scholarly journals Birds invest wingbeats to keep a steady head and reap the ultimate benefits of flocking

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy A. Taylor ◽  
Dora Biro ◽  
Ben Lambert ◽  
James A. Walker ◽  
Graham K. Taylor ◽  
...  

AbstractFlapping flight is the most energetically demanding form of sustained forwards locomotion that vertebrates perform. Flock dynamics therefore have significant implications for energy expenditure. Despite this, no studies have quantified the biomechanical consequences of flying in a cluster flock relative to flying solo. Here, we compared the flight characteristics of homing pigeons (Columba livia) flying solo and in pairs, using high-precision 5 Hz GPS and 200 Hz tri-axial accelerometer biologgers. Paired flight increased route accuracy by ~7%, but, was accompanied by an increase in wingbeat frequency of ~18%. As expected, paired individuals benefitted from improved homing route accuracy, which reduced flight distance by ~7% and time by ~9%. However, realising these navigational gains involved substantial changes in flight kinematics and energetics. Both individuals in a pair increased their wingbeat frequency by c.18%, by decreasing the duration of their upstroke. This sharp increase in wingbeat frequency caused just a 3% increase in airspeed, but reduced the oscillatory displacement of the body by ~22%, which we hypothesise relates to an increased requirement for visual stability and manoeuvrability when flocking. Overall, the shorter flight distances and increased wingbeat frequency in a pair resulted in a net increase in the aerodynamic cost of returning home, which we estimate was ~14%. Our results demonstrate that flocking costs have been underestimated by an order of magnitude and force reinterpretation of their mechanistic origin. We show that, for pigeons, two heads are better than one, but keeping a steady head necessitates energetically costly kinematics.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhianna L. Ricketts ◽  
Daniel W. Sankey ◽  
Bryce P. Tidswell ◽  
Joshua Brown ◽  
Joseph F. Deegan ◽  
...  

The benefits of dominance are well known and numerous, including first access to resources such as food, mates and nesting sites. Less well studied are the potential costs associated with being dominant. Here, the movement of two flocks of domestic homing pigeons (Columba livia) – measured via accelerometry loggers – was recorded over a period of two weeks. Movement was then used to calculate each individual’s daily overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA, G), which can be used as a proxy for energy expenditure. The dominance hierarchy of the two flocks was determined via group-level antagonistic interactions, and demonstrated a significantly linear structure. The most dominant bird within each flock was found to move significantly more than conspecifics – on average, c.39% greater than the individual with the next highest degree of movement – indicating a possible cost to possessing the top rank within a hierarchy. Despite the dominance hierarchy being linear, mean daily total ODBA did not reflect a linear nature, with no pattern observed between rank and ODBA, once the top ranked individuals had been accounted for. This suggest that energy expenditure may be more reflective of a despotic hierarchy. These results show the potential for the future use of accelerometery as a tool to study the fusion of energetics and behaviour.Subject CategorybehaviourSubject Areasbehaviour, physiology


Author(s):  
I. V. Cheretaev ◽  
D. R. Khusainov ◽  
E. N. Chuyan ◽  
M. Yu. Ravaeva ◽  
A. N. Gusev ◽  
...  

The purpose of the review is to summarize current literature data and the results of our own research on the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of acetylsalicylic acid, as well as the physiological mechanisms underlying them. This acid is the most studied reference representative of salicylates, which is convenient to consider the physiological effects characteristic in general for this group of chemical and medicinal products. Acetylsalicylic acid has analgesic properties against thermal pain and pain caused by electrical stimuli, as well as a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. The realization of these properties depends on the peculiarities of aspirin metabolism in the body, ion and synaptic mechanisms for controlling the functional state of the cell, neurotransmitter systems of the сentral nervous system, and mechanisms of peripheral and сentral analgesia. Analgesic properties of acetylsalicylic acid founded not only in normal, but also in ultra-small doses. Various physical and especially chemical factors significantly change their effects. This increases the interest in studying the analgesic activity of salicylates and their physiological mechanisms, since such studies can serve as a basis for creating new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with low toxicity and high safety for patients, and improve the strategy of their practical use. Currently, the most detailed study of the physiological mechanism of analgesic and anti-inflammatory action of aspirin and its main metabolite – salicylic acid. However, it should be note that despite the abundance of existing data obtained in scientific studies of the effects of aspirin and its practical use, there are a number of unexplained aspects of the action of this drug, the mechanism of which has not yet been deciphered. The continuing interest in the effects and mechanisms of action of this drug and in connection with the expansion of its use evidenced by a consistently high number of scientific publications on aspirin in the most famous foreign and domestic publications. At the same time, the number of publications about aspirin is an order of magnitude higher than about any other drug known to humanity.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 593
Author(s):  
Ryota Yanagisawa ◽  
Shunsuke Shigaki ◽  
Kotaro Yasui ◽  
Dai Owaki ◽  
Yasuhiro Sugimoto ◽  
...  

In this study, we fabricated a novel wearable vibration sensor for insects and measured their wing flapping. An analysis of insect wing deformation in relation to changes in the environment plays an important role in understanding the underlying mechanism enabling insects to dynamically interact with their surrounding environment. It is common to use a high-speed camera to measure the wing flapping; however, it is difficult to analyze the feedback mechanism caused by the environmental changes caused by the flapping because this method applies an indirect measurement. Therefore, we propose the fabrication of a novel film sensor that is capable of measuring the changes in the wingbeat frequency of an insect. This novel sensor is composed of flat silver particles admixed with a silicone polymer, which changes the value of the resistor when a bending deformation occurs. As a result of attaching this sensor to the wings of a moth and a dragonfly and measuring the flapping of the wings, we were able to measure the frequency of the flapping with high accuracy. In addition, as a result of simultaneously measuring the relationship between the behavior of a moth during its search for an odor source and its wing flapping, it became clear that the frequency of the flapping changed depending on the frequency of the odor reception. From this result, a wearable film sensor for an insect that can measure the displacement of the body during a particular behavior was fabricated.


