scholarly journals Juveniles and the elderly defend, the middle-aged escape: division of labour in a social aphid

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 20121053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keigo Uematsu ◽  
Masakazu Shimada ◽  
Harunobu Shibao

In colonies of social insects, non-random spatial positioning within the colonies may reflect division of labour and improve colony efficiency. Here, we describe a novel defence system in the colony of a gall-forming social aphid, Quadrartus yoshinomiyai (Nipponaphidini), where young and old defensive aphids move towards the dangerous area typically associated with a higher risk of predation, whereas the middle-aged reproductive individuals move away. Younger nymphs and post-reproductive adults of Q. yoshinomiyai concurrently defend against predators that intrude after their galls open. In natural open galls, both types of defenders were preferentially located around the open area vulnerable to invasion by predators, whereas reproductive individuals remained in the safer areas. In addition, when a hole was artificially made in closed galls, these morphs located themselves in similar spatial positions to the natural open galls within 12 hours. The defensive system led by oldest and youngest individuals may reflect the possibility of future reproduction for these insects, thereby optimizing colony efficiency in a seasonally changing environment, according to the reproductive values of colony members.

Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karoly Bozsonyi ◽  
Peter Osvath ◽  
Sandor Fekete ◽  
Lajos Bálint

Abstract. Background: Several studies found a significant relationship between important sport events and suicidal behavior. Aims: We set out to investigate whether there is a significant relationship between the raw suicide rate and the most important international sports events (Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship) in such an achievement-oriented society as the Hungarian one, where these sport events receive great attention. Method: We examined suicide cases occurring over 15,706 days between January 1, 1970, and December 31, 2012 (43 years), separately for each gender. Because of the age-specific characteristics of suicide, the effects of these sport events were analyzed for the middle-aged (30–59 years old) and the elderly (over 60 years old) generations as well as for gender-specific population groups. The role of international sport events was examined with the help of time-series intervention analysis after cyclical and seasonal components were removed. Intervention analysis was based on the ARIMA model. Results: Our results showed that only the Olympic Games had a significant effect in the middle-aged population. Neither in the older male nor in any of the female age groups was a relationship between suicide and Olympic Games detected. Conclusion: The Olympic Games seem to decrease the rate of suicide among middle-aged men, slightly but significantly.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-100
Author(s):  
A. K. Iordanishvili ◽  
V. A. Guk ◽  
A. A. Golovko

Relevance. The success of treatment of periodontal diseases directly depends on the patient’s response to the therapy, therefore, the characteristics of the person’s personal characteristics can affect both the effectiveness of treatment and the prevention of relapse of the disease.Purpose. To study the features of the internal picture of the disease in the process of complex treatment of adult patients suffering from chronic generalized periodontitis.Materials and methods. The generally accepted comprehensive treatment of chronic generalized periodontitis in 69 middle-aged and elderly men was carried out taking into account the personal response of patients Solovyov «Psychosensory-anatomical-functional maladaptation syndrome».Results. When patients were discharged from the hospital, there was a difference in the phenomena of maladaptation among the elderly and middle-aged: in middle-aged people, sufficient adaptation to the conditions of existence was determined; in elderly people, due to the existing comorbid pathology, a state of maladaptation was diagnosed, which was caused by the presence of complaints of defects in the dentition.Conclusion. In elderly people, as soon as possible after completion of treatment in a hospital, dental rehabilitation cannot be considered completed, which requires the adoption of organizational measures for their timely provision of dentures.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 2306-2310
Author(s):  
Aureliana Caraiane ◽  
Razvan Leata ◽  
Veronica Toba ◽  
Doina Vesa ◽  
Luana Andreea Macovei ◽  
...  

The progress made in dentistry during the latest decades is due, conceptually, to the new, systemic vision of man, which has also taken place in this field of medicine. In this context, the link between organic and psychic is indestructible. Thus illness is understood as a drama in which the somatic process has a psychic value, and the mental one has a body value. It is known that the morphological and functional integrity of the dental system, health and vigorousness, gives the individual a state of well-being that affects his somatic and psychic health, as any disturbance at this level entails repercussions in psychological and social behavior. Such a disruption is the total edification that seriously alters not only the dental system but the whole organism, putting various biological and psychosocial problems to the practitioner. The total expression represents not only a physical disability but also a psychological one. A special importance in studying psychological changes at total edentulous presents the psychological aspects of senile involution. This is not only a theoretical but also a practical importance due to the increase in the number of elderly people. Through the researches of the present paper we intend to present the reality of the psychological manifestations in the total edentation, which is objectified on different methods of psychodiagnosis in the first part, in order for the second part to be addressed to problems of prosthetic psychotherapy.The study comprises a group of 43 patients, of whom 24 were men and 19 women with total uni or bimaxilar edentation. Total edentation can be and is responsible for somatopsychic alterations, along with other pathogens, general, local, social, which sometimes can take a dramatic form, converting, where the area is also favorable, a pure somatic disease, for those who are not in psychopathy or even psychosis, although these latter cases are extremely rare and especially in youngsters, which would disrupt not only the person�s behavior as an individual, but also their status, function and social integrity. The treatment of dental and psychological complex is mandatory for any patient, but especially for the elderly, where recovery is more difficult, with disease-specific disorders adding to those of senescence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 083-114
Author(s):  
楊國柱 楊國柱 ◽  
吳金奇 Yang, Kuo-Chu

