Experimental analysis of emergency curve

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Contributions from the Entomological Laboratory, Kyoto University, No. 200.     

Sex differences in growth rates of Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis chicks

Capsule: Chick growth rates was sex-dependent in an Atlantic Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis population.

Aims: To describe the growth rate of Yellow-legged Gull chicks and sex-associated variations, and obtain a discriminant function to sex them using morphological data.

Methods: Fifty-two Yellow-legged Gull chicks from a colony in northern Iberia were measured for body mass, head and bill length, tarsus length and three other bill-length associated variables, from the hatching date up to the age of 36 days. Birds were sexed using DNA analysis.

Results: Using logistic models, chick growth rates was observed to be similar between the sexes, while the asymptote was higher among males for the majority of the variables. Discriminant analyses showed that the variable head+bill was very reliable to predict the sex of >80% of chicks at an early developmental stage, and 100% of chicks if combined with tarsus length and two more bill-length associated variables at the age of 35 days.

Conclusions: This is the first study using a discriminant analysis to sex Yellow-legged Gull chicks, and also the first to describe the growth function for the species. The growth rate varied between sexes because males showed higher asymptote values within the growth function.     

The individual development of circadian temperature rhythm in infants

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the individual development of the circadian rhythm of human body temperature. Dailyperiodicchanges of body temperature were examined longitudinally in four infants from 3 to 18 months of age. At the 3rd month of life, the day‐night rhythm of the body temperature was obscure but at the 6th month it became moreevident. From the 12th month on, the circadian temperature rhythm with phase similar to that of the adult was discerned. However, the amplitude in circadian rhythm was significantly larger in children between 6 and 18 months of age than in the adult. These findings suggest that the adult type of circadian rhythm of human body temperature is established during the first year of life with regard to phase but not to amplitude.     

The development of circadian rhythm of human body temperature

Abstract

Daily periodic changes of body temperature were examined in 138 subjects ranging in age between 5 days and 44 years. Whereas the circadian rhythm of human body temperature was not discerned in newborn babies, body temperatures were higher during daytime than during nighttime in infants over one month. Temperature rhythm similar to that of adults, with respect to phase, was observed in the age groups of ten to eleven months and over, earlier than previously reported. The amplitude in circadian oscillation was, however, significantly larger in children between 7 months and 7 years of age than in adults. Thus, it is concluded that the adult type of circadian rhythm of human body temperature is fully established with respect to phase and amplitude after 7 years of age.     

Active trends,passive trends,cope's rule and temporal scaling: New categorization of cladogenetic changes in body size

Regimes of cladogenetic change in body size recognized in the fossil record are related to the time scales over which they are observed. A new categorization of regimes of cladogenetic size change is proposed: this scheme includes seventeen types. In a random distribution, the pure, single‐cause regimes are rare (0.01 probability of appearance) while mixed regimes, resulting from the simultaneous operation of two or more causes are frequent (0.115 probability of appearance). Some regimes seem to be nonrandomly distributed.     

Effects of suprachiasmatic nuclei lesions on circadian and ultradian rhythms in body temperature in ocular enucleated rats

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that an oscillator located outside the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) controls the circadian rhythm of body temperature, we conducted a study with 14 blinded rats, 10 of which receiving a SCN lesion. Body temperature was automatically and continuously recorded for about one month by intraperitoneal radio transmitters. Food intake, drinking and locomotor activity were also recorded. Periodograms revealed that 3 rats with histologically verified total bilateral SCN lesions did not exhibit any circadian rhythmicity. The 7 other rats appeared to have partial lesions. They showed shortening of period and severe amplitude reduction in all functions. Thus, no support was found for the hypothesis of a separate circadian ‘temperature oscillator’ located outside the SCN. Nevertheless, after large partial lesions body temperature showed more persistency than some of the other behavioral rhythms.

Ultradian rhythms in temperature persisted after partial and total lesions. Other functions showed parallel ultradian rhythms. In intact rats the ultradian peaks were restricted predominantly to the subjective night. After total lesions these peaks became more or less homogeneously distributed in time but more heterogeneously after partial lesions. So the SCN plays a role in the temporal structure of ultradian rhythms but does not generate them. Non‐24‐hour actograms showed instabilities of period and phase of ultradian rhythms. Intact and lesioned rats were similar with respect to the mean (about 3.5 hrs) and standard deviation (about 1.5 hrs) of ultradian periods in temperature. These features indicate that a mechanism outside the SCN is underlying ultradian rhythmicity, capable of generating short‐term oscillations. Two approaches, homeostatic sleep‐wake relaxation oscillations and multiple circadian oscillators, are discussed.     

