scholarly journals A superb solo, or a deviant duet? Overlapping songs in superb fairy-wrens

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 1076-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire J Taylor ◽  
Michelle L Hall ◽  
Kristal E Cain ◽  
Naomi E Langmore
Keyword(s):  
Time Lag ◽  
Playback Experiments ◽  
Temporal Precision ◽  
Field Recordings ◽  
Response Interval ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Malurus Cyaneus ◽  
And Function ◽  
Consistent Response

Abstract Avian duets are formed when 2 birds coordinate their songs. Most research on the evolution and function of duetting has focused on species with highly coordinated duets, and less is known about the context and function of overlapping songs that are more loosely coordinated, in part due to the challenge of determining whether such vocalizations coincide by chance or through coordination between the partners. Here, we use field recordings and playback experiments to test whether breeding pairs of superb fairy-wrens, Malurus cyaneus, coordinate their territorial songs to form duets. We test 3 key characteristics of duetting; whether partners’ songs 1) overlap more than expected by chance; 2) have a stereotyped structure that occurs repeatedly and predictably in time, and 3) show evidence of a constant time lag between the contributions of the 2 participants, indicating that individuals are coordinating their songs. This is the first study to quantify the temporal precision of song between partners to investigate coordination in the Malurus genus, an important model taxon for song, sexual selection, and speciation. We found variation in the extent to which partners’ songs overlapped, with some individuals overlapping their partners’ songs more than expected by chance, no difference in structure of solo and overlapping songs, and no evidence of a consistent response interval. Thus song overlap in superb fairy-wrens meets only some criteria for duetting. We suggest that overlapping songs in this species may be due to individuals responding independently of the same stimulus and/or “call and answer” between pair members.

Ancient Ways

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Weinel
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
Visual Art ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Altered State ◽  
Field Recordings ◽  
Spirit World ◽  
Relevant Field ◽  
Altered State Of Consciousness ◽  
And Function ◽  
Role And Function

This chapter discusses shamanism, explaining the ethos and mythology of several indigenous societies, and how these belief systems relate to the design of art and music. First, a general overview of shamanism is provided, which outlines the typical role and function of a shaman. An explanation of the shamanic visionary experience, a type of altered state of consciousness, is then provided. Following this, the chapter explores a variety of visual art from indigenous shamanic cultures, including examples from San, Native American, Huichol, Tukano, and Shipibo traditions. The sound and music of shamanic and trance cultures is also discussed, with reference to Vodou, Tukano, Mazatec, Kiowa, and Mayan examples, and relevant field recordings. Through the course of this discussion, the chapter establishes a view of how shamanic art and music invoke a sense of the spirit world, which informs the subsequent discourse of Inner Sound.

Shaker-1 mutations reveal roles for myosin VIIA in both development and function of cochlear hair cells

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 557-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Self ◽  
M. Mahony ◽  
J. Fleming ◽  
J. Walsh ◽  
S.D. Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cell ◽  
Hair Cells ◽  
Usher Syndrome ◽  
Orthologous Gene ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
Cochlear Hair Cells ◽  
Cochlear Hair Cell ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Myosin Viia ◽  
And Function

The mouse shaker-1 locus, Myo7a, encodes myosin VIIA and mutations in the orthologous gene in humans cause Usher syndrome type 1B or non-syndromic deafness. Myo7a is expressed very early in sensory hair cell development in the inner ear. We describe the effects of three mutations on cochlear hair cell development and function. In the Myo7a816SB and Myo7a6J mutants, stereocilia grow and form rows of graded heights as normal, but the bundles become progressively more disorganised. Most of these mutants show no gross electrophysiological responses, but some did show evidence of hair cell depolarisation despite the disorganisation of their bundles. In contrast, the original shaker-1 mutants, Myo7ash1, had normal early development of stereocilia bundles, but still showed abnormal cochlear responses. These findings suggest that myosin VIIA is required for normal stereocilia bundle organisation and has a role in the function of cochlear hair cells.