<p>嘉義縣民雄鄉山中村1(舊稱牛斗山或牛稠山),因牛稠溪域流經村莊而得此名,早期是全鄉人口最大村。山中村宗教信仰普遍為民間信仰,村莊主廟為廣濟宮,以奉祀池府王爺、媽祖、鄭成功為主,但村莊發展及信仰主體係圍繞池府王爺。本文採用文獻分析、田野調查及立意取樣後進行深度訪談,以探討山中村祭祀圈之形成,以及村民如何理解不同神靈之內涵,進而有助於山中村之社區發展與文化資源保存。</p> <p>藉由祭祀圈概念切入,以理解山中村社區各神靈祭祀圈的範圍與分布,進而探討地方社區信仰中心發展,與山中村民對不同神靈認知及意義之解讀。經研究發現:(一)隨著人口增加及集居地擴大,主廟的祭祀圈變大;由於廟務活動增加,牛斗山土地公廟的祭祀圈擴大;五營中的東、西兩營,未隨著社區的新增而往外遷移,因此祭祀圈無明顯變化。(二)山中村神靈祭祀圈的分布,「五營」與居民輪祀居住的地理範圍有關,原具有分群概念的輪祀傳統逐漸模糊:老者對此模糊;中年人認知些許;青年則不明白為何奉祀,宗教信仰傳承出現斷層的可能。(三)山中村民對不同祭祀圈神靈解讀有所異同,普遍難闡述神靈的由來及背景,較理解者屬老年人;其次為中年人;青年人則對神靈認知不清楚。(四)不同祭祀圈神靈意義與山中村民早期生活環境較有其關聯性,老年人多數提及身體健康及平安;中年人求財運、事業;青年人求課業順利。據此,就結論提出建議以供參考。</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><p>Shanzhong Village (formerly known as Niudou Mountain or Niuhou Mountain) in Minxiong Township, Chiayi County, got its name because the Niuhou Stream passed through the village. In the early days, it was the village with the largest population in the township. For the Guangji Palace, it is mainly dedicated to the worship of Lord Chifu, Mazu and Zheng Chenggong (Cheng Ch&rsquo;eng-Kung), but the village development and belief system surrounds Lord Chifu. This paper uses literature analysis, field investigations, and intentional sampling to conduct in-depth interviews to discuss the formation of the mountain village sacrificial circle and how the villagers understand the connotation of different gods, which can help the community development and cultural resource preservation of the mountain village. </p> <p> Through research, the concept of the religious field was cut in to understand the scope and distribution of the religious fields of the various deities in the Shanzhong Village community, and to discuss the development of local community faith centers and the understanding and meaning interpretation of the different deities of the Shanzhong villagers. The research found: (1) The religious realms become bigger because the population of village was increased;on the other side, Shanshang Viallage&rsquo;s religious realms become wilder due to the increase of temple actives. However, for the &quot;five camps&quot;, the east and west side of the deities&rsquo;s emissary did not extend so the Religious Realms can not protect the new village, (2) The distribution of the spiritual field in the Shanzhong village, the &quot;&quot;five camps&quot;&quot; are more closely related to the geographical scope of the residents&rsquo; rotation worship. The tradition of rotation worship with the concept of grouping is gradually blurring, and the old people are blurring; Understand why there is a possibility that there is a fault in the inheritance of religious beliefs; (3) Villagers in the mountains have different interpretations of deities in different religious fields, and it is generally difficult to understand the origin and background of deities, older than those who understand; older than middle-aged; more young Unrecognizable to the gods; (4) The significance of the gods in different religious fields is more related to the early life environment of the villagers in the mountains. The elderly have significant health and safety; the middle-aged people seek wealth and career; the young people seek smooth schooling .Then refer to the above research results to make research suggestions.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 37-41
Author(s):  
Larisa V. Schennikova ◽  

