Measuring leg thrust forces in the common starling

1996 ◽  
Vol 199 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Bonser ◽  
J Rayner
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Mass Dependence ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
The Common ◽  
Thrust Forces ◽  
Significant Mass

We describe the design of a force-transducing perch which measures the reaction forces of small birds taking off and landing. In common starlings, landing forces are lower than take-off forces, because the bird may decelerate prior to landing by using its wings. Both landing and take-off forces are significantly correlated with body mass; however, the angles of these reaction forces show no significant mass-dependence and are not repeatable within individuals. Diversity in take-off or landing strategy could be advantageous in confusing predators.

Factors Affecting Peak Vertical Ground Reaction Forces in Running

1986 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward C. Frederick ◽  
John L. Hagy
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Stride Length ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Leg Length ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Anthropometric Parameters ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
Vertical Ground

Nine subjects (6 males, 3 females) ranging in body mass from 90.9 to 45.5 kg ran repeated trials across a force platform while being filmed at 50 fps. The subjects ran five barefooted trials at each of three speeds: 3.35, 3.83, and 4.47 m · s−1. Force data were collected on-line and analyzed for the magnitude and temporal characteristics of the initial impact (Fz1) peak and the active (Fz2) peak of vertical ground reaction force (VGRF). Multiple regression and correlation analysis were used to study the relationship between the magnitudes of these kinetic data and kinematic and anthropometric data taken from the film and from measurements of the subjects. The results support the general conclusion that speed and, indirectly, body mass are significant effectors of the magnitudes of Fz1. In addition, other factors that correlate significantly with Fz1 are reciprocal ponderal index (RPI) and stature; half-stride length, step length, leg length, and vertical hip excursion during a half-stride cycle; and hip offset, contact angle, and dorsiflexion angle at contact. Body mass correlates highly with Fz2 (r = 0.95). Other significant factors correlating with Fz2 are RPI, stature, vertical hip excursion, dorsiflexion angle, hip offset, half-stride length, and step length. These data support earlier findings that speed and the effective mass of the leg at contact are important effectors of the magnitude of Fzl. In addition, the kinematic and anthropometric parameters that contribute significantly to the variability in Fzl and F are generally cross-correlated with body size and/or running speed.

Maximum heart rate of soricine shrews: correlation with contractile properties and myosin composition

1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (5) ◽  
pp. R842-R851 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Vornanen
Keyword(s):  
Atpase Activity ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Rat Heart ◽  
Common Shrew ◽  
Electrophoretic Analysis ◽  
Myosin Atpase ◽  
Wild Mammals ◽  
Myosin Atpase Activity ◽  
The Common

Maximum heart rates (HR) of three soricine shrews and six other small mammals were measured in response to a single supramaximal dose of isoproterenol (Iso) under urethan anesthesia. The highest HR, 1,043 +/- 66 (SD) beats/min (n = 3), was in least shrew (Sorex minutus, mean body mass 3.02 +/- 0.81 g). Maximum HRs of common shrew (Sorex araneus, 7.16 +/- 1.54 g) and water shrew (Neomys fodiens, 12.80 +/- 1.54 g) were 938 +/- 29 (n = 7) and 887 +/- 21 (n = 6), respectively. In general, maximum HRs of soricine shrews and other small wild mammals followed the common mammalian pattern, fHmax/Iso = 443 x Mb-0.14, determined by body size. The exponent for this equation is smaller than that of resting HR (-0.25) (Stahl, J. Appl. Physiol. 22: 453-460, 1967), predicting crossover at approximately 3 g body mass. However, resting HRs of small mammals were clearly lower than expected on the basis of body mass. Lowering resting HR below the common mammalian level, with concomitant increase in stroke volume, seems to be a prerequisite for small mammals to regulate cardiac output against the ceiling of maximum HR. Electrophoretic analysis showed that the myosin of shrew ventricles is different from those of rodent species. In native conditions, shrew myosin, designated V1', migrated faster than the V3 and V1 forms of rat heart. On SDS gradient gel the single heavy chain of shrew myosin migrated slower than the alpha- or beta-chains of rat ventricle. Differences in the molecular weight of light chains were also noted between small mammals. Despite the notable differences in myosin composition, myosin-ATPase activity of the shrew hearts was similar to that of mouse and rat heart. Because duration of isometric contraction was inversely related to resting and maximum HRs, it was concluded that in the small mammals rate and duration of contraction are determined mainly by the release and uptake rate of myoplasmic Ca2+ and less by myosin-ATPase activity.