scholarly journals Identification of Macrophage Genotype and Key Biological Pathways in Circulating Angiogenic Cell Transcriptome

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bert R. Everaert ◽  
Steven J. Van Laere ◽  
Robrecht Lembrechts ◽  
Vicky Y. Hoymans ◽  
Jean-Pierre Timmermans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cytokine Expression ◽  
Retinoid X Receptor ◽  
Farnesoid X Receptor ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Cytokine Expression Profile ◽  
Pathways Analysis ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Cell Transcriptome ◽  
And Function

Background. Circulating angiogenic cells (CAC) have been identified as important regulators of vascular biology. However, there is still considerable debate about the genotype and function of CAC. Methods and Results. Data from publicly available gene expression data sets were used to analyse the transcriptome of in vitro cultured CAC (CACiv). Genes and pathways of interest were further evaluated using qPCR comparing CACiv versus CD14+ monocytic cells. The CACiv transcriptome strongly related to tissue macrophages, and more specifically to regulatory M2c macrophages. The cytokine expression profile of CACiv was predominantly immune modulatory and resembled the cytokine expression of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM). Pathway analysis revealed previously unrecognized biological processes in CACiv, such as riboflavin metabolism and liver X receptor (LXR)/retinoid X receptor (RXR) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR)/retinoid X receptor (RXR) pathways. Analysis of endothelial-specific genes did not show evidence for endothelial transdifferentiation. Conclusions. CACiv are genotypically similar to regulatory M2c macrophages and lack signs of endothelial differentiation.

scholarly journals Molecular Assembly and Structural Plasticity of Sensory Ribbon Synapses—A Presynaptic Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (22) ◽  
pp. 8758
Author(s):  
Roos Anouk Voorn ◽  
Christian Vogl
Keyword(s):  
Spiral Ganglion ◽  
Structural Plasticity ◽  
Molecular Assembly ◽  
Transport Pathways ◽  
Temporal Precision ◽  
Ribbon Synapses ◽  
Retinal Photoreceptors ◽  
Molecular Anatomy ◽  
Ganglion Neurons ◽  
And Function

In the mammalian cochlea, specialized ribbon-type synapses between sensory inner hair cells (IHCs) and postsynaptic spiral ganglion neurons ensure the temporal precision and indefatigability of synaptic sound encoding. These high-through-put synapses are presynaptically characterized by an electron-dense projection—the synaptic ribbon—which provides structural scaffolding and tethers a large pool of synaptic vesicles. While advances have been made in recent years in deciphering the molecular anatomy and function of these specialized active zones, the developmental assembly of this presynaptic interaction hub remains largely elusive. In this review, we discuss the dynamic nature of IHC (pre-) synaptogenesis and highlight molecular key players as well as the transport pathways underlying this process. Since developmental assembly appears to be a highly dynamic process, we further ask if this structural plasticity might be maintained into adulthood, how this may influence the functional properties of a given IHC synapse and how such plasticity could be regulated on the molecular level. To do so, we take a closer look at other ribbon-bearing systems, such as retinal photoreceptors and pinealocytes and aim to infer conserved mechanisms that may mediate these phenomena.

scholarly journals Female mice respond to male ultrasonic ‘songs’ with approach behaviour

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 589-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Hammerschmidt ◽  
K. Radyushkin ◽  
H. Ehrenreich ◽  
J. Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Male Mouse ◽  
Experimental Situation ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Ultrasonic Vocalizations ◽  
Male Mice ◽  
Playback Experiments ◽  
Female Mice ◽  
And Function ◽  
Female Responses ◽  
Artificial Control

