Effect of Sex and Reproductive Status on Inhibitory Control and Social Cognition in the Domestic Dog (Canis familiaris)

Sex differences in a variety of cognitive traits have long been reported in various species, including dogs. However, only a few canine studies have taken the possible effect of reproductive hormones into account. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sex and reproductive status of pet dogs (N = 1032) on two cognitive traits: inhibitory control and social cognition. Inhibitory control was assessed using the cylinder test, and the dogs’ tendency to initiate social contact with a human during a problem-solving situation was assessed using the unsolvable task. Female dogs had a significantly higher success rate in the cylinder test compared to males, and they spent significantly more time in human-directed behavior during the unsolvable task. In contrast, males spent significantly more time in independent behavior during the unsolvable task. Reproductive status had no significant effect on the results of the cylinder test or the unsolvable task. Our results showed that female dogs asked for more help/used a more cooperative strategy during a problem-solving situation and had greater inhibitory control compared to males. According to our results, it seems likely that these sex differences were not influenced to a large extent by reproductive hormones.

Sulfate and Chloride Resistance Properties of Portland Cement Blends

About 53% area of Bangladesh is alluvial deposited and affected by sulfate, salinity and chloride in water and soil. Existing sulfate and chloride can severely damage the building in coastal regions. In this paper durability of cement is evaluated on the basis of strength of mortar cube, concrete cylinder test. Besides the sulfate resistance is measured by change of length of the mortar bar specimens during exposure to sulfate solution and the attacking chloride properties by Rapid chloride ion penetration test using OPC, PCC, 20% FA, 30% FA and 40% FA. The strength was observed in cube sample about 40.65, 37.2MPa after 13 weeks in sulfate solution and linear expansion was obtained about 0.28% and 0.133% for OPC and PCC cement with reference to the water. The compressive strength of the cylindrical specimens was about 16.96, 18.34 MPa for OPC and PCC, respectively at the age of 28 days. The permeability of chloride ion of OPC sample was 22.8% higher than the PCC at this age. Journal of Engineering Science 12(1), 2021, 69-75

Comparative Dose of Intracarotid Autologous Bone Marrow Mononuclear Therapy in Chronic Ischemic Stroke in Rats

Research on chronic ischemic stroke is limited. One of the more promising approaches showing positive effects in the acute stage is mononuclear bone marrow cell therapy. This research may be the first which presents data about the optimum dose of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) for chronic ischemic stroke in rats and discusses factors influencing recovery in the chronic stage. We performed temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) procedures on the rats which were then randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups in which they were given either low or high doses of autologous BM-MNCs (5 million or 10 million cells per kg body weight). Rat brains were fixed for HE, CD31, and doublecortin staining for analysis of the effects. Rat behavior was assessed weekly using the cylinder test and a modified neurological severity score (NSS) test. In the four weeks prior to administration of BM-MNC, cylinder test scores improved to near normal, and NSS test scores improved moderately. The infarct zone decreased significantly (p <0,01), there was an improvement in angiogenesis (p = 0.1590) and a significant improvement in neurogenesis (p <0,01). Reduction of the infarct zone was associated with a higher dose whereas both higher and lower doses were found to have a similar effect on improving angiogenesis, and neurogenesis. Recovery was superior after twelve weeks compared with the recovery assessment at eight weeks. In conclusion, a dose of 10 million cells was more effective than a dose of 5 million cells per kg body weight for reducing the infarct zone and ameliorating neurogenesis. There was an improvement of histopathological parameters associated with the longer infarct period.

Additive Behavioral Improvement after Combined Cell Therapy and Rehabilitation Despite Long-Term Microglia Presence in Stroke Rats

Microglia are involved in the post-stroke immunomodulation of brain plasticity, repair, and reorganization. Here, we evaluated whether adipose-tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) and/or rehabilitation improve behavioral recovery by modulating long-term perilesional inflammation and creating a recovery-permissive environment in a rat model of ischemic stroke. Methods: A two-way mixed lymphocyte reaction was used to assess the immunomodulatory capacity of ADMSCs in vitro. Two or 7 days after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO), rats were intravenously administered ADMSCs or vehicle and housed in a standard or enriched environment (EE). Behavioral performance was assessed with a cylinder test, then we performed stereological and ImageJ/Fiji quantifications of ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) cells and blood–brain barrier (BBB) leakage. Results: Human ADMSCs were immunosuppressive in vitro. The cylinder test showed partial spontaneous behavioral recovery of pMCAO rats, which was further improved by combined ADMSCs and housing in EE on days 21 and 42 (p < 0.05). We detected an ischemia-induced increase in numbers, staining intensity, and branch length of Iba1+ microglia/macrophages as well as BBB leakage in the perilesional cortex. However, these were not different among pMCAO groups. Conclusion: Combined cell therapy and rehabilitation additively improved behavioral outcome despite long-term perilesional microglia presence in stroke rats.

