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Activity Patterns (activity + pattern)
Kinds of Activity Patterns Selected AbstractsAGING-RELATED INFLUENCES ON ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN THE SUPRAHYOID MUSCLES DURING SWALLOWING: PRELIMINARY ANALYSISJOURNAL OF SENSORY STUDIES, Issue 4 2007YOZO MIYAOKA ABSTRACT Swallowing-related muscle activity patterns were compared between an elderly group and young and middle-aged groups to evaluate whether aging affects activity patterns of swallowing-related muscles. A new technique for evaluation of muscular activity patterns (TP technique) was used for the suprahyoid (SH) muscles during swallowing of ordinary agar and gelatin in the three groups (five subjects each). The evaluations for these test foods in the elderly group were similar to those in the young and middle-aged groups, and statistical examination showed no significant differences among the three groups. In addition, other evaluations based on the TP technique (InP, which were calculated by subtracting the preceding TP,10 values from TP) in the elderly group differed in part from those of the other two groups for gelatin. The present results suggest that the overall activity pattern of swallowing-related muscles is basically preserved in the elderly, but slight, partial changes occur with age. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS An aging society may increase the demand for production of special foods adjusted to some of the elderly. To respond to this demand, we need careful analysis of the characteristics of chewing and swallowing functions of the elderly. The present study showed slight and partial changes in the activity patterns of swallowing-related muscles with age and that the "TP technique" the authors developed was useful to detect the changes. The detection suggests that the analysis of activity patterns with our technique can help designs for production of foods specially for the elderly. [source] DIFFERENTIATION OF SUPRAHYOID ACTIVITY PATTERNS DURING SWALLOWING OF UMAMI-TASTING FOODSJOURNAL OF SENSORY STUDIES, Issue 6 2006YOZO MIYAOKA ABSTRACT In the preceding study, the present authors differentiated the activity patterns of the suprahyoid (SH) muscles during pharyngeal swallowing of tasty and tasteless foods by using "TP" values that assigned activity of electromyograms (EMG) to a standardized time scale. In the present study, we calculated not only the TP values but also the InP values (by subtracting the preceding TP-10 values from TP) to analyze activity patterns of the SH EMG during pharyngeal swallowing of foods dissolved in unitary (monosodium glutamate [MSG] and disodium inosine-5,-monophosphate [IMP]) and binary (MSG + IMP) "umami-" tasting solutions of low and high concentration. We found that SH activity patterns differed slightly between low and high concentration of unitary and binary umami-tasting foods, but that SH activity patterns measured while swallowing umami-tasting foods did not differ from those measured while swallowing sweet- or salty-tasting foods, or tasteless food. [source] Physical Activity Pattern of Prepubescent Filipino School Children During School DaysJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 7 2009Consuelo B. Gonzalez-Suarez MD ABSTRACT Background:, Little is known about pre-pubescent Filipino children's involvement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). There are international guidelines regarding required levels of MVPA for healthy children. Methods:, This study describes participation of 11- to 12-year-olds in randomly selected public and private schools in San Juan, Metromanila, in MVPA and sports during a school day. The Filipino-modified Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (F_PAQ_C) was administered in English and Filipino. Additional data was collected on sex, age, type of school, and amount of time spent using television and computers. Children's self-assessment of physical activities (1 question in the F_PAQ_C) was correlated with their cumulative F_PAQ_C score. Results:, Three hundred eighty subjects (167 boys, 213 girls) participated. Participation in MVPA varied between sex and age groups, from 56.1% to 65.0%. Fewer than 10% of participants were very active. The children were more active during physical education classes than at recess or lunch, after class, or in the evening. Walking for exercise, jumping, jogging and running, free play, and dance were most common. Boys, younger children, and private school students most commonly engaged in MVPA. Self-assessed physical activity had modest correlation (r2= 0.21) with cumulative F_PAQ_C score, after adjusting for sex, age, and school type. Conclusion:, Most children were not physically active during the school day, except in physical education classes. To reduce the gap between recommended and current activity levels, more opportunities should be provided for preteen Filipino children to engage in MVPA during and after school. [source] GIS Methods in Time-Geographic Research: Geocomputation and Geovisualization of Human Activity PatternsGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES B: HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2004Mei-Po Kwan Abstract Over the past 40 years or so, human activities and movements in space-time have attracted considerable research interest in geography. One of the earliest analytical perspectives for the analysis of human activity patterns and movements in space-time is time geography. Despite the usefulness of time geography in many areas of geographical research, there are very few studies that actually implemented its constructs as analytical methods up to the mid-1990s. With increasing availability of geo-referenced individual-level data and improvement in the geo-computational