Influence of emotional stimuli on behavior and respiration of rabbits with various locomotor activity in the "open field"

Different behavioral reactivity of rabbit groups differentiated by locomotor activity in the "open field" was revealed during exposure to emotional stimuli (rustle, loud sound, pressuring on back of the neck, vibroacoustic tactile stimulation of an ear). In passive rabbits, the active locomotor reactions were induced harder and freezing was obtained easier than in active animals. During exposure to sound stimuli, passive rabbits increased their locomotion more rarely than active animals, pressing on back of the neck produced longer freezing, a threshold of defensive ear shaking in response to a vibroacoustic stimulus in passive animals was highest. Training to mild immobilization increased the threshold of defensive responses in active rabbits and animals of the intermediate type. Changes in respiratory parameters were correlated with behavioral reactions to emotional stimuli. The duration of exhalation and respiratory cycle increased during freezing and increased during enhanced locomotion. The duration of inhalation decreased in response to emotional stimuli irrespective of a behavioral reaction. The respiratory reactions to emotional stimuli differed in rabbits of different groups. The respiratory rate more frequently changed in passive rabbits than in animals of other groups. Passive animals reacted mainly by exhalation, active rabbits and animals from the intermediate group predominantly responded by inhalation.     

Behavioral consequences of isolation in early ontogeny in rats: selectivity of anxiety conditions

Multiparameter scale for evaluation of anxiety-phobic state in rats reveals significant enhancement of anxiety in rat pups after 6-week isolation (beginning from the 21st day from birth) as compared to grouped controls of the same litter: the locomotion and exploration that appear in test areas are suppressed, and species-specific fear reactions are enhanced. These changes considered as signs of situational anxiety are not eliminated by 2.5-month keeping in groups. Nevertheless, they are not correlated with parameters of the acoustic startle reflex that (by the data of literature) is thought to be related with fear and anxiety. On the basis of the discrepancy it is proposed that state of anxiety is selective. This suggestion is confirmed by individual behavioral variations characterized by a combination of a low level of situational anxiety and a high level of acoustic anxiety observed in both experimental and control groups. These variations may explain the existence of atypical "emotional resonance"-like behavior according to P.V. Simonov. Attention is given to selectively enhanced acoustic startle reflex in the group of active control as an evidence for critical importance of any manipulations with social context in early ontogeny.     

The effect of "social stress" during rat pregnancy on the anxiety level of the progeny

Anxiety and locomotion were studied in offsprings of female rats subjected to everyday stress (one a day being displaced into another cage with pregnant rats) during the 3d stage of pregnancy. At the age of 1 month, the prenatally stressed rats had higher anxiety and lower locomotion in comparison with control animals. At the age of 3 month, the prenatally stressed females did not significantly differ from the control in the level of anxiety and locomotion, while the males demonstrated lower ambulation than the control animals.     

Host Differences among Florida Populations of Belonolaimus longicaudatus Rau

Three populations of Belonolaimus longicaudatus from Gainesville, Fuller''s Crossing, and Sanford, all in Florida, were tested for parasitism on Citrus jambhiri (rough lemon), Arachis hypogaea (''Early Runner'' peanut), Fragaria sp. (''Florida 90'' hybrid strawberry), and Lycopersicon esculentum (''Rutgers'' tomato). The three populations were found to be three different physiological races because: (i) the Fuller''s Crossing population reproduced well on and caused injury to rough lemon and tomato but not strawberry; (ii) the Gainesville population reproduced well on and caused injury to peanut, strawberry and tomato but not on rough lemon; (iii) the Sanford population reproduced well on and caused injury to peanut, reproduced well on tomato, but neither reproduced upon nor caused injury to strawberry or rough lemon. Morphologically, females of the Sanford population have a lower "c" value and a greater number of tail annules than those of the Gainesville and Fuller''s Crossing populations. Females and males of the Fuller''s Crossing population had higher "a" values than those of the other two populations.     

