Is the self always better than a friend? Self-face recognition in Christians and atheists

Early behavioral studies found that human adults responded faster to their own faces than faces of familiar others or strangers, a finding referred to as self-face advantage. Recent research suggests that the self-face advantage is mediated by implicit positive association with the self and is influenced by sociocultural experience. The current study investigated whether and how Christian belief and practice affect the processing of self-face in a Chinese population. Christian and Atheist participants were recruited for an implicit association test (IAT) in Experiment 1 and a face-owner identification task in Experiment 2. Experiment 1 found that atheists responded faster to self-face when it shared the same response key with positive compared to negative trait adjectives. This IAT effect, however, was significantly reduced in Christians. Experiment 2 found that atheists responded faster to self-face compared to a friend's face, but this self-face advantage was significantly reduced in Christians. Hierarchical regression analyses further showed that the IAT effect positively predicted self-face advantage in atheists but not in Christians. Our findings suggest that Christian belief and practice may weaken implicit positive association with the self and thus decrease the advantage of the self over a friend during face recognition in the believers.     

Is isolabeling a false image?

Isolabeling in Chinese hamster chromosomes was studied by using a new method which enabled clear demarcation of sister chromatids without the usage of tritium label. The method involved continuous labeling of cells with 5-bromodeoxyuridine and staining of fixed chromosomes with acridine orange. Isolabeling was easily observed in chromosome preparations processed according to the conventional autoradiographic methods, especially in cells treated with ethyl methanesulphonate, and its frequency was dependent on the concentration of the drug. On the other hand, no isolabeling was detected in preparations made by the new method, but exchanges of short segments of sister chromatids were observed frequently, depending upon the concentration of ethyl methanesulphonate. These results strongly suggest that isolabeling observable in autoradiographs is a consequence of sister chromatid exchanges combined with image spread that attends autoradiography.     

Is the cardiac monitoring function related to the self in both the default network and right anterior insula?

The self has been proposed to be rooted in the neural monitoring of internal bodily signals and might thus involve interoceptive areas, notably the right anterior insula (rAI). However, studies on the self consistently showed the involvement of midline default network (DN) nodes, without referring to visceral monitoring. Here, we investigate this apparent discrepancy. We previously showed that neural responses to heartbeats in the DN encode two different self-dimensions, the agentive ‘I’ and the introspective ‘Me’, in a whole-brain analysis of magnetoencephalography (MEG) data. Here, we confirm and anatomically refine this result with intracranial recordings (intracranial electroencephalography, iEEG). In two patients, we show a parametric modulation of neural responses to heartbeats by the self-relatedness of thoughts, at the single trial level. A region-of-interest analysis of the insula reveals that MEG responses to heartbeats in the rAI encode the ‘I’ self-dimension. The effect in rAI was weaker than in the DN and was replicated in iEEG data in one patient out of two. We propose that a common mechanism, the neural monitoring of cardiac signals, underlies the self in both the DN and rAI. This might reconcile studies on the self highlighting the DN, with studies on interoception focusing on the insula.This article is part of the themed issue ‘Interoception beyond homeostasis: affect, cognition and mental health’.     

Is my hand connected to my body? The impact of body continuity and arm alignment on the virtual hand illusion

When a rubber hand is placed on a table top in a plausible position as if part of a person’s body, and is stroked synchronously with the person’s corresponding hidden real hand, an illusion of ownership over the rubber hand can occur (Botvinick and Cohen 1998). A similar result has been found with respect to a virtual hand portrayed in a virtual environment, a virtual hand illusion (Slater et al. 2008). The conditions under which these illusions occur have been the subject of considerable study. Here we exploited the flexibility of virtual reality to examine four contributory factors: visuo-tactile synchrony while stroking the virtual and the real arms, body continuity, alignment between the real and virtual arms, and the distance between them. We carried out three experiments on a total of 32 participants where these factors were varied. The results show that the subjective illusion of ownership over the virtual arm and the time to evoke this illusion are highly dependent on synchronous visuo-tactile stimulation and on connectivity of the virtual arm with the rest of the virtual body. The alignment between the real and virtual arms and the distance between these were less important. It was found that proprioceptive drift was not a sensitive measure of the illusion, but was only related to the distance between the real and virtual arms.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11571-011-9178-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Overweight and poor? On the relationship between income and the body mass index

Contrary to conventional wisdom, NHANES data indicate that the poor have never had a statistically significant higher prevalence of overweight status at any time in the last 35 years. Despite this empirical evidence, the view that the poor are less healthy in terms of excess accumulation of fat persists. This paper provides evidence that conventional wisdom is reflecting important differences in the relationship between income and the body mass index. The first finding is based on distribution-sensitive measures of overweight which indicates that the severity of overweight has been higher for the poor than the nonpoor throughout the last 35 years. The second finding is from a newly introduced estimator, unconditional quantile regression (UQR), which provides a measure of the income-gradient in BMI at different points on the unconditional BMI distribution. The UQR estimator indicates that the strongest relationship between income and BMI is observed at the tails of the distribution. There is a statistically significant negative income gradient in BMI at the obesity threshold and some evidence of a positive gradient at the underweight threshold. Both of these UQR estimates imply that for those at the tails of the BMI distribution, increases in income are correlated with healthier BMI values.     

