Movement patterns of Lichia amia (Teleostei: Carangidae): results from a long-term cooperative tagging project in South Africa

Understanding fish movement patterns and migrations is important for fisheries management as well as the identification and conservation of critical habitats. Data collected by the Oceanographic Research Institute's Cooperative Fish Tagging Project (ORI-CFTP) were used to describe the large-scale movement patterns of Lichia amia along the South African coastline. A total of 10 762 L. amia were tagged between 1984 and 2012, of which 744 (7%) were recaptured. Most tagging effort, mainly on juvenile and subadult individuals, took place along the south-eastern (i.e. Eastern Cape) and south-western (i.e. Western Cape) regions of the country during summer. Conversely, more L. amia were tagged and recaptured (mostly adults) during winter and spring (July to November) along the north-east coast (i.e. KwaZulu-Natal). Movements (dispersal distance in kilometres) by juveniles were restricted and largely confined to estuaries within the south-eastern and south-western regions of the country. There was a significant effect of fish size on distance moved (ANOVA: p<0.001), with evidence of a distinct seasonal (winter) longshore migration by adults to KwaZulu-Natal. The consequences of juvenile residency in estuarine habitats and high recapture rate of adults during a directed, seasonal spawning migration are discussed in light of improving current fisheries management.     

NO/ADMA在布鲁菌侵染小鼠机体过程中的响应特征

本试验旨在研究布鲁菌侵染小鼠过程中一氧化氮(NO)的作用,以及NO和非对称性二甲基精氨酸(ADMA)在此过程的相互作用关系。以布鲁菌标准疫苗株M5侵染小鼠,首先用小鼠的血清进行虎红平板凝集(RBPT)和试管凝集试验(SAT),再用Griess试剂法和ELISA法测定对照组和侵染组不同组织和血清中的NO和ADMA含量,对小鼠肝脏和脾脏的各个侵染时间段进行CFU计数观察。结果显示,用布鲁菌M5侵染小鼠后,RBPT和SAT在14d时检测到有阳性反应。侵染组和空白对照组NO总含量上变化不大,但侵染组血清中的NO含量随时间出现下降,而肝脾中NO含量随时间出现上升,其他各组织NO含量波动不明显。而ADMA的总趋势与NO相反。CFU计数结果显示,小鼠肝脾内布鲁菌的数量在14d时一直处于增长状态,28d时布鲁菌的数量下降,表明布鲁菌的分裂繁殖和机体NO的含量存在一定的关系。     

党的先进性建设如何借鉴国际共产主义运动的基本经验教训

前苏联及东欧共产党丧失执政地位使国际共产主义运动遭受重大挫折的原因有很多，最重要的因素是苏东共产党蜕化变质。没有按照党的先进性来建设党，丧失了党的思想、理论、阶级基础、群众基础、前进方向的先进性，从而失去了它作为无产阶级先锋队的作用，削弱乃至丧失了执政能力，最终葬送了社会主义事业也葬送了党的自身。国际共产主义的经验教训对中国共产党人在全党开展先进性建设的启示是深刻而巨大的：在新的形势下必须坚持党在指导思想上与时俱进；必须从严治党，建立党的先进性建设长效机制；必须加强党的执政能力建设。巩固党的执政基础；必须加大反腐败力度。永葆党的先进性。     

Kinetics and kinematics of the horse comparing left and right rising trot

Reasons for performing study: At rising trot the rider sits alternately down on one diagonal pair of limbs and rises up on the other. The possible effects on asymmetry of locomotion induced by rising trot have rarely been studied. Objectives: To demonstrate whether, and if so to what extent, rising trot causes asymmetrical loading in the vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) and/or asymmetrical effects on the locomotion pattern, comparing left and right side. Methods: Seven elite horses were ridden in left and right rising trot on a treadmill, while VGRF and kinematics were measured, with the horses' neck raised, the poll high and the bridge of the nose slightly in front of the vertical. Results: Force loading was generally increased in the limbs of the sitting diagonal. The lumbar back was lower between mid‐stances of the sitting and nonsitting stance, pelvic roll was limited and the tuber coxae heights were lower on the sitting side. Maximal hindlimb protraction was decreased. Forelimb retraction was increased and the T6 height decreased. Conclusion: The rider movement induces an uneven biphasic load that affects the back, pelvis and limb kinematics and VGRF. Potential relevance: The generally advocated technique of alternating limbs when riding in rising trot is supported. The VGRF changes between rising on the left or right diagonal were distinct, but minor in absolute terms and therefore unlikely to have direct impact on the occurrence of locomotor injuries. Knowledge of an increase of asymmetry in rising trot is potentially useful for riders/trainers.     

Evidence of the development of ‘domain‐restricted’ expertise in the recognition of asymmetric motion characteristics of hindlimb lameness in the horse

Reasons for performing study: Visual assessment of horses' movements is subjective, affected by bias and dependent on the level of experience of the assessor. However, to date there are no data available on the ability of the human visual system to recognise (a)symmetry in moving objects. Objectives: To investigate, using visual lameness assessment, the limits of human perception and the ability of experienced and nonexperienced individuals to detect asymmetry in 2 moving objects simulating hindlimb lameness in the horse. Methods: Twelve experienced individuals (equine and small animal clinicians), and 24 nonexperienced individuals (undergraduate veterinary students) were presented with computer simulations showing 2 ‘tuber coxae markers’ created using data from both lame and nonperceptibly lame horses, as well as artificial data based on a sine wave. Individuals were asked to classify as symmetrical or asymmetrical, and then rank based on the grade of perceived asymmetry. Repeatability and learning effect were evaluated by repeating the tests on a subset of subjects. Results: The threshold for detection of movement asymmetry was found to be approximately 25% difference in amplitude between the 2 moving objects for all individuals. There was no significant difference between experienced and nonexperienced individuals in the ability to detect asymmetry in the simulations based on artificial data. However, the percentage of correct answers was higher for experienced compared to nonexperienced individuals for simulations based on data from real lame horses. Conclusions: There was a significant difference between experienced and nonexperienced individuals in the ability to identify asymmetric movement based on the pattern seen in a lame horse, as opposed to an artificial pattern for which all individuals showed similar performance. Potential relevance: The study provides the basis for the development of computer simulations that could aid in training veterinarians in the diagnosis of lameness and, even, the objective assessment of expertise in this field.     

Analysis of horse movements from non-commercial horse properties in New Zealand

AIMS: To investigate property-level factors associated with the movement of horses from non-commercial horse properties, including the size and location of the property, number and reason for keeping horses.

METHODS: Using a cross-sectional survey 2,912 questionnaires were posted to randomly selected non-commercial horse properties listed in a rural property database. The survey collected information about the number of horses, and reasons for keeping horses on the property, and any movement of horses in the previous 12 months. Three property-level outcomes were investigated; the movement status of the property, the frequency of movement events, and the median distance travelled from a property. Associations were examined using logistic regression and Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance.

RESULTS: In total 62.0% (488/791) of respondents reported at least one movement event in the year prior to the survey, for a total of 22,050 movement events. The number of movement events from a property varied significantly by the number of horses on the property (p<0.02), while the median distance travelled per property varied significantly by both region (p<0.03) and property size (p<0.01). Region, property size, the number of horses kept, and keeping horses for competition, recreation, racing or as pets were all significantly associated with movement status in the multivariable analyses (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study showed that there are characteristics of non-commercial horse properties that influence movement behaviour. During an exotic disease outbreak the ability to identify properties with these characteristics for targeted control will enhance the effectiveness of control measures.