scholarly journals How squirrels protect their caches: Location, conspicuousness during caching, and proximity to kin influence cache lifespan

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikel M. Delgado ◽  
Lucia F. Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Strategies ◽  
Scatter Hoarding ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Fox Squirrels ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
High Level ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Cache Protection ◽  
Cache Location ◽  
Passive Integrated Transponder Tags

AbstractScatter-hoarding animals cannot physically protect individual caches, and instead utilize several behavioral strategies that are hypothesized to offer protection for caches. We validated the use of physically altered, cacheable food items, and determined that intraspecific pilfering among free-ranging fox squirrels (N = 23) could be assessed in the field. In this study we were able to identify specific individual squirrels who pilfered or moved caches that had been stored by a conspecific. We identified a high level of pilfering (25%) among this population. In a subsequent study, we assessed the fate of squirrel-made caches. Nineteen fox squirrels cached 294 hazelnuts with passive integrated transponder tags implanted in them. Variables collected included assessment and cache investment and protection behaviors; cache location, substrate, and conspicuousness of each cache; how long each cache remained in its original location, and the location where the cache was finally consumed. We also examined whether assessment or cache protection behaviors were related to the outcomes of buried nuts. Finally, we measured the population dynamics and heterogeneity of squirrels in this study, testing the hypothesis that cache proximity and pilferage tolerance could serve as a form of kin selection. Polymer chain reaction (PCR) was used to analyze hair samples and determine relatedness among 15 squirrels, and the potential impact of relatedness on caching behavior. Results suggested that cache protection behaviors and the lifespan of a cache were dependent on the conspicuousness of a cache. Squirrels may mitigate some of the costs of pilfering by caching closer to the caches of related squirrels than to those of non-related squirrels.

scholarly journals Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIEd): a high-level academic and industry note 2021

AI and Ethics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ali Chaudhry ◽  
Emre Kazim
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Intelligent Tutoring Systems ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Tutoring Systems ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
The Past ◽  
Artificial Intelligence In Education ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
High Level ◽  
Contextualized Learning

AbstractIn the past few decades, technology has completely transformed the world around us. Indeed, experts believe that the next big digital transformation in how we live, communicate, work, trade and learn will be driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) [83]. This paper presents a high-level industrial and academic overview of AI in Education (AIEd). It presents the focus of latest research in AIEd on reducing teachers’ workload, contextualized learning for students, revolutionizing assessments and developments in intelligent tutoring systems. It also discusses the ethical dimension of AIEd and the potential impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the future of AIEd’s research and practice. The intended readership of this article is policy makers and institutional leaders who are looking for an introductory state of play in AIEd.

scholarly journals Targeting the sAC-Dependent cAMP Pool to Prevent SARS-Cov-2 Infection

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1962
Author(s):  
Muhammad Aslam ◽  
Yury Ladilov
Keyword(s):  
Endocytic Pathway ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Late Endosomes ◽  
Proven Efficacy ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Potential Strategy ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
High Level

An outbreak of the novel coronavirus (CoV) SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 respiratory disease, infected millions of people since the end of 2019, led to high-level morbidity and mortality and caused worldwide social and economic disruption. There are currently no antiviral drugs available with proven efficacy or vaccines for its prevention. An understanding of the underlying cellular mechanisms involved in virus replication is essential for repurposing the existing drugs and/or the discovery of new ones. Endocytosis is the important mechanism of entry of CoVs into host cells. Endosomal maturation followed by the fusion with lysosomes are crucial events in endocytosis. Late endosomes and lysosomes are characterized by their acidic pH, which is generated by a proton transporter V-ATPase and required for virus entry via endocytic pathway. The cytoplasmic cAMP pool produced by soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) promotes V-ATPase recruitment to endosomes/lysosomes and thus their acidification. In this review, we discuss targeting the sAC-specific cAMP pool as a potential strategy to impair the endocytic entry of the SARS-CoV-2 into the host cell. Furthermore, we consider the potential impact of sAC inhibition on CoV-induced disease via modulation of autophagy and apoptosis.

scholarly journals Problems faced by food-caching corvids and the evolution of cognitive solutions

2010 ◽  
Vol 365 (1542) ◽  
pp. 977-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uri Grodzinski ◽  
Nicola S. Clayton
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Future Planning ◽  
Scatter Hoarding ◽  
Quality Of Information ◽  
Food Caching ◽  
Informed Decisions ◽  
Cache Protection

The scatter hoarding of food, or caching, is a widespread and well-studied behaviour. Recent experiments with caching corvids have provided evidence for episodic-like memory, future planning and possibly mental attribution, all cognitive abilities that were thought to be unique to humans. In addition to the complexity of making flexible, informed decisions about caching and recovering, this behaviour is underpinned by a motivationally controlled compulsion to cache. In this review, we shall first discuss the compulsive side of caching both during ontogeny and in the caching behaviour of adult corvids. We then consider some of the problems that these birds face and review the evidence for the cognitive abilities they use to solve them. Thus, the emergence of episodic-like memory is viewed as a solution for coping with food perishability, while the various cache-protection and pilfering strategies may be sophisticated tools to deprive competitors of information, either by reducing the quality of information they can gather, or invalidating the information they already have. Finally, we shall examine whether such future-oriented behaviour involves future planning and ask why this and other cognitive abilities might have evolved in corvids.

