In the present article,the author posits that the perception that animals apparently display a strategy of avoiding detection by means of camouflage—i.e.,by disguising themselves in the natural colours of their envir...In the present article,the author posits that the perception that animals apparently display a strategy of avoiding detection by means of camouflage—i.e.,by disguising themselves in the natural colours of their environment—is not the actual case in nature but,rather,merely anecdotal.Animal coloration is mainly a-biotic(eco-physiological)and not biotic(camouflage).The contention regarding the absence of the phenomenon of camouflage among animals as a common evolutionary response is based on three arguments:(1)that reflecting the natural colours of the environment is linked to ecophysiology;(2)that predator and prey constitute“an evolutionary pair”and,accordingly,they know how to identify one another(in order to survive they employ different strategies,of which camouflage is not one of them);and (3)that the approach of relating animal camouflage to reflecting the colours of the environment is an anthropocentric one.Rather than the accepted biotic-ethological approach(colour camouflage),the present article suggests the recognition of a-biotic and eco-physiological conditions as a distinct research field,whose title“Reflection of environmental colours by animals”,along with this article,calls for eco-physiologists to demonstrate that this approach indeed offers a special contribution to the understanding of colouration in animals.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment effect of acupotomy(Apo) in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis(KOA), compare the results of Apo versus electroacupuncture(E-Apu) on ethology, morphology, and structure of the ar...OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment effect of acupotomy(Apo) in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis(KOA), compare the results of Apo versus electroacupuncture(E-Apu) on ethology, morphology, and structure of the articular cartilage surface in a rabbit model of KOA, and analyze the differences in the treatment effects of Apo versus E-Apu.METHODS: Twenty-eight male New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into four groups: normal control, blank model, Apo, and E-Apu(n = 7 in each group). Except for the normal control group, the left hindlegs of all rabbits were fixed in an extended position for 5 weeks to establish the KOA model.The passive range of motion(PROM) and Lequesne index were measured before and after the establishment of the KOA model to assess the ethology in all groups. Safranin O-fast green staining and the Mankin score were used to assess the morphological cartilaginous changes to compare the effect of Apo versus E-Apu on the degeneration of articular cartilage, and to identify which therapy was superior in treating KOA.RESULTS: Compared with before the establishment of the KOA model, the Lequesne index of the KOA model rabbits was significantly increased(P <0.01), while the PROM was significantly decreased(P < 0.01). The articular cartilaginous tissue in the three model groups exhibited pathological variations in the form of laminar derangement of cartilage cells, and so the Mankin score was significantly increased compared with the control group(P <0.01). At 1 week after the final treatment session,compared with the blank model group, both the Apo and E-Apu groups showed a significant decrease in the Lequesne index(P < 0.01), and attenuation in the degree of morphologic pathological changes(P < 0.05); The Apo improved the PROM significantly compared with the blank model group(P < 0.05), while the E-Apu had no effect(P > 0.05).Furthermore, compared with the E-Apu group, the Apo group had a significantly lower Lequesne index(P < 0.05), and a significantly greater PROM(P <0.05).CONCLUSION: In a rabbit model of KOA, both Apo and E-Apu reduce disorders of ethology and morphology, and improve the condition of the articular cartilage. The results suggest that Apo is more effective than E-Apu in improving the PROM and alleviating symptoms resulting from cartilage damage in a rabbit model of KOA.展开更多
