Overlooked evidence for semantic compositionality and signal reduction in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Recent discoveries of semantic compositionality in Japanese tits have enlivened the discussions on the presence of this phenomenon in wild animal communication. Data on semantic compositionality in wild apes are lacking, even though language experiments with captive apes have demonstrated they are capable of semantic compositionality. In this paper, I revisit the study by Boesch (Hum. Evol. 6:81–89, 1991) who investigated drumming sequences by an alpha male in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) community in the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. A reanalysis of the data reveals that the alpha male produced semantically compositional combined messages of travel direction change and resting period initiation. Unlike the Japanese tits, the elements of the compositional expression were not simply juxtaposed but displayed structural reduction, while one of the two elements in the expression coded the meanings of both elements. These processes show relative resemblance to blending and fusion in human languages. Also unlike the tits, the elements of the compositional expression did not have a fixed order, although there was a fixed distribution of drumming events across the trees used for drumming. Because the elements of the expression appear to carry verb-like meanings, the compositional expression also resembles simple verb-verb constructions and short paratactic combinations of two clauses found across languages. In conclusion, the reanalysis suggests that semantic compositionality and phenomena resembling paratactic combinations of two clauses might have been present in the communication of the last common ancestor of chimpanzees and humans, not necessarily in the vocal modality.

Gender Differences in Cardiac Chronotropic Control: Implications for Heart Rate Variability Research

There is a continuing debate concerning “adjustments” to heart period variability [i.e., heart rate variability (HRV)] for the heart period [i.e., increases inter-beat-intervals (IBI)]. To date, such arguments have not seriously considered the impact a demographic variable, such as gender, can have on the association between HRV and the heart period. A prior meta-analysis showed women to have greater HRV compared to men despite having shorter IBI and higher heart rate (HR). Thus, it is plausible that men and women differ in the association between HRV and HR/IBI. Thus, the present study investigates the potential moderating effect of gender on the association between HRV and indices of cardiac chronotropy, including both HR and IBI. Data from 633 participants (339 women) were available for analysis. Cardiac measures were assessed during a 5-min baseline-resting period. HRV measures included the standard deviation of inter-beat-intervals, root mean square of successive differences, and autoregressive high frequency power. Moderation analyses showed gender significantly moderated the association between all HRV variables and both HR and IBI (each p < 0.05). However, results were not consistent when using recently recommended HRV variables “adjusted” for IBI. Overall, the current investigation provides data illustrating a differential association between HRV and the heart period based on gender. Substantial neurophysiological evidence support the current findings; women show greater sensitivity to acetylcholine compared to men. If women show greater sensitivity to acetylcholine, and acetylcholine increases HRV and the heart period, then the association between HRV and the heart period indeed should be stronger in women compared to men. Taken together, these data suggest that routine “adjustments” to HRV for the heart period are unjustified and problematic at best. As it relates to the application of future HRV research, it is imperative that researchers continue to consider the potential impact of gender.

Flexural behavior of flat and folded geopolymer ferrocement panels

This paper presents the impact of fiber and wire mesh layers on the strength behavior of flat as well as folded fly ash-based geopolymer ferrocement panels. The behavior, including flexural strength, ductility, stiffness, and cracking patterns are observed. With an objective of decreasing CO2 emissions, the concrete utilizes wastes such as fly ash disposed by industrial sectors. Six panels (three flat and three folded) were cast utilizing fly ash dependent geopolymer mortar of size 1000mm x 400mm x 30mm. Heat curing in a temperature-controlled chamber maintaining 75○C to 80○C for 24 hours was done after 24 hours of resting period. The experimental results indicated that the flexural strength got enhanced by 33 percent by increasing the quantity of wire mesh layers, but the ductility got decreased by 30 percent for the flat panels; however, there was no noticeable impact in case of folded panels. The flexural strength of folded panels was found to be three times greater than that of flat panels. In addition, it is noticed that the behavior of fiber reinforced flat as well as folded panels of single layer mesh is stronger than double layer wire mesh panels with regard to cracking and ultimate load. The energy absorbed at failure was directly proportional to the volume of the reinforcement provided in the panels.

