Colony size, but not density, affects survival and mating success of alternative male reproductive tactics in a polyphenic mite, Rhizoglyphus echinopus

Among acarid mites, a number of species are characterised by the presence of discontinuous morphologies (armed heteromorphs vs. unarmed homeomorphs) associated with alternative mating tactics (fighting vs. scramble competition). In Rhizoglyphus echinopus, expression of the fighter morph is suppressed, via pheromones, in large, dense colonies. If this mechanism is adaptive, fighters should have relatively lower fitness in large and/or dense colonies, due to costs incurred from fighting, which is often fatal. In order to test these predictions, we quantified the survival and mating success of fighters and scramblers in colonies of equal sex and morph ratios; these colonies either differed in size (4, 8, or 32 individuals) but not density or differed in density but not size (all consisted of 8 individuals). We found that the relative survival and mating success of fighters was inversely related to colony size, but we did not find a significant effect of colony density. The higher mating success of fighters in small colonies was due to the fact that, after killing rival males, these fighters were able to monopolise females. This situation was not found in larger colonies, in which there was a larger number of competitors and fighters suffered relatively higher mortality. These results indicate that morph determination, guided by social cues, allows for the adaptive adjustment of mating tactics to existing demographic conditions

Thermal Wave Measurements with a Mirage Detection for Investigation of Thermal Diffusivity of GdCa4O(BO3)3 Single Crystals

Single crystals of GdCa4O(BO3)3 were examined to determine their thermal properties. Samples were grown by the Czochralski pulling technique. There were three types of samples: a pure crystal, the crystal doped with neodymium (4 at.% of Nd), and the third one doped with ytterbium (7 at.% of Yb). All samples were rectangular prisms with edges parallel to the axes of the optical indicatrix X, Y , Z (principal axes). The thermal diffusivity was determined by means of the thermal wave method with the optical detection of the temperature disturbance based on a mirage effect. Experimental results showed anisotropy of the thermal diffusivity. The thermal diffusivity along Y direction has the highest value while values obtained in X and Z axes are much lower. Dopants cause decrease in the thermal diffusivity for all investigated directions

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography versus computed tomographic angiography in the monitoring of patients after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm - preliminary experience

BACKGROUND: Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is routinely used in the monitoring of patients after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm. The aim of the study was to determine if contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) provides equivalent results to CTA in detection of endo-leaks in patients after abdominal aortic stentgraft placement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a group of 7 patients (6 men and 1 woman; aged 71±7 years) after repair procedure, 16 CTA and 16 CEUS follow-up examinations were performed. Second-generation contrast agent (Sonovue) and low-mechanical index technique were used for ultrasonography imaging. RESULTS: Computed tomographic angiography showed seven cases of type I, five cases of type II, and no endo-leaks in four examinations. In 15 out of 16 studies, the results of CEUS were consistent with the results of CTA. In one discrepant study, type II endo-leak was detected with CEUS while CTA was negative. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and CTA examinations in patients after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm provide comparable results. CEUS may be considered an alternative technique to CTA

Kardiomiopatia tako-tsubo - problem kliniczny

Kardiomiopatia tako-tsubo (KT) charakteryzuje się przejściową dysfunkcją skurczową koniuszka i środkowych segmentów ściany lewej komory, zmianami elektrokardiograficznymi jak w ostrych zespołach wieńcowych i brakiem zmian w tętnicach wieńcowych w badaniu koronarograficznym. Kardiomiopatia tako-tsubo stanowi 1-2% wstępnie rozpoznanych ostrych zespołów wieńcowych. Może być wywołana przez czynnik psychiczny lub fizyczny. W pracy przedstawiono przypadek KT u 58-letniej pacjentki w przebiegu zapalenia wyrostka robaczkowego. (Folia Cardiologica Excerpta 2010; 5, 5: 298-30

Hope of recovery in patients in the terminal phase of cancer under palliative and hospice care in Poland

Introduction. The objective of the presented research is to characterize hope in the situational dimension, i.e., health, in the patients with cancer in the terminal phase of the disease, being treated in hospices and palliative care centers. Hope is very important for all the patients, especially for patients with cancer in various phases of the disease. Giving up on oncologic therapy and causal treatment is often associated with a transition into palliative care. When death and a loss of values become a threat, the individual has got hope to rely on. Material and Methods. The study relies on the Test to Measure Hope in the Health Context (NCN-36) by B.L. Block. 246 patients in the terminal phase of cancer participated in the study. Results. The internal structure of hope of recovery in the patients’ group was varied. The patients showed low levels of hope of recovery since they do not believe in the effectiveness of treatment. They were also not convinced of the effectiveness of modifications in dieting, lifestyle, or the use of nonconventional medicine. They trusted the doctor in charge and were moderately satisfied with the therapy in use. The intensity of hope of recovery was on the low level in the patients in the terminal phase of cancer. Age, sex, place of living, and marital status had a significant influence on the level of hope of recovery. Variables such as living on one’s own or living with one’s family, socioeconomic status, education, or profession did not affect the level of hope of recovery. Conclusions. The presented results allowed as to conclude that the assessment of hope in terminally ill cancer patients can be considered as one of the important tools enabling the personalization and the improvement of palliative care