Background:Winter numbers of the northwest European population of Bewick's Swans(Cygnus columbianus bewickii)declined recently by c.40%.During the same period,numbers of two sympatric and ecologically-similar cong...Background:Winter numbers of the northwest European population of Bewick's Swans(Cygnus columbianus bewickii)declined recently by c.40%.During the same period,numbers of two sympatric and ecologically-similar congeners,the Mute Swan(Cygnus olor)and Whooper Swan(Cygnus cygnus)showed increases or stability.It has been suggested that these opposing population trends could have a causal relationship,as Mute and Whooper Swans are larger and competitively dominant to Bewick's Swans in foraging situations.If so,effects of competition of Mute and Whooper Swans on Bewick's Swans should be detectable as measurable impacts on behaviour and energetics.Methods:Here,we studied the diurnal behaviour and energetics of 1083 focal adults and first-winter juveniles("cygnets")of the three swan species on their winter grounds in eastern England.We analysed video recordings to derive time-activity budgets and these,together with estimates of energy gain and expenditure,were analysed to determine whether individual Bewick's Swans altered the time spent on key behaviours when sharing feeding habitat with other swan species,and any consequences for their energy expenditure and net energy gain.Results:All three swan species spent a small proportion of their total time(0.011)on aggressive interactions,and these were predominantly intraspecific(≥0.714).Mixed-effects models indicated that sharing feeding habitat with higher densities of Mute and Whooper Swans increased the likelihood of engaging in aggression for cygnet Bewick's Swans,but not for adults.Higher levels of interspecific competition decreased the time spent by Bewick's Swan cygnets on foraging,whilst adults showed the opposite pattern.When among low densities of conspecifics(<c.200 individuals/km^(2)),individual Bewick's Swans spent more time on vigilance in the presence of higher densities of Mute and Whooper Swans,whilst individuals within higher density Bewick's Swan flocks showed the opposite pattern.Crucially,we found no evidence that greater numbers of interspecific competitors affected the net energy gain of either adult or cygnet Bewick's Swans.Conclusions:We found no evidence that Bewick's Swan net energy gain was affected by sharing agricultural feeding habitat with larger congeners during winter.This was despite some impacts on the aggression,foraging and vigilance behaviours of Bewick's Swans,especially among cygnets.It is unlikely therefore that competition between Bewick's Swans and either Mute or Whooper Swans at arable sites in winter has contributed to the observed decline in Bewick's Swan numbers.Further research is needed,however,to test for competition in other parts of the flyway,including migratory stopover sites and breeding areas.展开更多
In Italy, Law no. 189/2004 (enforced by law n. 201/2010) on safeguarding animal welfare establishes penalties for anyone keeping animals in conditions that are incompatible with their physiological or ethological need...In Italy, Law no. 189/2004 (enforced by law n. 201/2010) on safeguarding animal welfare establishes penalties for anyone keeping animals in conditions that are incompatible with their physiological or ethological needs. Thus, in order to recognize the condition of poor welfare or mistreatment, the training of a veterinarian needs to adopt a new approach to animal well being —that is somewhat different from the health ideas that have been prevalent so far. In this research we carry out an evaluation of the competence of veterinary students after a theoric 20-hour course in ethology and after three weeks of practical horses handling class. For two years 24 students were selected to took part in a program of horse management, in order to reach a high level of practical competence, from the ability to recognize non-verbal signals from horses, to cleaning and grooming, and to a more specific and refined ability—the establishment of a relationship with horse. While the skill level at the beginning was generally low, being the students’ backgrounds mainly urban, at the end of the practical course nearly 90% of them succeeded in the area of horse-human relationship, reaching evaluations in a range of good-excellent scores (p < 0.01). By combining over the years the applied ethology knowledge with the more profession-oriented health-related subjects, veterinary education will give students the resources that can better assist them in facing the challenges they will meet in their working lives. The fact that too many unlawful horses’ estab-lishments are often found all over the countries point indeed to a need for new experienced, well-trained professional people.展开更多
