Paratectonatica tigrina (Gastropoda: Naticidae) adjusts its predation tactics depending on the chosen prey and their shell weight relative to its own

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (6) ◽  
pp. 921-926
Author(s):  
Fumio Takeshita ◽  
Takumi Maekawa
Keyword(s):  
Prey Species ◽  
Relative Size ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Ruditapes Philippinarum ◽  
Size Difference ◽  
Shell Weight ◽  
Feeding Duration ◽  
Feeding Efficiency ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Predatory Tactics

AbstractParatectonatica tigrina employs three predatory tactics against bivalve prey: wall-drilling, edge-drilling and non-drilling (suffocation) tactics. In this study, we conducted laboratory experiments to examine the predator–prey interactions between the naticid gastropod P. tigrina and two species of bivalve prey, Ruditapes philippinarum and Meretrix lusoria, and to investigate how predatory tactics differ for the bivalve species. Predation success increased with the shell weight ratio between predator and prey, however, there was no significant difference among prey species. The shell weight ratio significantly differed (P < 0.05) between predatory tactics against R. philippinarum, but not against M. lusoria, implying that P. tigrina determines its predatory tactics based on the shell weight ratio for R. philippinarum. However, we observed that feeding duration was not influenced by shell weight ratio or prey species, even though data were separated for each predatory tactic. These results suggest that there is no difference in feeding efficiency based on shell weight ratio between prey species and between predatory tactics. Paratectonatica tigrina may alter its predatory tactics suitably depending on the prey species and the relative size difference, despite the same feeding efficiency.

scholarly journals The behavioral response of prey fish to predators: the role of predator size

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhong-Hua Tang ◽  
Qing Huang ◽  
Hui Wu ◽  
Lu Kuang ◽  
Shi-Jian Fu
Keyword(s):  
Relative Size ◽  
The Body ◽  
Size Difference ◽  
Prey Fish ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Black Carp ◽  
Predator Treatment ◽  
Predator Size ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Spontaneous Activities

Predation is one of the key factors governing patterns in natural systems, and adjustments of prey behaviors in response to a predator stimulus can have important ecological implications for wild fish. To investigate the effects of predators on the behavior of prey fish and to test whether the possible effects varied with predator size, black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) and snakehead (Channa argus) (a size-matched predator treatment with a similar body size to prey fish and a larger predator treatment with approximately 2.7 times of the body mass of prey fish) were selected to function as prey and predator, respectively. Their spontaneous activities were videorecorded in a central circular arena surrounded by a ring holding the stimulus fish. The distance between prey and predator fish was approximately 200% of the distance between two prey fish, which suggested that black carp can distinguish their conspecifics from heterospecifics and probably recognize the snakehead as a potential predator. The prey fish spent substantially less time moving and exhibited an overall shorter total distance of movement after the size-matched or large predator was introduced, which possibly occurred due to increased vigilance or efforts to reduce the possibility of detection by potential predators. However, there was no significant difference in either distance or spontaneous activities between two predator treatments. These findings suggested that (1) an anti-predator strategy in black carp might involve maintaining a safe distance, decreasing activity and possibly increased vigilance and that (2) the behaviors of prey response to predators were not influenced by their relative size difference.

Infused salbutamol accentuates acid-induced lung injury in the rat

1986 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley Braude ◽  
David Royston
Keyword(s):  
Lung Injury ◽  
Intravenous Infusion ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Adrenergic Agonist ◽  
Lung Water ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Infusion

1. The effect in the rat of salbutamol infusion (1 μg min−1 kg−1) on acid-induced lung injury has been determined. Severity of lung injury was assessed by two techniques: the pulmonary clearance of 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetate (99mTc-DTPA) and the lung wet/dry weight ratio, giving indices of alveolar epithelial permeability and transendothelial water filtration respectively. 2. Mean half-time of clearance of 99mTc-DTPA was increased significantly in rats who had intratracheal acid-induced injury and control (saline) intravenous infusion (19.4 ± 2.6 min) compared with non-acid-treated rats (98.1 ± 7.2) (P < 0.0001). However, those animals who had intratracheal acid injury and subsequent salbutamol intravenous infusion had significantly faster clearance (11.5 ± 1.9) than the acid and control infusion group (P < 0.05). 3. Gravimetric lung water in the acid-only rats (expressed as wet/dry weight ratio) was increased significantly (6.4 ± 0.3) compared with the non-acid-treated controls (5.4 ± 0.2) (P < 0.01). Acid-treated rats who had salbutamol infused had dramatically increased lung water (10.0 ± 0.6) (P < 0.001 vs acid and control infusion). 4. Intravenous salbutamol infusion itself produced no significant difference in the results for both techniques, compared with the non-acid-treated time-course controls. 5. Infused salbutamol accentuates acid-induced lung injury in the rat. Possible factors responsible for these findings include β2-adrenergic agonist mediated inhibition of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) and a predominant β1-adrenergic agonist inotropic effect of salbutamol with resultant rise in pulmonary artery pressure.