The author proves the idea of sanctity of the testator’s will and the development of opportunities for its most complete implementation in the laws as well as in the modern notarial practice. Judicial practice in cases on acknowledgment of a will invalid is in the center of the author’s attention. Its analysis has allowed to identify the tendency of acknowledgment of wills made in favor of persons taking care of the elderly over the last years of their lives invalid based on claims of relatives showing no concern and paying no attention to the elderly during their lifetime. In the meantime, wrongful acts of notaries expressed in violation of the procedure and the rules for performance of notarial actions have served as the grounds for acknowledgment of wills invalid. The author encourages notaries and judges to pay more attention to the testator’s will (intentions) and create all conditions to implement such will after the testator’s death as adequately as possible.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Bernadou ◽  
Boris H. Kramer ◽  
Judith Korb

The evolution of eusociality in social insects, such as termites, ants, and some bees and wasps, has been regarded as a major evolutionary transition (MET). Yet, there is some debate whether all species qualify. Here, we argue that worker sterility is a decisive criterion to determine whether species have passed a MET (= superorganisms), or not. When workers are sterile, reproductive interests align among group members as individual fitness is transferred to the colony level. Division of labour among cooperating units is a major driver that favours the evolution of METs across all biological scales. Many METs are characterised by a differentiation into reproductive versus maintenance functions. In social insects, the queen specialises on reproduction while workers take over maintenance functions such as food provisioning. Such division of labour allows specialisation and it reshapes life history trade-offs among cooperating units. For instance, individuals within colonies of social insects can overcome the omnipresent fecundity/longevity trade-off, which limits reproductive success in organisms, when increased fecundity shortens lifespan. Social insect queens (particularly in superorganismal species) can reach adult lifespans of several decades and are among the most fecund terrestrial animals. The resulting enormous reproductive output may contribute to explain why some genera of social insects became so successful. Indeed, superorganismal ant lineages have more species than those that have not passed a MET. We conclude that the release from life history constraints at the individual level is a important, yet understudied, factor across METs to explain their evolutionary success.


Author(s):  
Alireza Mahmoudabadi ◽  
Hamed Masoumi ◽  
Mohammad Keshtkar ◽  
Arash Azhideh ◽  
Hamidreza Haghighatkhah

Purpose: In this study, we retrospectively evaluated chest Computed Tomography (CT) imaging manifestations of the patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) to simplify prompt early diagnosis of disease and speed up needed actions for infected patients. Materials and Methods: Totally, 75 patients who laboratory confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia were enrolled in this study. CT images, demographic and some clinical data of all patients were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Furthermore, for comparison, the patients were divided into two groups as follows: the young and middle-aged group (< 60 years old) and the elderly group (≥ 60 years old). Results: Based on the evaluation of CT images, 33 patients (44%) showed Ground-Glass Opacity (GGO), 15 patients (20%) showed consolidation, 24 patients (32%) showed mixed GGO and consolidation, 2 patients (2.6%) had bronchial wall thickening, 10 patients (13.3%) had a crazy paving sign, 35 patients (46.6%) had air bronchogram and, 7 patients (9.3%) had cavitation and 2 patients (2.6%) had a tree in the bud. CT images of 3 patients (4%) were normal. In terms of out of lung changes, lymphadenopathy was observed in one patient (1.3%), pleural effusion in 12 patients (16%), and pericardial effusion in 2 patients (2.6%). Lesions were found predominantly in the peripheral (57.3%) and the lower lung region (60%). Conclusion: CT images of the COVID-19 patients showed various aspects, mainly GGO, consolidation, mixed GGO and consolidation, and air bronchogram. Lesion distribution was predominantly in lower lung region, bilateral and peripheral. Pleural effusion and multiple lobe involvement were significantly higher in the elderly group than that of the young and middle-aged group.


2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2020-107185
Author(s):  
Sara Kate Heide

Defining quality of life is a difficult task as it is a subjective and personal experience. However, for the elderly, this definition is necessary for making complicated healthcare-related decisions. Commonly these decisions compare independence against safety or longevity against comfort. These choices are often not made in isolation, but with the help of a healthcare team. When the patient’s concept of quality of life is miscommunicated, there is a risk of harm to the patient whose best interests are not well understood. In order to bridge this gap in understanding and unite seniors with their caretakers as a cohesive team, we need to establish a definition of quality of life. In this paper, my personal experiences with the elderly will be analysed along with five essays on the topic of ageing. These sources provide clear evidence that quality of life for seniors is majorly determined by the ability to preserve one’s lifelong identity. When making difficult decisions in geriatric healthcare, this greater understanding of the determinants of life quality will allow treatments to best serve the elderly. Defining quality of life allows healthcare providers to shift the focus from minimising disability toward maximising ability. I believe this shift would provide seniors with better health outcomes and properly enhance the quality of their years.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document