Learning activities were developed to increase the awareness of animal behaviour among first year students enrolled in animal-associated degrees prior to students engaging in hands-on live animal practical sessions. L...Learning activities were developed to increase the awareness of animal behaviour among first year students enrolled in animal-associated degrees prior to students engaging in hands-on live animal practical sessions. Learning activities were developed in an easy to use collegial online environment and to encourage student engagement in learning activities. One hundred and one students were given a preliminary and post learning activity survey to assess their initial knowledge and experience of animal behaviour, as well as to determine if the learning activities increased the students’ knowledge of animal behaviour after engaging in the learning activities. Of the students surveyed, most currently owned pets or have had pets (91.1%), some had animal-related qualifications (22.8%) and currently worked in an animal-related position (24.8%). There was a significant difference (70.3% increase) in student responses after engaging in the learning activities with the major change occurring in the students’ understanding of the term ‘ethology’, regardless of the level of qualifications or animal-related career experience. In addition, after engaging in the learning activities, most students believed that they could better articulate and interpret animal behaviors based on their observations. Overall, the inclusion of learning activities successfully increased the ability of students to understand behavioral traits of animals, which will increase safety in live animal practical sessions. The learning activities also encouraged a collegial learning environment that enhanced new knowledge construction amongst the students.展开更多
Canus lupus familiais (domestic dogs) tend to elicit from (the sign stimulus of) a friendly greeting, improved effectiveness of behaviour, an (observable) innate, likely hormonal, (possibly oxytocin) mediated response...Canus lupus familiais (domestic dogs) tend to elicit from (the sign stimulus of) a friendly greeting, improved effectiveness of behaviour, an (observable) innate, likely hormonal, (possibly oxytocin) mediated response (a Mebir). Breakthroughs in the natural and behavioural sciences, political ideology, and education come from evidence for {1} the Mebir, {2} the theorem, humans are loving, non-competitive, and non-aggressive (in part from two new theories of evolution), and {3} the Mebir providing social species with cultural and evolutionary freedom (e.g. the social brain hypothesis is substantiated). Other social species (including humans and songbirds), and possibly “non-social” species (e.g., including domestic cats) likely undergo a Mebir. Social species more frequently undergo social interactions suggesting they more frequently undergo the Mebir, and therefore have greater cultural and evolutionary freedom. Two hypotheses were tested and proven invalid. Friendly greetings do not make dogs more effective in behaviour (nor do they invoke innate hunting behaviours as a displaced innate response (that in wolves improve fitness)) (N = 50), and do not make dogs walk faster (N = 29). Data are inclusive of various dog breeds, mixed breeds, both sexes, and all ages from chance encounters with dogs being walked on a sidewalk in a naturalistic setting. Three synchronous greetings were used to elicit the Mebir in dogs, eye contact, friendly verbal greetings, and handwaves. Behavioural responses were commonly exaggerated but weak for certain individuals. Responses included heightened curiosity (about objects and the environment), courageous exploration, creative and playful behaviour, assertiveness (e.g., in pulling on the leash), “pronounced social affiliation seeking” with dogs, pedestrians, and the dog’s owner, heightened aggressiveness (when territorial), and perhaps heightened concentration. Past research indicates that dog learning is improved from social interactions with humans.展开更多
In comparison to studies investigating the roles of 5-HT1, 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors in aggressive behaviour there is a dearth of material examining the function of 5-HT4 receptors in this behaviour. In view of this, ...In comparison to studies investigating the roles of 5-HT1, 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors in aggressive behaviour there is a dearth of material examining the function of 5-HT4 receptors in this behaviour. In view of this, the current study examined the effects of the 5-HT4 receptor partial agonist RS 67333 and antagonist RS 39604 in murine agonistic behaviour. RS 67333 failed to produce any significant changes in the offensive. Significant variation in the frequency of evade behaviour was detected but this occurred between treatment groups rather than with controls. Interestingly, both the frequency and duration of stretched attend behaviour were increased by RS 67333 0.1 mg/kg, a result indicative of increased risk assessment. The administration of RS 39604 (0.01 - 1 mg/kg) produced significant variation in the fre-quency and duration of following, and aggressive grooming. Frozen crouch behaviour was also increased significantly at 0.1 mg/kg. It is concluded that since the 5-HT4 receptor ligands employed in this study produced very few significant behavioural effects across the treatment groups, 5-HT4 receptors do not play a role in the modulation of murine aggressive behaviour.展开更多
