Variation and Variability in Drosophila Grooming Behavior

Behavioral differences can be observed between species or populations (variation) or between individuals in a genetically similar population (variability). Here, we investigate genetic differences as a possible source of variation and variability in Drosophila grooming. Grooming confers survival and social benefits. Grooming features of five Drosophila species exposed to a dust irritant were analyzed. Aspects of grooming behavior, such as anterior to posterior progression, were conserved between and within species. However, significant differences in activity levels, proportion of time spent in different cleaning movements, and grooming syntax were identified between species. All species tested showed individual variability in the order and duration of action sequences. Genetic diversity was not found to correlate with grooming variability within a species: melanogaster flies bred to increase or decrease genetic heterogeneity exhibited similar variability in grooming syntax. Individual flies observed on consecutive days also showed grooming sequence variability. Standardization of sensory input using optogenetics reduced but did not eliminate this variability. In aggregate, these data suggest that sequence variability may be a conserved feature of grooming behavior itself. These results also demonstrate that large genetic differences result in distinguishable grooming phenotypes (variation), but that genetic heterogeneity within a population does not necessarily correspond to an increase in the range of grooming behavior (variability).

A quantitative analysis of the similarities and differences of the HIV/FIV gag genome

Among viruses, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presents the greatest challenge to humans. Here, we retrieved genome sequences from NCBI and were then run through LALIGN bioinformatics software to compute the E value, bit score, Waterman eggert score, and percent identity, which are four important indicators of how similar the sequences are. The E value was 3.1 x 10^-9, the percent identity was 54.4 percent, and the bit score was 51.9. It was also sensed that bases 1600 to 1990 in HIV and bases 800 to 910 in FIV have a higher than normal similarity. This reflects that while the DNA sequences of the gag region of both the HIV and FIV genomes are rather similar, it is unlikely that this similarity is due to random chance; therefore, there are a noticeable number of differences. A better understanding of the level of similarity and differences in the gag region of the genome sequence would facilitate our understanding of structural and cellular behavioral differences between FIV and HIV, and in the long term, it will provide new insights into the differences observed in previous studies or even facilitate the development of an effective HIV treatment.

The Investigation of Viscometric Properties of the Most Reputable Types of Viscosity Index Improvers in Different Lubricant Base Oils: API Groups I, II, and III

Four commercial viscosity index improvers (VII) have been used to investigate the behavioral differences of these compounds in three types of universally applicable base oils. The used VIIs are structurally three types of co-polymer: ethylene-propylene, star isoprene, and two di-block styrene-isoprene. After dissolving of different amounts of VIIs in different base oils, the kinematic viscosities at two standard temperatures were determined and the intrinsic viscosities were calculated according to Huggins method, then the effects of changes in base oil and polymer type were investigated. Intrinsic viscosities as criteria for polymer molecules sizes were found to be higher at lower temperature than at higher temperature. Dependence of intrinsic viscosity on the polymer molecular weight was observed. In the previous works, one or two types of VIIs were studied in only one type of base oil and/or solvent, not different base oils. Furthermore, different ranges of temperatures and concentrations not necessarily applied ranges were selected, but in this work, common base oils and most commercial VIIs were used and the viscometric properties were compared at two temperatures. Viscosities at these temperatures are used for determining VI and definition of lubricant’s viscosity grades. VI improvement is the main cause of VII usage.

A quantitative analysis of the FIV and HIV genome using bioinformatics software

Among viruses, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presented the greatest challenge to human kinds. the HIV and FIV gag genome was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq Benchtop next-generation sequencer.The DNA sequences obtained were then run through the LALIGN bioinformatics software to compute the E value, bit score, waterman eggert score, percent identity,which are four important indicators of how similar the sequences are. The E value was 3.1 x 10 ^-9, the percent identity was 54.4 percent and the bit score was 51.9. It was also sensed that base 1600 to 1990 in HIV and base 800 to 910 in FIV have a higher than normal similarity. This reflects that while the DNA sequences of the gag region of both the HIV and FIV genome are rather similar and it is unlikely that this similarity is due to random chance, there are a noticeable amount of differences. A better understanding of the level of similarity and differences in the gag region of the genome sequence would facilitate our understanding of structural and cellular behavioral differences between FIV and HIV, and in the long term it prevides new explanations to differences observed in previous studies, or even facilitate the development of an effective HIV treatment.

Introducing the Prototypical Stimulus Characteristics Toolbox: Protosc

Many studies use different categories of images to define their conditions. Since any difference between these categories is a valid candidate to explain category-related behavioral differences, knowledge about the objective image differences between categories is crucial for the interpretation of the behaviors. However, natural images vary in many image features and not every feature is equally important in describing the differences between the categories. Here, we provide a methodological approach to find as many of the image features as possible, using machine learning performance as a tool, that have predictive value over the category the images belong to. In other words, we describe a means to find the features of a group of images by which the categories can be objectively and quantitatively defined. Note that we are not aiming to provide a means for the best possible decoding performance; instead, our aim is to uncover prototypical characteristics of the categories. To facilitate the use of this method, we offer an open-source, MATLAB-based toolbox that performs such an analysis and aids the user in visualizing the features of relevance. We first applied the toolbox to a mock data set with a ground truth to show the sensitivity of the approach. Next, we applied the toolbox to a set of natural images as a more practical example.