模拟失重对大鼠情绪影响的初步研究

目的:研究模拟失重状态对大鼠情绪产生的影响。方法:从20只雄性SD大鼠中挑选16只分成正常组和模拟失重组(n=8),采用摄食和体重测定、旷场试验、糖水偏好度测试及情绪唤醒程度评定四种方法,对大鼠进行情绪检测。结果:①模拟失重组大鼠摄食量下降,体重增加速率较正常组显著减小;②模拟失重14 d后,大鼠的运动力下降,爬格数显著低于正常组(P<0.05),自我修饰次数比正常组明显增多,洗脸与理毛次数均显著高于正常组(P<0.01);③与正常组比较,模拟失重大鼠具有更高水平的情绪唤醒度;④模拟失重14 d对大鼠的糖水偏好度无显著影响。结论:模拟失重14 d使大鼠出现抑郁、紧张和焦躁等负面情绪,出现一定程度的神经质反应,但不会出现快感缺乏。     

The dynamics of activation processes in persons with different ability to recognize speech emotional expressions

The frequency-amplitude characteristics of the brain electrical activity were studied in two groups of subjects: (1) with high and (2) with low indexes of "emotional ear" (the ability to successfully recognize emotions in speech). Comparison of EEG power characteristics between the two groups of subjects permitted the authors to make a conclusion that the persons with lower indexes of "emotional ear" had a much higher EEG activation level as compared to the persons with higher "emotional ear" indexes. A different dynamics of the cortical activation was also observed in the process of recognition of emotions by alpha-rhythm amplitude. It was shown that the persons with higher indexes of recognition had higher alpha-rhythm amplitude, whereas the persons who were less successful in recognition of speech emotions had a contrary tendency: the amplitude on the alpha band decreased in the process of the experiment.     

Effects of chronic irradiation on the adaptive potential of plants

The content of anthocianins was determined in Oenothera biennis plants, grown from seeds, picked on the plots with different levels of radionuclide contamination in the 30-km Chernobyl zone. It was shown that the content of anthocianins was higher in plants from Yanov area (20-40 mR/h) than in plants from Chernobyl area (0.04 mR/h). An acute gamma-irradiation of seeds with a dose of 5-100 Gy or UV-irradiation of plants resulted in increasing of anthocianin content which was higher in plants grown from the seeds picked on plots with a low level of radionuclide contamination. The data obtained suggest that chronic irradiation of O. biennis populations induces accumulation of anthocianins. Apparently the adaptivity potential has been more completely realised in plants on the plots with a higher level of radionuclide contamination. The populations which were formed in the absence or at the low level of radionuclide contamination, on the contrary, have a significant adaptivity potential and, accordingly, higher radioresistance.     

Elevated mortality among birds in Chernobyl as judged from skewed age and sex ratios

Background

Radiation has negative effects on survival of animals including humans, although the generality of this claim is poorly documented under low-dose field conditions. Because females may suffer disproportionately from the effects of radiation on survival due to differences in sex roles during reproduction, radiation-induced mortality may result in male-skewed adult sex ratios.

Methodology/Principal Finding

We estimated the effects of low-dose radiation on adult survival rates in birds by determining age ratios of adults captured in mist nets during the breeding season in relation to background radiation levels around Chernobyl and in nearby uncontaminated control areas. Age ratios were skewed towards yearlings, especially in the most contaminated areas, implying that adult survival rates were reduced in contaminated areas, and that populations in such areas could only be maintained through immigration from nearby uncontaminated areas. Differential mortality in females resulted in a strongly male-skewed sex ratio in the most contaminated areas. In addition, males sang disproportionately commonly in the most contaminated areas where the sex ratio was male skewed presumably because males had difficulty finding and acquiring mates when females were rare. The results were not caused by permanent emigration by females from the most contaminated areas because none of the recaptured birds had changed breeding site, and the proportion of individuals with morphological abnormalities did not differ significantly between the sexes for areas with normal and higher levels of contamination.

Conclusions/Significance

These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the adult survival rate of female birds is particularly susceptible to the effects of low-dose radiation, resulting in male skewed sex ratios at high levels of radiation. Such skewed age ratios towards yearlings in contaminated areas are consistent with the hypothesis that an area exceeding 30,000 km² in Chernobyl’s surroundings constitutes an ecological trap that causes dramatic excess mortality.     

Effects of gamma radiation on spermatogenesis and fertility of male Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae)

Amblyomma americanum males were treated with 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 16 krad of gamma radiation. Testes of ticks treated with 2, 3, 4, 8, and 16 krad were smaller than those of ticks irradiated at lower levels and controls. No recognizable alteration in timing of spermatogenesis was noted among the different radiation groups, but severe breakdown and depletion of germinal cells was noted at 4, 8, and 16 krad. Percent hatch of larvae from crosses of irradiated males and untreated females decreased with increasing radiation level. No hatch was observed from eggs of females mated to males treated at 2 krad or higher.     

