scholarly journals String-pulling in the Goffin’s cockatoo (Cacatua goffiniana)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgit Wakonig ◽  
Alice M. I. Auersperg ◽  
Mark O’Hara
Keyword(s):  
Mental Representation ◽  
Tool Use ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Single String ◽  
Physical Task ◽  
String Pulling ◽  
Parrot Species ◽  
First Time

AbstractGoffin’s cockatoos, a parrot species endemic to the Tanimbar Islands in Indonesia, demonstrate remarkable cognitive skills across various technical tasks. These neophilic extractive foragers explore objects with their beak and feet, and are skilled in several modes of tool use. In this study, we confronted the animals for the first time with a vertical string-pulling setup, including a set of classic and novel controls. Nine of the 12 subjects, two of which were subadults, immediately interacted with the single-string task, with seven individuals successfully obtaining the reward on their very first attempt. Four different double string discrimination tests with varying spatial relations were used to assess the Goffin’s cockatoos’ apprehension of basic physical task properties. We found significant differences in performance between the respective experimental conditions, as well as the development of side biases. The results suggest that while the birds seem to consider simple cause–effect relationships, there is no evidence for a mental representation of the causal mechanisms underlying the string-pulling tasks, as subjects failed the crossed strings condition out of immediate sight. Finally, we provide suggestions on improving the methodology, and discuss our findings in regard to the Goffin’s cockatoo’s ecology.

scholarly journals The effect of salinity on enterocytozoon hepatopenaei infection in Penaeus vannamei under experimental conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. F. Aranguren Caro ◽  
F. Alghamdi ◽  
K. De Belder ◽  
J. Lin ◽  
H. N. Mai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Penaeus Monodon ◽  
Oral Route ◽  
Western Hemisphere ◽  
Penaeus Vannamei ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Reliable Source ◽  
Specific Pathogen ◽  
Enterocytozoon Hepatopenaei ◽  
First Time

Abstract Background Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) is an enteric pathogen that affects Penaeus vannamei and Penaeus monodon shrimp in many SE Asian countries. In the western hemisphere, EHP was reported for the first time in 2016 in farmed P. vannamei in Venezuela. Anecdotal evidence suggests that EHP is more prevalent in grow-out ponds where the salinity is high (> 15 parts per thousand (ppt)) compared to grow-out ponds with low salinities (< 5 ppt). Considering that P. vannamei is an euryhaline species, we were interested in knowing if EHP can propagate in P. vannamei in low salinities. Results In this study, we described an experimental infection using fecal strings as a source inoculum. Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) P. vannamei were maintained at three different salinities (2 ppt, 15 ppt, and 30 ppt) while continuously challenged using feces from known EHP-infected P. vannamei over a period of 3 weeks. The fecal strings, used as a source of EHP inocula in the challenges, was sufficient to elicit an infection in shrimp maintained at the three salinities. The infectivity of EHP in shrimp reared at 2 ppt, 15 ppt, and 30 ppt salinities was confirmed by PCR and histopathology. The prevalence and the severity of the EHP infection was higher at 30 ppt than at 2 ppt and 15 ppt. Conclusion The data suggests that fecal strings are a reliable source of EHP inoculum to conduct experimental challenges via the fecal-oral route. An EHP infection can occur at a salinity as low as 2 ppt, however, the prevalence and the severity of the EHP infection is higher at a salinity of 30 ppt.

scholarly journals Comparative investigation of lasing and amplification performance in cryogenic Yb:YLF systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Umit Demirbas ◽  
Martin Kellert ◽  
Jelto Thesinga ◽  
Yi Hua ◽  
Simon Reuter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Wave ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Laser Cavity ◽  
Comparative Investigation ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Temperature Estimation ◽  
Transverse Temperature ◽  
First Time

AbstractWe present detailed experimental results with cryogenic Yb:YLF gain media in rod-geometry. We have comparatively investigated continuous-wave (cw) lasing and regenerative amplification performance under different experimental conditions. In the cw lasing experiments effect of crystal doping, cw laser cavity geometry and pump wavelength on lasing performance were explored. Regenerative amplification behavior was analyzed and the role of depolarization losses on performance was investigated. A recently developed temperature estimation method was also employed for the first time in estimating average crystal temperature under lasing conditions. It is shown that the thermal lens induced by transverse temperature gradients is the main limiting factor and strategies for future improvements are discussed. To the best of our knowledge, the achieved results in this study (375 W in cw, and 90 W in regenerative amplification) are the highest average powers ever obtained from this system via employing the broadband E//a axis.

scholarly journals Extrusion Processing of Amaranth and Quinoa into Gluten-Free Snack Foods for Celiac and Gluten-Free Diets

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 107
Author(s):  
Caitlin Gearhart ◽  
Kurt A. Rosentrater
Keyword(s):  
Scale Up ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Expansion Ratio ◽  
Gluten Free ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Snack Foods ◽  
Extrusion Processing ◽  
Nutritional Benefits ◽  
First Time

