Investigating the flexibility of male Eurasian jays' food-sharing behavior

Male Eurasian jays were previously reported to alter their food-sharing response in line with the specific satiety of their female partner. Here, we tested the flexibility of the same males’ food-sharing behavior by testing whether they can process information from contextual cues that predict the opposite pattern of food shared to that observed in previous studies. In Experiment 1, we manipulated the amount of food eaten by the females in a choice context before males shared with them. In Experiment 2, we manipulated the identity of the non-chosen food that was available in a choice context before males shared with the females. In both experiments, males showed flexibility in their sharing pattern in a comparison between the experimental and control conditions. In Experiment 1, this observed pattern appears to be based on the males’ response to the amount of food eaten by the female, and in Experiment 2, it appears to be based on the males’ response to the choice context in which the female’s eating took place. Although the experimental conditions in Experiments 1 and 2 were conceptual replications, the predicted pattern of food shared by the males was detected only in the latter. While replications are needed to test the generalizability and robustness of these results, the current study provides a first set of data in line with the hypothesis that the Eurasian jay males may be able to flexibly adjust their food-sharing behavior to contextual cues. Raw data are available at 10.5281/zenodo.3633986, and code and meta-data are available at https://osf.io/n9rcd/.

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Suitability of the Cyclic Voltammetry Measurements and DPPH• Spectrophotometric Assay to Determine the Antioxidant Capacity of Food-Grade Oenological Tannins

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24162925 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (16) ◽

pp. 2925 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Arianna Ricci ◽

Giuseppina Paola Parpinello ◽

Nemanja Teslić ◽

Paul Andrew Kilmartin ◽

Andrea Versari

Keyword(s):

Cyclic Voltammetry ◽

Colorimetric Assay ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Calibration Graph ◽

Spectrophotometric Assay ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Fast Analysis ◽

Cv Measurements ◽

And Control ◽

Analytical Approaches

Twenty commercially available oenological tannins (including hydrolysable and condensed) were assessed for their antiradical/reducing activity, comparing two analytical approaches: The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical scavenging spectrophotometric assay and the cyclic voltammetry (CV) electrochemical method. Electrochemical measurements were performed over a −200 mV–500 mV scan range, and integrated anodic currents to 500 mV were used to build a calibration graph with (+)-catechin as a reference standard (linear range: From 0.0078 to 1 mM, R2 = 0.9887). The CV results were compared with the DPPH• assay (expressed as % of radical scavenged in time), showing high correlation due to the similarity of the chemical mechanisms underlying both methods involving polyphenolic compounds as reductants. Improved correlation was observed by increasing the incubation time with DPPH• to 24 h (R2 = 0.925), demonstrating that the spectrophotometric method requires a long-term incubation to complete the scavenging reaction when high-molecular weight tannins are involved; this constraint has been overcome by using instant CV measurements. We concluded that the CV represents a valid alternative to the DPPH• colorimetric assay, taking advantage of fast analysis and control on the experimental conditions and, because of these properties, it can assist the quality control along the supply chain.

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How Downward and Upward Comparisons on Facebook Influence Grandiose and Vulnerable Narcissists’ Self-Esteem—A Priming Study

Behavioral Sciences ◽

10.3390/bs11030039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 39

Author(s):

Phillip Ozimek ◽

Hans-Werner Bierhoff ◽

Elke Rohmann

Keyword(s):

Social Networking Sites ◽

Online Survey ◽

Social Comparisons ◽

Past Research ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Self Report ◽

Control Group ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Vulnerable Narcissism ◽

And Control

Past research showed that social networking sites represent perfect platforms to satisfy narcissistic needs. The present study aimed to investigate how grandiose (GN) and vulnerable narcissism (VN) as well as social comparisons are associated with Facebook activity, which was measured with a self-report on three activity dimensions: Acting, Impressing, and Watching. In addition, the state self-esteem (SSE) was measured with respect to performance, social behavior, and appearance. One hundred and ten participants completed an online survey containing measures of SSE and Facebook activity and a priming procedure with three experimental conditions embedded in a social media context (upward comparison, downward comparison, and control group). Results indicated, as expected, that high VN was negatively associated with SSE on each subscale and the overall score. In addition, it was found that VN, but not GN, displayed positive associations with frequency of Facebook activities. Finally, it was proposed and confirmed that VN in interaction with the priming of downward comparisons negatively affected SSE. The conclusion drawn is that VN represents a key variable for the prediction of self-esteem as well as for the frequency of Facebook activity.