Author(s):  
V. Purushothaman ◽  
K. Vinoth Kumar ◽  
Sabari Girish Ambat ◽  
R. Venkataswami

Abstract Background Total brachial plexus palsy (TBPP) accounts for nearly 50% of all brachial plexus injuries. Since achieving a good functional hand was almost impossible, the aim was settled to get a good shoulder and elbow function. It was Gu, who popularized the concept of utilizing contralateral C7 (CC7) with vascularized ulnar nerve graft (VUNG) to get some hand function. We have modified it to suit our patients by conducting it as a single-stage procedure, thereby trying to get a functional upper limb. Methods From 2009 to 2014, we had 20 TBPP patients. We feel nerve reconstruction is always better than any other salvage procedure, including free muscle transfer. We modified Gu's concept and present our concept of total nerve reconstruction as “ALL IN ONE OR (W)HOLE IN ONE REPAIR.” Results All patients able to move their reconstructed limbs independently or with the help of contralateral limbs. Three patients developed hook grip and one patient was able to incorporate limbs to do bimanual jobs. One important observation is that all the reconstructed limbs regain the bulk, and to a certain extent, the attitude and appearance looks normal, as patients no longer hide it or hang it in a sling. Conclusion Adult brachial plexus injury itself is a devastating injury affecting young males. By doing this procedure, the affected limb is not dissociated from the rest of the body and rehabilitation can be aimed to get a supportive limb.


1964 ◽  
Vol 179 (1) ◽  
pp. 222-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. Vafiadakis ◽  
W. Johnson ◽  
I. S. Donaldson

Earlier work on a water-hammer technique for high-rate forming of sheet metal has been extended to include work on deep drawing using lead plugs. A study of the pressure-time history of a deforming blank during its initial movement is reported. An assessment of the overall efficiency of the process has been made and is found to be about 50 per cent; this is an order of magnitude better than that found with comparable electro-hydraulic and explosive methods.


Ibis ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
RICHARD HOLLAND ◽  
FRANSISCO BONADONNA ◽  
LUIGI DALL'ANTONIA ◽  
SILVANO BENVENUTI ◽  
THERESA BURT DE PERERA ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (98) ◽  
pp. 20140505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica J. Kim ◽  
Marta Wolf ◽  
Victor Manuel Ortega-Jimenez ◽  
Stanley H. Cheng ◽  
Robert Dudley

Aerodynamic performance and energetic savings for flight in ground effect are theoretically maximized during hovering, but have never been directly measured for flying animals. We evaluated flight kinematics, metabolic rates and induced flow velocities for Anna's hummingbirds hovering at heights (relative to wing length R = 5.5 cm) of 0.7 R , 0.9 R , 1.1 R , 1.7 R , 2.2 R and 8 R above a solid surface. Flight at heights less than or equal to 1.1 R resulted in significant reductions in the body angle, tail angle, anatomical stroke plane angle, wake-induced velocity, and mechanical and metabolic power expenditures when compared with flight at the control height of 8 R . By contrast, stroke plane angle relative to horizontal, wingbeat amplitude and wingbeat frequency were unexpectedly independent of height from ground. Qualitative smoke visualizations suggest that each wing generates a vortex ring during both down- and upstroke. These rings expand upon reaching the ground and present a complex turbulent interaction below the bird's body. Nonetheless, hovering near surfaces results in substantial energetic benefits for hummingbirds, and by inference for all volant taxa that either feed at flowers or otherwise fly close to plant or other surfaces.


2003 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1319-1323 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Morawiec

A method that improves the accuracy of misorientations determined from Kikuchi patterns is described. It is based on the fact that some parameters of a misorientation calculated from two orientations are more accurate than other parameters. A procedure which eliminates inaccurate elements is devised. It requires at least two foil inclinations. The quality of the approach relies on the possibility to set large sample-to-detector distances and the availability of good spatial resolution of transmission electron microscopy. Achievable accuracy is one order of magnitude better than the accuracy of the standard procedure.


1979 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Hayes ◽  
E. J. Eisen

Line crossfostering techniques were used to study differences among selected and control lines of mice in direct genetic and postnatal maternal genetic influences on preweaning (day 12) body weight and composition. The lines were selected for high (H6) and low (L6) 6-week body weight and the control line (C2) was maintained by random selection. There were positive correlated responses to selection in both direct genetic and postnatal maternal genetic effects on body weight and weights of all body components (P < 0.01) except for water and ash weight in H6. The correlated responses in postnatal maternal genetic effects were of the same order of magnitude as those in direct genetic effects. Correlated responses were greater in L6 than in H6. Correlated responses in direct genetic effects were positive (P < 0.01) for water percent in H6 and ether extract percent in L6, and negative (P < 0.01) for water percent and lean percent in L6. Correlated responses in postnatal maternal genetic effects were positive for ether extract percent and negative for water percent (P < 0.01). Correlated responses were far greater in L6 than in H6 and were greater for postnatal maternal genetic effects than for direct genetic effects. Analyses of covariance results indicated line differences in the relative growth rates of the body components.


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