The influence of sulphur,molybdenum and cadmium exposure on the growth of goat,cattle and pig

A three factorial designed feeding experiment with common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) was carried out in an intensive experimental rearing system. Fish (initial body weight 200 g) were fed on two different levels of dietary energy (16 and 18 MJ DE/kg DM), two different levels of protein (320 and 420 g CP/kg DM) and also two different feeding intensities (100% and 75% of the maximum intake). The experiment was terminated when fish reached a mean body weight of 1300 g.

Growth, feed utilization and nutrient composition of the whole body and fillet were observed. The highest growth was obtained when the fish were fed on the diet containing high dietary energy and high dietary protein with satiation feeding. High dietary energy, high dietary protein and restriction of feed intake improved feed conversion ratios. High dietary energy, low dietary protein and restrictive feeding increased energy utilization. Low dietary protein and restrictive feeding resulted in better protein utilization.

Fish fed with high dietary energy contained more fat and less protein in their carcasses. A lower fat content but higher protein and higher ash content in fish carcasses was shown when fish were fed with a diet high in protein and fed restrictively.     

Scale-dependence in geographic variation in a freshwater gastropod across the Palearctic

ABSTRACT

The reality of spatial clinal variation in morphological traits of freshwater pulmonate snails (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) has repeatedly been questioned or totally discounted. There is a lack of sound statistical evidence in the articles hitherto published on this subject supporting these claims. Here, by means of different analytical methods (analysis of spatial autocorrelation, linear regression analysis, canonical correlation analysis and others), we demonstrate that shell variation in the dwarf pond snail, Galba truncatula, is patterned in space throughout the northern and central Palearctic, with latitudinally-oriented clines in body size and in some shell proportions. Shell size in G. truncatula decreases with latitude and temperature, representing a special case of converse Bergmann cline. However, the temperature itself is hardly the main driver of shell size variation. It is argued that the shorter growing seasons at high latitudes may represent a better explanation for the observed trend. Shell proportions in the dwarf pond snails vary weakly at the macrogeographic scale, being spatially patterned at lower (mesogeographic) scales around 1200–1500?km. In general, spatial variation in G. truncatula shell size is decoupled from variation in shell shape, demonstrating clear scale-dependence similar to that found in different species of terrestrial (non-aquatic) pulmonate snails.     

Body composition,muscle fibre characteristics and postnatal growth capacity of pigs born from sows supplemented with L-carnitine

Abstract

Recently, it has been shown that supplementation of sows with L-carnitine increases their plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, and it has been hypothesized that this may stimulate fetal myogenesis. This study was performed to investigate whether piglets of sows supplemented with L-carnitine differ in muscle fibre characteristics, chemical body composition and postnatal growth capability from pigs of control sows. Muscle fibre characteristics and chemical body composition were determined at weaning in 21 piglets of control sows and 21 piglets of sows treated with L-carnitine with similar body weights; postnatal growth capability was determined from weaning until slaughter at a body weight of 118 kg in 80 pigs of control sows and 80 pigs of sows treated with L-carnitine which had also similar body weights at weaning. Piglets of sows supplemented with L-carnitine did not differ in number, area, diameter and type (percentages of slow twitch oxidative + fast twitch oxidative fibres, and fast twitch glycolytic fibres) of muscle fibres in m. longissimus dorsi and m. semitendinosus and in chermical body composition (concentrations of dry matter, crude protein, crude fat) from piglets of control sows. Postnatal growth capability (body weight gains, feed conversion ratio) from weaning to slaughter as well as carcass composition (carcass yield, meat thickness, fat thickness) was also not different between pigs of sows treated with L-carnitine and pigs of control sows. In conclusion, data of this study do not support the hypothesis that L-carnitine supplementation of sows during pregnancy enhances fetal muscle fibre development and increases postnatal growth capability of the offspring.     

