Social Influence on Early Foraging of Domestic Chicks (Gallus gallus) in a Near-to-Nature Procedure

The aim of this study was to investigate the social influence of single chicks with different foraging experience on the behaviour of their group members during the first days after hatching. In contrast to the duplicate cage procedure normally used in social learning studies, four naïve group members could freely interact with a tutor or a control chick in an enriched 20-m² test arena. This arena contained two types of food caches with differently coloured food. The tutor was 3 d older than its group members and was trained to feed from one of the two food cache types, whereas the control chick was not familiar with the characteristics of the test arena and was either of the same age or 3 d older than its group members. During the first 9 d after hatching, the foraging activity of 32 chick groups was tested in 15 trials per group. Groups with a 3 d older but inexperienced control chick had the least foraging success whilst groups with a naïve control chick of the same age compared more favourably with the groups with experienced tutors than with groups that included older control chicks. In a second experiment, a tutor compartment was introduced into the test arena in order to compare a situation of unrestricted contact possibilities with the duplicate cage procedure in which tutor and bystanders are separated by a Perspex divider. The tutor compartment was opened for some test groups, allowing free interaction between tutor and naïve chicks. Those chicks which could only watch the tutor through the Perspex developed a preference for the tutor’s food type and discovered this food type as fast as the chicks of groups with unrestricted interactions. However, a relatively large proportion of groups (3 out of 8) did not develop successful foraging behaviour at all, whereas the successful groups showed longer feeding latencies during the subsequent trials than groups which had unrestricted contact with their tutor. This indicates an inhibiting effect of the duplicate cage procedure. It is concluded that when testing chicks of a few days of age, a distinction should be made between (i) the social influence on food particle preferences and (ii) the social influence on learning where to find food. This is important for generalizations taken from duplicate cage procedures without any environmental enrichment, as this restrictive setting only allows detection of food particle preferences.     

Selected urinary metal reference concentrations of the Viennese population – urinary metal reference values (Vienna)

Reference concentrations of metals are the basis for risk assessment studies and for estimation of type and magnitude of environmental and occupational exposure. Urine is often used as a specimen for monitoring studies, as it plays an important role in the elimination of various substances from the body and in addition it can be collected easily. Therefore, the urinary levels of seven trace elements (Al, Co, Cr, Mo, Nb, Ni, Ti) were determined by atomic spectrometric methods (ICP-MS and GFAAS) in 100 urine samples of the Viennese population. The obtained creatinine adjusted concentrations (medians) are in μg/g 6.1, 1.5, 1.1, 46.2, 0.4, 0.1, and 8.0 for Al, Co, Cr, Mo, Nb, Ni, and Ti, respectively.     

Intergeneric gene transfer mediated by plant protoplast fusion

Summary In attempts at somatic transfer of plant genomes of reduced size, X-irradiated leaf protoplasts of parsley (Petroselinum hortense, 2n=22) were fused with cell culture protoplasts of a nuclear albino mutant of carrot (Daucus carota, 2n=18). Introduction of genes from the irradiated parsley nuclei into the carrot genome was shown by the correction of the albino defect and by the appearance of parsley isoenzymes in selected green tissues and plants. The cytological studies provided information on significant deviation from the amphidiploid chromosome number. The high frequency of cells with 2n=19, 2n=38 and regeneration of plants with 2n=19 chromosomes can indicate that the elimination of parsley chromosomes is incomplete. A correlation was found between the lethality of selected tissues and differentiated or undifferentiated stages of the cells.     

SMA CARNIVAL TRIAL PART II: a prospective, single-armed trial of L-carnitine and valproic acid in ambulatory children with spinal muscular atrophy

Background

Multiple lines of evidence have suggested that valproic acid (VPA) might benefit patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The SMA CARNIVAL TRIAL was a two part prospective trial to evaluate oral VPA and l-carnitine in SMA children. Part 1 targeted non-ambulatory children ages 2–8 in a 12 month cross over design. We report here Part 2, a twelve month prospective, open-label trial of VPA and L-carnitine in ambulatory SMA children.

Methods

This study involved 33 genetically proven type 3 SMA subjects ages 3–17 years. Subjects underwent two baseline assessments over 4–6 weeks and then were placed on VPA and L-carnitine for 12 months. Assessments were performed at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Primary outcomes included safety, adverse events and the change at 6 and 12 months in motor function assessed using the Modified Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Extend (MHFMS-Extend), timed motor tests and fine motor modules. Secondary outcomes included changes in ulnar compound muscle action potential amplitudes (CMAP), handheld dynamometry, pulmonary function, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scores.