Is sexual body shape dimorphism consistent in aquatic and terrestrial chelonians?

Comparisons between aquatic and terrestrial species provide an opportunity to examine how sex-specific adaptations interact with the environment to influence body shape. In terrestrial female tortoises, selection for fecundity favors the development of a large internal abdominal cavity to accommodate the clutch; in conspecific males, sexual selection favors mobility with large openings in the shell. To examine to what extent such trends apply in aquatic chelonians we compared the body shape of males and females of two aquatic turtles (Chelodina colliei and Mauremys leprosa). In both species, females were larger than males. When controlled for body size, females exhibited a greater relative internal volume and a higher body condition index than males; both traits potentially correlate positively with fecundity. Males were more streamlined (hydrodynamic), and exhibited larger openings in the shell providing more space to move their longer limbs; such traits probably improve mobility and copulation ability (the males chase and grab the female for copulation). Overall, although the specific constraints imposed by terrestrial and aquatic locomotion shape the morphology of chelonians differently (aquatic turtles were flatter, hence more hydrodynamic than terrestrial tortoises), the direction for sexual shape dimorphism remained unaffected. Our main conclusion is that the direction of sexual shape dimorphism is probably more consistent than sexual size dimorphism in the animal kingdom.     

What is the minimum age for applying the forbes equation between body density and body fat to the elderly?

In order to determine the age above which the FORBES equation for calculating percent body fat (%BF) in the elderly is to be applied, 9 persons in their 60s, 7 persons in their 70s and 3 persons older than 80 took part in this study. %BF was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). In each subject, body density was measured using densitometry. %BF was then calculated by substituting body density for the Siri or FORBES equation. Based on the value of %BF measured with DEXA, the calculated %BF was criticized for each decade of subjects. It was concluded that the Siri equation should be applied to those who are younger than 80 and that the FORBES equation should be applied to those who are 80 and older.     

Is the establishment rate and fecundity of Haemonchus contortus related to body or abomasal measurements in sheep?

The relationship among parasitological parameters, abomasal size and body size measurements was investigated in lambs following an experimental infection with Haemonchus contortus. In total, 100 lambs from five different genotypes (German Merino (GM), Texel × GM, Suffolk × GM, German Blackhead Mutton × GM and Ile de France × GM) were experimentally infected with 5000 infective third stage larvae of H. contortus at the time of weaning at 12 weeks of age. Four and six weeks after infection, individual faecal samples were collected for estimation of faecal egg counts (FECs). Furthermore, wither height, shoulder width, heart girth, loin girth and body length were taken at 18 weeks of life. Lambs were slaughtered and necropsied 7 weeks post-infection, and worm counts, abomasal volume and surface area were determined. Positive correlations were found between different body size parameters, body weight and abomasal sizes. FEC and worm counts were not significantly correlated either with body size parameters or with abomasal size. The mean worm burden was higher in GM than in crossbred lambs. There was no significant difference in abomasal size between GM and crossbred lambs. The results suggest that the variations between animals in worm burden following an experimental infection with H. contortus (worm resistance) are not influenced by body size parameters or abomasal sizes. Therefore, other factors, including genetic-based differences in resistance, must cause these findings between and within breeds.     

What Is the Future for Zoos and Aquariums?

ABSTRACT

Animal welfare concerns have plagued the professional zoo and aquarium field for decades. Societal differences remain concerning the well-being of animals, but it appears a shift is emerging. Scientific studies of animal welfare have dramatically increased, establishing that many previous concerns were not misguided public empathy or anthropomorphism. As a result, both zoo and aquarium animal welfare policy and science are now at the center of attention within the world’s professional zoos and aquariums. It is now possible to view a future that embraces the well-being of individual captive exotic animals, as well as that of their species, and one in which professional zoos and aquariums are dedicated equally to advancing both. Though the ethics of keeping exotic animals and animals from the wild in captivity are still a contentious subject both outside and even within the profession, this study argues. We argue that this path forward will substantially improve most zoo and aquarium animals' welfare and could significantly reduce societal concerns. If animal welfare science and policy are strongly rooted in compassion and embedded in robust accreditation systems, the basic zoo/aquarium paradigm will move toward a more thoughtful approach to the interface between visitors and animals. It starts with a fundamental commitment to the welfare of individual animals.     

Training vs. body image: does training improve subjective appearance ratings?