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A gradient field defeats the inherent repulsion between magnetic nanorods

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.140271 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 140271 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Yu Gu ◽

Ruslan Burtovyy ◽

John Custer ◽

Igor Luzinov ◽

Konstantin G. Kornev

Keyword(s):

Phase Portrait ◽

High Speed ◽

Uniform Magnetic Field ◽

Gradient Field ◽

Physical Parameters ◽

Uniform Field ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Magnetic Nanorods ◽

Field Gradients ◽

And Control

When controlling the assembly of magnetic nanorods and chains of magnetic nanoparticles, it is extremely challenging to bring them together side by side while keeping a desired spacing between their axes. We show that this challenge can be successfully resolved by using a non-uniform magnetic field that defeats an inherent repulsion between nanorods. Nickel nanorods were suspended in a viscous film and a non-uniform field was used to control their placement. The in-plane movement of nanorods was tracked with a high-speed camera and a detailed image analysis was conducted to quantitatively characterize the behaviour of the nanorods. The analysis focused on the behaviour of a pair of neighbour nanorods, and a corresponding dynamic model was formulated and investigated. The complex two-dimensional dynamics of a nanorod pair was analysed analytically and numerically, and a phase portrait was constructed. Using this phase portrait, we classified the nanorod behaviour and revealed the experimental conditions in which nanorods could be placed side by side. Dependence of the distance between a pair of neighbour nanorods on physical parameters was analysed. With the aid of the proposed theory, one can build different lattices and control their spacing by applying different field gradients.

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Achieving equitable uptake of handwashing and sanitation by addressing both supply and demand-based constraints: findings from a randomized controlled trial in rural Bangladesh

International Journal for Equity in Health ◽

10.1186/s12939-020-01353-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sarker Masud Parvez ◽

Musarrat Jabeen Rahman ◽

Rashidul Azad ◽

Mahbubur Rahman ◽

Leanne Unicomb ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Controlled Trial ◽

Supply And Demand ◽

Efficacy Trial ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Link Type ◽

Education Levels ◽

Change Promotion ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Supply driven programs that are not closely connected to community demand and demand-driven programs that fail to ensure supply both risk worsening inequity. Understanding patterns of uptake of behaviors among the poorest under ideal experimental conditions, such as those of an efficacy trial, can help identify strategies that could be strengthened in routine programmatic conditions for more equitable uptake. WASH Benefits Bangladesh was a randomized controlled efficacy trial that provided free-of cost WASH hardware along with behavior change promotion. The current paper aimed to determine the impact of the removal of supply and demand constraints on the uptake of handwashing and sanitation behaviors across wealth and education levels. Methods The current analysis selected 4 indicators from the WASH Benefits trial— presence of water and soap in household handwashing stations, observed mother’s hand cleanliness, observed visible feces on latrine slab or floor and reported last child defecation in potty or toilet. A baseline assessment was conducted immediately after enrolment and endline assessment was conducted approximately 2 years later. We compared change in uptake of these indicators including wealth quintiles (Q) between intervention and control groups from baseline to endline. Results For hand cleanliness, the poorest mothers improved more [Q1 difference in difference, DID: 16% (7, 25%)] than the wealthiest mothers [Q5 DID: 7% (− 4, 17%)]. The poorest households had largest improvements for observed presence of water and soap in handwashing station [Q1 DID: 82% (75, 90%)] compared to the wealthiest households [Q5 DID: 39% (30, 50%)]. Similarly, poorer household demonstrated greater reductions in visible feces on latrine slab or floor [Q1DID, − 25% (− 35, − 15) Q2: − 34% (− 44, − 23%)] than the wealthiest household [Q5 DID: − 1% (− 11, 8%). For reported last child defecation in potty or toilet, the poorest mothers showed greater improvement [Q1–4 DID: 50–54% (44, 60%)] than the wealthier mothers [Q5 DID: 39% (31, 46%). Conclusion By simultaneously addressing supply and demand-constraints among the poorest, we observed substantial overall improvements in equity. Within scaled-up programs, a separate targeted strategy that relaxes constraints for the poorest can improve the equity of a program. Trial registration WASH Benefits Bangladesh: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT01590095. Date of registration: April 30, 2012 ‘Retrospectively registered’.

