Therapeutic hyperthermia is typically applied using radiative or capacitive heating devices. Capacitive heating applies electrode pairs positioned on the patient to increase the tumor temperature and is considered a user-friendly method for relatively easy application of hyperthermia to both superficial and deep-seated tumor sites. However, this heating technique also has some limitations that are mainly inherent to the physics of capacitively induced heating. This review provides an overview of the principles of capacitive heating devices and the factors influencing the power absorption and resulting temperature distribution in the patient. Device parameters that strongly influence the achieved temperature distribution include the electrode sizes, the water bolus temperature for skin cooling, the cooling medium, and the output power. These parameters vary in commercially available devices. Complete characterizations of most of the commercially available capacitive devices are still lacking. Sparse phantom measurements in the literature characterizing capacitive devices indicate that therapeutic heating is at least possible for superficial tumors and tumors at intermediate depth. The dominant E‑field orientation with capacitive heating induces preferential subcutaneous fat heating, which limits deep heating and makes it most effective for slender patients (i.e., fat layer thickness < 1.5–2 cm). Numerical simulations have been helpful in optimizing device design, particularly in terms of bolus cooling, and are increasingly used for patient-specific treatment planning. Based on the physical characteristics and present literature, it can be concluded that appropriate patient selection is important to ensure effective and responsible use of capacitive heating devices.
Abstract This perspective paper examines transition pathways that move small‐scale fisheries from vulnerability towards viability. We understand ‘vulnerability to viability transition pathways’ as integrative and one that extends beyond economic concerns to include social, political, cultural and ecological aspects of small‐scale fisheries. Our findings draw on a reflexive and qualitative assessment of country‐specific case studies from across Africa and Asia to collaboratively identify transition pathways reflected in these contexts. Common pathways that emerged included: (1) building governance networks and partnerships; (2) centring small‐scale fisheries tenure and rights; (3) advancing a gender and intersectional perspective on viability pathways; (4) enhancing opportunities for ecologically sensitive and diversified livelihoods; and (5) co‐creating and co‐producing the knowledge required to catalyse transition pathways. Outcomes of this analysis provide context‐specific foundations upon which to further co‐develop a research agenda on small‐scale fisheries vulnerability to viability transitions. Insights from this analysis also contribute to the identification of the transdisciplinary capacities needed to build more viable and resilient small‐scale fisheries in the context of ongoing debates about blue economy expansion, and in relation to country‐level commitments to implement provisions of the FAO small‐scale fisheries guidelines. In advancing a vulnerability to viability pathways lens, this paper frames small‐scale fisheries transitions as governance‐mediated, justice‐oriented, relational and inherently non‐linear processes. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Major histocompatibility complex class II beta (MHC-class IIB) genes are highly polymorphic and play important roles in immune function, making them valuable DNA markers for efficient animal breeding and conservation management programs. However, MHC genetic information on king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus; Appa) in captivity remains limited. Here, we developed a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based genotyping method to characterize MHC class IIB (Appa-CIIB) polymorphisms in 99 king penguins housed at Adventure World (Wakayama, Japan), identifying 72 novel Appa-CIIB alleles, each encoding a distinct amino acid sequence. Phylogenetic analysis classified these alleles into two major and one minor lineage, with peptide-binding regions in the main lineages showing signatures of positive selection. Thirty-four Appa-CIIB haplotypes composed of one to three Appa-CIIB loci, were inferred using individual management records (IMRs) from 123 individuals. Pedigree analysis revealed that 114 individuals belonged to a single extended family encompassing up to five generations, with the founders representing the first generation. Despite over 30 years of captive maintenance, population genetic analyses indicated that this population has retained high genetic diversity. The identification of multiple Appa-CIIB loci and copy number variations suggests that the Appa-CIIB region has undergone gene duplication and recombination events during evolution. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetics and evolutionary characteristics of Appa-CIIB genes and offer a practical framework for managing king penguin gene diversity in captivity, supporting future breeding programs that minimize inbreeding depression and maintain healthy populations.
Segmentation of the Optic Disc (OD) and Optic Cup (OC) on fundus images is vital for glaucoma diagnosis. Deep learning has been utilized to automate this segmentation task. However, it typically requires a large number of labeled images. To address this issue, we propose Dual Metric Learning for OD and OC Segmentation (DMLOS), which requires only a few images with some of their pixels labeled. It consists of a neural network for embedding extraction, followed by dual branches to obtain prototypes and predictions. The Omni Training algorithm is used to improve data utilization and use a diverse number of shots. Meanwhile, DeepLabv3+ and miniUNet are the neural network used. We extensively evaluated DMLOS on the DRISHTI-GS, REFUGE, and RIM-ONE r3 datasets using various numbers of shots and label densities. Using 15 shots with 0.1 grid density, DMLOS achieved an Intersection over Union of 92.56% for OD and 73.08% for OC on DRISHTI-GS, surpassing other less-supervised methods. The results demonstrate the potential of DMLOS as an effective approach in low-label scenarios.
Body size is a critical trait influencing reproductive success through mate competition, female choice, and parental care ability. In fish species with alternative reproductive tactics, large males typically adopt dominant tactics, while smaller males employ parasitic tactics, such as sneaking tactics. However, the reproductive advantage of larger males can be compromised by intense sperm competition with small males. We investigated the effects of body size on the reproductive success of nest-holding males in the dusky frillgoby Bathygobius fuscus, a species where small males frequently engage in sneaking tactics. Field investigations using artificial nests revealed that larger nest-holding males had significantly higher mating success (number of eggs acquired) and parental care success (egg survival rate). In contrast, DNA paternity analysis showed that fertilization success (paternity rate) was not correlated with male body size. This is because of the presence of males with extremely low paternity rate, including two cases of zero paternity, suggesting high sneaking pressure and replacement of nest-holding males (i.e., alloparental care). Consequently, the cumulative reproductive success of nest-holding males showed no significant relationship with body size. These results showed that the size-advantages of nest-holding males in attracting females and tending eggs are offset by the sperm competition with sneaker males. The lack of a clear size advantage in reproductive success may explain the plastic nature of reproductive tactics in this species, where large males may occasionally adopt sneaking tactics or abandon nests.