Because of the growth of gluten intolerance and Celiac disease, there is growing interest in development of gluten-free foods. Beyond just being gluten-free, such foods can also have other positive nutritional benefits to human health. Extrusion processing is commonly used to produce a wide variety of human food products. Gluten-free grains can be a processing challenge, however, due to lack of proper binding, which can lead to poor quality food products. This research explores how extrusion parameters impacted the quality of amaranth- and quinoa-based extrudates. The specific objectives of this project included extruding each of the grains, then measuring extrudate properties, such as color, unit density, expansion ratio, and durability. Both the quinoa and amaranth were extruded as raw grain, as well as ground to 2mm and 1mm particle sizes. Other experimental conditions included moisture contents of 20% and 40% (d.b.), and extruder screw speeds of 50 rpm and 100 rpm. All treatments were successfully extruded, and all extrudates had high quality attributes, making this the first time either quinoa or amaranth was extruded without any binding ingredients. This study provides information useful for commercial scale-up.

Microarray analysis of the transcriptome of the subfornical organ in the rat: regulation by fluid and food deprivation

2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (6) ◽  
pp. R1914-R1920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Hindmarch ◽  
Mark Fry ◽  
Song T. Yao ◽  
Pauline M. Smith ◽  
David Murphy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Food Deprivation ◽  
Subfornical Organ ◽  
Microarray Technology ◽  
Type B ◽  
Bdnf Expression ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Calcium Sensing ◽  
First Time

We have employed microarray technology using Affymetrix 230 2.0 genome chips to initially catalog the transcriptome of the subfornical organ (SFO) under control conditions and to also evaluate the changes (common and differential) in gene expression induced by the challenges of fluid and food deprivation. We have identified a total of 17,293 genes tagged as present in one of our three experimental conditions, transcripts, which were then used as the basis for further filtering and statistical analysis. In total, the expression of 46 genes was changed in the SFO following dehydration compared with control animals (22 upregulated and 24 downregulated), with the largest change being the greater than fivefold increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, while significant changes in the expression of the calcium-sensing (upregulated) and apelin (downregulated) receptors were also reported. In contrast, food deprivation caused greater than twofold changes in a total of 687 transcripts (222 upregulated and 465 downregulated), including significant reductions in vasopressin, oxytocin, promelanin concentrating hormone, cocaine amphetamine-related transcript (CART), and the endothelin type B receptor, as well as increases in the expression of the GABAB receptor. Of these regulated transcripts, we identified 37 that are commonly regulated by fasting and dehydration, nine that were uniquely regulated by dehydration, and 650 that are uniquely regulated by fasting. We also found five transcripts that were differentially regulated by fasting and dehydration including BDNF and CART. In these studies we have for the first time described the transcriptome of the rat SFO and have in addition identified genes, the expression of which is significantly modified by either water or food deprivation.

scholarly journals Investigation of the hepatoprotective properties of “Phytovenol” capsules on the model of medicamentous hepatitis in rats

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 240-242
Author(s):  
Oleg Gerush ◽  
Olena Lenytska ◽  
Larysa Yakovleva ◽  
Liudmyla Gladkova ◽  
Igor Gerush
Keyword(s):  
Pharmacological Activity ◽  
Medical Practice ◽  
Liver Diseases ◽  
Scientific Paper ◽  
Hepatoprotective Effect ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Medical Preparation ◽  
Quality Of Treatment ◽  
First Time

Abstract This scientific paper is an investigation of the pharmacological activity of the new medical preparation “Phytovenol” (capsules in the dose of 150 mg/kg) on the pattern of hepatitis in rats induced by paracetamol administration. The authors of the article, for the first time under experimental conditions, detected a hepatoprotective effect that was brought about by “Phytovenol” capsule administration. This is realized due to the antioxidant, antitoxic and anticytolytic activity of the examined medicine. The study found that its efficacy is not lower than the classical hepatoprotector - “Silibor” tablets. The results obtained suggest that it is possible to extend the range of available hepatoprotectors and improve the quality of treatment for liver diseases, by introducing “Phytovenol” capsules into medical practice.

Larval development of the shrimp Hippolyte sapphica d’Udekem d’Acoz, 1993 forma A and B (Decapoda: Caridea: Hippolytidae) reared in the laboratory, confirmation of the conspecific status of the two forms

Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2579 (1) ◽  
pp. 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALEXANDROS NTAKIS ◽  
CHRYSSA ANASTASIADOU ◽  
ROMAN LIASKO ◽  
IOANNIS D. LEONARDOS
Keyword(s):  
Related Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Laboratory Confirmation ◽  
Bibliographic Data ◽  
Immature Form ◽  
Complete Series ◽  
First Time

The complete series of larval staging of Hippolyte sapphica d’Udekem d’Acoz, 1993 forma A and B from Louros estuary was studied in the laboratory and described in detail for the first time. The reared larvae of H. sapphica passed through six zoeal stages and one megalopal stage. The larval monitoring completed when the individuals could be assigned clearly to form A and B via rostra formation. Under the experimental conditions, the average durations of the larval stages were as follows: three days for 1 st and 2 nd stages, three to four days for 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th and 6 th stages, four days for the megalopal stage and 19 to 30 days for immature form A and B individuals. Comparison of the larval morphological characters among the described material and the bibliographic data of closely related species was made and discussed. The offspring of females of the forma A includes forma A and B and the same can be said of the offspring of the forma B. This confirms that the formae A and B are indeed conspecific.