capabilities of Geographical Information Systems (GIS), it is now more feasible than ever before to operationalize and implement time-geographic constructs. This paper discusses recent applications of GIS-based geo-computation and three-dimensional (3-D) geo-visualization methods in time-geographic research. The usefulness of these methods is illustrated through examples drawn from the author's recent studies. The paper attempts to show that GIS provides an effective environment for implementing time-geographic constructs and for the future development of operational methods in time-geographic research. [source] Activity pattern of the marine shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone 1931) in laboratory as a function of different feeding frequenciesAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 1 2009Patrícia Pereira De Lima Abstract Management practices on most Brazilian shrimp farms have resulted in high expenses for producers and damage to the environment. Applied ethology could provide information on the pattern of shrimp activity, enabling more efficient feeding frequencies. Behavioural activities of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei were recorded during different feeding frequencies. The shrimp were kept in aquariums on a 12:12 h light/dark cycle. They were fed commercial ration three (at 6:00, 12:00 and 18:00 hours), four (at 6:00, 10:00, 14:00 and 18:00 hours) or seven times per day (at 6:00. 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00 hours). We observed animals at 15 min,1 aquarium,1 time periods, recording feeding, substrate exploration, swimming and inactivity. Feeding and exploration were the highest for shrimp fed three times per day, swimming was greatest when animals received four feedings, whereas inactivity was higher for shrimp fed seven times per day. There was greater food ingestion between 12:00 and 14:00 hours for animals fed three and four times per day, whereas swimming was high mainly at 18:00 hours for shrimp fed three and seven times per day. The results indicate higher forage-related activities (exploration/ingestion) when feed was offered three or four times, suggesting optimization in the pattern of shrimp activities based on these feeding frequencies. [source] Spondylolysis in a pre-contact San Francisco Bay population: behavioural and anatomical sex differencesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 3 2009E. Weiss Abstract Spondylolysis refers to a separation of the spinal body from the arch. Researchers have documented that these fractures occur due to stresses related to activities involving the lower limb and back. Spondylolysis in sacral and lumbar vertebrae of 146 (66 males, 66 females, 14 indeterminates) California Amerinds were examined to determine whether sex differences were present. Sacral anatomy (i.e. sacralisation and lumbarisation, sacral base angles, and superior facet morphology) was analysed in relation to spondylolysis and sex, to explore whether sex differences could be better explained through activity patterns or anatomical variation. Spondylolysis afflicted 24 individuals (16.4%). Males had more than twice the rate of spondylolysis than did females (26% and 11%, respectively). Activity patterns, such as thrusting and throwing shafted obsidian points, could explain the sex differences. Males were most frequently buried with obsidian point artefacts, whereas females were buried with mortar and pestles. For sacral anatomy, only males had lumbarisation, and all other anatomical variation had no significant sex differences. Lumbarisation related to spondylolysis in males. In this study, sacral anatomical variation could not fully account for sex differences in spondylolysis; activity patterns provided a better explanation. Nonetheless, anatomical variation may predispose males to spondylolysis, or spondylolysis may affect sacral anatomy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Population status, structure and activity patterns of the Bohor reedbuck Redunca redunca in the north of the Bale Mountains National Park, EthiopiaAFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Bezawork Afework Abstract The Bohor reedbucks Redunca redunca (Pallas, 1767) were studied in the Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP), Ethiopia to assess their population ecology and activity patterns. The total count method was used to assess population size. Activity patterns of a herd were studied with five minutes recording intervals. There were 406 Bohor reedbucks in the study area of which 96.8% (n = 393) was confined to the Gaysay-Adelay area. The population was female-biased. Excluding juveniles, 57.1% (n = 232) was females and 33.5% (n = 136) was males. More adults (71.7%, n = 291) were observed than sub-adults (18.9%, n = 77) and juveniles (9.4%, n = 38). The herd size of Bohor reedbucks varied from 3 to 5. Herds were seen in aggregations of up to 59 individuals during the dry season in swamp grassland habitat. The maximum number observed in such aggregations during the wet season was 38. The diurnal activity pattern showed feeding peaks early in the morning and late in the afternoon, with resting during the mid-day. Two feeding peaks were observed in the nocturnal activity phase: one during dusk and the other around midnight. In contradiction to the general concept of occurrence of smaller herds during the dry season, the Bohor reedbucks aggregate in swamps during the dry season. They were also active during night and day time. Résumé On a étudié les reduncas Redunca redunca (Pallas, 1767) dans le Parc National des Bale Mountains (BMNP), en Ethiopie, pour connaître l'écologie et le schéma des activités de leur population. On a utilisé la méthode des comptages totaux pour évaluer la taille de la population. On