The ultrasonic vocalizations of mice are attracting increasing attention, because they have been recognized as an informative readout in genetically modified strains. In addition, the observation that male mice produce elaborate sequences of ultrasonic vocalizations (‘song’) when exposed to female mice or their scents has sparked a debate as to whether these sounds are—in terms of their structure and function—analogous to bird song. We conducted playback experiments with cycling female mice to explore the function of male mouse songs. Using a place preference design, we show that these vocalizations elicited approach behaviour in females. In contrast, the playback of whistle-like artificial control sounds did not evoke approach responses. Surprisingly, the females also did not respond to pup isolation calls. In addition, female responses did not vary in relation to reproductive cycle, i.e. whether they were in oestrus or not. Furthermore, our data revealed a rapid habituation of subjects to the experimental situation, which stands in stark contrast to other species' responses to courtship vocalizations. Nevertheless, our results clearly demonstrate that male mouse songs elicit females' interest.

Mechanisms of heterospecific recognition in avian mobbing calls

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances R. Johnson ◽  
Elisabeth J. McNaughton ◽  
Courtney D. Shelley ◽  
Daniel T. Blumstein
Keyword(s):  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Dominant Frequency ◽  
Playback Experiments ◽  
Broad Bandwidth ◽  
Call Recognition ◽  
Allopatric Species ◽  
Interspecific Recognition ◽  
And Function

Some birds emit special calls, referred to as mobbing calls, when they detect a predator in their area. These calls are easily localisable and function to rally other individuals to help chase out a threatening intruder. Interestingly, individuals may respond to the mobbing calls of other sympatric species. To understand the mechanism underlying interspecific recognition it is essential to determine whether birds also respond to the mobbing calls of allopatric species. If, as has been suggested, learning is important for call recognition, then calls from allopatric species should not evoke mobbing. If, however, there are intrinsic (and possibly convergent) characteristics of mobbing calls, then novel calls from allopatric species should evoke mobbing. We conducted two playback experiments with apostlebirds (Struthidea cinera, Family Corcoracidae), Australian mud-nesters, to understand mechanisms underlying mobbing-call recognition. The first demonstrated that allopatric mobbing calls could elicit a response significantly greater than control stimuli, but less than that elicited by playback of conspecific calls. The second demonstrated that the dominant frequency was critical for eliciting mobbing, rather than the commonly assumed broad bandwidth. Taken together, these results suggest that experience with a particular species' call is not essential to elicit mobbing; rather, intrinsic aspects of the calls themselves may explain heterospecific recognition.

4D stress signals in the upper plate record subduction nucleation and lateral propagation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Shuck ◽  
Sean Gulick ◽  
Harm Van Avendonk ◽  
Michael Gurnis ◽  
Rupert Sutherland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subduction Zones ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Plate Boundary ◽  
Subduction Initiation ◽  
The North ◽  
Stress Signal ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Stress Signals ◽  
Geologic Record ◽  
Geodynamic Models

<div> <p><strong>Subduction zones are fundamental to Earth’s plate tectonic history yet details of how they initiate remain enigmatic. Geodynamic models suggest that early stages of subduction depend on whether underthrusting is driven by horizontal or vertical forces. If horizontal forces dominate, the upper plate experiences compression and uplift followed by extension and subsidence, whereas vertically-forced subduction involves only extension. Geologic evidence from the Izu-Bonin-Mariana forearc supports a ~1 Myr rapid transition, whereas observations from Oman indicate a >8 Myr time lag between initial underthrusting and the onset of upper plate extension. We present seismic images of the incipient Puysegur subduction zone south of New Zealand. Our data show evidence for a stress signal (compression followed by extension) that spread from north to south as the trench initiated and propagated along the plate boundary. Both the magnitude and duration of the compressional phase diminish from ~8 Myrs long in the north to ~5 Myrs in the south. This timing indicates that the transition to self-sustaining subduction is more rapid when an adjacent downgoing slab contributes a driving force that aids subduction initiation. We therefore argue for a new framework in which horizontal forces dominate at sites of subduction nucleation and vertical forces gradually strengthen during later propagation as the developing plate boundary weakens and the slab-pull force intensifies. Our findings corroborate evidence for ancient horizontally-forced subduction initiation events and suggest that the geologic record may be biased, since vertically-forced scenarios of subduction propagation are more likely to be preserved than destructive subduction nucleation events. </strong></p> </div>

scholarly journals Developments and Opportunities for 3D Bioprinted Organoids

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 364
Author(s):  
Ya Ren ◽  
Xue Yang ◽  
Zhengjiang Ma ◽  
Xin Sun ◽  
Yuxin Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Adult Stem Cells ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Disease Modeling ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
And Function ◽  
Further Development