Analysis of Habituation Learning in Mealworm Pupae (Tenebrio molitor)

The decline of response as a consequence of repeated stimulation is known as habituation. The goal of the present experiments was extending the knowledge about habituation of abdominal contractions in the pupa of Tenebrio molitor. Both experiments consisted of two phases. During Phase 1, all groups were exposed to a continuous stimulus (light in Experiment 1 and vibration in Experiment 2). At the beginning of this phase, pupae showed a high number of abdominal contractions. However, during the last minute of Phase 1, the number of abdominal contractions was lower. In the next phase, the pupae were divided in different groups to test for response recovery. We found an increase in the abdominal contractions when subjects were exposed to a different stimulus, be it within the same or in a distinct sensory modality. In addition, we also reported response recovery when the pupae were re-exposed to the original stimuli after a resting period. Results indicate that the increase in responding cannot be explained by either sensory adaptation or fatigue. The findings are consistent with the perspective that suggests that habituation plays a major role in the survival of the species, even in non-feeding developmental stages.

PSXIV-16 Performance, carcass, wholesale, and retail cuts yield of lambs reared under thermal stress in grazing conditions and slaughtered at two body weights

Lamb production in tropical areas is conducted under heat stress in extensive grazing conditions of naturalized pastures (NP). The average daily gain (ADG) and yields of hot (HCY) and cold (CCY) carcass, wholesale cuts (WSC); neck (N), shoulder (SL), ribs 5–12 (RIB), loin (LN) and leg (LG), and detail cuts (DTC); shoulder chops (SCH), french chops (FCH), ribs (RS), back leg (BL) and shanks (SH) of 12 lambs (X = 19.4 kg) rotationally grazed (3 d occupation and 24 d resting period) for 154 or 238 d were determined. The Lambs grazed &gt;8 h NP, grass hay and water were offered ad libitum, 150 g/d of a supplement (12% CP), and mineral blocks. Weekly weights were used to determine ADG. Lambs were slaughtered at 22 (SW1) or 35 kg (SM2) to determine HCY and CCY, and WSC and DTC yield as % of cold carcass weight. Performance data was analyzed as a randomized experimental (CRD) design over time. Carcass and cut yields data were analyzed as a CRD with 6 replicates per treatment. Lambs fed during 238-d had similar ADG than those fed 154-d (68.14 vs.47.74 g/d). SW1 and SW2 had similar percentages of HCY (35.21 vs. 38.14) and CCY (34.48 vs. 37.40). The WSC as % of cold carcass weight, N (6.43 vs. 7.06), SL (29.95 vs. 30.20), RIB (16.10 vs. 16.95), LN (10.84 vs. 11.33) and LG (36.51 vs. 34.44) were similar for SW1 and SW2. Yield of SCH and SH was lower (P &lt; 0.05) for SW1 (15.80 and 8.11) than SW2 (23.00 and 9.11), but FCH (8.49 vs. 8.57), RS (6.89 vs. 7.00) and BL (36.52 vs 34.45) were similar. In summary, lambs slaughtered at 35 kg improved the retail cut yield, but did not influence ADG, HCY, CCY, and WCY compared to lighter lambs.

Isometric push and pull strengths of agricultural workers from Northeast India

BACKGROUND: In agricultural farming operations, the incompatibility between operators’ physical capability and labor demands in the operation of tools and equipment results in a decreased performance, productivity, and safety related measures. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to collect a biomechanical database of push/pull strengths for initiating the development of a human-centered design of equipment that is not available for the intended user group, i.e. Nagaland. METHODS: The sample consisted of 399 male and 271 female agricultural workers from the five districts of Nagaland, aged 18 to 65 years, classified into three age groups. In the process of push and pull force measurements, the elbow angle of the participants were set to 30–120°, 120–130°, and 130–180°. All tests were performed in triplicates with a resting period of two minutes between every consequent recording. RESULTS: The results showed that isometric push and pull strength values (Mean±SD) for males were 18.91±4.67 kg and 17.98±3.97 kg respectively and 13.07±4.06 kg and 11.98±3.33 kg for females respectively. The results of independent samples from student’s t-test demonstrate that there was a substantial variance in the isometric push and pull strength values (p < 0.05) between the genders across the various age spectrum. CONCLUSIONS: With ageing, muscular strength for push-pull strength in males and females reduce. The study reports that the recommended value of male and female isometric push-pull strength for agricultural workers of Nagaland should be 5th percentile of female data i.e. 6.40 and 1.71 kg respectively.