Cache protection strategies of a scatter-hoarding rodent: do tree squirrels engage in behavioural deception?

2008 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 705-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Steele ◽  
Sylvia L. Halkin ◽  
Peter D. Smallwood ◽  
Thomas J. McKenna ◽  
Katerina Mitsopoulos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scatter Hoarding ◽  
Tree Squirrels ◽  
Protection Strategies ◽  
Cache Protection

The energy expenditure of free-ranging black-browed albatross

1995 ◽  
Vol 350 (1332) ◽  
pp. 119-131 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Salt Water ◽  
Doubly Labelled Water ◽  
Data Loggers ◽  
Satellite Transmitters ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Level ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Combining Information ◽  
Previous Assumption

As heart rate ( f H ) can be used to determine the energy expenditure of black-browed albatrosses ( Diomedea melanophrys ) (Bevan et al. 1994), data loggers - recording f H and abdominal temperature ( T ab ) -were implanted into free-ranging black-browed albatrosses breeding at South Georgia. Five birds also had salt water switches (sws) attached to one leg to record when the birds were on the water, and two others had satellite transmitters attached to their back to determine the birds’ position at sea. The birds were released into their natural environment and recaptured, on average, 23 days later when the data loggers were removed. The f H data were then converted into estimates of energy expenditure (ee) using a previously derived equation. The mean EE during incubation and brooding were 2.22 and 2.42 W kg -1 , respectively. When the birds were foraging at sea, EE increased to between 4.63 and 5.80 W kg -1 , depending on the phase of the reproductive cycle. As the birds spent approximately the same length of time at the nest and at sea during incubation and brooding, the overall mean ee during these phases were 3.63 and 3.54 W kg -1 respectively. These rates are significantly lower than that during the chick-rearing phase when a high level of foraging EE is maintained almost continuously. By combining information from the sws with the f H data, it was possible to determine the EE of the birds when on the water (5.77 W kg -1 ) and when flying (6.21 W kg -1 ). These values are approximately twice the estimated basal metabolic rate (BMR) for the species. The energy costs of flight are half previous values, estimated using the doubly labelled water technique, because of the previous assumption that birds on the water have an EE equivalent to BMR. When the birds were on the nest, T ab was 39.3 + 0.4 °C and this changed very little with time. However, when they were at sea, T ab showed large variations, depending on the behaviour of the bird. Information from the sws indicated that all large drops (> 0.5 °C) in Tab occurred when the birds were on water. The mean minimum value reached was 32.5 + 2.0 °C. It is likely that ingestion of prey or water are the major causes of this decrease. This is the first study to have used f H extensively to determine the EE of a free-ranging marine bird. The advantages of using this technique are that data can be obtained over long durations with high resolution, permitting the EE of different activities to be estimated.

scholarly journals CRITERIA AND INDICATORS OF FORMATION OF HUMANISTIC AND VALUE ATTITUDE OF PRIMARY SCHOOLCHILDREN TOWARDS THEMSELVES

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 198
Author(s):  
Oksana Holiuk ◽  
Natalia Pakhalchuk ◽  
Nataliia Rodiuk ◽  
Olena Demchenko ◽  
Galina Kit
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Behavioral Strategies ◽  
Primary School Teachers ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Early School ◽  
Primary Schoolchildren ◽  
High Level

Scientific works show that it is necessary to solve the humans problem of the formation of values and value attitude. Early school age is a period of active development of ideological orientations, interests, behavioral strategies, assessments and self-evaluation. The purpose of the study lay in developing and testing the diagnostic tools of the formation of a humanistic and value attitude of the schoolchildren towards themselves and in determining on this basis the appropriate pedagogical conditions for improving the investigated quality. The primary schoolchildren (n = 317, age 8-9) took part in the study. The results of the preliminary stage of the pedagogical experiment revealed the need to raise the level of humanistic and value attitude of children (low level – 61,5%, average level – 30,9%, high level – 7,6%). Primary school teachers are important organizers of the educational process with students, but they do not use enough methods that are effective in solving this research problem. In order to humanize the environment in primary school, authors suggest using game exercises, conversations, elements of training, including children in various types of socially significant activities, creating axiological educational situations, etc.  

scholarly journals Occurrence and relevance of Mycoplasma spp. in free-ranging pheasants from northwestern Germany

2022 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Fischer ◽  
Jennifer Liebing ◽  
Iris Völker ◽  
Liane Baudler ◽  
Friederike Gethöffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Decline ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
House Finches ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Inflammatory Skin ◽  
Biological Methods ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Skin Samples