Body surface temperature distribution in relation to body composition in obese women

Adipose tissue levels and human obesity are known to be associated with increased heat production. At the same time, subcutaneous adipose tissue provides an insulating layer that impedes heat loss. The energy implications of obesity and body thermoregulatory mechanisms remain relatively poorly understood. This study attempted to examine the potential relationship between body composition (subcutaneous and visceral fat) determined by bioimpedance as well as BMI (body mass index), and skin surface temperature distribution recorded at rest.One specific aim of this study was to draw a thermal map of body areas in obese women and compare this with women of normal body mass, and thus to identify body regions within which heat transfer is particularly impeded. As high fat content is a good insulator, it could reduce the body‘s ability to respond effectively to changes in environmental temperature, which would be problematic for thermal homeostasis. Our results showed that core temperature did not differ between obese and normal body mass participants, while skin temperature of most body surfaces was lower in obese subjects.The results of regression analysis showed that the mean body surface temperature (T_mean) decreased with increasing percentage of body fat (PBF) of the abdominal area. The opposite relationship was observed for the front area of the hand (simultaneous increase in T_mean and PBF). We also found a negative correlation between BMI and T_mean of the thigh areas, both the front and the back. From this it could be concluded that the mean body surface temperature is dependent on body fat.     

‘This Painting Becomes His Body for Life’: Transforming Relations in Yolŋu Initiation and Funeral Rituals

ABSTRACT

Among the most striking images produced in north-east Arnhem Land today are the paintings given to young boys during their first initiation ceremony (dhapi). Skilfully applied on their chest over several hours, while singing and dancing proceeds on the ceremonial grounds nearby, these body paintings act as relational matrixes which locate the initiands within a socio-cosmic web of connections. At the other end of the male ritual life-cycle, the bodies of the deceased undergo a similar process of transfiguration, as they are made to resemble the groups’ most sacred objects, seen to instantiate the powers of specific ancestral beings. In the context of these rituals, the links between clans, places, and ancestral beings are expressed by being made visible on and around the body. Pragmatically composed and displayed for all to see, I suggest that Yol?u ritual images appear as ‘matter(s) of relations’ par excellence, materialising various sets of social relationships. This paper examines the material logics behind this transfiguration process which, by turning people into ancestors, transform the relations between individuals and groups, between humans and non-human beings, and between the living and the spirits of the dead.     

Birth weight,adult body size,and risk of colorectal cancer

BackgroundEvidence suggests that birth weight may be associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk later in life. Whether the association is mediated by adult body size remains unexamined.MethodCox proportional hazards models (Hazard Ratio (HR) and 95 % Confidence Intervals (CI)) were used to evaluate the association between self-reported birth weight (<6 lbs, 6-<8 lbs, ≥8 lbs) and CRC risk among 70,397 postmenopausal women from the Women’s Health Initiative. Further, we assessed whether this association was mediated by adult body size using multiple mediation analyses.ResultsCompared with birth weights of 6-< 8 lbs, birth weight ≥ 8 lbs was associated with higher CRC risk in postmenopausal women (HR = 1.31, 95 % CI 1.16–1.48). This association was significantly mediated by adult height (proportion mediated =11.4 %), weight (11.2 %), waist circumference (10.9 %), and body mass index at baseline (4.0 %). The joint effect of adult height and weight explained 21.6 % of this positive association.ConclusionOur data support the hypothesis that the intrauterine environment and fetal development may be related to the risk of developing CRC later in life. While adult body size partially explains this association, further investigation is required to identify other factors that mediate the link between birth weight and CRC.     

BMI and levels of zinc,copper in hair,serum and urine of Turkish male patients with androgenetic alopecia

ObjectiveMale pattern androgenetic alopecia is characterized by progressive hair loss from the scalp. It is known that imbalances of some trace elements play a role in the pathomechanism of many forms of alopecia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of zinc and copper in hair, serum and urine samples of Turkish males with male pattern androgenetic alopecia and to compare with healthy controls.Material and methods116 males with male pattern androgenetic alopecia and 100 controls were involved in this study.ResultsLevels of zinc and copper in hair were decreased significantly in the patients (p < 0.05), although zinc and copper levels of serum and urine were not different between patients and controls (p > 0.05). Body mass index of patients were higher than control group. In addition, in the group with body mass index of 25 and lower zinc level in hair and urine, copper level in serum were significantly higher (p < 0.05). Body mass index was negatively correlated with hair zinc levels.ConclusionWe thought that decreased zinc and copper levels in hair may play a role in the etiology of male pattern androgenetic alopecia. In addition, obesity by making changes in the balance of the trace elements in hair, serum and urine may play a role in male pattern androgenetic alopecia. Hence, assessing the levels of trace elements in hair of male pattern androgenetic alopecia patients may be more valuable compared to serum and urine for treatment planning.     