Early Cretaceous succession of the Oued Fodda Formation in the Ouarsenis Mountains(northwestern Algeria) is mainly composed of marl—limestone alternations, which are subdivided into four informal units(Units 1 to 4),...Early Cretaceous succession of the Oued Fodda Formation in the Ouarsenis Mountains(northwestern Algeria) is mainly composed of marl—limestone alternations, which are subdivided into four informal units(Units 1 to 4), based on distinct lithological, stratonomical, and ichnological features. The ichnological analysis reveals a low diversity of the trace-fossil assemblage, which is exclusively reported from Units 2 and 3.The ichnoassemblage contains six ichnotaxa(Chondrites intricatus, Ophiomorpha isp., Planolites isp., Thalassinoides isp., Zoophycos brianteus, and Zoophycos cauda-galli), among which Zoophycos and Chondrites are the most common elements of the assemblage and occur in distinct mud-rich substrates showing different bioturbation intensities. The development of Zoophycos in the middle part of Unit 2 shows a high degree of bioturbation(bioturbation index(BI) = 4). Zoophycos specimens are of large size, between 45 cm and 75 cm in width, which were interpreted to have formed in a lower offshore environment where the oxygenation amount was optimal, the sedimentation rate was low, and the benthic food was abundant on the seafloor. Toward the upper part of Unit 2, Zoophycos-bearing levels exhibit a less intense degree of bioturbation(BI between 1 and2) in contrast to Planolites-and Chondrites-bearing levels which have a bioturbation index(BI) between 3 and4. At these levels, Zoophycos displays relatively small, coiled to U-shaped spreiten, probably in response to stressful and dysoxic conditions prevailing in the water bottom. With improved oxygenation in a quiet lower offshore to shelf margin environment in Unit 3, the benthic organisms recovered, as represented by medium to large size Zoophycos in association with Ophiomorpha and scarce Chondrites burrows, even if the overall bioturbation intensity is very low. The combination of trace-fossil assemblage and lithofacies of the Oued Fodda Formation indicates relatively stable outer shelf environments below the storm wave base, which corresponds classically to the lower offshore to shelf edge environments, and the prevailing palaeoecological conditions are optimal and stressful for the benthic organisms.展开更多
The description and differentiation of the so-called "Cold" and "Hot" natures, the primary "Drug Naure" of Chinese medicine, is the focus of theoretical research. In this study, the diver...The description and differentiation of the so-called "Cold" and "Hot" natures, the primary "Drug Naure" of Chinese medicine, is the focus of theoretical research. In this study, the divergency between the "Cold" and the "Hot" natures was investigated through examining the temperature tropism of mice affected by Coptis chinensis Franch and its processed materials by using a cold/hot plate differentiating technology. After exposure to C. chinensis Franch, the macroscopic behavioral index of the remaining rate (RR) on a warm pad (40℃ ) significantly increased (P<0.05), suggesting the enhancement of Hot tropism. The internal indexes of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity and oxygen consuming volume decreased significantly (P<0.05), suggesting the decapability of energy metabolism. This external behavior of Hot tropism might reflect the internal Cold nature of C. chinensis Franch. However, the processed materials of C. chinensis Franch exhibited a different Cold nature in temperature tropism compared with crude C. chinensis Franch (CC): the Cold nature of bile-processed C. chinensis Franch (BC) enhanced while the ginger-processed C. chinensis Franch (GC) changed inversely. The changing sequence was consistent with the theoretical prognostication. It is indicated that the external Cold & Hot natures of Chinese medicine may possibly reflect in an ethological way for the changes of animal’s temperature tropism which might be internally regulated by the body’s energy metabolism.展开更多