The purpose of this study was to determine if a short-term exercise program (6 weeks) could improve subjective physical appearance ratings. Twenty-five previously sedentary adult men (aged 18-40 years) were randomly assigned to one of 3 training groups: cardiovascular, strength, or control. Subjects participating in an exercise group trained for an average of 34 minutes, 3 times per week. All subjects were pre- and posttested to determine body composition, strength, and cardiovascular fitness. Subjects were also digitally photographed from 4 angles. The photographs were rated by the subjects and by a panel of 6 judges using an analog scale. There was no significant difference in the groups by trials interaction effect for pre- and post-Vo(2)max, percent fat, total lean tissue, percent limb fat, percent trunk fat, lean trunk tissue, or lean limb tissue. The subjects rated themselves higher than the panel, with average scores of 4.74 vs. 3.46, 4.26 vs. 3.10, and 4.61 vs. 3.49 for the cardiovascular, strength, and control groups, respectively (p < 0.05). The men of the panel rated the subjects significantly higher than did the women, with average scores of 4.61 vs. 2.31, 4.13 vs. 2.06, and 4.53 vs. 2.18 for the cardiovascular, resistance, and control groups, respectively (p < 0.05). This study showed that a 6-week training program did not change self-rated or panel-rated appearance scores.     

Turbulence: does vorticity affect the structure and shape of body and fin propulsors?

Over the past century, many ideas have been developed on the relationships between water flow and the structure and shape of the body and fins of fishes, largely during swimming in relatively steady flows. However, both swimming by fishes and the habitats they occupy are associated with vorticity, typically concentrated as eddies characteristic of turbulent flow. Deployment of methods to examine flow in detail suggests that vorticity impacts the lives of fishes. First, vorticity near the body and fins can increase thrust and smooth variations in thrust that are a consequence of using oscillating and undulating propulsors to swim. Second, substantial mechanical energy is dissipated in eddies in the wake and adaptations that minimize these losses would be anticipated. We suggest that such mechanisms may be found in varying the length of the propulsive wave, stiffening propulsive surfaces, and shifting to using median and paired fins when swimming at low speeds. Eddies in the flow encountered by fishes may be beneficial, but when eddy radii are of the order of 0.25 of the fish's total length, negative impacts occur due to greater difficulties in controlling stability. The archetypal streamlined "fish" shape reduces destabilizing forces for fishes swimming into eddies.     

Comparison of BMI and the body mass/body surface ratio: is BMI a biased tool?

For decades we are used to judge our body composition by using the body mass index (BMI). Since the BMI denominator can be considered as a substitute for body surface area (BSA), the body mass/body surface ratio (BM/BSA) can be calculated. For a distribution of BM/BSA values comparable to the distribution of normal BMI values, the range 35.5-39.9 kg/m2 is chosen as normal, although it covers BM range 50 to 90 kg. The proposed normal BM/BSA range suggests that heavy adults with less than 2 m of height are not obese only if they are less than 90 kg. If the described limitations of the BM/BSA ratio are valid, then the BMI should be regarded as a biased tool, less applicable to individuals with body masses outside the 55 to 90 kg BM range. If we consider many health problems related to the increased body mass, it is possible that the BMI should be used with caution in heavy individuals.     

Patterns of body temperatures: Is lizard thermoregulation chaotic?

We surveyed body temperature (T_b) fluctuations of 23 species of thermoregulating lizards (9 families, 305 individuals) for pattern similarities. Here we report that the T_b time-series patterns of all species and almost all individuals met both qualitative criteria and quantitative criteria (positive Lyapunov exponent and capacity and/or correlation dimensions less than 5, and Hurst exponent not equal to 0.5) for deterministic chaos. Chaotic thermoregulation appears controlled, but at unpredictable times becomes disturbed and exhibits nonlinear behaviors before returning to control. This chaotic pattern of regulation is common to sufficiently diverse species to suggest that it is likely a primitive lacertilian, and perhaps reptilian, physiological characteristic.     

Is vegetation inside Carex sempervirens tussocks highly specific or an image of the surrounding vegetation?

Questions : How do species diversity, frequency and composition in tussocks differ from those in similar sized plots outside tussocks? Does the extent of the differences depend on community types or environmental conditions? Location : A sub‐alpine grassland in the Swiss National Park. Methods : In each of the two communities (short grass and tall graminoid) differing in species composition, grazing intensity and soil nutrient availability, relevés were made in 40 pairs of small circular plots, with one plot located inside a randomly selected Carex sempervirens tussock and the other outside. Results : We found 92 vascular species, of which 46 had a frequency higher than 5%. Species richness (S), pooled cover, Shannon's diversity (H) and cumulative species number (CS) were higher outside than inside the C. sempervirens tussocks, but evenness (J) was lower. S, H and CS differed more in the tall graminoid community than in the short grass community. However, dissimilarity between the paired relevés inside and outside tussocks did not differ between the two communities. Of the 46 most frequent species, 12 were statistically more and only one less frequent outside than inside the tussocks. Vegetation inside and outside tussocks could be clearly distinguished in the ordination space. Conclusion : Vegetation inside C. sempervirens tussocks is different from that in the surrounding area and represents an impoverished but homogenized version of the surrounding vegetation. Although tussocks of C. sempervirens were systematically avoided by grazers, there is little evidence that tussocks facilitate the species growing inside them.