Daily and annual patterns of thermoregulation in painted turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata) living in a thermally variable marsh in Northern Michigan

The capacity for an ectothermic reptile to thermoregulate has implications for many components of its life history. Over two years, we studied thermoregulation in a population of Midland painted turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata) in a shallow, thermally variable wetland during summer in Northern Michigan. Mean body temperature (T_b) of free-ranging turtles was greater in 2008 (25.8 °C) than in 2010 (19.7 °C). Laboratory determined thermoregulatory set point (T_set) ranged from 25 °C (T_set-min) to 31 °C (T_set-max) and was lower during the fall (17–26 °C). Deviations of T_b distributions from field measured operative temperatures (T_e) and indices of thermoregulation indicated that C. picta marginata were capable of a limited degree of thermoregulation. Operative temperatures and thermal quality (d_e=|T_set-min−T_e| and |T_e−T_set-max|) cycled daily with maximal thermal quality occurring during late morning and late afternoon. The accuracy of thermoregulation (d_b=|T_set-min−T_b| and |T_b−T_set-max|) was maximal (d_b values were minimal) as T_b declined and traversed T_set during the late afternoon–early evening hours and was higher on cloudy days than on sunny days because relatively low T_e values decreased the number of T_b values that were above T_set. Our index of thermal exploitation (E_x=frequency of T_b observations within T_set) was 36%, slightly lower than that reported for an Ontario population of C. picta marginata. Regression of d_b (thermal accuracy) on d_e (thermal quality) indicated that turtles invested more in thermoregulation when thermal quality was low and when water levels were high than when they were low. There were no intersexual differences in mean T_b throughout the year but females had relatively high laboratory determined T_b values in the fall, perhaps reflecting the importance of maintaining ovarian development prior to winter.     

Locomotion in elongate fishes: A contact sport

Despite the physical differences between water and air, a number of fish lineages are known to make terrestrial excursions on land. Many of these fishes exhibit an elongate body plan. Elongation of the body can occur in several ways, the most common of which is increasing the number of vertebrae in one or both regions of the axial skeleton – precaudal and/or caudal. Elongate species are often found in three-dimensionally complex habitats. It has been hypothesized that elongate fishes use this structure to their locomotor advantage. In this study, we consider how elongation and differences in vertebral regionalization correspond with the use of wooden pegs, which are provided as analogs to vertically oriented substrate, structures that protrude above the ground. We compare aquatic and terrestrial locomotor behaviors of Polypterus senegalus, Erpetoichthys calabaricus, and Gymnallabes typus as they move through a peg array. When considering axial elongation we find that the highly elongate species, E. calabaricus and G. typus, contact more pegs but on average move slower in both environments than P. senegalus. When considering axial regionalization, we find that the precaudally elongate species, P. senegalus and E. calabaricus, differ in the patterns of peg contact between the two environments whereas the caudally elongate species, G. typus, exhibits similar peg contact between the two environments. Our study highlights the importance of incorporating body shape and vertebral regionalization to understand how elongate fishes move in water and on land.     

Short-term weight loss in overweight/obese low-income women improves plasma zinc and metabolic syndrome risk factors

Metabolic syndrome is a group of disorders involving obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Obesity is the most crucial risk factor of metabolic syndrome, because it is known to precede other risk factors. Obesity is also associated with disturbances in the metabolism of the trace mineral, zinc. The overall purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of short-term weight loss on plasma zinc and metabolic syndrome risk factors. An 8-week weight loss intervention study was conducted with 90 low-income overweight/obese mothers, whose youngest child was 1–3 years old. Plasma levels of zinc, glucose, insulin, leptin, triglycerides, total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were measured and compared at weeks 0 and 8 of the weight loss program. At pre-study, plasma zinc was low in 39% and, within normal values in 46%, of obese/overweight mothers. By the end of intervention, plasma zinc rose by 22% and only 5% of the mothers continued to exhibit low plasma zinc. At post-study, the metabolic syndrome risk factors of waist circumference, HDL cholesterol, and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05) showed significant improvements. Plasma zinc increased by a greater margin (67%) in women with low zinc, as compared to those with normal zinc (18%); weight reduction was similar in both the groups. Finally, changes in % body fat were related negatively with changes in plasma zinc (r = ? 0.28, p < 0.05). The circulating levels of zinc, as well as the metabolic syndrome components, showed significant improvements in overweight/obese low-income women after weight loss.     