Ordered differential display (ODD) was developed recently and has been applied to systematic comparison of expression profiles of genes. It was further improved with the specific complexing property between biotin and...Ordered differential display (ODD) was developed recently and has been applied to systematic comparison of expression profiles of genes. It was further improved with the specific complexing property between biotin and streptavidin by the authors. First, random primer and biotinylated oligo (dT) primer were used to make pools of double strand cDNA. Second, streptavidin-coated PCR tube is used to absorb 3′ESTs specifically to avoid the negative effect of other DNA fragments. In the case of 3′ESTs comparison patterns between embryonic brain and body of SD rat, more than forty differentially expressed genes were cloned and identified. The function of rZIC gene, one of the genes identified and cloned, was studied through ethological experiments. The result showed that rZIC gene was associated with locomotion activity of adult mice.展开更多
文摘In the present article,the author posits that the perception that animals apparently display a strategy of avoiding detection by means of camouflage—i.e.,by disguising themselves in the natural colours of their environment—is not the actual case in nature but,rather,merely anecdotal.Animal coloration is mainly a-biotic(eco-physiological)and not biotic(camouflage).The contention regarding the absence of the phenomenon of camouflage among animals as a common evolutionary response is based on three arguments:(1)that reflecting the natural colours of the environment is linked to ecophysiology;(2)that predator and prey constitute“an evolutionary pair”and,accordingly,they know how to identify one another(in order to survive they employ different strategies,of which camouflage is not one of them);and (3)that the approach of relating animal camouflage to reflecting the colours of the environment is an anthropocentric one.Rather than the accepted biotic-ethological approach(colour camouflage),the present article suggests the recognition of a-biotic and eco-physiological conditions as a distinct research field,whose title“Reflection of environmental colours by animals”,along with this article,calls for eco-physiologists to demonstrate that this approach indeed offers a special contribution to the understanding of colouration in animals.
基金Supported by Grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China:Research for the Relation Between Acupotomy's Effective Mechanism of Treating Knee Osteoarthritis and Fak-pi3k-akt Pathway by the Theory that Modulating Sinew(Jin)and Treating Bone(Gu)(81574067)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment effect of acupotomy(Apo) in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis(KOA), compare the results of Apo versus electroacupuncture(E-Apu) on ethology, morphology, and structure of the articular cartilage surface in a rabbit model of KOA, and analyze the differences in the treatment effects of Apo versus E-Apu.METHODS: Twenty-eight male New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into four groups: normal control, blank model, Apo, and E-Apu(n = 7 in each group). Except for the normal control group, the left hindlegs of all rabbits were fixed in an extended position for 5 weeks to establish the KOA model.The passive range of motion(PROM) and Lequesne index were measured before and after the establishment of the KOA model to assess the ethology in all groups. Safranin O-fast green staining and the Mankin score were used to assess the morphological cartilaginous changes to compare the effect of Apo versus E-Apu on the degeneration of articular cartilage, and to identify which therapy was superior in treating KOA.RESULTS: Compared with before the establishment of the KOA model, the Lequesne index of the KOA model rabbits was significantly increased(P <0.01), while the PROM was significantly decreased(P < 0.01). The articular cartilaginous tissue in the three model groups exhibited pathological variations in the form of laminar derangement of cartilage cells, and so the Mankin score was significantly increased compared with the control group(P <0.01). At 1 week after the final treatment session,compared with the blank model group, both the Apo and E-Apu groups showed a significant decrease in the Lequesne index(P < 0.01), and attenuation in the degree of morphologic pathological changes(P < 0.05); The Apo improved the PROM significantly compared with the blank model group(P < 0.05), while the E-Apu had no effect(P > 0.05).Furthermore, compared with the E-Apu group, the Apo group had a significantly lower Lequesne index(P < 0.05), and a significantly greater PROM(P <0.05).CONCLUSION: In a rabbit model of KOA, both Apo and E-Apu reduce disorders of ethology and morphology, and improve the condition of the articular cartilage. The results suggest that Apo is more effective than E-Apu in improving the PROM and alleviating symptoms resulting from cartilage damage in a rabbit model of KOA.