Diagnostic accuracy of liquid biopsy in endometrial cancer

Background: Liquid biopsy is a minimally invasive collection of a patient body fluid sample. In oncology, they offer several advantages compared to traditional tissue biopsies. However, the potential of this method in endometrial cancer (EC) remains poorly explored. We studied the utility of tumor educated platelets (TEPs) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for preoperative EC diagnosis, including histology determination. Methods: TEPs from 295 subjects (53 EC patients, 38 patients with benign gynecologic conditions, and 204 healthy women) were RNA-sequenced. DNA sequencing data were obtained for 519 primary tumor tissues and 16 plasma samples. Artificial intelligence was applied to sample classification. Results: Platelet-dedicated classifier yielded AUC of 97.5% in the test set when discriminating between healthy subjects and cancer patients. However, the discrimination between endometrial cancer and benign gynecologic conditions was more challenging, with AUC of 84.1%. ctDNA-dedicated classifier discriminated primary tumor tissue samples with AUC of 96% and ctDNA blood samples with AUC of 69.8%. Conclusions: Liquid biopsies show potential in EC diagnosis. Both TEPs and ctDNA profiles coupled with artificial intelligence constitute a source of useful information. Further work involving more cases is warranted.publishedVersio

Kemampuan Siswa Dalam Menyelesaikan Soal-soal Uraian Terstruktur Pokok Bahasan Teori Kinetik Gas

"> Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui (1) kemampuan kognitif yang dilihat dari hasil belajar peserta didik yang kelas XI MAN Model Palangka Raya dalam mengerjakan soal-soal uraian terstruktur pada pokok bahasan Teori Kinetik Gas; dan (2) kesulitan peserta didik dalam mengerjakan soal-soal uraian terstruktur. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kuantitatif dalam mengumpulkan datanya. Penelitian ini menggunakan instrumen dalam bentuk soal uraian terstruktur. Hasil uji coba soal uraian terstruktur pada kelas XI IA-1 MAN Model Palangka Raya mendapatkan tingkat validitas rata-rata 0,536 dan tingkat reliabilitas soal 0,539 dengan kategori cukup. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: (1) peserta didik yang mampu dan tidak mengalami masalah dalam mengerjakan soal-soal uraian terstruktur berjumlah 18 peserta didik dan 12 peserta didik tidak mampu dan mengalami masalah dalam mengerjakan soal-soal uraian terstruktur. Peserta didik yang mampu mengerjakan soal-soal uraian terstruktur memiliki ketuntasan belajar ≥ batas KKM, yaitu 60% (2) kesulitan peserta didik dalam mengerjakan soal-soal uraian terstruktur terdapat pada penyebutan dan penulisan satuan besaran pada jawaban dengan persentase kesulitan 36,7%, penguasaan operasi hitungan denganpersentase kesulitan 31,4% dan penulisan besaran yang ditanya dalam soal dengan persentase kesulitan 28,6%

Wprowadzenie

Wprowadzenie do Sympozjum nr 2(7) (2000) poświęconego tematowi "Psychologia w służbie religijnego rozwoju człowieka"

Badanie porównawcze nad rozumieniem pojęć i sytuacji religijnych przez uczniów głuchych i słyszących (ekspresja werbalna i rysunkowa

Badanie porównawcze nad rozumieniem pojęć i sytuacji religijnych przez uczniów głuchych i słyszących (ekspresja werbalna i rysunkow

Światła i malarskie obrazy w Oziminie

Lights and painting images in OziminaIn his novel Ozimina [Winter Crop] Wacław Berent presented the state of minds on the eve of the 1905 revolution. The party at Baron and Baroness Nieman’s and then during the demonstration in the streets of Warsaw feature changing points of view, attitudes and ideas of people taking part in them. Everything is on the move. However, from time to time the movement is stopped by painting-like images. These images an impressionist image of guests in the drawing room, grotesque presentation of dinner, portraits of women, monumental head of the demonstration, Mazovian landscape, symbolist image bringing to mind the Demeter myth become in a commentary making the chaotic string of scenes in the novel more coherent. However, the last of these images, which is to express the idea behind the novel, simplifies the complications contained in it.Sources of light in those pictures are artificial sources in the party scenes — from candles, through gas or kerosene lighting, to electric lighting; its variety suggests transformations of civilisation as well as changes in social stratification. Sunlight, on the other hand, gradually building the Mazovian landscape and then the view of the Krakowskie Przedmieście street, brings out the groundbreaking and complex nature of the historical moment captured in the novel.Lights and painting images in OziminaIn his novel Ozimina [Winter Crop] Wacław Berent presented the state of minds on the eve of the 1905 revolution. The party at Baron and Baroness Nieman’s and then during the demonstration in the streets of Warsaw feature changing points of view, attitudes and ideas of people taking part in them. Everything is on the move. However, from time to time the movement is stopped by painting-like images. These images an impressionist image of guests in the drawing room, grotesque presentation of dinner, portraits of women, monumental head of the demonstration, Mazovian landscape, symbolist image bringing to mind the Demeter myth become in a commentary making the chaotic string of scenes in the novel more coherent. However, the last of these images, which is to express the idea behind the novel, simplifies the complications contained in it.Sources of light in those pictures are artificial sources in the party scenes — from candles, through gas or kerosene lighting, to electric lighting; its variety suggests transformations of civilisation as well as changes in social stratification. Sunlight, on the other hand, gradually building the Mazovian landscape and then the view of the Krakowskie Przedmieście street, brings out the groundbreaking and complex nature of the historical moment captured in the novel