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In vitro activity of zinc oxide-eugenol and glass ionomer cements on Candida albicans

Brazilian Oral Research ◽

10.1590/s1806-83242005000200011 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 134-138 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Anna Carolina Aguiar Cassanho ◽

Aletéia Massula Fernandes ◽

Luciane Dias de Oliveira ◽

Claudio Antonio Talge Carvalho ◽

Antonio Olavo Cardoso Jorge ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Zinc Oxide ◽

Candida Albicans ◽

Control Group ◽

Glass Ionomer ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Mean Values ◽

Zinc Oxide Eugenol ◽

Colony Forming Units ◽

And Control

The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the antimicrobial activity of glass ionomer (GIC) and zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) cements against Candida albicans. Standardized GIC and ZOE specimens were maintained in contact with C. albicans suspension (1 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10(6) cells/ml) at 37°C for 24 h, 48 h or 7 days. A control group without any testing cement was included. After the incubation period, aliquots of 0.1 ml were plated on Sabouraud's agar, and then the number of colonies was counted. The results were expressed as values of logarithms of colony-forming units per milliliter (log CFU/mL) and were analyzed statistically by Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA. After 48 h of incubation, the ZOE group presented no growth of C. albicans. GIC and control groups presented similar mean values at all tested periods. According to the results obtained, it could be concluded that, under the experimental conditions, ZOE cement was more effective in vitro against C. albicans than GIC.

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On children’s late acquisition of raising seem and control promise

Smuggling in Syntax ◽

10.1093/oso/9780197509869.003.0009 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 222-254

Author(s):

Victoria Mateu ◽

Nina Hyams

Keyword(s):

Processing Capacity ◽

Opposite Pattern ◽

Grammatical Development ◽

And Control ◽

Subject Raising

The goal of this study is to address two questions: (i) whether the delays in the acquisition of subject-to-subject raising (StSR) seem and subject control (SC) promise are related, as would be predicted by various developmental accounts, and (ii) whether delays are due to limited processing capacity or immature grammatical abilities. Our two comprehension tasks reveal two groups of children: (i) a below-chance group; they have a non-adult grammar of StSR or SC, and processing capacity does not predict performance; and (ii) an at-/above-chance group: they have an adult-like grammar of StSR or SC, and processing capacity modulates performance. Importantly, we find no correlation between StSR and SC performance—some children have mastered StSR with seem but not SC with promise and some show the opposite pattern, suggesting a dissociation between the grammatical development of StSR and SC, specifically of the mechanisms required to circumvent intervention.

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Cellular basis for burn-mediated cardiac dysfunction in adult rabbits

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.1996.271.6.h2615 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 271 (6) ◽

pp. H2615-H2621 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

J. W. Horton

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Myocyte ◽

Burn Injury ◽

Total Body Surface Area ◽

Ringer Solution ◽

Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Cardiac Contractile ◽

Fetal Bovine ◽

Total Body ◽

And Control

We have shown that cutaneous burn injury impairs cardiac contractile performance; however, the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, New Zealand White rabbits were anesthetized with isoflurane, given a full-thickness scald burn over 30% of total body surface area, and resuscitated with lactated Ringer solution (4 ml.kg-1.%burn-1 for 24 h); rabbits handled in an identical fashion were given a sham burn. Serum obtained from burned and control (sham-burned) rabbits was aliquoted and frozen at -70 degrees C until assay. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) were isolated 24 h postburn from both sham and burned rabbits to yield preparations with > 95% PMN with > 95% viability. Cardiac myocytes were isolated by retrograde perfusion of hearts with Ca(2+)-free collagenase-Tyrode buffer, suspended in Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 1.8 mM Ca2+, and incubated (1 x 10(5) cells/well) in a CO2 incubator under several experimental conditions, including buffer alone, buffer plus 10% burn serum, buffer plus 10% sham serum, or buffer plus either burn or sham PMN (25 x 10(5) cells/well). Myocyte viability (%) and creatine kinase (CK; units.ml-1.10(5) cells-1) were unchanged after incubation with sham plasma or sham PMN. Incubation of sham myocytes with burn plasma caused viability to fall (from 79 +/- 3 to 54 +/- 4%, P < 0.002), whereas CK rose (from 1,639 +/- 115 to 2,803 +/- 132 units.ml-1.10(5) cells-1, P < 0.01). Similarly, incubation of sham myocytes with burn PMN reduced viability (from 83 +/- 2 to 50 +/- 3%, P < 0.01), whereas CK remained unchanged (1,880 +/- 168 units.ml-1.10(5) cells-1). Our data indicate that circulating myocardial depressant factors after burn injury contribute to cardiac myocyte injury.