基金funded by the Peter Scott Trust for Education and Research in ConservationPeter Smith Charitable Trust for Nature+5 种基金Olive Herbert Charitable TrustD’Oyly Carte Charitable TrustN.Smith Charitable SettlementRobert Kiln Charitable Trustthe estate of the late Professor Geoffrey Matthews OBEsupported WWT’s“Hope for Swans”Appeal。
文摘Background:Winter numbers of the northwest European population of Bewick's Swans(Cygnus columbianus bewickii)declined recently by c.40%.During the same period,numbers of two sympatric and ecologically-similar congeners,the Mute Swan(Cygnus olor)and Whooper Swan(Cygnus cygnus)showed increases or stability.It has been suggested that these opposing population trends could have a causal relationship,as Mute and Whooper Swans are larger and competitively dominant to Bewick's Swans in foraging situations.If so,effects of competition of Mute and Whooper Swans on Bewick's Swans should be detectable as measurable impacts on behaviour and energetics.Methods:Here,we studied the diurnal behaviour and energetics of 1083 focal adults and first-winter juveniles("cygnets")of the three swan species on their winter grounds in eastern England.We analysed video recordings to derive time-activity budgets and these,together with estimates of energy gain and expenditure,were analysed to determine whether individual Bewick's Swans altered the time spent on key behaviours when sharing feeding habitat with other swan species,and any consequences for their energy expenditure and net energy gain.Results:All three swan species spent a small proportion of their total time(0.011)on aggressive interactions,and these were predominantly intraspecific(≥0.714).Mixed-effects models indicated that sharing feeding habitat with higher densities of Mute and Whooper Swans increased the likelihood of engaging in aggression for cygnet Bewick's Swans,but not for adults.Higher levels of interspecific competition decreased the time spent by Bewick's Swan cygnets on foraging,whilst adults showed the opposite pattern.When among low densities of conspecifics(<c.200 individuals/km^(2)),individual Bewick's Swans spent more time on vigilance in the presence of higher densities of Mute and Whooper Swans,whilst individuals within higher density Bewick's Swan flocks showed the opposite pattern.Crucially,we found no evidence that greater numbers of interspecific competitors affected the net energy gain of either adult or cygnet Bewick's Swans.Conclusions:We found no evidence that Bewick's Swan net energy gain was affected by sharing agricultural feeding habitat with larger congeners during winter.This was despite some impacts on the aggression,foraging and vigilance behaviours of Bewick's Swans,especially among cygnets.It is unlikely therefore that competition between Bewick's Swans and either Mute or Whooper Swans at arable sites in winter has contributed to the observed decline in Bewick's Swan numbers.Further research is needed,however,to test for competition in other parts of the flyway,including migratory stopover sites and breeding areas.
文摘In Italy, Law no. 189/2004 (enforced by law n. 201/2010) on safeguarding animal welfare establishes penalties for anyone keeping animals in conditions that are incompatible with their physiological or ethological needs. Thus, in order to recognize the condition of poor welfare or mistreatment, the training of a veterinarian needs to adopt a new approach to animal well being —that is somewhat different from the health ideas that have been prevalent so far. In this research we carry out an evaluation of the competence of veterinary students after a theoric 20-hour course in ethology and after three weeks of practical horses handling class. For two years 24 students were selected to took part in a program of horse management, in order to reach a high level of practical competence, from the ability to recognize non-verbal signals from horses, to cleaning and grooming, and to a more specific and refined ability—the establishment of a relationship with horse. While the skill level at the beginning was generally low, being the students’ backgrounds mainly urban, at the end of the practical course nearly 90% of them succeeded in the area of horse-human relationship, reaching evaluations in a range of good-excellent scores (p < 0.01). By combining over the years the applied ethology knowledge with the more profession-oriented health-related subjects, veterinary education will give students the resources that can better assist them in facing the challenges they will meet in their working lives. The fact that too many unlawful horses’ estab-lishments are often found all over the countries point indeed to a need for new experienced, well-trained professional people.