Predation on fish and intersite variation in the diet of common garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis, on Vancouver Island

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 988-994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick T. Gregory ◽  
Kari J. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Vancouver Island ◽  
Garter Snake ◽  
Prey Abundance ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Garter Snakes ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
The Common

Diets of garter snakes (Thamnophis) often vary in space or time in response to variations in prey abundance. We compared the diet of the common garter snake (T. sirtalis) on Vancouver Island at fish-rearing facilities (hatcheries) and at nearby natural sites where fish were present but less abundant. Snakes of all sizes fed on fish at hatcheries, but fish were rarely eaten at natural sites, where amphibians or earthworms were the major prey types. Any particular characterization of the diet of this species therefore must be site specific. Although snakes exhibited intersite variation in diet, there was no evidence of temporal variation in diet at any site. The proportion of snakes with food in their stomachs varied among sites (perhaps indicating differences in frequency of feeding among sites) and was correlated with mean relative body mass of snakes. This suggests that some sites are more productive than others for snakes, but rigorous tests of whether snake populations are food-limited have not been done.

Ground Reaction Forces during Human Locomotion on Railroad Ballast

2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 322-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chip Wade ◽  
Mark S. Redfern
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Surface ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Human Locomotion ◽  
Ground Reaction Forces ◽  
Surface Conditions ◽  
Time Histories ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
The Common ◽  
Plate System ◽  
Railroad Cars

Locomotion over ballast surfaces provides a unique situation for investigating the biomechanics of gait. Although much research has focused on level and sloped walking on a smooth, firm surface in order to understand the common kinematic and kinetic variables associated with human locomotion, the literature currently provides few if any discussions regarding the dynamics of locomotion on surfaces that are either rocky or uneven. The purpose of this study was to investigate a method for using force plates to measure the ground reaction forces (GRFs) during gait on ballast. Ballast is a construction aggregate of unsymmetrical rock used in industry for the purpose of forming track bed on which railway ties are laid or in yards where railroad cars are stored. It is used to facilitate the drainage of water and to create even running surfaces. To construct the experimental ballast surfaces, 31.75-mm (1¼-in.) marble ballast at depths of approximately 63.5 mm (2.5 in.) or 101.6 mm (4 in.) were spread over a carpeted vinyl tile walkway specially designed for gait studies. GRF magnitudes and time histories from a force plate were collected under normal smooth surface and under both ballast surface conditions for five subjects. GRF magnitudes and time histories during smooth surface walking were similar to GRF magnitudes and time histories from the two ballast surface conditions. The data presented here demonstrate the feasibility of using a force plate system to expand the scope of biomechanical analyses of locomotion on ballast surfaces.

scholarly journals Exploratory analyses of migration timing and morphometrics of the Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-140
Author(s):  
Tibor Csörgő ◽  
Péter Fehérvári ◽  
Zsolt Karcza ◽  
Andrea Harnos
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Migration Timing ◽  
The Common ◽  
Annual Means

AbstractOrnithological studies often rely on long-term bird ringing data sets as sources of information. However, basic descriptive statistics of raw data are rarely provided. In order to fill this gap, here we present the fifth item of a series of exploratory analyses of migration timing and body size measurements of the most frequent Passerine species at a ringing station located in Central Hungary (1984–2016). First, we give a concise description of foreign ring recoveries of the Common Nightingale in relation to Hungary. We then shift focus to data of 3892 ringed and 1499 recaptured individuals derived from the ringing station, where birds have been trapped, handled and ringed with standardized methodology since 1984. Timing is described through annual and daily capture and recapture frequencies and their descriptive statistics. We show annual mean arrival dates within the study period and present the cumulative distributions of first captures with stopover durations. We present the distributions of wing, third primary, tail length and body mass, and the annual means of these variables. Furthermore, we show the distributions of individual fat and muscle scores, and the distributions of body mass within each fat score category. We distinguish the spring and autumn migratory periods and breeding season and age groups (i.e. juveniles and adults). Our aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the analysed variables. However, we do not aim to interpret the obtained results, merely to draw attention to interesting patterns that may be worth exploring in detail. Data used here are available upon request for further analyses.