Studi Komparasi Performa Mesin SI Berbahan Bakar Pertalite dan Plastic Pyrolysis Oil (PPO)

This study aims to evaluate the performance of gasoline engines using pure fuel (pertalite) with plastic pyrolysis oil (PPO) fuel from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic waste. The test was carried out on a four stroke, single cylinder test bed machine. The research begins with the manufacture of fuel from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic waste using the pyrolysis method. The performance parameters evaluated are torque, power and specific fuel consumption (BSFC). The results of the test show that the engine performance using LDPE type plastic waste fuel is relatively lower than pertalite. However, the consumption of LDPE fuel is lower than pertalite.

A Comparison Investigation on Cylinder Test in Different Ambient Media by Experiment and Numerical Simulation

When the detonation reaction occurs after the charge in the warhead is ignited, the propagation of the detonation wave and the expansion of the detonation product will interact with the wrapped metallic shell and cause the shell material to accelerate, extremely deform, and eventually rupture, which is a typical strong fluid-structure interaction problem. In this paper, a comparison investigation on a cylinder test in different ambient media was implemented by experiment and numerical simulation, respectively. In the experimental test, the attention was paid to discussing the differences of the accelerating process of the cylinder metal wall, the expansion modes, and the fragment shape of the cylinder due to the medium with different shock wave impedance which surrounds the cylinder shell. For the numerical simulation, a coupling scheme of a meshless method and finite element method called the coupled finite element material point method was used to reproduce the cylinder expansion problem driven by explosive sliding detonation where the interaction between the cylinder wall and the explosive/detonation product is enforced by using a point-to-surface contact scheme to accurately achieve contact and separation between material particles and finite elements. Lastly, the macroscopic and microscopic states of the cylinder failure were compared and discussed for further discussion.

Ascorbic acid improves extrapyramidal syndromes and corpus striatal degeneration induced by dopamine-2 receptor inhibition in Wistar rats

ObjectivesThe prolonged uses of fourth-generation antipsychotics have been implicated in inducing extrapyramidal syndromes characterized by the motor deficit. This was attributed to the loss of dopamine-2 receptor (D2R) signaling. However, ascorbic acid (SVCT2R stimulation) in the brain is proposed to modulate D2R activity. We, therefore, investigated the beneficial roles of ascorbic acid in improving the extrapyramidal symptoms seen in D2R loss.MethodsTwenty adult male Wistar rats of average weight 200 g were distributed randomly into four groups. The control (NS) received normal saline for 28 days, Untreated D2R inhibition group (−D2R) received normal saline for seven days and then subsequently received chlorpromazine for 21 days, D2R inhibition group treated with ascorbic acid (−D2R+SVCT2R) received chlorpromazine for 21 days and was subsequently treated with ascorbate for seven days while the withdrawal group (WG) received chlorpromazine for 21 days and subsequently received normal saline for seven days. Motor deficits were assessed using a rotarod and cylinder test. The corpus striatum was harvested, processed, and stained using H&E and Nissl stains. Cellular density was analyzed using Image J software 1.8.0.ResultsMotor deficit was observed in −D2R animals administered chlorpromazine with less improvement in WG compared to control (p<0.05) in both rotarod and cylinder test. Ascorbic acid (SVCT2R stimulation) significantly (p<0.001) improved the latency of fall and climbing attempts observed in −D2R animals. The density of basophilic trigoid bodies was significantly (p<0.001) restored in −D2R+SVCT2R group, suggesting recovery of neural activity in the corpus striatum. Moreover, the hallmarks of neuronal degeneration were less expressed in the ascorbic acid treatment groups.ConclusionsAscorbic acid putatively ameliorates extrapyramidal symptoms observed in D2R blockage by chlorpromazine in Wistar rats.

OPTIMIZING THE USE OF ROCK ASH AS FINE AGGREGATES WITH THE ADDITION OF ADDITIVES TO THE CONCRETE MIXTURE WITH A COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF 350 Kg/cm2

Stone dust nowadays is a side product of the stone crushing industry, the quality of which is quite a lot that it becomes a waste that needs to be handled. This study is intended to find out the composition of stone dust by adding some additive substance type D and type F to reach a compressive strength of 350 kg/cm2. The variation of percentage of stone dust on the composition of concrete mixture is 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%. The design of concrete mixture composition refers to the procedure of making preparation of the normal concrete mixture. SNI 03-2384-1993. The size of the cylinder test object is 15 cm in diameter and 30 cm in height. The result of this research shows that the mixture using stone dust has quite an effect on the compressive strength of concrete. From the result of the experiment, it is shown that for compressive strength of 350 kg/cm2, we can use 100% of stone dust with a resulted compressive strength of 445 kg/cm2.