文摘Learning activities were developed to increase the awareness of animal behaviour among first year students enrolled in animal-associated degrees prior to students engaging in hands-on live animal practical sessions. Learning activities were developed in an easy to use collegial online environment and to encourage student engagement in learning activities. One hundred and one students were given a preliminary and post learning activity survey to assess their initial knowledge and experience of animal behaviour, as well as to determine if the learning activities increased the students’ knowledge of animal behaviour after engaging in the learning activities. Of the students surveyed, most currently owned pets or have had pets (91.1%), some had animal-related qualifications (22.8%) and currently worked in an animal-related position (24.8%). There was a significant difference (70.3% increase) in student responses after engaging in the learning activities with the major change occurring in the students’ understanding of the term ‘ethology’, regardless of the level of qualifications or animal-related career experience. In addition, after engaging in the learning activities, most students believed that they could better articulate and interpret animal behaviors based on their observations. Overall, the inclusion of learning activities successfully increased the ability of students to understand behavioral traits of animals, which will increase safety in live animal practical sessions. The learning activities also encouraged a collegial learning environment that enhanced new knowledge construction amongst the students.
文摘Canus lupus familiais (domestic dogs) tend to elicit from (the sign stimulus of) a friendly greeting, improved effectiveness of behaviour, an (observable) innate, likely hormonal, (possibly oxytocin) mediated response (a Mebir). Breakthroughs in the natural and behavioural sciences, political ideology, and education come from evidence for {1} the Mebir, {2} the theorem, humans are loving, non-competitive, and non-aggressive (in part from two new theories of evolution), and {3} the Mebir providing social species with cultural and evolutionary freedom (e.g. the social brain hypothesis is substantiated). Other social species (including humans and songbirds), and possibly “non-social” species (e.g., including domestic cats) likely undergo a Mebir. Social species more frequently undergo social interactions suggesting they more frequently undergo the Mebir, and therefore have greater cultural and evolutionary freedom. Two hypotheses were tested and proven invalid. Friendly greetings do not make dogs more effective in behaviour (nor do they invoke innate hunting behaviours as a displaced innate response (that in wolves improve fitness)) (N = 50), and do not make dogs walk faster (N = 29). Data are inclusive of various dog breeds, mixed breeds, both sexes, and all ages from chance encounters with dogs being walked on a sidewalk in a naturalistic setting. Three synchronous greetings were used to elicit the Mebir in dogs, eye contact, friendly verbal greetings, and handwaves. Behavioural responses were commonly exaggerated but weak for certain individuals. Responses included heightened curiosity (about objects and the environment), courageous exploration, creative and playful behaviour, assertiveness (e.g., in pulling on the leash), “pronounced social affiliation seeking” with dogs, pedestrians, and the dog’s owner, heightened aggressiveness (when territorial), and perhaps heightened concentration. Past research indicates that dog learning is improved from social interactions with humans.
文摘In comparison to studies investigating the roles of 5-HT1, 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors in aggressive behaviour there is a dearth of material examining the function of 5-HT4 receptors in this behaviour. In view of this, the current study examined the effects of the 5-HT4 receptor partial agonist RS 67333 and antagonist RS 39604 in murine agonistic behaviour. RS 67333 failed to produce any significant changes in the offensive. Significant variation in the frequency of evade behaviour was detected but this occurred between treatment groups rather than with controls. Interestingly, both the frequency and duration of stretched attend behaviour were increased by RS 67333 0.1 mg/kg, a result indicative of increased risk assessment. The administration of RS 39604 (0.01 - 1 mg/kg) produced significant variation in the fre-quency and duration of following, and aggressive grooming. Frozen crouch behaviour was also increased significantly at 0.1 mg/kg. It is concluded that since the 5-HT4 receptor ligands employed in this study produced very few significant behavioural effects across the treatment groups, 5-HT4 receptors do not play a role in the modulation of murine aggressive behaviour.
