Differences in running performance of single- and group-housed mice

Mice are one of several common animal models in neuroscience and mouse behavior is becoming increasingly relevant. Mice are housed either in groups or alone in standard cages during which they show a variety of different behaviors. Moreover, housing conditions might alter the behavior of the mice as do social interactions. When given access to running wheels as an environmental enrichment, mice tend to run long distances preferentially during their dark cycle. However, it is currently not well understood whether and how mice utilize running wheels when single-housed or group-housed. Here we developed a low-cost running wheel data acquisition system to study running in adult C57BL/6 mice at high temporal resolution under different social conditions. As expected, adult C57BL/6 mice prefer to run in stretches during the dark cycle and mostly rest during the light cycle. When single-housed, running bouts occur independent from each other as indicated by an exponential decaying autocorrelation. In contrast, mice run ~50% less when housed in groups of n = 3 and their temporal pattern of running exhibits a power law decay in the autocorrelation indicative of potential social interactions. Our results demonstrate that running wheels are a limited resource for which mice compete for when they are group-housed, thereby reducing their overall running activity.

Anxiety and Cognition in Cre- Collagen Type II Sirt1 K/O Male Mice

IntroductionUsing transgenic collagen type II-specific Sirt1 knockout (CKO) mice we studied the role of Sirt1 in nutritional induced catch up growth (CUG) and we found that these mice have a less organized growth plate and reduced efficiency of CUG. In addition, we noted that they weigh more than control (CTL) mice. Studying the reason for the increased weigh, we found differences in activity and brain function.MethodsSeveral tests for behavior and activity were used: open field; elevated plus maze, Morris water maze, and home cage running wheels. The level of Glu- osteocalcin, known to connect bone and brain function, was measured by Elisa; brain Sirt1 was analyzed by western blot.ResultsWe found that CKO mice had increased anxiety, with less spatial memory, learning capabilities and reduced activity in their home cages. No significant differences were found between CKO and CTL mice in Glu- osteocalcin levels; nor in the level of brain SIRT1.Discussion/ConclusionUsing transgenic collagen type II-specific Sirt1 knockout (CKO) mice we found a close connection between linear growth and brain function. Using a collagen type II derived system we affected a central regulatory mechanism leading to hypo activity, increased anxiety, and slower learning, without affecting circadian period. As children with idiopathic short stature are more likely to have lower IQ, with substantial deficits in working memory than healthy controls, the results of the current study suggest that SIRT1 may be the underlying factor connecting growth and brain function.

Dissecting the Roles of the Autonomic Nervous System and Physical Activity on Circadian Heart Rate Fluctuations in Mice

Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure as well as adverse cardiovascular events show clear circadian patterns, which are linked to interdependent daily variations in physical activity and cardiac autonomic nerve system (ANS) activity. We set out to assess the relative contributions of the ANS (alone) and physical activity to circadian HR fluctuations. To do so, we measured HR (beats per minute, bpm) in mice that were either immobilized using isoflurane anesthesia or free-moving. Nonlinear fits of HR data to sine functions revealed that anesthetized mice display brisk circadian HR fluctuations with amplitudes of 47.1±7.4bpm with the highest HRs in middle of the dark (active) period (ZT 18: 589±46bpm) and lowest HRs in the middle of the light (rest) period (ZT 6: 497±54bpm). The circadian HR fluctuations were reduced by ~70% following blockade of cardiac parasympathetic nervous activity (PNA) with atropine while declining by <15% following cardiac sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) blockade with propranolol. Small HR fluctuation amplitudes (11.6±5.9bpm) remained after complete cardiac ANS blockade. Remarkably, circadian HR fluctuation amplitudes in freely moving, telemetrized mice were only ~32% larger than in anesthetized mice. However, after gaining access to running wheels for 1week, circadian HR fluctuations increase to 102.9±12.1bpm and this is linked directly to increased O2 consumption during running. We conclude that, independent of physical activity, the ANS is a major determinant of circadian HR variations with PNA playing a dominant role compared to SNA. The effects of physical activity to the daily HR variations are remarkably small unless mice get access to running wheels.

