Efficacy of Corrected Rapid Turnover Protein Increment Index (CRII) for Early Detection of Improvement of Nutrition Status in Patients with Malnutrition

Serum prealbumin level is useful for assessment of changes in nutritional status but it is markedly affected by the inflammation. In this study, we examined the efficacy of the corrected rapid turnover protein increment index (CRII) for prealbumin, which is calculated as [prealbumin level/C-reactive protein (CRP) level on the assessment day]/[prealbumin level/CRP level on the day of starting nutritional care], for prediction of improvement of nutritional status in patients with malnutrition. The subjects were 50 hospitalized patients with low albuminemia, who were receiving nutritional care. Serum concentrations of albumin, prealbumin and CRP were measured every week for 5 weeks. We defined patients whose serum albumin level was elevated by more than 0.2 g/dl after 5 weeks as those showing improved nutritional status. There was a significant difference in the prealbumin level between improved and unimproved patients at 5 weeks after the start of nutritional support. On the other hand, the prealbumin CRII value showed a significant difference between the groups at 1 and 2 weeks after the start of nutritional support. In conclusion, assessment of prealbumin CRII is useful for early prediction of improved nutritional status in patients with malnutrition

Current Performance and On-Going Improvements of the 8.2 m Subaru Telescope

An overview of the current status of the 8.2 m Subaru Telescope constructed and operated at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan is presented. The basic design concept and the verified performance of the telescope system are described. Also given are the status of the instrument package offered to the astronomical community, the status of operation, and some of the future plans. The status of the telescope reported in a number of SPIE papers as of the summer of 2002 are incorporated with some updates included as of 2004 February. However, readers are encouraged to check the most updated status of the telescope through the home page, http://subarutelescope.org/index.html, and/or the direct contact with the observatory staff.Comment: 18 pages (17 pages in published version), 29 figures (GIF format), This is the version before the galley proo

Life Cycle Replacement by Gene Introduction under an Allee Effect in Periodical Cicadas

Periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) in the USA are divided into three species groups (-decim, -cassini, -decula) of similar but distinct morphology and behavior. Each group contains at least one species with a 17-year life cycle and one with a 13-year cycle; each species is most closely related to one with the other cycle. One explanation for the apparent polyphyly of 13- and 17-year life cycles is that populations switch between the two cycles. Using a numerical model, we test the general feasibility of life cycle switching by the introduction of alleles for one cycle into populations of the other cycle. Our results suggest that fitness reductions at low population densities of mating individuals (the Allee effect) could play a role in life cycle switching. In our model, if the 13-year cycle is genetically dominant, a 17-year cycle population will switch to a 13-year cycle given the introduction of a few 13-year cycle alleles under a moderate Allee effect. We also show that under a weak Allee effect, different year-classes (“broods”) with 17-year life cycles can be generated. Remarkably, the outcomes of our models depend only on the dominance relationships of the cycle alleles, irrespective of any fitness advantages

Temporal dynamics of hybridization between 17- and 13-year cycles in periodical cicadas.

<p>(A–C): 13-year allele is dominant and (D–F): 17-year is dominant. (A) Without an Allee effect (<i>N_c</i> = 0). (B) The same as (A) for all seventeen 17-yr broods. (C) With an Allee effect (<i>N_c</i> = 100). (D) Without an Allee effect (<i>N_c</i> = 0). (E) The same as (D) for all thirteen 13-yr broods. (F) With an Allee effect (<i>N_c</i> = 100). Other parameters are <i>N_INI</i> = 1000, <i>P</i>₁₃ = 0.1, and <i>r</i> = 1.001.</p

Phase planes of emergent cycles between 17- and 13-year cycles when 17-year gene is dominant.

<p>(A) Without an Allee effect (<i>N_c</i> = 0). (B) With an Allee effect (<i>N_c</i> = 100). (C) Under varied Allee effects (<i>N_c</i> = 0∼100) and a constant initial population size (<i>N_INI</i> = 1,000). (D) Phase plane of non-cycle genes. The percent genes originated from 17(13)-year broods are shown in Blue (Orange). Other parameters are <i>r</i> = 1.001 and <i>t</i> = 10,000.</p

Phase planes of emergent cycles between 17- and 13-year cycles when 13-year gene is dominant.

<p>(A) Without an Allee effect (<i>N_c</i> = 0). (B) With an Allee effect (<i>N_c</i> = 100). (C) Under varied Allee effects (<i>N_c</i> = 0∼100) and a constant initial population size (<i>N_INI</i> = 1,000). (D) Phase plane of non-cycle genes. The percent genes originated from 17(13)-year broods are shown in Blue (Orange). Other parameters are <i>r</i> = 1.001 and <i>t</i> = 10,000.</p

Schematic diagram of life cycle shifting by gene introduction in periodical cicadas.

<p>(A) The proportion of 13 (17)-year cycle in the initial mixed populations. Condition 1: a few 13-year individuals are introduced into a large 17-year population (<i>P</i>₁₃ = 0.1). Condition 2: a 13-year population is mixed with a 17-year population of the same size (<i>P</i>₁₃ = 0.5). Condition 3: a few 17-year individuals are introduced into a large 13-year population (<i>P</i>₁₃ = 0.9). (B) Repeated hybridization over time for Condition 1. When few individuals of a 13-year brood are introduced into the 17-year brood (the original population), a small population of heterochronic 17-year broods is produced via 13-year hybrids. Case 1: with an Allee effect. The original and derived 17-year broods are all eliminated by an Allee effect (cross signs indicate extinction). Only the 13-year broods survive in the end. Case 2: without an Allee effect. In 17-year cycles brood shifts may result in all possible 17 broods. All the original and derived 17-year broods may survive in the end.</p