a étudié le schéma des activités d'une harde en rapportant les observations à intervalles de cinq minutes. Il y avait 406 reduncas dans l'aire étudiée; 96,8% (n = 393) d'entre eux étaient confinés dans la région Gaysay-Adalay. La population était biaisée en faveur des femelles. Si l'on exclut les juvéniles, 57,1% (n = 232) étaient des femelles et de 33,5% (n = 136) étaient des mâles. On a observé plus d'adultes (71,7%, n = 291) que de subadultes (18,9%, n = 77) et de juvéniles (9,4%, n = 38). La taille d'une harde de reduncas variait de 3 à 5 individus. On a observé des agrégats de hardes allant jusqu'à 59 individus en saison sèche, dans la prairie marécageuse. Le plus grand agrégat de ce genre observé en saison des pluies comptait 38 individus. Le schéma d'activité diurne présentait des pics de nourrissage tôt le matin et en fin d'après-midi, et du repos pendant la mi-journée. On a observé deux pics de nourrissage pendant la phase d'activité nocturne : une au crépuscule et l'autre autour de minuit. Contrairement à l'idée générale selon laquelle les plus petites hardes s'observent pendant la saison sèche, les reduncas se rassemblent dans les marais pendant cette saison. Ils sont aussi actifs le jour et la nuit. [source] Spatial representation of odorant structure in the moth antennal lobe: A study of structure,response relationships at low dosesTHE JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY, Issue 1 2003Jocelijn Meijerink Abstract How odorant structure and concentration are spatially represented within the primary olfactory integration center, the antennal lobe (AL) or olfactory bulb (OB) in invertebrates and vertebrates, respectively, is currently a topic of high interest. Here, we show the spatial representation of odorant structure in the antennal lobe of the moth Spodoptera littoralis by imaging calcium activity evoked by straight chain aliphatic alcohols and aldehydes at low doses. Activity patterns of a given odor were most similar to compounds with the same functional group, differing in chain length by only one carbon atom. A chain length dependency was present as the most activated glomerulus in the lobe shifted from a medial to a lateral position with increasing chain length of the molecule. Statistical analysis revealed that in both classes of chemicals the chain length of the molecule was represented in a similar way. No topographically fixed domains were observed for any of the classes. However, activity patterns evoked by lower chain length molecules were spatially more distinct than patterns evoked by higher chain length molecules. The number of activated glomeruli for both classes of chemicals increased with increasing chain length to reach a maximum at eight or nine C atoms followed by a decrease as the chain length further increased. J. Comp. Neurol. 467:11,21, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Activity patterns of abalone under experimental conditionsAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 3 2001K Nakamura Abstract Locomotion behaviour of the abalone, Nordotis discus (Reeve), N. gigantea (Gmelin) and Sulculus aquatilis (Reeve), was observed for 5- to 10-day periods during the early summer and autumn from 1997 to 1999. Before sunset, the animals were individually put beneath each shelter situated on the flat concrete floor of indoor and outdoor tanks. For tracing of the locomotion path, a luminous rod was fixed on the animal's shell. Except for non-appearance, the locomotion behaviour showed leaving or homing; these ratios against each total observation according to each species were 70.0% and 16.7% in N. discus, 47.1 and 23.5% in N. gigantea and 57.6 and 24.2% in S. aquatilis respectively. Irrespective of species, recurrences to the home were frequently recognized during the locomotion. For the homing behaviour, its critical distance was approximately 1 m from the home. Moonlight did not completely restrain the abalone appearance from the home, though the appearance frequency during the period around the full moon was lowered and in some cases the time of initial appearance was retarded. [source] Development of an Estimation Procedure for an Activity-Based Travel Demand ModelCOMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 7 2008W. Recker The method uses a genetic algorithm to estimate coefficient values of the utility function, based on a particular multidimensional sequence alignment method to deal with the nominal, discrete attributes of the activity/travel pattern (e.g., which household member performs which activity, which vehicle is used, sequencing of activities), and a time sequence alignment method to handle temporal attributes of the activity pattern (e.g., starting and ending time of each activity and/or travel). The estimation procedure is tested on data drawn from a well-known activity/travel survey. [source] Loss of photic entrainment at low illuminances in rats with acute photoreceptor degenerationEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 8 2009Domitille L. Boudard Abstract In several species, an acute injection of N -methyl- N -nitrosourea (MNU) induces a retinal degeneration characterized principally by a rapid loss of the outer nuclear layer, the other layers remaining structurally intact. It has, however, also been reported that down-regulation of melanopsin gene expression is associated with the degeneration and is detectable soon after injection. Melanopsin is expressed by a small subset of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells and plays an important role in circadian behaviour photoentrainment. We injected MNU into Long Evans rats and investigated the ability of animals to entrain to three light/dark cycles of different light intensities (300, 15 and 1 lux). Control animals entrained their locomotor activity rhythms