JUSTIFICATION OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE CRANE WHEEL WITH ELASTIC INSERT

The article considers the modernized design of the crane running wheel with anelastic insert.The purpose of the study is to substantiate the rational design of the running wheel onthe basis of determining the dynamic forces that occur when moving the truck and the crane bridge.Crane equipment is of great importance for the mechanization of lifting and transportoperations in various industries. Bridge cranes perform various lifting and transport operations.Installation and dismantling of equipment and machines. Also take part in the technologicalprocess of the metallurgical industry.The costs associated with the replacement and restoration of the running wheels are 15-17%of the cost of repairing the entire crane. At the same time more than 90% of crane wheels fail due towear of flanges.The main tasks for the diagnosis of crane wheels and rail tracks are usually solved duringscheduled maintenance by visual inspection of the wheel and rail and identify their wear. But thisdiagnostic tool does not quite satisfy the modern conditions of the cranes, namely, the compatiblecondition of the wheels and rails is not assessed, and it is impossible to carry out such controlconstantly during operation.Mechanisms for moving bridge cranes have several designs. The mechanism for moving thetruck, as a rule, has one drive, which transmits motion to the two drive wheels. The mechanisms ofmovement of the crane can be with the central and separate drive. The mechanisms of movement with the central drive can be with a low-speed transmission shaft, with a high-speed transmissionshaft and with a medium-speed transmission shaft.With this design, the gearbox shafts are connected to the drive wheel shaft by means of aclutch and a transmission shaft. This impairs the operation of the entire mechanism, because thepresence of the transmission shaft increases the complexity of the manufacture of the crane and itsweight and requires a very precise installation.To overcome these shortcomings, a separate drive of the end beams of the bridge is used.If the load on one of the support beams of the bridge is less than on the other, the enginespeed on this support increases and the support begins to run forward relative to the more loadedsupport. But the first engine begins to receive increased load, which is transmitted through themetal structure of the bridge and unloads the engine of the second support, due to which the speedof the first engine decreases and the speed of the second engine increases until they are equalized.Thus, in the process of moving the crane with a separate drive is the redistribution of loadbetween the two engines. Although the scheme of the mechanism with separate drives requires twoengines, two brakes and two gearboxes, it is the cheapest, light weight and easy to manufacture.The design of running wheels of cranes and crane carts should exclude a possibility ofderailment of wheels. To do this, the running wheels have two side flanges - flanges, which serve toguide the running wheels on the rails.The dynamic forces that arise when moving the trucks of cranes are quite large and cannot beignored when designing cranes. Most of all, they are manifested by wear of wheels and rails duringthe occurrence of distortions on the cranes.Thus, improving the performance and operational reliability of crane running wheels is avery important task of modern crane construction.The research technique is based on analytical methods of research of dynamic efforts in themechanism of movement of the truck of the bridge crane. The decision of three mass dynamicschemes of movement of the cargo cart is received.The analysis of the received decisions showed that at application of a running wheel with anelastic insert, dynamic factors at movement of the truck decreases. Dependences for determinationof dynamic forces which arise at movement of a running crane wheel taking into account rigidity ofan elastic ring which is inserted into a running wheel are received. The design and a technique ofcalculation of a running crane wheel with the vulcanized ring are offered.

Optimization research on arc height of running surface based on reducing partial wear of straddle-type monorail vehicle running wheel tire

This article proposes an ideal of reducing the partial wear of the running wheels by optimizing the arc height of the running surface to improve the wheel-rail contact state. To realize this idea, two kinds of concave and convex running surfaces were designed, the “running wheel-rail beam” finite element model of three kinds of rail surfaces of concave, convex, and plane were established. Taking the arc height of the running surface as the design variable, the total friction work and the friction work deviation (FWD) value as the dual optimization goal, an optimization model of arc height of running surface was established based on finite element model and multidisciplinary optimization platform Modefrontier. An improved genetic algorithm was used and an co-simulation optimization mode was put forward in the optimization. The optimization results show that when the concave height of the inner running surface is 22.62 mm, the total friction work and the FWD values are reduced by 11% and 11.8% respectively; When the convex height of the outer running surface is 11.81 mm, the objection values are reduced by 4.9% and 32.1% respectively. An ideal running surface was obtained and the life of the running wheel was extended by the research.

EXPERIMENTALSTUDY OF DYNAMIC EFFORTS DURING THE OPERATION OF THE MECHANISM OF MOVEMENT OF THE CARGO TROLLEYOF AN OVERHEAD CRANE

The article deals with the determination of the dynamic loads arising in the running wheels of a conventional (standard) and modernized design during the movement of the cargo carriage of an overhead crane. The redesigned wheel has an insert made from 7-7130 rubber compound. Also, a method for diagnosing running wheels of conventional and modernized design was determined. The ZETLAB program was chosen as a program for signal registration and analysis. This program allows not only displaying the signal in real time with the possibility of scaling, but also allows you to digitize the signal with the possibility of further processing the results in various standards. Finding out the occurrence of a defect in wheels and rails is mainly carried out by two methods, when shock pulses appear and according to an increased background of vibration. In practice, there is a process of "dry" rolling friction, and this means that the method of shock pulses for diagnosing the condition of wheels and a rail track can be used only in some cases in the form of extreme wear of the friction pairs of a wheel and a rail. That is, the method of spectral analysis of fluctuations in the power of random vibration can be successfully applied to diagnose the state of the rail track and crane wheel. The diagnostic method based on the overall vibration level allows for an overall assessment of the technical condition. Such diagnostics makes it possible to identify defects only at the very last stage of development, when they lead or have already led to partial destruction of the rolling surface of the wheel and the surface of the rail, that is, to an increase in the overall level of vibration. The performance evaluation criteria are fully focused on the corresponding standard vibration levels for the investigated friction pair. A friction pair is considered to be defective, the vibration of which exceeds the general standard. When determining an increased overall level of vibration, maintenance personnel must make a decision to replace parts or a unit to prolong its operation. The results obtained indicate the advisability of using the wheels of the modernized design on the cargo carriage of an overhead crane.