Swimming fundamentals: turning performance of leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) is predicted by body shape and postural reconfiguration

Turns are essential maneuvers that sharks employ when foraging, feeding, and migrating. How well any individual performs in turning is determined, in part, by the static form and postural reconfiguration of its body. Since the importance of postural reconfiguration in determining turning performance is not well understood, our goal was to examine how body form and posture correlate with turning performance in juvenile leopard sharks, Triakis semifasciata. From videos of sharks turning laterally in yaw, performance was measured as turning radius, turning angle, angular speed of the head, and translational speed of the body along its path. Body form variables included the body's length, mass, width, second moment of area, and mass moment of inertia. Postural variables included body-bending coefficient, body flexion at different longitudinal positions, and lag time between body flexion and turning of the center of rotation. Using step-wise linear regression followed by multiple regression, each performance variable was regressed onto three pools of independent variables: (i) all form variables alone, (ii) all postural variables alone, and (iii) a combination of all form and postural variables. From these correlations, it appears that turning performance may be controlled primarily by the magnitude and timing of the flexion of the body. In other words, sharks alter how they turn by changing the pattern in which they bend their bodies; the body acts as a dynamically reconfiguring rudder.     

Associations between early-life growth pattern and body size and follicular lymphoma risk and survival: a family-based case-control study

BackgroundThe influence of early-life growth pattern and body size on follicular lymphoma (FL) risk and survival is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between gestational age, growth during childhood, body size, changes in body shape over time, and FL risk and survival.MethodsWe conducted a population-based family case-control study and included 706 cases and 490 controls. We ascertained gestational age, growth during childhood, body size and body shape using questionnaires and followed-up cases (median=83 months) using record linkage with national death records. We used a group-based trajectory modeling approach to identify body shape trajectories from ages 5–70. We examined associations with FL risk using unconditional logistic regression and used Cox regression to assess the association between body mass index (BMI) and all-cause and FL-specific mortality among cases.ResultsWe found no association between gestational age, childhood height and FL risk. We observed a modest increase in FL risk with being obese 5 years prior to enrolment (OR=1.43, 95 %CI=0.99–2.06; BMI ≥30 kg/m²) and per 5-kg/m² increase in BMI 5 years prior to enrolment (OR=1.14, 95 %CI=0.99–1.31). The excess risk for obesity 5 years prior to enrolment was higher for ever-smokers (OR=2.00, 95 %CI=1.08–3.69) than never-smokers (OR=1.14, 95 %CI=0.71–1.84). We found no association between FL risk and BMI at enrolment, BMI for heaviest lifetime weight, the highest categories of adult weight or height, trouser size, body shape at different ages or body shape trajectory. We also observed no association between all-cause or FL-specific mortality and excess adiposity at or prior to enrolment.ConclusionWe observed a weak association between elevated BMI and FL risk, and no association with all-cause or FL-specific mortality, consistent with previous studies. Future studies incorporating biomarkers are needed to elucidate possible mechanisms underlying the role of body composition in FL etiology.     

Estimation of prey consumption of a mantid,Paratenodera angustipennis (S.) in a natural habitat

Using a relationship between prey consumption and growth rate, field prey consumption of adults of Paratenodera angustipennis (S.) in a paddy field was estimated. Since a great number of grasshoppers (Oxya japonica) lived in the research area and the mantids had frequently eaten O. japonica, we presumed that they consumed only O. japonica. As a result, it was estimated that average prey consumptions for 6 days were 406 mg for the females and 23 mg for the males. From the result of this estimation and the feeding rhythm of the mantids, it is concluded that each female captured one grasshopper on average every a few days. By comparing this actual feeding level of P. angustipennis with those of other predacious arthropods, characteristics of P. angustipennis as a predator were discussed.