Results

Twenty-eight subjects completed the study. VPA and carnitine were generally well tolerated. Although adverse events occurred in 85% of subjects, they were usually mild and transient. Weight gain of 20% above body weight occurred in 17% of subjects. There was no significant change in any primary outcome at six or 12 months. Some pulmonary function measures showed improvement at one year as expected with normal growth. CMAP significantly improved suggesting a modest biologic effect not clinically meaningful.

Conclusions

This study, coupled with the CARNIVAL Part 1 study, indicate that VPA is not effective in improving strength or function in SMA children. The outcomes used in this study are feasible and reliable, and can be employed in future trials in SMA.

Trial Regsitration

Clinicaltrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00227266","term_id":"NCT00227266"}}NCT00227266     

Flexibility in problem solving and tool use of kea and New Caledonian crows in a multi access box paradigm

Parrots and corvids show outstanding innovative and flexible behaviour. In particular, kea and New Caledonian crows are often singled out as being exceptionally sophisticated in physical cognition, so that comparing them in this respect is particularly interesting. However, comparing cognitive mechanisms among species requires consideration of non-cognitive behavioural propensities and morphological characteristics evolved from different ancestry and adapted to fit different ecological niches. We used a novel experimental approach based on a Multi-Access-Box (MAB). Food could be extracted by four different techniques, two of them involving tools. Initially all four options were available to the subjects. Once they reached criterion for mastering one option, this task was blocked, until the subjects became proficient in another solution. The exploratory behaviour differed considerably. Only one (of six) kea and one (of five) NCC mastered all four options, including a first report of innovative stick tool use in kea. The crows were more efficient in using the stick tool, the kea the ball tool. The kea were haptically more explorative than the NCC, discovered two or three solutions within the first ten trials (against a mean of 0.75 discoveries by the crows) and switched more quickly to new solutions when the previous one was blocked. Differences in exploration technique, neophobia and object manipulation are likely to explain differential performance across the set of tasks. Our study further underlines the need to use a diversity of tasks when comparing cognitive traits between members of different species. Extension of a similar method to other taxa could help developing a comparative cognition research program.     

Current distribution and spreading of Euphorbia davidii (E. dentata agg.) in Europe

Of the Euphorbia dentata aggregate, both E. dentata and E. davidii have been reported from Europe. A revision of herbarium and published materials, however, indicates that only E. davidii can be confirmed in Europe. Although known in Europe since 1968, most records are from the 1990s. There are 46 known populations scattered throughout the continent, in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland and France. Most populations are small and restricted to railway areas; however, the species can also invade agricultural fields. Due to its wide distribution, the growing number of recently established populations, and its invasive ability, special attention should be paid to changes in distribution and population sizes in Europe.     

Coloured peptides: synthesis,properties and use in preparation of peptide sub-library kits

Several methods were developed for the solid-phase synthesis (SPPS) of coloured peptides and peptide libraries. At first a bifunctional red compound, 4-(4-(N-ethyl-N-(3-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)aminopropyl)amino)phenylazo)benzoic acid (Boc-EPAB), was coupled with chloromethyl resin to obtain a new solid support suitable for SPPS using Boc chemistry. Peptides synthesized on this coloured resin had the chromophore at their C-termini. N-terminally coloured peptides were synthesized on a traditional solid support, coupled with chromophoric carboxylic acid before cleavage. A model pentapeptide, Phe-Ala-Val-Leu-Gly, and its ten derivatives were synthesized and their properties studied. It was found that the presence of chromophores decreases the water solubility of peptides. However, insertion of solubilizing tags (penta-lysine sequences or polyoxyethyl chains) into the molecule of any coloured derivative resulted in enhancement of the solubility. The RP-HPLC hydrophobicity indexes (φ₀) of the coloured peptides were also determined because φ₀ values are closely related to their water solubility. A coloured pentapeptide library was synthesized using the portioning-mixing method. Each component of this library contained the red azo dye (EPAB) and the penta-lysine tag. Before the last coupling step the samples were not mixed. All of the 19 sub-libraries obtained after cleavage were readily soluble in water, giving intense red solutions. The effect of chromophore (EPAB) and/or penta-lysine solubilizing tag on the biological activity was also studied. Potencies of the bovine neurotensin 8–13 fragment and its different coloured and penta-lysine derivatives were compared in isolated longitudinal muscle strips of guinea pig ileum. It was shown that the hexapeptide with penta-lysine tag had almost the same activity as the 8–13 fragment itself. The activity of the EPAB-derivative was found to be rather low. However, the presence of the solubilizing tag in the coloured hexapeptide compensated the negative effect of the chromophore. © 1998 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Neighboring group participation. Part 16. Stereoselective synthesis and receptor-binding examination of the four stereoisomers of 16-bromomethyl-3,17-estradiols