Feather morphological predictors of angle-dependent color changes in parrot plumage

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 108-117
Author(s):  
Steven Reed ◽  
Richard K Simpson ◽  
Kevin J McGraw
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Signal ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Plumage Color ◽  
Color Changes ◽  
Structural Colors ◽  
Angle Dependence ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Euclidean Distances ◽  
Parrot Species ◽  
First Time

Among the most ornate animal traits in nature are the angle-dependent (e.g. iridescent) structural colors of many fishes, damselflies, birds, beetles, and butterflies. Though we now have a solid understanding of the mechanisms that create angle-dependent coloration in several groups, we know little about whether pigmentary colors reflect light in an angle-dependent fashion or if similar or different mechanisms govern angle-dependent reflectance from pigmentary versus structural colors. Here for the first time we describe non-iridescent angle-dependent coloration from the tail and wing feathers of several parrot species (Aves: Psittaciformes). We employed a novel approach—by calculating chromatic and achromatic contrasts (in just noticeable differences, JNDs) of straight and angled measurements of the same feather patch—to test for perceptually relevant angle-dependent changes in coloration on dorsal and ventral feather surfaces. We found, among the 15 parrot species studied, significant angle dependence for seven of our eight feather JND parameters. We then measured micro-scale features on each side of feathers, including size and color of barbs and barbules, to attempt to predict interspecific variation in degree of angle-dependent reflectance. We found that barb height, plumage-color type (e.g. melanin, structural), and differences between barb-barbule coloration (measured using Euclidean distances) were the strongest predictors of angle-dependent coloration. Interestingly, there was no significant phylogenetic signal in any of the angle-dependence models tested. These findings deepen our views on the importance of microscopic feather features in the production of directional animal coloration, especially in tissues that are colored predominantly by pigments and appear to be statically colored.

Spin dynamics and absorption-band profiles for the planar two-dimensional easy-plane ionic ferromagnet Rb 2 CrCl 4

1988 ◽  
Vol 415 (1849) ◽  
pp. 277-302 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Spin Dynamics ◽  
Optical Data ◽  
Planar Anisotropy ◽  
Eigenvalues And Eigenfunctions ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Anisotropy Parameters ◽  
Combination Bands ◽  
First Time ◽  
Crystallographic Axes

Eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the spin waves in Rb 2 CrCl 4 , in the absence or presence of a magnetic field oriented along (or slightly off) one of the major crystallographic axes, are given in detail for the first time. We present a simple model to simulate the profiles of exchange induced exciton-magnon combination bands in canted ferromagnets, under various experimental conditions of temperature and magnetic field. This model is used to analyse new high-resolution magneto-optical data at low and very low (0.35 K) temperatures and to derive precise anisotropy parameters. It can be applied with only slight modifications to metamagnets showing axial or planar anisotropy.

scholarly journals Experience affects exercise-induced changes in catecholamines, glucose, and FFA

1989 ◽  
Vol 256 (1) ◽  
pp. R169-R173 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Scheurink ◽  
A. B. Steffens ◽  
G. H. Dreteler ◽  
L. Benthem ◽  
R. Bruntink
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Response ◽  
Plasma Catecholamines ◽  
Plasma Free Fatty Acid ◽  
Blood Component ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Exercise Induced ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Response To Exercise ◽  
First Time

The interference of the experimental conditions on the exercise-induced alterations in plasma catecholamines, plasma free fatty acids, and glucose and insulin concentrations was investigated in rats. Exercise consisted of strenuous swimming against a countercurrent (0.22 m/s) for 15 min in a pool with water of 33 degrees C. Before, during, and after swimming, blood samples were taken through a permanent heart catheter. The blood component levels in rats that were confronted with exercise for the very first time were compared with the levels in rats that were well accustomed to the exercise conditions. The very first time rats swam caused an enhanced release of epinephrine from the adrenal medulla and a reduced output of norepinephrine from the sympathetic nerve endings. Furthermore, in the first time swim group, blood glucose levels were higher and plasma free fatty acid concentrations were lower compared with the well-accustomed animals. There were no differences in plasma insulin concentrations. It is concluded that the experimental conditions may interfere considerably with the hormonal and metabolic response to exercise. Furthermore the results reinforce the idea that the two parts of the sympathoadrenal system are functionally and metabolically dissociated.

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