基金supported by the General Directorate of Scientific Research and Technological Development“DGRSDT”(Algeria) to Imad Bouchemla and Madani Benyoucefthe Fundamental Research Funds for the Universities of Henan Province (NSFRF200340)+1 种基金the Program for Innovative Research Team (in Science and Technology) of Henan Polytechnic University(T2022-5) to Li-Jun Zhang“Male Projekty 2022”(Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice) to Mariusz A. Salamon。
文摘Early Cretaceous succession of the Oued Fodda Formation in the Ouarsenis Mountains(northwestern Algeria) is mainly composed of marl—limestone alternations, which are subdivided into four informal units(Units 1 to 4), based on distinct lithological, stratonomical, and ichnological features. The ichnological analysis reveals a low diversity of the trace-fossil assemblage, which is exclusively reported from Units 2 and 3.The ichnoassemblage contains six ichnotaxa(Chondrites intricatus, Ophiomorpha isp., Planolites isp., Thalassinoides isp., Zoophycos brianteus, and Zoophycos cauda-galli), among which Zoophycos and Chondrites are the most common elements of the assemblage and occur in distinct mud-rich substrates showing different bioturbation intensities. The development of Zoophycos in the middle part of Unit 2 shows a high degree of bioturbation(bioturbation index(BI) = 4). Zoophycos specimens are of large size, between 45 cm and 75 cm in width, which were interpreted to have formed in a lower offshore environment where the oxygenation amount was optimal, the sedimentation rate was low, and the benthic food was abundant on the seafloor. Toward the upper part of Unit 2, Zoophycos-bearing levels exhibit a less intense degree of bioturbation(BI between 1 and2) in contrast to Planolites-and Chondrites-bearing levels which have a bioturbation index(BI) between 3 and4. At these levels, Zoophycos displays relatively small, coiled to U-shaped spreiten, probably in response to stressful and dysoxic conditions prevailing in the water bottom. With improved oxygenation in a quiet lower offshore to shelf margin environment in Unit 3, the benthic organisms recovered, as represented by medium to large size Zoophycos in association with Ophiomorpha and scarce Chondrites burrows, even if the overall bioturbation intensity is very low. The combination of trace-fossil assemblage and lithofacies of the Oued Fodda Formation indicates relatively stable outer shelf environments below the storm wave base, which corresponds classically to the lower offshore to shelf edge environments, and the prevailing palaeoecological conditions are optimal and stressful for the benthic organisms.
基金Supported by the National Key Basic Research and Development Program of China (Grant Nos 2007CB512607 and 2006CB504703)the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No 30625042)
文摘The description and differentiation of the so-called "Cold" and "Hot" natures, the primary "Drug Naure" of Chinese medicine, is the focus of theoretical research. In this study, the divergency between the "Cold" and the "Hot" natures was investigated through examining the temperature tropism of mice affected by Coptis chinensis Franch and its processed materials by using a cold/hot plate differentiating technology. After exposure to C. chinensis Franch, the macroscopic behavioral index of the remaining rate (RR) on a warm pad (40℃ ) significantly increased (P<0.05), suggesting the enhancement of Hot tropism. The internal indexes of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity and oxygen consuming volume decreased significantly (P<0.05), suggesting the decapability of energy metabolism. This external behavior of Hot tropism might reflect the internal Cold nature of C. chinensis Franch. However, the processed materials of C. chinensis Franch exhibited a different Cold nature in temperature tropism compared with crude C. chinensis Franch (CC): the Cold nature of bile-processed C. chinensis Franch (BC) enhanced while the ginger-processed C. chinensis Franch (GC) changed inversely. The changing sequence was consistent with the theoretical prognostication. It is indicated that the external Cold & Hot natures of Chinese medicine may possibly reflect in an ethological way for the changes of animal’s temperature tropism which might be internally regulated by the body’s energy metabolism.
基金the Life Science Special Fund of the Chinese Academy of Sciences supplied by the Ministry of Finance (KJ95T-06), China.
文摘Ordered differential display (ODD) was developed recently and has been applied to systematic comparison of expression profiles of genes. It was further improved with the specific complexing property between biotin and streptavidin by the authors. First, random primer and biotinylated oligo (dT) primer were used to make pools of double strand cDNA. Second, streptavidin-coated PCR tube is used to absorb 3′ESTs specifically to avoid the negative effect of other DNA fragments. In the case of 3′ESTs comparison patterns between embryonic brain and body of SD rat, more than forty differentially expressed genes were cloned and identified. The function of rZIC gene, one of the genes identified and cloned, was studied through ethological experiments. The result showed that rZIC gene was associated with locomotion activity of adult mice.