调强放疗联合替莫唑胺对高级别脑胶质瘤术后患者免疫功能和生活质量的影响

摘要 目的：观察调强放疗联合替莫唑胺对高级别脑胶质瘤术后患者免疫功能和生活质量的影响。方法：选择我院2015年7月~2017年9月收治的有完整临床资料的高级别脑胶质瘤患者107例,根据双色球随机分组法将患者分为对照组和观察组,分别为53例和54例,对照组给予调强放疗,观察组给予调强放疗联合替莫唑胺治疗,均治疗6周。对比两组疗效、免疫功能、生活质量、无进展生存时间、总生存时间和不良反应发生情况。结果：治疗6周后,观察组的客观缓解率55.56%、疾病控制率77.78%高于对照组的35.85%、56.60%（P<0.05）。观察组的无进展生存时间、总生存时间长于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗6周后,观察组的CD8⁺水平低于对照组,CD3⁺、CD4⁺水平高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗6周后,观察组的躯体功能、机体疼痛、健康状况、生命力、心理职能、躯体角色、情感角色、社会功能维度评分高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组不良反应总发生率对比无显著性差异（P>0.05）。结论：调强放疗联合替莫唑胺应用于高级别脑胶质瘤术后患者,可减轻调强放疗导致的免疫抑制,提高患者生活质量,延长其无进展生存时间、总生存时间。     

Developmental Instability and Sexual Selection in Stag Beetles from Chernobyl and a Control Area

Radioactivity may have both phenotypic and genetic effects through its disruption of physiological processes and mutations. I studied the size and asymmetry of secondary sexual and ordinary morphological characters of stag beetles ( Lucanus cervus ) in two areas in the Ukraine: near Chernobyl, where levels of radiation are high, and in a control area with low background radiation. Developmental instability of morphological characters was estimated from the degree of fluctuating asymmetry using the restricted maximum likelihood parameter estimation (REML) method to partition measurement error from asymmetry. The degree of asymmetry estimated from unsigned differences in size of right and left secondary sexual character was similar to estimates based on the REML method. Beetles from the contaminated area had a significantly elevated level of fluctuating asymmetry in the secondary sexual character compared with animals from the control area. Male stag beetles found with a female had significantly lower asymmetry than males found alone. While mated males did not differ in asymmetry between areas, unmated males from Chernobyl were much more asymmetric than unmated males from the control area. These findings provide evidence for radiation disrupting developmental homeostasis, and thereby affecting the mating status of free-living beetles.     

Proliferating activity, DNA ploidy changes of lung cancer cells before and after chemotherapy

To assess proliferating activity, DNA ploidy changes of lung cancer cells before and after chemotherapy, we performed a flow cytometry analysis (FC) using fresh bronchoscopy specimens from 38 patients with lung cancer. Among 33 males and 5 females, squamous cell carcinoma (NSLC) was recognized in 12 males, 15 males had small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and 6 males had lung cancer with no histological type (LC) defined. Three women had SCLC, 1 had NSCLC and one had LC. Control consisted of 11 COPD patients. The percentage of diploid cells was significantly lower and cells with hypoploid cells were significantly higher in study group before treatment. High percentage of G2M cells characterised NSCLC and LC groups, whether high number of S phase cells characterised NSCLC and SCLC group before treatment. The treatment lowered percentage of G2M cells in NSCLC and CA group, whether diploid, hypoploid and S phase cells did not differ than those from before treatment.     

Stress-induced hormonal and mood responses in scuba divers: a field study

The majority of injuries in scuba-divers are attributable to inappropriate behavior under stressful diving conditions, predominantly involving panic reactions emerging from elevated levels of anxiety. Divers with an elevated level of anxiety and poor coping are at higher risk of developing panic reactions than those possessing more adequate stress-coping-mechanisms. In the comparison of two extreme groups of seven divers each with opposite stress coping strategies, prolactin was found to be a hormonal marker with a significant increase in the sub-group of the stress-controllers. This hormonal response was observed in a recreational and a stressful dive, and in the latter with a more distinct elevation. Along with the self-reported emotional conditions under immersion, these data suggest that an increased prolactin level reflects a state of elevated physical and mental activation and vigilance. Facing a stressful situation subjects with more emotional concern and the tendency to surrender react by "blunted responses" and show significantly lower elevations of the prolactin levels in contrast to subjects with the very opposite psychological features. The other observed somatic parameters (epinephrine, norepinephrine) showed significant increases during and after dives (with the exception of saliva cortisol), however without any significant group difference.     