AbstractSince 2008/2009, the population of free-ranging ring-necked pheasants was recorded to decrease all over Germany. Various Mycoplasma (M.) spp. are causing severe respiratory signs in captive game bird species. Furthermore, M. gallisepticum is responsible for massive die-offs in consequence to severe conjunctivitis in house finches in the USA. Therefore, the prevalence of mycoplasmas in free-ranging pheasants was investigated and a potential impact on the population decline of pheasants discussed. Within this study, 150 free-ranging pheasants were sampled via tracheal swabs and tissue samples of the trachea and the periorbital skin, as the latter displayed inflammatory alterations in previous studies. In total, 177 samples were investigated for the presence of mycoplasmas using cultural and molecular biological methods. In 76 birds, necropsy was performed additionally. In total, 73.7% (51/76) of the examined pheasants had periorbital skin alterations. Furthermore, 64.4% (114/177) of the samples tested positive for mycoplasmas via PCR. Overall, 102/177 samples (57.6%, 78/105 tracheal swabs, 19/51 skin tissue, 5/21 trachea tissue) tested positive for mycoplasmas via culture. Mycoplasma gallinaceum (n = 50), M. pullorum (n = 45), M. glycophilum (n = 43), M. iners (n = 11), and M. gallinarum (n = 5) were frequently isolated. In 45 cases (45.9%), multiple Mycoplasma spp. were isolated from one sample. All examined samples tested negative for M. gallisepticum. Of 51 skin samples investigated for mycoplasmas, 24 (47.1%) showed inflammatory skin alterations in histology, and 58.3% (14/24) of these samples tested positive for Mycoplasma spp. additionally. Overall, there was a significant correlation between inflammatory altered skin samples and the detection of mycoplasmas in periorbital skin samples. Based on the present results, the isolated Mycoplasma spp. may play a role as facultative agents for the observed inflammatory skin alterations. However, additional investigation is needed to confirm this presumption.

Seroepidemiological evidence for Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis in three Venezuelan rural communities

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. Cortez A ◽  
G. Rojas ◽  
C.M. Aguilar ◽  
E. Ferrer ◽  
Y. Alviarez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Control Programme ◽  
Parasite Life Cycle ◽  
Del Rio ◽  
High Level ◽  
Sanitary Conditions ◽  
Free Ranging

Abstract Taenia solium is the most common parasite infection of the brain, causing neurocysticercosis and typically found in rural communities with free-ranging pigs. Identification of transmission in rural areas is essential for its control. Risk factors and transmission of the parasite were evaluated in three rural Venezuelan communities (Valle del Rio and Potrero Largo, Cojedes state; and Palmarito, Portuguesa state) by a questionnaire (112 households) and coprological (492 samples) and serological (433 human and 230 porcine sera) analysis, respectively. Typical risk factors were found in all three communities: free-foraging pig husbandry, deficient sanitary conditions, high open defecation and ignorance of the parasite life cycle. Coprological examinations revealed a high level of soil-transmitted parasites. Importantly, two T. solium adult worm carriers were identified in each of the three communities. Anti-metacestode antibodies and the HP10 secreted metacestode glycoprotein were detected at significant levels in human and porcine sera in Valle del Rio, Potrero Largo and Palmarito. In conclusion, these communities may be considered to be endemic for taeniasis/cysticercosis, and the instigation of an appropriate control programme is recommended.

Cognitive and Behavioral Strategies for the Treatment of Feeding Disorders in Adolescents

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 1498-1506
Author(s):  
Parker L. Huston ◽  
Robert Dempster ◽  
Lauren Garbacz
Keyword(s):  
Outpatient Setting ◽  
Feeding Disorders ◽  
Behavioral Difficulties ◽  
Behavioral Strategies ◽  
Feeding Problems ◽  
Psychological Techniques ◽  
Behavioral Techniques ◽  
High Level ◽  
Gradual Approach ◽  
Therapy Treatment

Purpose Significant feeding problems often, but not always, co-occur with medical, developmental, emotional, or behavioral difficulties. Consequently, providers from multiple disciplines often interact with these patients for treatment. There is limited research and guidance in the literature about working with young adolescent patients who demonstrate feeding challenges. This article describes some of the most common evidence-based psychological techniques used in the treatment of adolescents with feeding disorders, including motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral techniques. A case example is also used to illustrate these principles in practice. The goal of this article is to provide a high-level overview of these concepts so that providers outside of psychology may utilize some of the theories in treatment with similar patients, when referral to a behavioral specialist or psychologist is not feasible. Conclusions This clinical commentary discusses common strategies used by psychologists to treat feeding disorders, especially those primarily with anxiety presentation, in the outpatient setting. The psychological techniques described herein are complementary with most therapeutic strategies for the treatment of feeding disorders and, in many cases, may further enhance the success of the therapy treatment process. The most important theme of these techniques is a gradual approach to exposure and teaching of appropriate coping strategies to manage anxiety when practicing a new or challenging task. Providing education to the patient and parent, while also allowing understanding of the underlying process of anxiety as it relates to behavior, mood, and thoughts, can help guide treatment planning and goal setting.

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