Epidemiological study of sarcoptic mange in raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides albus) in Hokkaido, Japan

Sarcoptic mange is a pruritic skin disease caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, and can impact wildlife populations. In Japan, sarcoptic mange has rapidly spread among medium-sized mammals, especially raccoon dogs, since the 1980s, and can cause regional extinction. We conducted an epidemiological survey on sarcoptic mange in raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides albus) at two different sampling sites (Nopporo and Mukawa) in Hokkaido, Japan. We captured raccoon dogs using box traps in Nopporo from 2003 to 2018, and collected raccoon dog carcasses in Mukawa from 2005 to 2010; we investigated whether they were infested with S. scabiei. In Nopporo, sarcoptic mange incidences were detected from 2003 to 2004 and from 2016 to 2018, when the raccoon dog population density was high. Subsequently, the number of captured raccoon dogs decreased. Alternatively, when the raccoon dog population density was low, no S. scabiei-infested raccoon dogs were detected except in 2010. In 2010, three S. scabiei-infested raccoon dogs were captured at the southern end of the forest, and these individuals were subsequently confirmed to have died. Because they did not enter the central region of the forest, the incidence was localized. In Mukawa, 240 raccoon dogs were captured, of which 60 were infested with S. scabiei from 2005 to 2010, and a decrease in the number of captured raccoon dogs was confirmed after the sarcoptic mange epidemic. In conclusion, the increased population density might have resulted in the incidence of sarcoptic mange in raccoon dogs, and sarcoptic mange possibly impacted raccoon dog population density

How do university students take notes? (2): The structural features of their note-taking on slide lecture

The purpose of this study is to clarify what type of notes students take on slide lecture using the features of their notes as clues. Those notes were featured via k-medoids cluster analysis on Manhattan distances from the rating criteria and classified into 4 clusters. Almost half of them showed some efforts. Finally, we considered in terms of the differences with the type of notes on blackboard lecture

Comparison of feeding habits and habitat use between invasive raccoons and native raccoon dogs in Hokkaido, Japan

Background In Japan, invasive raccoons cause severe ecological and social problems by transmitting pathogens to humans, livestock, and native species, causing substantial crop damage, and competing with native species. Possible competition between invasive raccoons and native raccoon dogs is of concern in Japan because Japanese raccoon dogs have a limited distribution and are native only to Japan and the two species have similar characteristics. We assessed potential competition between raccoons and raccoon dogs by comparing feeding habits and habitat use. Results Both species were captured in Hokkaido, Japan from 2004 to 2017. More raccoons were captured close to agricultural land at the forest periphery (70.1%, 358/511); conversely, more raccoon dogs were captured in the forest core (74.9%, 253/338). Feeding habits were then examined by fecal analysis and stable isotope analyses. Fecal analysis revealed both species to be opportunistic omnivores that consumed easily found food items. However, raccoon feces contained more crops, whereas raccoon dog feces contained more insects, reflecting the different locations in which the species were trapped. Moreover, stable isotope ratios were significantly higher in raccoons than raccoon dogs (Corn has the highest carbon stable isotope (delta C-13) value, and amphibians and reptiles are high in nitrogen stable isotope (delta N-15); forest resources such as insects and wild fruits are low in delta C-13 and delta N-15). Conclusions We conclude that both species ate similar food types, but their food preferences appeared to differ. Raccoon and raccoon dog habitat use also differed, possibly because the two species inhabited areas where they could easily obtain their preferred foods. Therefore, the current feeding habits and habitat use of raccoons do not appear to overlap sufficiently with those of raccoon dogs to impact the latter. The results of this study, particularly the stable isotope data, may provide a useful precedent for future studies of competition in medium-sized mammals, particularly canids

How do university students take notes? : The structural features of their note-taking in lecture

The purpose of this study is to clarify what type of notes students take using the structural features of their notes as clues. Seventy-four university students got lectured about developmental psychology and took their notes. Those notes were featured via group average method cluster analysis on binary distances from the following 9 aspects. (A) Organization of learning contents: subhead; layout; itemization. (B) Clarification of the emphatic points: colorway; coloring; emphasis. (C) Auxiliary description for comprehension: explanation; sentences; illustration. As a result, we classified the 74 notes into 6 clusters. The results showed university students’ features of note-taking as follows: (1) well-featured notes for an ideal note-taking belonged in the largest cluster, which represents a high standard of university students’ note-taking; (2) the clusters of poorly-featured notes were in the second place, which represents that their note-taking remains at just a record and they need more guidance about note-taking; (3) the rest showed little efforts. On the basis of the result of this study, we discussed the learning support and future directions

〈Originals〉 COX-2 expression and the prevalence of regulatory T cells in tumor and non-tumor sites of hepatocellular carcinoma

[Abstract] Aim : The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays a role in the differentiation and guidance of regulatory T cells (FOXP3^+ Tregs), and this mechanism has also been studied extensively in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we investigated the expression of COX-2 and prevalence of FOXP3^+ Tregs in tumor and non-tumor sites to elucidate their association with the clinicopathological features of HCC and disease outcome. Method : This study involved 44 patients with HCC who had undergone hepatectomy without any preoperative treatment. Paraffin-embeddednodules (n=44) were sectioned for immunostaining with COX-2 and FOXP3 monoclonal antibodies, and the degree of COX-2 expression and prevalence of FOXP3^+ Tregs were measured. Results : COX-2 expression in the non-tumor sites showed a positive correlation with the number of FOXP3^+ Tregs (p < 0.001). In addition, in the non-tumor sites, the high FOXP3^+ Tregs prevalence group was significantly associated with TNM stages (p=0.003) and AFP (p=0.027). The expression of COX-2 in the nontumor sites was also significantly associated with disease-free survival (p=0.005). Conclusion : The present findings suggest the association of COX-2 expression in the nontumor sites with disease-free survival and thus the recurrence of HCC. In addition, COX-2 expression and the prevalence of FOXP3^+ Tregs have been positively correlated in the non-tumor sites, indicating that their interaction influences the outcome of HCC. To prevent the recurrence of HCC, it may be necessary to inhibit the expression of COX-2