Organoids developed from pluripotent stem cells or adult stem cells are three-dimensional cell cultures possessing certain key characteristics of their organ counterparts, and they can mimic certain biological developmental processes of organs in vitro. Therefore, they have promising applications in drug screening, disease modeling, and regenerative repair of tissues and organs. However, the construction of organoids currently faces numerous challenges, such as breakthroughs in scale size, vascularization, better reproducibility, and precise architecture in time and space. Recently, the application of bioprinting has accelerated the process of organoid construction. In this review, we present current bioprinting techniques and the application of bioinks and summarize examples of successful organoid bioprinting. In the future, a multidisciplinary combination of developmental biology, disease pathology, cell biology, and materials science will aid in overcoming the obstacles pertaining to the bioprinting of organoids. The combination of bioprinting and organoids with a focus on structure and function can facilitate further development of real organs.

CRAFTING IDENTITY: ACQUISITION, PRODUCTION, USE, AND RECYCLING OF SOAPSTONE DURING THE MISSION PERIOD IN ALTA CALIFORNIA

2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlin M. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Indigenous Identity ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Alta California ◽  
Mission Period ◽  
Cultural Spaces ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Cooking Wares ◽  
And Function

This article investigates the daily practices and social processes of indigenous identity negotiation in the Santa Barbara Channel region through an analysis of soapstone ollas, bowls, andcomales. After assessing the source of the raw material and using a typological classification based upon form and function, I discuss the ways in which soapstone cooking wares were used diachronically and across the colonial landscape. These finds show a reorganization of the soapstone industry inside the mission space: soapstone was acquired from new sources, an emphasis was placed on the production of bowls and comales, and more soapstone vessels show evidence of remodification. However, the continued use of traditional soapstone ollas in historically occupied Chumash villages outside the mission indicates persistent practices that linked indigenous peoples to a deep ancestral past. I argue that these changes and continuities illuminate a range of identities that existed between the cultural spaces previously described as “native” and “Spanish.” This study illustrates that indigenous peoples negotiated, redeployed, and expressed their identities in new ways that allowed them to adapt and persist under colonialism.

scholarly journals An integrated model of brain structure and function

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick J Beaumont
Keyword(s):  
Action Potentials ◽  
Interstitial Fluid ◽  
Traumatic Injury ◽  
The Body ◽  
Potassium Ions ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
Brain Structure And Function ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Sodium And Potassium

The fluid in the extracellular space around the neurons and glial cells is enclosed within the brain, kept separate from the circulation and the rest of the body-fluid. This brain interstitial fluid forms a distinct compartment; a sponge-like “inverse cell” that surrounds all the cells. During neuronal resting and action potentials, sodium and potassium ions shuttle into, and out of, this “Reciprocal Domain” within the brain. This localised flux of ions is the counterpart to all the neuronal electrochemical activity (having the same intensity and duration, at the same sites in the brain), so a complementary version of all that potential information is integrated into this space within the brain. This flux of cations in the Reciprocal Domain may indirectly influence neuronal activity in the brain, creating immensely complex feedback. This Reciprocal Domain is unified throughout the brain, and exists continuously throughout life. This model identifies which species have such Reciprocal Domains, and how many times similar systems evolved. This account of the Reciprocal Domain of the brain may have clinical implications; it could be vulnerable to disruption by chemical insult, traumatic injury or pathology. These are key characteristics of our core selves; this encourages the idea that this Reciprocal Domain makes a crucial contribution to the brain. This hypothesis is explored and developed here.

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