强化护理管理可减轻食管癌放化疗患者的毒副反应

为了探讨强化护理管理对于减轻食管癌放化疗患者毒副反应的临床价值,本研究在2017年1月至2017年4月选取我院接受放化疗治疗的130例食管癌患者,所有患者均接受三维适形放疗(3D-CRT)并同步化疗,其中65例患者化疗过程中采用强化护理管理措施(研究组),另外65例患者仅采取一般护理措施(对照组)。通过对比分析两组毒副反应的严重程度、KPS评分和生存质量的差异,结果显示:研究组的恶心呕吐、放射性食管炎、放射性肺炎发生率均显著低于对照组(p<0.05);研究组和对照组的腹泻、白细胞减少、脱发、周围神经炎的严重程度差异无统计学意义(p>0.05);治疗前,两组患者的KPS评分差异无统计学意义(p>0.05);治疗3周、治疗后6周,研究组的KPS评分均高于同期对照组(p<0.05);治疗前,两组患者的躯体功能、躯体角色、情感角色、机体疼痛、一般健康状况、心理健康、社会功能、活力评分差异无统计学意义(p>0.05);治疗后,研究组的躯体功能、躯体角色、情感角色、机体疼痛、一般健康状况、心理健康、社会功能、活力评分均高于同期对照组(p<0.05)。综上所述,加强护理管理对于减轻食管癌放化疗患者毒副反应具有重要的临床价值。     

Life history of Eulemur fulvus rufus from 1988-1998 in southeastern Madagascar

In this study, we compare the life-history patterns of male and female Eulemur fulvus rufus based on longitudinal data collected on individuals from two study groups from 1988-1998 in southeastern Madagascar. Mean group size was 9.5 individuals, and groups either contained more adult males than females or equal numbers of both sexes. Females reproduced for the first time between 2 and 4 years of age and reproduced each year, although the mean interbirth interval between surviving offspring was 2.1 years. An average of two adult females reproduced annually in each social group, and age and body weight may positively influence reproductive success. Females also appear to be philopatric but not female-bonded. Young natal males immigrated between 3 and 4.5 years of age and may join a new group within 612 months based on the age of emigrants. Once in a social group, they remained until old age, although a male's spatial position in the social group varied with age. Young nonnatal males were members of the social core and had the first opportunity to mate with all estrous females. Older males were peripheral to the social group and mated with females later in their cycle. We hypothesize that group size, the number of females in the group, and individual variation in reproductive success is influenced by several ecological conditions at this site: extreme variability in food availability during reproductive periods, the lack of large food patches, low plant species diversity, and small numbers of important aseasonal food sources such as Ficus species.     

Intergroup relations and home range use in Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi)

Relationships between neighboring groups feature prominently in socioecological theory, but few empirical studies have focused on the effects of neighbors on the behavior of primates. Interactions between neighboring groups are most conspicuous during intergroup encounters, but the likelihood of encounters with neighbors can also affect ranging and activity patterns indirectly, and, as a result, behavioral patterns in areas of exclusive use may differ from those in overlap areas of adjacent home ranges. The aim of this study was to examine intergroup relations and spatial variation in home range use in Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) during the annual mating season. Based on 230 hr of focal animal data collected from ten members of five adjacent groups, we found that behavioral patterns and patterns of resource utilization were not markedly different between areas of exclusive use and overlap areas of adjacent home ranges. Group cohesion tended to be higher in overlap than in core areas, but the proportion of time spent resting and foraging did not differ between these two areas. However, dominant males exhibited a higher scent-marking rate in overlap areas. Observations during intergroup encounters revealed that chases between males occurred frequently, whereas fights involving physical contact were not observed. We also found that the intergroup dominance hierarchy depended on the relative group size or the number of males in each group, with groups of lower dominance rank exhibiting a tendency to sleep proportionally more often in their core areas. The results of this study suggest that in primate species with a moderate level of intergroup aggression, such as Verreaux's sifaka, the possibility of encountering neighbors in areas of home range overlap does not exert strong influence on their behavior and resource utilization.     