to the three cycles. In contrast, MNU-treated animals could only entrain properly to the 300 lux cycle. For the 15 lux cycle, their phase angle was much altered compared with control animals, and for the 1 lux cycle, MNU-injected animals were unable to photoentrain and exhibited an apparent free-run activity pattern with a period of 24.3 h. Subsequent to behavioural studies the animals were killed and rod, cone, melanopsin expression and melanopsin-expressing cells were quantified. Rod and cone loss was almost complete, melanopsin protein was reduced by 83% and melanopsin-expressing cells were reduced by 37%. Our study provides a comprehensive model of photoreceptor degeneration at the adult stage and a simple and versatile method to investigate the relation between retinal photoreceptors and the circadian system. [source] Comparative activity pattern during foraging of four albatross speciesIBIS, Issue 1 2002Henri Weimerskirch The activity patterns of foraging Yellow-nosed Diomedea chlororhynchos, Sooty Phoebetria fusca, Black-browed D. melanophris impavida and Grey-headed Albatross D. chrysostoma were compared using loggers recording the timing of landing and take-offs, as well as the duration of bouts in flight or on the water, and the overall time spent in flight. The four species spent a similar proportion of their foraging time in flight (56,65%). During the day they were mostly flying (77,85% of the daylight period) whereas at night they were mainly (61,71%) sitting on the water. The amount of time spent in flight during the daytime foraging period was related to the amount of time spent sitting on the water at night. Differences between species occurred in the duration of bouts in flight and on the water as well as in the frequency of landings and in the time elapsed between successive landings. Yellow-nosed Albatrosses were more active than the other species, with more frequent short bouts in flight and more frequent successive landings at short intervals. Sooty Albatrosses landed or took-off less often than the other species and were more active just before dusk. Black-browed and Grey-headed Albatrosses were more active at night, especially the first part of the night and far from the colonies. Their trips consisted of a commuting part and a foraging part. Black-browed Albatrosses landed more often during the foraging than the commuting part, suggesting that they were not searching when travelling. The study suggests that there is no fundamental difference between the overall activity budgets of the four species although they show distinctive diet, morphology and life history traits. The differences observed between the four species were related mainly to differences in foraging technique. Comparison with the Wandering Albatross, the only species for which data were available previously, suggest that this larger species might differ completely in foraging technique from the smaller albatrosses. [source] Prey selection by flounder, Platichthys flesus, in the Douro estuary, PortugalJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 3 2008C. Vinagre Summary Prey selection by the flounder, Platichthys flesus (Linnaeus, 1758), in an estuarine nursery was investigated and the major factors influencing food choice by this species were assessed. Diet breadth was narrow, reflecting the low prey diversity observed in the benthos. A gradual ontogenetic shift from small prey such as amphipods to larger prey like polychaetes and bivalves was observed. Amphipods had positive electivity values in the upper estuary and negative values in the lower estuary.Polychaetes showed the inverse pattern. Bivalve electivity values were always positive. Differential selectivity throughout the estuary was mainly related to spatial segregation of flounders according to size, with the smaller individuals concentrating in the upper estuary and larger individuals concentrating in the lower estuary. Amphipods such as Corophium spp. play a crucial role in the flounder diet because of their small size, low mobility and diel activity pattern. As prey, the polychaete value increases throughout flounder ontogeny since the flounder size range is compatible with the larger mouth gapes and detection ability of larger fish. Bivalve electivity values for flounder are mainly related to high calorific values. The absence of Crangon crangon (Linnaeus, 1758) in the diet may be due to low water temperature since the cost,benefit involved in the capture of highly mobile prey is too high at low temperatures. It was concluded that flounder must use several sensory features to detect and capture prey in turbid estuarine waters and that field studies provide important background information on the actual predator preferences under natural conditions. [source] Rhythmogenesis in Vasopressin CellsJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 9 2004C. H. Brown Abstract Many neurones in the central nervous system possess intrinsic pattern-generating properties, including vasopressin magnocellular neurosecretory cells. Synaptic input to vasopressin cells is not rhythmically patterned and yet these neurones fire action potentials in a ,phasic' activity pattern comprised of alternating periods of activity and silence that each last tens of seconds. This review describes the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms that generate phasic activity in vasopressin cells, highlighting recent work that has shown phasic activity to result from feedback modulation of synaptic inputs, and of intrinsic membrane properties, by peptides released from the dendrites of vasopressin cells. [source] Preliminary rapport on head posture and muscle activity in subjects with class I and IIJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 11 2005I. C. GADOTTI summary, Forward