Orphan cytochrome P450 20a1 CRISPR/Cas9 mutants and neurobehavioral phenotypes in zebrafish

Orphan cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are those for which biological substrates and function(s) are unknown. Cytochrome P450 20A1 (CYP20A1) is the last human orphan P450 enzyme, and orthologs occur as single genes in every vertebrate genome sequenced to date. The occurrence of high levels of CYP20A1 transcripts in human substantia nigra and hippocampus and abundant maternal transcripts in zebrafish eggs strongly suggest roles both in the brain and during early embryonic development. Patients with chromosome 2 microdeletions including CYP20A1 show hyperactivity and bouts of anxiety, among other conditions. Here, we created zebrafish cyp20a1 mutants using CRISPR/Cas9, providing vertebrate models with which to study the role of CYP20A1 in behavior and other neurodevelopmental functions. The homozygous cyp20a1 null mutants exhibited significant behavioral differences from wild-type zebrafish, both in larval and adult animals. Larval cyp20a1-/- mutants exhibited a strong increase in light-simulated movement (i.e., light–dark assay), which was interpreted as hyperactivity. Further, the larvae exhibited mild hypoactivity during the adaptation period of the optomotor assays. Adult cyp20a1 null fish showed a pronounced delay in adapting to new environments, which is consistent with an anxiety paradigm. Taken together with our earlier morpholino cyp20a1 knockdown results, the results described herein suggest that the orphan CYP20A1 has a neurophysiological role.

Early Versus Late Mild Cognitive Impairment: Neural Event-Related Oscillations During a Go/No Go Task

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is marked by episodic memory deficits, which is used to classify individuals into early MCI (EMCI) and late MCI (LMCI). Growing evidence suggests that individuals with EMCI and LMCI differ in other cognitive functions including cognitive control, but these are less frequently studied. Using a semantic Go/NoGo task, we examined differences in cognitive control between EMCI and LMCI on behavioral (accuracy and reaction time) and neural (scalp-recorded event-related oscillations in theta and alpha band) measures. Although no behavioral differences were observed between the groups, EMCI and LMCI groups differed in patterns of neural oscillations for Go compared to NoGo trials. The EMCI group showed differences in theta power at central electrodes and alpha power at central and centro-parietal electrodes between Go and NoGo trials, while the LMCI group did not exhibit such differences. Furthermore, the LMCI group had higher theta synchronization on Go trials at central electrodes compared to the EMCI group. These findings suggest that while behavioral differences may not be observable, neural changes underlying cognitive control processes may differentiate EMCI and LMCI stages and may be useful to understand the trajectory of aMCI.

Evaluation of the Use of Advanced Ozone Oxidative Process in Reducing the Danger of Environmental Toxicity by Endocrine Interferences of Magistral Pharmacy

The presence of emerging pollutants in the waters has been observed worldwide, resulting from improper domestic disposal, non-recommended veterinarian use, and product waste from pharmaceutical industries and magistral pharmacies. The contamination provoked, besides causing damage to the environment, remains in potable water even after passing through the treatment plants. The objective of this work was to verify the existence of environmental toxicity of raw effluents from gross pharmacy laboratories, as well as the same effluent treated with POA via ozone in the time of 1 hour, having as a risk parameter the changes that they cause in Euglena gracilis algae. Photosynthetic efficiency tests were conducted via PAM, and chlorophyll concentration and behavioral evaluation were checked via NGTOX. The results demonstrate that the hormone laboratory was considered the most impacted effluent treated, with lower production and significant chlorophyll reduction. It presented reduction in photosynthetic post-ozonation activity, due to the hormone decomposition, oxidative potential and ethylene formation. Effluents from psychotropic and solid laboratories presented different production demand, but similar follow-up, with impact on the behavior and algae’s photosynthetic activity, due to the presence of active substances on cellular action potentials. The treated effluent from dermocosmetics laboratory influenced the chlorophyll concentration, as well as the general speed and velocity of surface ascent. The behavioral differences between the laboratories and the pre and post-ozonation conditions demonstrate that the effluent treatment should be distinguished, according to the characteristics of the manipulated substances in each laboratory.

Behavior Individuality: A Focus on Drosophila melanogaster

Among individuals, behavioral differences result from the well-known interplay of nature and nurture. Minute differences in the genetic code can lead to differential gene expression and function, dramatically affecting developmental processes and adult behavior. Environmental factors, epigenetic modifications, and gene expression and function are responsible for generating stochastic behaviors. In the last decade, the advent of high-throughput sequencing has facilitated studying the genetic basis of behavior and individuality. We can now study the genomes of multiple individuals and infer which genetic variations might be responsible for the observed behavior. In addition, the development of high-throughput behavioral paradigms, where multiple isogenic animals can be analyzed in various environmental conditions, has again facilitated the study of the influence of genetic and environmental variations in animal personality. Mainly, Drosophila melanogaster has been the focus of a great effort to understand how inter-individual behavioral differences emerge. The possibility of using large numbers of animals, isogenic populations, and the possibility of modifying neuronal function has made it an ideal model to search for the origins of individuality. In the present review, we will focus on the recent findings that try to shed light on the emergence of individuality with a particular interest in D. melanogaster.