Statistical Modeling, Optimization and Kinetics of Mn2+ Adsorption in Aqueous Solution Using a Biosorbent

2019 ◽  
Vol 233 (8) ◽  
pp. 1201-1214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaheh Tajari ◽  
Narges Samadani Langeroodi ◽  
Mahnaz Khalafi
Keyword(s):  
Wheat Bran ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
P Value ◽  
Core Shell ◽  
Optimal Conditions ◽  
Solution Ph ◽  
Shell Weight ◽  
Removal Ratio ◽  
Kinetics Of

Abstract This paper describes the adsorption of Mn2+ ions from water with a mixture of wheat bran and Japanese medlar core shell (weight ratio of 30–70 wheat bran to Japanese medlar core shell) as low-cost adsorbent. Scanning Electron Microscope was used to characterize the adsorbent. The response surface methodology (RSM) that is usually approximated by a second-order regression model was employed to evaluate the effects of solution pH, initial Mn2+ concentration, adsorbent weight and contact time on the removal ratio of the Mn2+ ions. In this regard, the significant variables initial Mn2+ ions concentration, pH, adsorbent weight and square pH were found based on the small P-value for the model coefficients. The predicted optimal conditions were also performed. In the process optimization, maximal value of the removal ratio of Mn2+ was achieved as 96.91%. Additionally, this paper discusses the kinetic of adsorption in optimal conditions.

scholarly journals Regression of gestational diabetes induced cardiomegaly in offspring of diabetic rat

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Honório Sampaio Menezes ◽  
Cláudio Galeano Zettler ◽  
Alice Calone ◽  
Jackson Borges Corrêa ◽  
Carla Bartuscheck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Diabetic Rats ◽  
Heart Weight ◽  
Diabetic Rat ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Levene Test

PURPOSE: To compare body weight and length, heart weight and length, heart-to-body weight ratio, glycemia, and morphometric cellular data of offspring of diabetic rats (ODR) and of normal rats (control). METHODS: Diabetes was induced in 3 pregnant Wistar rats, bearing 30 rats, on the 11th day after conception by intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin. Six normal pregnant Wistar rats, bearing 50 rats, made up the control group. Morphometric data were obtained using a scale for the weight, length, heart and body measurements. Morphometric cellular data were obtained by a computer assisted method applied to the measurements of myocytes. Statistical analysis utilized Student's t-test, ANOVA and Levene test. RESULTS: Control offspring had greater mean body weight and length than offspring of diabetic rats (p < 0.001). Heart weight and length and heart-to-body ratios of newborn rats differed between groups at birth (p < 0.001), but showed no difference at 21 days. Mean nuclei area and perimetric value of the myocytes decrees throughout the first 21 days of life (p < 0.01) in the diabetic group. CONCLUSIONS: Heart hypertrophy on the offspring of diabetic rats at birth was demonstrated by the significant difference between the groups. After the eleventh day, no difference was found, which confirmed regression of cardiomegaly. The significant difference between the first and the 21th day of life, for nuclei area feature, demonstrate regression of cardiac hypertrophy in the offspring of diabetic rats.

A study on the safety evaluation of buphrenorphine administered through an autoinjector compared with manual injection using haematological and biochemical variables in rats

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 901-909 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Sheela ◽  
R Vijayaraghavan ◽  
S Senthilkumar
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Safety Evaluation ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Body Weight Ratio ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Manual Group ◽  
Significant Change

Buprenorphine drug cartridge was made for autoinjector device for use in emergency and critical situations to reduce the morbidity and mortality. Water-filled cartridges were prepared and buprenorphine was injected aseptically in the cartridge, to make 0.05 and 0.10 mg/mL. Rats were injected intraperitoneally, buprenorphine (0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg), repeatedly with the autoinjector and compared with manual injection (7 days and 14 days) using various haematological and biochemical parameters. No significant change was observed in the body weight, organ to body weight ratio and haematological variables in any of the experimental groups compared with the control group. Except serum urea and aspartate aminotransferase, no significant change was observed in glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, bilirubin, protein, albumin, creatinine, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase, gamma glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase. The autoinjectors deliver the drugs with spray effect and force for faster absorption. In the present study, the autoinjector meant for intramuscular injection was injected intraperitoneally in rats, and the drug was delivered with force on the vital organs. No significant difference was observed in the autoinjector group compared to the manual group showing tolerability and safety of the buphrenorphine autoinjector. This study shows that buprenorphine autoinjector can be considered for further research work.