head posture may cause alterations in the stomatognathic system, including changes in the muscle activity of the masticatory muscles and dental occlusion alterations. Considering the need for further understanding of the relationship between the stomatognathic system and the cervical region, the purpose of this study was to analyse the head posture and the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the anterior portion of temporal and masseter muscles bilaterally among bruxist's subjects with different dental occlusion classifications using the Angle method. The study consisted of 20 female volunteers, between the ages of 17 and 27 years. They were separated into two groups (class I and class II occlusions) according to a dentist-performed evaluation. An assessment of forward head posture was conducted using a photographic technique (angular calculus) combined with a clinical analysis. In the EMG analyses, active differential surface electrodes (Ag) were utilized and were placed bilaterally on the belly of masseter and temporal muscles, perpendicular to the muscles fibres. The EMG signal recorded during bilateral isotonic mastication, was presented using the Root Mean Square and was processed by Matlab software. The results indicated that the EMG responses of temporal and masseter muscles tend to be modified by occlusion alteration class II. Subjects with class II occlusion tended to present more occurrence of forward head posture with alterations in the muscle activity pattern between masseter and temporal muscles. [source] Specificity of muscle action after anterior cruciate ligament injuryJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 6 2003Glenn N. Williams Abstract Neuromuscular control is believed to be a critical factor in dynamic knee stability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate voluntary muscle control in anterior cruciate ligament deficient (ACL-D) and uninjured people. Twenty athletes of similar age participated in this study. Subjects performed a target-matching protocol that required them to produce isometric moments about the knee with fine control in flexion, extension, varus, and valgus (i.e., loads were generated in the plane perpendicular to the long axis of the shank). Electromyographic data were collected from 10 muscles that span the knee. A specificity index was calculated for each muscle to describe how fine-tuned (specific) its muscle activity pattern was with respect to its principal direction of action in the load plane. Diminished specificity of muscle action was observed in 8 of 10 muscles in the ACL-D subjects' involved knees when compared with the activity patterns from their uninvolved knees and those from the uninjured subjects' knees. The vastus lateralis muscle was especially affected. Increased and more global co-contraction was also observed in the ACL-D limbs. The alterations in muscle firing patterns observed in this study are consistent with diminished neuromuscular control. © 2003 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [source] AGING-RELATED INFLUENCES ON ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN THE SUPRAHYOID MUSCLES DURING SWALLOWING: PRELIMINARY ANALYSISJOURNAL OF SENSORY STUDIES, Issue 4 2007YOZO MIYAOKA ABSTRACT Swallowing-related muscle activity patterns were compared between an elderly group and young and middle-aged groups to evaluate whether aging affects activity patterns of swallowing-related muscles. A new technique for evaluation of muscular activity patterns (TP technique) was used for the suprahyoid (SH) muscles during swallowing of ordinary agar and gelatin in the three groups (five subjects each). The evaluations for these test foods in the elderly group were similar to those in the young and middle-aged groups, and statistical examination showed no significant differences among the three groups. In addition, other evaluations based on the TP technique (InP, which were calculated by subtracting the preceding TP,10 values from TP) in the elderly group differed in part from those of the other two groups for gelatin. The present results suggest that the overall activity pattern of swallowing-related muscles is basically preserved in the elderly, but slight, partial changes occur with age. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS An aging society may increase the demand for production of special foods adjusted to some of the elderly. To respond to this demand, we need careful analysis of the characteristics of chewing and swallowing functions of the elderly. The present study showed slight and partial changes in the activity patterns of swallowing-related muscles with age and that the "TP technique" the authors developed was useful to detect the changes. The detection suggests that the analysis of activity patterns with our technique can help designs for production of foods specially for the elderly. [source] Influence of Temperature on the Liver Circadian Clock in the Ruin Lizard Podarcis siculaMICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 7 2007Manuela Malatesta Abstract Reptiles represent an interesting animal model to investigate the influence of temperature on molecular circadian clocks. The ruin lizard Podarcis sicula lives in a continental climate and it is subjected to wide range of environmental temperatures during the course of the year. As consequence, ruin lizard daily activity pattern includes either the hibernation or periods of inactivity determined by hypothermia. Here we showed the rhythmic expression of two clock genes, lPer2 and lClock, in the liver of active lizards exposed to summer photo-thermoperiodic conditions. Interestingly, the exposition of lizards to hypothermic conditions, typical of winter season, induced a strong dampening of clock genes mRNA rhythmicity with a coincident decrease of levels. We also examined the qualitative and quantitative distribution of lPER2 and lCLOCK protein in different cellular compartments during the 24-h cycle. In the liver of active lizards both proteins showed a rhythmic expression profile in all cellular compartments. After 3 days at 6°C, some temporal fluctuations of the lCLOCK and lPER2 are still detectable, although, with some marked modifications in respect to the values detected in the liver of active lizards. Besides demonstrating the influence of low temperature on the lizard liver circadian oscillators, present results could provide new essential information for comparative studies on the influence of temperature on the circadian system across vertebrate classes. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Compliance of the bladder neck supporting structures: Importance of activity pattern of levator ani muscle and content of elastic fibers of endopelvic fasciaNEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 4 2003Matija Barbi Abstract Aims Firm bladder neck support during cough, suggested to be needed for effective abdominal pressure transmission to the urethra, might depend on activity of the levator ani muscle and elasticity of endopelvic fascia. Methods The study group of 32 patients with stress urinary incontinence and hypermobile bladder neck, but without genitourinary prolapse, were compared with the control group of 28 continent women with stable bladder neck. The height of the bladder neck (HBN) and compliance of the bladder neck support (C) were assessed, the latter by the quotient of the bladder neck mobility during cough and the change in abdominal pressure. By using wire electrodes, the integrated full-wave rectified electromyographic (EMGave) signal of the levator ani muscle was recorded simultaneously with urethral and bladder pressures. The pressure transmission ratio (PTR), time interval between the onset of muscle activation and bladder pressure increment (,T), and area under the EMGave curve during cough (EMGcough) were calculated. From bioptic samples of endopelvic fascia connecting the vaginal wall and levator ani muscle, elastic fiber content was assessed by point counting method. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare all the variables. Correlations between the parameters were evaluated by using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results In the study group, HBN was significantly lower (P,<,0.001), C was significantly greater (P,<,0.001), and PTR was significantly lower (P,<,0.001). In the study group, the muscular activation started later (median, ,Tl, ,0.147 second; ,Tr, ,0.150 second), and in the control group, it preceded (,Tl, 0.025 second; P,<,0.001; ,Tr, 0.050 second; P,<,0.001) the bladder pressure increment. EMGcough on the left side was significantly greater in the study group (P,<,0.046). Elastic fiber content showed no difference between the groups. The analysis of all patients revealed negative correlations between C and PTR (r,=,,0.546; P,<,0.001) and between C and ,Tl (r,=,,0.316; P,<,0.018). Conclusions Firm bladder neck support enables effective pressure transmission. Timely activation of the levator ani seems to be an important feature. Neurourol. Urodynam. 22:269,276, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Ecological correlates of infraorbital foramen area in primatesAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Magdalena N. Muchlinski Abstract The infraorbital foramen (IOF) transmits the infraorbital nerve (ION) to specialized sensory cells (mechanoreceptors) in the maxillary region. The size of the IOF has been used in numerous paleoecological interpretations of the fossil record. However, these interpretations have been applied without an explicit analysis of the relationship between ecological variables and the IOF. ION and IOF cross-sectional area show a strong positive correlation. As a result, IOF area can be a proxy for ION area, and it is hypothesized that IOF area may be a good measure for maxillary somatosensory acuity. Differences in diet, substrate preference, and/or activity pattern have been shown to correlate with differences in maxillary somatosensory acuity among mammals. This study examines how IOF area covaries with different ecological variables. IOF area was measured for 89 primate species. Ecological profiles were also created for each species and used to evaluate interspecific variation in relative IOF area within each ecological category. The results show a significant relationship between relative IOF area and diet, but not substrate preference or activity pattern. Frugivores have significantly larger relative IOFs than either folivores or insectivores, but the relative IOFs of folivores and insectivores do not differ significantly from one another. These results partially support the hypothesis that maxillary mechanoreception is a critical sensory cue for primates within a feeding context. Results for this study suggest the IOF can be used as an informative character in some paleoecological interpretations of the primate fossil record. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Differences in diet and activity pattern between two groups of Alouatta palliata associated with the availability of big trees and fruit of top food taxaAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 8 2009Jacob C. Dunn Abstract The threat that forest fragmentation and habitat loss presents for several Alouatta taxa requires us to determine the key elements that may promote the persistence of howler monkeys in forest fragments and to evaluate how changes in the availability of these elements may affect their future conservation prospects. In this study we analyzed the relationship between the availability of both big trees of top food taxa (BTTFT) (diameter at breast height>60) and fruit of top food taxa (FrTFT) in the home ranges of two groups of Alouatta palliata mexicana occupying different forest fragments in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico, and their diet and activity pattern. Both study groups preferred big trees for feeding and the group with lower availability of BTTFT in their home range fed from more, smaller food sources. Furthermore, both study groups also increased the number of food sources when their consumption of fruit decreased, and the group with lower availability of FrTFT in their home range fed from more food sources. The increase in the number of food sources used under such conditions, in turn, set up a process of higher foraging effort and lower rest. In summary, our results support other studies that suggest that the availability of big trees and fruit may be two important elements influencing the persistence of howler monkeys in forest fragments. Am. J. Primatol. 71:654,662, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Visual acuity in the cathemeral strepsirrhine Eulemur macaco flavifronsAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Carrie C. Veilleux Abstract Studies of visual acuity in primates have shown that diurnal haplorhines have higher acuity (30,75 cycles per degree (c/deg)) than most other mammals. However, relatively little is known about visual acuity in non-haplorhine primates, and published estimates are only available for four strepsirrhine genera (Microcebus, Otolemur, Galago, and Lemur). We present here the first measurements of visual acuity in a cathemeral strepsirrhine species, the blue-eyed black lemur (Eulemur macaco flavifrons). Acuity in two subjects, a 3-year-old male and a 16-year-old female, was assessed behaviorally using a two-alternative forced choice discrimination task. Visual stimuli consisted of high contrast square wave gratings of seven spatial frequencies. Acuity threshold was determined using a 70% correct response criterion. Results indicate a maximum visual acuity of 5.1,c/deg for the female (1718 trials) and 3.8,c/deg for the male (846 trials). These values for E. macaco are slightly lower than those reported for diurnal Lemur catta, and are generally comparable to those reported for nocturnal Microcebus murinus and Otolemur crassicaudatus. To examine ecological sources of variation in primate visual acuity, we also calculated maximum theoretical acuity for Cheirogaleus medius (2.8,c/deg) and Tarsius syrichta (8.9,c/deg) using published data on retinal ganglion cell density and eye morphology. These data suggest that visual acuity in primates may be influenced by activity pattern, diet, and phylogenetic history. In particular, the relatively high acuity of T. syrichta and Galago senegalensis suggests that visual predation may be an important selective factor favoring high visual acuity in primates. Am. J. Primatol. 71:343,352, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Mutational changes in S-cone opsin genes common to both nocturnal and cathemeral Aotus monkeysAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 7 2007David H. Levenson Abstract Aotus is a platyrrhine primate that has been classically considered to be nocturnal. Earlier research revealed that this animal lacks a color vision capacity because, unlike all other platyrrhine monkeys, Aotus has a defect in the opsin gene that is required to produce short-wavelength sensitive (S) cone photopigment. Consequently, Aotus retains only a single type of cone photopigment. Other mammals have since been found to show similar losses and it has often been speculated that such change is in some fashion tied to nocturnality. Although most species of Aotus are indeed nocturnal, recent observations show that Aotus azarai, an owl monkey species native to portions of Argentina and Paraguay, displays a cathemeral activity pattern being active during daylight hours as frequently as during nighttime hours. We have sequenced portions of the S-cone opsin gene in A. azarai and Aotus nancymaae, the latter a typically nocturnal species. The S-cone opsin genes in both species contain the same fatal defects earlier detected for Aotus trivirgatus. On the basis of the phylogenetic relationships of these three species these results imply that Aotus must have lost a capacity for color vision early in its history and they also suggest that the absence of color vision is not compulsively linked to a nocturnal lifestyle. Am. J. Primatol. 69:757,765, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Pontine respiratory-modulated activity before and after vagotomy in decerebrate catsTHE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 17 2008Thomas E. Dick The dorsolateral (DL) pons modulates the respiratory pattern. With the prevention of lung inflation during central inspiratory phase (no-inflation (no-I or delayed-I) tests), DL pontine neuronal activity increased the strength and consistency of its respiratory modulation, properties measured statistically by the ,2 value. This increase could result from enhanced respiratory-modulated drive arising from the medulla normally gated by vagal activity. We hypothesized that DL pontine activity during delayed-I tests would be comparable to that following vagotomy. Ensemble recordings of neuronal activity were obtained before and after vagotomy and during delayed-I tests in decerebrate, paralysed and ventilated cats. In general, changes in activity pattern during the delayed-I tests were similar to those after vagotomy, with the exception of firing-rate differences at the inspiratory,expiratory phase transition. Even activity that was respiratory-modulated with the vagi intact became more modulated while withholding lung inflation and following vagotomy. Furthermore, we recorded