The four possible isomers of 3-benzyloxy-16-hydroxymethylestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-ol (1a-4a) with proven configurations were converted into the corresponding 3-benzyloxy-16-bromomethylestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17-diols (5e-8e). Depending on the reaction conditions the cis isomers of 3-benzyloxy-16-hydroxymethylestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-ol (1a and 2a) were transformed into 3-benzyloxy-16-bromomethylestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl acetate (5b and 6b) or 16-bromomethyl-3-hydroxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl acetate (5c and 6c) on treatment with HBr and acetic acid. The mechanism of the process can be interpreted as involving front-side neighboring group participation. Under similar experimental conditions, the trans isomers (3a and 4a) yielded only 3-benzyloxy-16-acetoxymethylestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl acetates (3b and 4b) or 16-acetoxymethylestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17-diyl diacetates (3d and 4d). Both the cis (1a and 2a) and the trans (3a, and 4a) isomers were transformed into 16-bromomethylestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-ol (5a-8a) by the Appel reaction on treatment with CBr4/Ph3P. Debenzylation of 5a-8a was carried out with HBr and acetic acid to yield 5e-8e. The debenzylation process in the presence of acetic anhydride produces the diacetates 5d-8d. The structures of the compounds were determined by means of MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic methods. Compounds 5c-8c and 5e-8e were tested in a radioligand-binding assay. Except for the affinity of 7e for the estrogen receptor (Ki=2.55 nM), the affinities of the eight compounds (5c-8c and 5e-8e) for the estrogen, androgen and progesterone receptors are low (Ki > 0.55, 0.52 and 0.21 microM, respectively).     

Toxic Effect of Inorganic Arsenite [As(III)] on Metabolic Activity of Bacillus subtilis by Combined Methods

In this study, microcalorimetry and measurement of culture turbidity were applied to evaluate the As(III) toxic effect on the metabolic growth of Bacillus subtilis. Using a multichannel thermal activity monitor, the power-time curves of the metabolic activity of B. subtilis during growth in the absence and presence of various concentrations of As(III) were obtained and studied. The turbidity changes during B. subtilis growth with As(III) were investigated by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and the data agree with the results obtained by microcalorimetry. As(III) of various concentrations has different effects on the metabolic growth of B. subtilis with biphasic dose-response relationships called hormesis [i.e., low-concentration stimulation (10 microg/mL) and high-concentration inhibition (20-160 microg/mL). Typical J-shapes of the relationship between the growth rate constant (k) and c, and toxicity at the half-inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of 98.82 +/- 7.32 microg/mL were obtained. The similarity between the two methods corroborates the validity and sensitivity of the microcalorimetric technique to investigate the toxic effect of As(III) on microorganisms.     

Lithocholic acid,a bacterial metabolite reduces breast cancer cell proliferation and aggressiveness

Our study aimed at finding a mechanistic relationship between the gut microbiome and breast cancer. Breast cancer cells are not in direct contact with these microbes, but disease could be influenced by bacterial metabolites including secondary bile acids that are exclusively synthesized by the microbiome and known to enter the human circulation. In murine and bench experiments, a secondary bile acid, lithocholic acid (LCA) in concentrations corresponding to its tissue reference concentrations (< 1 μM), reduced cancer cell proliferation (by 10–20%) and VEGF production (by 37%), aggressiveness and metastatic potential of primary tumors through inducing mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition, increased antitumor immune response, OXPHOS and the TCA cycle. Part of these effects was due to activation of TGR5 by LCA. Early stage breast cancer patients, versus control women, had reduced serum LCA levels, reduced chenodeoxycholic acid to LCA ratio, and reduced abundance of the baiH (7α/β-hydroxysteroid dehydroxylase, the key enzyme in LCA generation) gene in fecal DNA, all suggesting reduced microbial generation of LCA in early breast cancer.