Prevalence of dyslipidemia and mean blood lipid values in Taiwan: results from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT, 1993-1996)

This paper reports the blood lipid status of people aged 4 years and older in Taiwan. The data is based on the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT: 1993-1996), which adopted a multi-stage, stratified clustering sampling scheme. Altogether, 5097 subjects (2451 males and 2646 females) had data on triglyceride and 5643 subjects (2736 males and 2907 females) had data on cholesterol. We found that (a) cholesterol levels of males were lower than females in mid-to old age group (> or = 45 years old); (b) triglyceride values of females were lower than males in young adulthood (19-44 years), but higher than males after the age of 45 years, and (c) adult females had higher HDL-C value and lower ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-C than males. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 10.2% in adult males and 12.6% in mid-to-old aged men, and that in females was 11.2% and 24.4%, respectively. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was 13.4% and 6.1% in adult males and females (> or = 19 years as a whole), respectively. It was 12.3% in mid-to-old aged men (> or = 45 years), and 11.9% in women. The mean cholesterol values were similar to values of several previous surveys in different areas of Taiwan. But it was higher than those in some areas of Mainland China, and lower than those of western countries. People in metropolitan cities had a higher level of blood cholesterol than other areas. The average triglyceride values of males and females were higher than those of previous studies in Taiwan and of people in Mainland China. Mountainous stratum with predominantly aboriginal residents had higher level of triglycerides and body mass index (BMI) than other strata. The associations between dietary intakes of men and women and blood lipids were examined controlling for age and BMI. Result showed that Keys score, which was derived from saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat and dietary cholesterol of a 24-hour recall, was positively related to blood cholesterol and LDL-C in men, but not in women. Average alcohol intakes per day were related to HDL-C positively, but LDL-C negatively in men and women. The regional differences in blood lipid profiles in Taiwan are consistent with the dietary and life-style variations island-wide.     

Brain arginine vasotocin concentrations related to sexual behaviors and hydromineral balance in an amphibian

Arginine vasotocin (AVT), a potent stimulator of sexual behaviors and regulator of hydromineral balance in male rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa), was measured in 11 brain areas using microdissection and radioimmunoassay procedures. A 60-min test for sexual behaviors was used to segregate males into two groups: sexually responsive (initiated amplectic clasping behaviors) and sexually unresponsive (exhibited no sexual behaviors). Compared to sexually unresponsive males, sexually responsive males had significantly higher concentrations of immunoreactive (ir) AVT in the dorsal preoptic area, optic tectum, ventral infundibular nucleus, and cerebrospinal fluid. These results provide evidence for a behavioral action of endogenous AVT in T. granulosa. In another study, irAVT was measured in normal males (control newts maintained in water) and males that were dehydrated for 6 hr. Compared to normal males, dehydrated males had significantly lower concentrations of irAVT in the ventral preoptic area, but not in the other 10 areas of the brain. That different brain areas are associated with sexual behaviors and hydromineral balance suggests that there are some neuroanatomical separations between the behavioral and hydromineral aspects of the vasotocinergic system in this amphibian.     

Radiosensitivity of two strains of the codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) originating from different elevations in Armenia

The purpose of this study was to analyse the radiosensitivity of codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) strains from different elevations, 850 and 2000 m above the sea level. The level of sterility of parental males and inherited sterility of F₁ males in the strain from the higher elevation at all radiation doses (80, 100 and 150 Gy) was significantly lower, than in the strain from the lower elevation. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations in the F₁ generation in the strain from the higher elevation was significantly lower at 80 and 150 Gy than that in strain from the lower elevation. The average number of eupyrene sperm in the F₁ males descended from irradiated males was higher in the strain from the higher elevation than in the strain from the lower elevation. Inheritance of the resistance/susceptible to ionizing radiation were examined by standard genetic cross‐breeding analysis confirming the polygenic nature of the differences in radiosensitivity. The implications of these findings for the implementation of area‐wide integrated pest management programmes that integrate the use of sterile insects are discussed.     

The dynamics of coheren links in persons with different ability to recognise speech emotional expessions

The coherency characteristics of the brain electrical activity were studied in two groups of subjects: 1) with high and 2) low indexes of "emotional ear" (an ability to successfully recognize emotions in the speech). Comparison of the coherency links between two groups of subjects permitted the authors to make a conclusion that the persons of the first group had a much lower coherency level, especially in the alpha- and gamma-rhythms. The subjects of the second group were characterized by the opposite tendency: an increase in coherent links on the majority of frequency bands.