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Repeated Menthol Mouth Swilling Affects Neither Strength nor Power Performance

Sports ◽

10.3390/sports8060090 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 90 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Russ Best ◽

Dani Temm ◽

Holly Hucker ◽

Kerin McDonald

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Vertical Jump ◽

Average Power ◽

Small Degree ◽

Power Performance ◽

Mean Power ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Jump Performance ◽

Experimental Trials ◽

And Control

This study aimed to assess the effects of repeated menthol mouth swilling upon strength and power performance. Nineteen (10 male) participants completed familiarisation and experimental trials of repeated menthol mouth swilling (0.1% concentration) or control (no swill) in a randomised crossover design. Participants performed an isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP; peak and mean force; N), vertical jump (peak; cm) and six second sprint (peak and mean power; W) under each condition. Participants completed three efforts per exercise task interspersed with three-minute recoveries. Mean best values were analysed via a two-way mixed repeated measures ANOVA, and differences reported as effect sizes ± 95% confidence intervals, with accompanying descriptors and p values. Differences in peak IMTP values were unclear between familiarisation and experimental trials, and between menthol and control conditions. Mean IMTP force differed between familiarisation and control (0.51; −0.15 to 1.14; p = 0.001) and familiarisation and menthol conditions (0.50; −0.15 to 1.14; p = 0.002) by a small degree, but were unclear between control and menthol conditions. Unclear differences were also noted on vertical jump performance compared to familiarisation and between experimental conditions, with repeated six second peak and average power performance also showing unclear effects across all comparisons. We conclude that repeated menthol mouth swilling does not improve strength or power performance.

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Analytical challenges of untargeted GC-MS-based metabolomics and the critical issues in selecting the data processing strategy

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.11823.1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 967 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Ting-Li Han ◽

Yang Yang ◽

Hua Zhang ◽

Kai P. Law

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Data Processing ◽

Epidemiological Study ◽

Internal Standard ◽

Analytical Techniques ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Data Set ◽

Raw Data ◽

Model Based ◽

Critical Issues

Background: A challenge of metabolomics is data processing the enormous amount of information generated by sophisticated analytical techniques. The raw data of an untargeted metabolomic experiment are composited with unwanted biological and technical variations that confound the biological variations of interest. The art of data normalisation to offset these variations and/or eliminate experimental or biological biases has made significant progress recently. However, published comparative studies are often biased or have omissions. Methods: We investigated the issues with our own data set, using five different representative methods of internal standard-based, model-based, and pooled quality control-based approaches, and examined the performance of these methods against each other in an epidemiological study of gestational diabetes using plasma. Results: Our results demonstrated that the quality control-based approaches gave the highest data precision in all methods tested, and would be the method of choice for controlled experimental conditions. But for our epidemiological study, the model-based approaches were able to classify the clinical groups more effectively than the quality control-based approaches because of their ability to minimise not only technical variations, but also biological biases from the raw data. Conclusions: We suggest that metabolomic researchers should optimise and justify the method they have chosen for their experimental condition in order to obtain an optimal biological outcome.

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Renal excretion of allantoin in rats: a micropuncture and clearance study

AJP Renal Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajprenal.1977.233.5.f373 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 233 (5) ◽

pp. F373-F381 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J. P. Briggs ◽

M. F. Levitt ◽

R. G. Abramson

Keyword(s):

Uric Acid ◽

Renal Excretion ◽

Rat Kidney ◽

Chromatographic Technique ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Clearance Studies ◽

Fluid Collections ◽

And Control ◽

Clearance Study ◽

Column Chromatographic

Free-flow micropuncture and clearance studies were performed to evaluate the transport of allantoin inthe rat kidney. Inn all studies [2-14C]uric acid and [methoxy-3H]inulin were administered. With a two-step column chromatographic technique, radiolabeled uric acid and allantoin were separated in plasma, urine, and tubular fluid, and the [2-14C]allantoin concentration was determined. Tubular fluid collections were obtained under hydropenic and control coneated animals in the control and volume-expanded states. Clearance data were obtained in oxonic acid-treated animals under the same experimental conditions. These studies indicate that allantoin is not bound to plasma protein and is, therefore, freely filterable. Neither net reabsorption nor net secretion of allantoin was evident along the length of the nephron. The bubular handling of allantoin was demonstrated to be dissociated from that of uric acid in all experimental states. No significant intrarenal production of allantoin from uric acid was observed.

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