensitivity, and 80% specificity. RNA sequencing analysis validates that the gene expression in the spheroids replicates that in the patient's primary tumor. This model can be used as an ex vivo predictive model for personalized cancer therapy and to improve the quality of clinical care