Predation risk drives long-term shifts in migratory behaviour and demography in a large herbivore population.

Migration is an adaptive life-history strategy across taxa that helps individuals maximise fitness by obtaining forage and avoiding predation risk. The mechanisms driving migratory changes are poorly understood, and links between migratory behaviour, space use, and demographic consequences are rare. Here, we use a nearly 20-year record of individual-based monitoring of a large herbivore, elk (Cervus canadensis) to test hypotheses for changing patterns of migration in and adjacent to a large protected area in Banff National Park (BNP), Canada. We test whether bottom-up (forage quality) or top-down (predation risk) factors explained trends in (i) the proportion of individuals using 5 different migratory tactics, (ii) differences in survival rates of migratory tactics during migration and whilst on summer ranges, (iii) cause-specific mortality by wolves and grizzly bears, and (iv) population abundance. We found dramatic shifts in migration consistent with behavioural plasticity in individual choice of annual migratory routes. Shifts were inconsistent with exposure to the bottom-up benefits of migration. Instead, exposure to landscape gradients in predation risk caused by exploitation outside the protected area drove migratory shifts. Carnivore exploitation outside the protected area led to higher survival rates for female elk remaining resident or migrating outside the protected area. Cause-specific mortality aligned with exposure to predation risk along migratory routes and summer ranges. Wolf predation risk was higher on migratory routes than summer ranges of montane-migrant tactics, but wolf predation risk traded-off with heightened risk from grizzly bears on summer ranges. A novel eastern migrant tactic emerged following a large forest fire that enhanced forage in an area with lower predation risk outside of the protected area. The changes in migratory behaviour translated to population abundance, where abundance of the montane-migratory tactics declined over time. The presence of diverse migratory life histories maintained a higher total population abundance than would have been the case with only one migratory tactic in the population. Our study demonstrates the complex ways in which migratory populations change over time through behavioural plasticity and associated demographic consequences because of individuals balancing predation risk and forage trade-offs.

Identification of an immunodominant sequential epitope in glycoprotein G of herpes simplex virus type 2 that is useful for serotype-specific diagnosis.

A series of 67 oligopeptides that spanned the open reading frame of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein G (gG2) were synthesized and tested for reactivity with 173 serum specimens collected from 117 individuals. The oligopeptides were made as multiple antigenic peptides consisting of four copies of a unique sequence attached to a branched lysine core and separated from the core by four glycine residues. The sera included HSV antibody-negative samples as well as sera from individuals from whom HSV had been isolated. Isolated viruses were typed by indirect fluorescence using a panel of type-specific monoclonal antibodies. One peptide, corresponding to residues 561 to 578 of gG2, did not react with any sera lacking HSV-specific antibodies of with sera from HSV-1-infected individuals, but did react with sera from HSV-2-infected individuals. For sera taken seven or more days after initialclinical lesions, the detection rate of the peptide was 92% (47/51), comparable with the 98% (50/51) of truncated glycoprotein D, a sensitive type-common reagent. We conclude that this peptide, of structure (PEEFEGAGDGEPPEDDDSG4)K3A, is an immunodominant type-specific epitope for human antibodies and should be useful for type-specific serodiagnosis of HSV-2. Surprisingly, the epitope lies within one of the most conserved regions of gG1 and gG2. The test can distinguish an initial HSV-2 infection in the presence of a preexisting HSV-1 infection.

Classics in conventional radiography of the foot.

The authors display a variety of conditions that can be recognized using standard pedal radiographs. Letter markings on the enclosed x-rays denote the particular areas of interest. Brief descriptions of the pathologic conditions are also provided.

Serial evaluation of iron stores in pregnant Nigerians with hemoglobin SS or SC.

Iron status of nonpregnant and pregnant Nigerian patients with hemoglobin SS or SC were assessed using serial hematological parameters, measured by Coulter counter, and serial serum ferritin concentrations measured by radioimmunoassays. The median value of 393 micrograms/L (range, 175 to 900 micrograms/L) for serum ferritin in nonpregnant patients with Hb SS and SC was significantly higher than that found in nonpregnant patients with Hb AA (median, 89.8 micrograms/L; range, 13 to 250 micrograms/L). Apart from packed cell volume values, there were no other significant differences between patients with Hb SS or SC and Hb AA in the other parameters assessed: mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. In both the normal pregnant patients (Hb AA) and pregnant patients with Hb SS and SC the serum ferritin values decreased as pregnancy advanced to 28 weeks and rose gradually thereafter. At similar stages of gestation serum ferritin values were significantly higher in patients with Hb SS or SC than in those with Hb AA. Pregnancy seems to have induced a significant rise in mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin values in the patients with Hb SS or SC, especially in the third trimester, than in patients with Hb AA. The pattern of change in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration values was similar in both groups of patients. From the data obtained, it seems the iron status in the patients with Hb SS or SC was good, and pregnancy did not push the patients into an iron deficiency state. The use of prophylactic iron supplementation in pregnant patients with Hb SS or SC appears unjustified.

Improving state-funded child psychiatric care: reducing protracted hospitalizations through changes in treatment planning.

In late 1986, Millcreek Psychiatric Center for Children changed several of its treatment practices in an attempt to decrease needlessly prolonged hospitalizations. The changes included initiating discharge planning shortly after admission, increasing contacts with community and judicial agencies, improving family therapy services, and educating the community about appropriate use of hospital treatments. The fraction of children hospitalized more than 180 days decreased significantly, as did the average length of stay. Mental health professionals should keep community agencies informed about the nature and limitations of inpatient treatment and about children's needs for adequate after-care services.

Correlation of serum fructosamine activity in type I diabetic children.

The serum fructosamine assay is a new commercially available test designed to measure serum glycated protein as an index of glycemic control in diabetes. The test relies on the ability of glucose bound to protein with a ketamine linkage (fructosamine) to act as a reducing agent in alkaline solution. Serum fructosamine activity was studied in 61 Type I diabetic patients attending a 2-week American Diabetes Association sponsored diabetic camp for children. The initial fructosamine level was found to correlate well with the initial HgA1C value (r = .82, p less than .001). To assess if mean blood glucose correlated with these objective parameters, the authors performed capillary blood glucoses preprandially and at bedtime on all 61 diabetic campers during the 2-week period of observation and reassessed serum fructosamine activity and HgA1C on day 14 of camp. We found the HgA1C and fructosamine correlated well with the mean daily blood glucose obtained during the preceding week (r = .45, p less than .01 and r = .58, p less than .01) respectively. Our data suggest that the serum fructosamine is as effective as the HgA1C in correlating to mean blood glucose control in this cross-sectional study of Type I diabetic patients.

Serial serum ferritin and other hematological parameters in normal Nigerian primigravidae.

Serial hematological indices using Coulter Counter and serum ferritin using radioimmunoassay techniques were determined in 20 healthy Nigerian primigravidae with hemoglobin genotype AA. PCV fell significantly (P less than 0.001) to a minimum value at 28 weeks that was 6% lower than the mean value at 8 weeks postpartum. PCV at 36 weeks was still significantly (P less than 0.001) lower than the post partum value. There was an insignificant but progressive increase in MCV values throughout pregnancy. Changes in MCH and MCHC were insignificant. Ferritin levels in both the non-pregnant and pregnant subjects were high and probably reflected the high iron content of Nigerian foods. Though the cord serum ferritin level was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) than maternal ferritin at delivery there was no significant correlation between the two.