Azole-resistant and -susceptible Aspergillus fumigatus isolates show comparable fitness and azole treatment outcome in immunocompetent mice

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 703-710
Author(s):  
Michaela Lackner ◽  
Günter Rambach ◽  
Emina Jukic ◽  
Bettina Sartori ◽  
Josef Fritz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Clinical Parameters ◽  
Fitness Advantage ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Immunocompetent Mice

Abstract No data are available on the in vivo impact of infections with in vitro azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus in immunocompetent hosts. Here, the aim was to investigate fungal fitness and treatment response in immunocompetent mice infected with A. fumigatus (parental strain [ps]) and isogenic mutants carrying either the mutation M220K or G54W (cyp51A). The efficacy of itraconazole (ITC) and posaconazole (PSC) was investigated in mice, intravenously challenged either with a single or a combination of ps and mutants (6 × 105 conidia/mouse). Organ fungal burden and clinical parameters were measured. In coinfection models, no fitness advantage was observed for the ps strain when compared to the mutants (M220K and G54W) independent of the presence or absence of azole-treatment. For G54W, M220K, and the ps, no statistically significant difference in ITC and PSC treatment was observed in respect to fungal kidney burden. However, clinical parameters suggest that in particular the azole-resistant strain carrying the mutation G54W caused a more severe disease than the ps strain. Mice infected with G54W showed a significant decline in body weight and lymphocyte counts, while spleen/body weight ratio and granulocyte counts were increased. In immunocompetent mice, in vitro azole-resistance did not translate into therapeutic failure by either ITC or PSC; the immune system appears to play the key role in clearing the infection.

scholarly journals Influence of the Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 strain on complications of the chronic experimental liver damage

2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 121-129
Author(s):  
D. Kosakova ◽  
P. Scheer ◽  
J. Lata ◽  
J. Doubek
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Lymph Nodes ◽  
Liver Damage ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Coliform Bacteria ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Liver ◽  
Experimental Liver Damage

The aim of the study was evaluate the influence of the probiotic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Nissle 1917 strain (Mutaflor&reg; suspension, Ardeypharm GmbH, Herdecke, Germany) on bacterial translocation in cases of liver damage, damage to the intestinal mucosa, potential portal hypertension associated with possible development of oesophageal varices and on the bacterial population of the intestine during chronic experimental liver damage in the laboratory rat. Rats with liver damage induced by thioacetamide were divided into an experimental and control group. Experimental and control animals were applied Mutaflor and saline, respectively. Samples of blood, liver, lymph nodes and caecum for microbiological examination, of liver, duodenum and oesophagus for histological examination and of spleen for weight evaluation were collected. There were no significant differences between both groups of animals in the qualitative proportion of <i>Staphylococcus</i> spp., <i>Enterococcus</i> spp. and <i>Proteus</i> spp. cultured from the lymph nodes, blood and liver. The quantitative culture results on <i>Enterococcus</i> spp. in the caecum, liver and lymph nodes showed no significant differences between both groups. There was a significant difference between the experimental and control group in the counts of coliform bacteria. No significant differences between both groups were found in the overall damage score of the liver, duodenum and oesophagus. There were no differences in the spleen to body weight ratio of both groups. The application of Mutaflor&reg; suspension for eight days had no recognisable effect diminishing the selected complications of chronic liver damage caused by the administration of TAA to laboratory rats.

