Based on our findings, we discuss the processes and mechanisms of symbiont vertical transmission in P. okutanii.We focused on Meloe beetles that have lost all flight ability, and conducted molecular phylogeographic analyses based on their mitochondrial DNA COI and nuclear DNA EF1- α regions. Meloe beetles infiltrate bumblebee nests by attaching to bumblebees as they pollinate flowers and thereafter have a unique and specific life history as they complete their life-cycle within the host nest; flight-based dispersal is achieved by piggybacking on bumblebees. In fact, Meloe beetles, which cannot fly, even inhabit remote islands (i.e., “Oceanic Islands”). Regarding four species, i.e., Meloe coarctatus, Meloe proscarabaeus, Meloe violaceus and Meloe corvinus, the conventional morphological classification system based on morphological characteristics was strongly supported by the molecular markers. On the other hand, for two species, Meloe menoko and Meloe auriculatus, it was found that M. menoko may be evaluated as having a paraphyletic relationship with M. auriculatus. Furthermore, two other cryptic, undescribed species were also discovered in this study. One was collected in the Nikko Highland, and inhabited the area sympatrically with M. coarctatus. The other was collected from Hachijo-jima Island. These cryptic species were highly differentiated, independent lineages in terms of mitochondrial and nuclear gene regions. That is to say, a new level of species diversity was revealed among the Meloe beetle species, known for their unique and strange ecological and ethological characteristics.Fauna of the Central Ryukyus includes a high percentage of endemic species, and Hallowell’s tree frog Hyla hallowellii Thompson, 1912 is one of such elements, occurring in a total of eight islands in the Amami and Okinawa Island groups. Using samples representing all of these eight island populations, we studied variations in morphology, karyotype, allozyme, and mtDNA, to clarify the pattern of geographic differentiation of H. hallowellii and consider factors for its formation. We could not clearly discriminate one population from another in morphology, nor could we find any interpopulation difference in karyotype. From genetic analyses, using allozymes and cyt b, we found low overall differentiations among populations. However, the southern populations from Okinawajima and Yoronjima were genetically nearly identical with the northern Amamioshima population. From that group the geographically intermediate Tokunoshima and Kakeromajima populations showed prominent differentiations. These patterns of geographical differentiation greatly differ from those known in other amphibian species of the Central Ryukyus, and suggest that H. hallowellii has evolutionary history unique to the species.Nereidid polychaete Perinereis wilsoni is a homonomous metameric worm with a complete septum between each segment. Each segment has germ cells localized in the distal area of the parapodia. Perinereis wilsoni is also known to have high abilities of tissue regeneration; however, it is still unclear whether germ cells can regenerate in the healing tissue. To address this, we surgically operated the parapodia of an adult worm to remove germ cells from the segments and observed the germ cell regeneration using the germ cell genetic marker Pw-piwi. At day 20 post-surgical operation of the parapodia in one side of the segment, we found that Pw-piwi was expressed in the regenerating parapodia. We surgically operated the parapodia on both sides of the segment to remove the germ cells completely and it gave a similar result. However, before the expression of this gene marker in the regenerating parapodia, we observed that Pw-piwi was expressed in cells in the skin layer of the worm just after surgical operations. These Pw-piwi-positive cells were not observed in the un-operated worm. Our observations showed that germ cells of Perinereis wilsoni can regenerate even after the complete removal of germ cells from the defined habitat. The Pw-piwipositive cells that appeared in the skin layer after the disappearance of germ cells may be involved in the regeneration of new germ cells.

This systematic review aims to estimate the proportion of medical schools and teaching hospitals with conflicts of interest (COI) policies for health research and education, to describe the provisions included in the policies and their impact on research outputs and educational quality or content.

Experimental and observational studies reporting at least one of the above mentioned aims were included irrespective of language, publication type or geographical setting. MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase and the Cochrane Methodology Register were searched from inception to March 2020. Methodological study quality was assessed using an amended version of the Joanna Briggs Institute’s checklist for prevalence studies.

Twenty-two cross-sectional studies were included; all were conducted in high-income countries. Of these, 20 studies estimated the prevalence of COI policies, which ranged from 5% to 100% (median 85%). Twenty studies assessed the provisions included in COI policies with different assessment methods. Of thesolicies at medical schools and teaching hospitals varied greatly in high-income countries. Buparlisib price No studies estimated the prevalence of policies in low to middle-income countries. The content of COI policies varied widely and while most European institutions ranked poorly, in North America more medical schools had strong policies. No studies were identified on impact of COI policies on research outputs and educational quality or content.

Optimal care for Parkinson’s disease (PD) requires coordination and collaboration between providers within a complex care network. Individual patients have personalised networks of their own providers, creating a unique informal network of providers who treat (‘share’) the same patient. These ‘patient-sharing networks’ differ in density, ie, the number of identical patients they share. Denser patient-sharing networks might reflect better care provision, since providers who share many patients might have made efforts to improve their mutual care delivery. We evaluated whether the density of these patient-sharing networks affects patient outcomes and costs.

We analysed medical claims data from all PD patients in the Netherlands between 2012 and 2016. We focused on seven professional disciplines that are commonly involved in Parkinson care. We calculated for each patient the density score the average number of patients that each patient’s providers shared. Density scores could range from 1.00 (which might reflect poor collaboration) to 83.