Use of running plates by floor housed rats: A pilot study

The outfit of husbandry facilities of, and the enrichment provided for, experimental rodents plays an important role in the animals’ welfare, and hence also for the societal acceptance of animal experiments. Whether rats and mice benefit from being provided with running wheels or plates is discussed controversially. Here we present observations from a feeding experiment, where rats were provided a running plate. As a pilot study, six identical cages, with three animals per cage, were filmed for six days, and the resulting footage was screened for the number of bouts and the time the animals spent on the plates. The main activities observed on the plate in descending order were sitting (18.5 ± 13.8 bouts or 8.0 ± 13.7 min/animal per day), standing (10.2 ± 11.6 bouts, 3.8 ± 4.2 min), running (8.2 ± 13.3 bouts, 10.1 ± 21.4 min), grooming (2.0 ± 2.8 bouts, 6.7 ± 25.7 min), sleeping (1.0 ± 2.6 bouts, 24.0 ± 61.8 min) and playing (0.5 ± 0.9 bouts, 0.1 ± 0.5 min). Most of these activities (91% of all bouts, 90% of total time) occurred at night, similar to previous studies on running wheel usage. The running plate seems well-accepted as cage enrichment, even though in further studies, the motivating triggers and the effects of long-term use could be evaluated more in-depth.

The Impact of Voluntary Exercise on Stroke Recovery

Stroke treatment is limited to time-critical thrombectomy and rehabilitation by physiotherapy. Studies report beneficial effects of exercise; however, a knowledge gap exists regarding underlying mechanisms that benefit recovery of brain networks and cognition. This study aims to unravel therapeutic effects of voluntary exercise in stroke-induced mice to develop better personalized treatments. Male C57Bl6/JOlaHsd mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. After surgery, the animals were divided in a voluntary exercise group with access to running wheels (RW), and a control group without running wheels (NRW). During 6 days post-stroke, activity/walking patterns were measured 24/7 in digital ventilated cages. Day 7 post-surgery, animals underwent MRI scanning (11.7T) to investigate functional connectivity (rsfMRI) and white matter (WM) integrity (DTI). Additionally, postmortem polarized light imaging (PLI) was performed to quantify WM fiber density and orientation. After MRI the animals were sacrificed and neuroinflammation and cerebral vascularisation studied. Voluntary exercise promoted myelin density recovery corresponding to higher fractional anisotropy. The deteriorating impact of stroke on WM dispersion was detected only in NRW mice. Moreover, rsfMRI revealed increased functional connectivity, cerebral blood flow and vascular quality leading to improved motor skills in the RW group. Furthermore, voluntary exercise showed immunomodulatory properties post-stroke. This study not only helped determining the therapeutic value of voluntary exercise, but also provided understanding of pathological mechanisms involved in stroke.

Behavioral and Thermoregulatory Responses to Changes in Ambient Temperature and Wheel Running Availability in Octodon degus

Octodon degus is primarily a diurnal species, however, in laboratory conditions, it can switch from diurnal to nocturnal in response to wheel running availability. It has been proposed that this activity inversion obeys thermoregulatory constraints induced by vigorous physical exercise. Thus, its activity shifts to the night as the ambient temperature is lower.Here, we investigate the relationship between thermoregulation and the activity phase-inversion in response to wheel-running in this species. We measured behavioral activity and body temperature rhythms in diurnal naïve animals under 12 h light: 12 h dark cycles at four different ambient temperatures (spanning from ~26°C to 32°C), and following access to running wheels while maintained under high ambient temperature.Our results show that naïve degus do not shift their diurnal activity and body temperature rhythms to a nocturnal phase when subjected to sequential increases in ambient temperature. However, when they were provided with wheels under constant high-temperature conditions, all animals inverted their diurnal phase preference becoming nocturnal. Both, negative masking by light and entrainment to the dark phase appeared involved in the nocturnalism of these animals. Analysis of the thermoregulatory response to wheel running revealed some differences between masked and entrained nocturnal chronotypes.These data highlight the importance of the coupling between wheel running availability and ambient temperature in the nocturnalism of the degus. The results support the view that an innate “protective” pre-program mechanism (associating darkness and lower ambient temperature) may change the timing of behavioral activity in this species to reduce the potential risk of hyperthermia.