scholarly journals Carotid artery diameter assessment in men and women and the relation to age, sex and body mass index using ultrasonography

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1274
Author(s):  
Magaji G. Ojaare ◽  
Terkimbi I. Annongu ◽  
Chia D. Msuega ◽  
Hameed O. Mohammad ◽  
Abubakar Farati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Internal Carotid Artery ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Common Carotid Artery ◽  
Carotid Arteries ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
Left Internal Carotid Artery ◽  
Luminal Diameter ◽  
The Common

Background: Carotid artery dimensions are increasingly used for detecting early atherosclerosis and predicting clinical complications. Aim was to explore relationships between gender, age and body mass index (BMI) and the diameters of the common carotid artery (CCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) using ultrasonography.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital between February-October, 2011. The 400 adult males and females above 18 years underwent carotid artery ultrasonography for measurement of the IMT of the common and internal carotid arteries. The influence of age, sex, weight, height, and the basal metabolic index (BMI) was investigated.Results: There were 239 (59.80%) males and 161 (40.20%) females aged between 18 to 81 years (Mean±SD, 36.74±14.79 years). The mean±SD diameters for right common carotid artery (RCCA) and left common carotid artery (LCCA) were 6.39±0.71mm and 6.28±0.74mm respectively. The right internal carotid artery (RICA) and left internal carotid artery (LICA) had mean±SD diameters of 4.63±0.63 mm and 4.61±0.63 mm respectively. The luminal diameters of the carotid arteries increased significantly with age and increased BMI. The luminal diameters of the CCA and ICA were significantly smaller in women than in men.Conclusions: Common carotid and internal carotid artery luminal diameter tends to be larger in men than women among adults and increases with age and BMI. There is no difference in the luminal diameter between the left and right carotid artery. 

Body mass dependence of H+ leak in mitochondria and its relevance to metabolic rate

Nature ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 362 (6421) ◽  
pp. 628-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard K. Porter ◽  
Martin D. Brand
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Mass Dependence

scholarly journals Body mass scaling of passive oxygen diffusion in endotherms and ectotherms

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (19) ◽  
pp. 5340-5345 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. Gillooly ◽  
Juan Pablo Gomez ◽  
Evgeny V. Mavrodiev ◽  
Yue Rong ◽  
Eric S. McLamore
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Oxygen Diffusion ◽  
The Body ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Mass Dependence ◽  
Diffusion Capacity ◽  
Aerobic Activity ◽  
Mass Scaling ◽  
Consumption Rates

The area and thickness of respiratory surfaces, and the constraints they impose on passive oxygen diffusion, have been linked to differences in oxygen consumption rates and/or aerobic activity levels in vertebrates. However, it remains unclear how respiratory surfaces and associated diffusion rates vary with body mass across vertebrates, particularly in relation to the body mass scaling of oxygen consumption rates. Here we address these issues by first quantifying the body mass dependence of respiratory surface area and respiratory barrier thickness for a diversity of endotherms (birds and mammals) and ectotherms (fishes, amphibians, and reptiles). Based on these findings, we then use Fick’s law to predict the body mass scaling of oxygen diffusion for each group. Finally, we compare the predicted body mass dependence of oxygen diffusion to that of oxygen consumption in endotherms and ectotherms. We find that the slopes and intercepts of the relationships describing the body mass dependence of passive oxygen diffusion in these two groups are statistically indistinguishable from those describing the body mass dependence of oxygen consumption. Thus, the area and thickness of respiratory surfaces combine to match oxygen diffusion capacity to oxygen consumption rates in both air- and water-breathing vertebrates. In particular, the substantially lower oxygen consumption rates of ectotherms of a given body mass relative to those of endotherms correspond to differences in oxygen diffusion capacity. These results provide insights into the long-standing effort to understand the structural attributes of organisms that underlie the body mass scaling of oxygen consumption.

scholarly journals Influences of the Common FTO rs9939609 Variant on Inflammatory Markers Throughout a Broad Range of Body Mass Index

PLoS ONE ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e15958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Zimmermann ◽  
Kristin Skogstrand ◽  
David M. Hougaard ◽  
Arne Astrup ◽  
Torben Hansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
The Common ◽  
Fto Rs9939609 ◽  
Rs9939609 Variant
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