Infertile bulls versus steers: III. Carcass characteristics

1971 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Price
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Growth ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Lower Percentage ◽  
Nutritional Conditions ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Kidney Fat ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The One

SummaryThe carcass characteristics of a total of 43 infertile bulls were oompared with those of 42 steers from five independent trials. In most cases there was no significant difference between the bulls and the steers for dressing percentage, or fleshing index. Bulls were generally found to have greater hide percentages than steers, the difference being very highly significant (P < 0·001) in one of the trials and significant (P < 0·05) in another. Eye musole area expressed relative to caroass weight was greater in the bulls, the difference being significant (P < 0·05) in three of the trials. The depth of fat over the eye musole and the hind to fore-quarter weight ratio were greater in the steer carcasses. Head weights were found to be significantly greater (P < 0·05) and caul and kidney fat weights less (P < 0·05) in bulls than in steers in the one trial where these parameters could be measured.Carcass composition was estimated by the three-rib sample joint teohnique in four of the trials, and in these the bulls had a greater percentage of bone and muscle, but a lower peroentage of fat than the steers, the differences being significant in most oases. In the fifth trial composition was estimated by half carcass dissection. This, too, showed bulls to have a greater percentage of bone and muscle and a lower percentage of fat, the differences being highly significant (P < 0·01) and very highly significant (P < 0·001) respectively. On a fat-corrected basis the estimated retail value of the carcasses favoured the bulls by about $20.00 each.The studies, conducted over a range of nutritional conditions, showed that non-castration favoured muscle growth while suppressing fat deposition, and that this advantage was more pronounced when growth rates were high.

scholarly journals 3. An Alternate Interpretation of the Oort Cloud of Comets?

1977 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 93-97
Author(s):  
L. Kresak
Keyword(s):  
Relative Size ◽  
Oort Cloud ◽  
Observational Evidence ◽  
The Sun ◽  
First Passage ◽  
Radiation Mechanism ◽  
Original Surface ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
First Time ◽  
Stellar Perturbations

Some problems of the current interpretation of the Oort Cloud are discussed. If observational selection is taken into account, no significant difference in physical characteristics of old and new comets is apparent, in spite of the required change in the radiation mechanism after the first passage near the Sun. The abundance of new comets puts special requirements on the relative size of the perihelion distances at which they lose their orbital characteristics and original surface properties, respectively. Stellar perturbations do not seem to be effective enough to displace the perihelia of new comets in a single revolution from the zone of insignificant planetary perturbations into the zone of detectability. Therefore, many physically new comets should appear as dynamically old, which is at variance with observational evidence. It is speculated whether the Oort Cloud really represents a reservoir of comets passing near the Sun for the first time or, alternatively, a region where the capability of building up extensive comas is being restored within periods of the order of 106 to 107 years.

QUANTITATIVE AND SEASONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE PITCH CANKER FUNGUS, FUSARIUM SUBGLUTINANS F. SP. PINI WITH CONOPHTHORUS RADIATAE (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE) AND ERNOBIUS PUNCTULATUS (COLEOPTERA: ANOBIIDAE) WHICH INFEST PINUS RADIATA

1995 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelli Hoover ◽  
David L. Wood ◽  
Joseph W. Fox ◽  
William E. Bros
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Pinus Radiata ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Pitch Canker ◽  
Fusarium Subglutinans ◽  
Sticky Traps ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Late Instar

AbstractThe objective of this study was to determine the quantitative and seasonal association between the pitch canker fungus, Fusarium subglutinans f. sp. pini, and two potential beetle vectors, Conophthorus radiatae Hopkins and Ernobius punctulatus Fall. In samples of reared and dissected cones, 21.4 ± 2.5% of C. radiatae and 30.1 ± 8.0% of E. punctulatus adults carried propagules of F. s. pini. Seasonal variation in mean percentage of contaminated C. radiatae and E. punctulatus emerged from cones ranged from 0 to 67% and was highest for both species February through April. In sticky traps 12.5 ± 2.3% and 11.8 ± 3.6% of E. punctulatus and Pityophthorus spp., respectively, were contaminated with propagules of F. s. pini.Conophthorus radiatae and E. punctulatus co-occurred in 26% of the cones. The percentage of cones containing contaminated C. radiatae was greater when E. punctulatus progeny were also contaminated than when E. punctulatus was not. When contamination status of E. punctulatus was not considered, there was no significant difference in C. radiatae contamination between cones with and without E. punctulatus. Because C. radiatae appears to be a vector of the pitch canker fungus, interspecific transmission of inoculum may increase the incidence of this disease.The parasitoid, Cephalonomia utahensis Brues (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), was frequently observed parasitizing late-instar larvae of E. punctulatus, but was not found on larvae of C. radiatae. Emergence of large numbers of C. utahensis represents another potential source of inoculum for transmission to prey species.

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