Modeling of Metabolic Equivalents (METs) during Moderate Resistance Training Exercises

Energy expenditure through metabolic equivalent (MET) prediction during resistance exercises in humans can be modeled by using cardiorespiratory parameters. In this study, we aimed to predict MET during six moderate-intensity resistance training sessions consisting of three different exercises. Eleven participants were recruited into two groups; an untrained (n = 5; with no resistance training experience) and a trained group (n = 6; with 2 months resistance training experience). Each participant completed six training sessions separated with a rest interval of 1–2 days. While wearing a mask for indirect calorimetric measurements using Cortex Metalyzer 3B, each participant performed training sessions consisting of three types of dumbbell exercises: shoulder press, deadlift, and squat. The metabolic equivalents (METs), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), blood lactate (BL), and Borg rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured. The MET was predicted using generalized estimating equations (GEE) for repeated measure data collected during exercise and rest periods. It was observed that during exercise period, RER, HR, SBP, and BL for the training group (QIC = 187, 95% CI = −0.012~0.915, p = 0.000*~0.033*) while RER, HR, SBP, DBP, and RPE (QIC = 48, 95% CI = −0.024~0.422, p = 0.000*~0.002*) during resting period for untrained group significantly predicted MET for moderate-intensity interval resistance training. It is concluded that the cardiorespiratory variables are significantly related to MET. During exercise, RER and HR significantly predicted MET for both groups along with additional parameters of SBP and BL for the training group. While during the resting period, RER, HR, SBP, DBP, and RPE related significantly for untrained and BL for training group respectively.

Abstract P207: Sleep Hygiene As An Intervention To Improve Autonomic Function

Introduction: Insufficient sleep is associated with increased heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP). Exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity to the cold pressor test (CPT) has been linked to an increased incidence of hypertension. This project investigates the effects of improved sleep hygiene on autonomic function at rest and in response to CPT. We hypothesize a decrease in BP and HR at rest, and attenuated BP and HR response during CPT. Methods: Fifty participants (59.8 ± 1.5 years; 31 women) completed 3 overnight in-hospital stays in which they had continuous ECG and beat-to-beat BP monitoring. The first stay (S1) was a baseline control; the second stay (S2) was a 4-week wait-list control; the third stay (S3) followed an 8-week randomly assigned intervention that used sleep hygiene approaches along with scheduling to either A) stabilize sleep timing, or B) stabilize and extend the bed period. This study is still ongoing, so we are blind to the specific arm that the participants were randomized to. During each stay, autonomic testing was performed about four hours after the participant awoke, including a 5-minute resting period where breathing was controlled (BL), a 3-minute resting period where breathing was not controlled (CPT BL), and 2-minute CPT when participants then submerged their hand in 3°C water. Linear mixed models analyzing the changes in HR and systolic BP (SBP) across the three stays were used. Results: During the 5-minute BL, HR did not significantly decrease from S1 to S2 (p=.310) but did significantly decrease by 2 bpm from S2 to S3 (p=.006). SBP decreased by 7 mmHg from S1 to S2 (p=.022) but did not significantly decrease from S2 to S3 (p=.907). During CPT in all stays, HR and SBP significantly increased compared to CPT BL (p<0.05). There was a significant stay x test interaction effect in HR (interaction, p=.042), but not in SBP (interaction p=.361). Conclusion: While we are still blind to condition, both arms actively improve sleep hygiene. These preliminary data suggest that stabilization of sleep timing and possibly duration, has a positive impact on autonomic function as seen through the decreases in HR at rest and during CPT.

YOGA FOR MENOPAUSE

Yoga has recognized as a major role in modern society since it provides a healthy lifestyle for all age groups but it is more important for menopausal women. Natural menopause can occur between 45-55 years of women’s midlife and most women spend their life with symptoms after they reach menopause. Therapeutic yoga consists of breathing techniques (Pranayama), hand gestures (Mudra), vocal tones (Mandra), gentle movements (Asana) and different forms of meditation. Hatha yoga focuses on pranayama’s (breath-controlled exercises) which followed by a series of asanas (Yoga Postures), which end with savasana (a resting period). As many research has showed positive effects of yoga on menopausal symptoms. While therapeutic yoga can help to handle the women in stressful situations gracefully and adopt well to change and keep moving forward in their midlife after attain menopause.