activity that was excited by lung inflation as well as changes that persisted past the stimulus cycle. Computer simulations of a recurrent inhibitory neural network model account not only for enhanced respiratory modulation with vagotomy but also the varied activities observed with the vagi intact. We conclude that (a) DL pontine neurones receive both vagal-dependent excitatory inputs and central respiratory drive; (b) even though changes in pontine activity are transient, they can persist after no-I tests whether or not changes in the respiratory pattern occur in the subsequent cycles; and (c) models of respiratory control should depict a recurrent inhibitory circuitry, which can act to maintain the stability and provide plasticity to the respiratory pattern. [source] Morphologic Correlates for Laryngeal Reinnervation,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 11 2001Richard R. Gacek MD Abstract Objective To describe morphologic correlates for laryngeal reinnervation. Study Design Review of anatomic experiments dealing with laryngeal innervation performed over a 25-year period. Methods Description of results from experimental studies on the cat and human laryngeal muscles and nerve supply. Results Despite separation of abductor and adductor laryngeal motor neurons in the central nervous system, the mixture of abductor and adductor axons in the recurrent laryngeal nerve indicates that selective re-innervation of an individual laryngeal muscle must be accomplished at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of the muscle. The optimal time for a reinnervating neural source to re-occupy vacated NMJ is at the time of denervation. If the reinnervation procedure is attempted long (>1 mo) after denervation, extraneous end plates of other neural systems must be eliminated to provide vacant NMJ. The nerve muscle pedicle (NMP) concept is an effective model for reinnervation of a laryngeal muscle provided its activity pattern is similar to that of the denervated muscle and its insertion into vacated NMJ is timely. Conclusion NMP offers a logical method for selective laryngeal muscle reinnervation. Critical to the success of NMP are the physiological input to the NMP and timing of NMP implantation. [source] Possible contemporary evolution in an endangered species, the Santa Cruz Island foxANIMAL CONSERVATION, Issue 2 2009H. M. Swarts Abstract An ability to mount rapid evolutionary responses to environmental change may be necessary for species persistence in a human-dominated world. We present evidence of the possibility of such contemporary evolution in the anti-predator behaviour of the critically endangered Santa Cruz Island fox Urocyon littoralis. In 1994, golden eagles colonized Santa Cruz Island, CA and devastated the predator-naïve, endemic island fox population by 95% within 10 years. In 1992, just before the arrival of golden eagles, foxes showed substantial diurnal activity, but diurnal activity was 37.0% lower in 2003,2007, after golden eagle colonization; concurrently, overall activity declined and nocturnal activity increased. Moreover, on nearby Santa Catalina Island, where golden eagles were absent but where the fox population recently crashed due to a disease epidemic, remaining foxes were significantly more diurnally active than were those on Santa Cruz Island. The weight of evidence suggests that the change in activity pattern was a response to predation, not to low population density, and that this was probably a heritable rather than a learned behavioural trait. This behavioural change may allow for prolonged island fox persistence, but also potentially represents a loss of behavioural diversity in fox populations. [source] Negotiating "Streets for All" in Urban Transport Planning: The Case for Pedestrians, Cyclists and Street Vendors in Nairobi, KenyaANTIPODE, Issue 1 2010Meleckidzedeck Khayesi Abstract:, This paper uses the concept of "streets for all" as the analytical basis to critique the neglect of pedestrians, cyclists and street vendors in transport policy and practice in the city of Nairobi. The paper shows that transport planning in Nairobi has not adequately taken care of informal economy and non-motorized transport such as walking and cycling. This has resulted in competing use of pavements and roads, exposing pedestrians, cyclists and street vendors to insecurity and harassment. The paper calls for inclusive transport planning for multiple street activities, which requires implementing a "streets for all" policy. Such a policy needs to be critically pursued at the level of dealing with the institutional and structural bias in urban transport planning towards motorized traffic and the overall urban development that does not adequately consider the spatio-temporal activity pattern and the life of pedestrians, cyclists and vendors on the streets. [source] Summer activity patterns of nocturnal Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) of the southern tablelands of New South WalesAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2007Martin J Steinbauer Abstract, Australia has a rich diversity of Scarabaeoidea; however, little is known about the majority of them. Because adults of Anoplognathus, Automolius, Heteronychus, Heteronyx and Liparetrus in particular are reliant upon eucalypts, a number of bluegum plantation companies supported the commencement of research into the biology and ecology of scarabs of economic significance to them. Consequently, it was decided that the occurrences of species endemic to this area would be studied and it was assumed that information on the nocturnal species in the aforementioned genera would be obtained. From late November 2003 until late February 2004, the abundances of Scarabaeoidea caught in two light traps that partition insects caught on a given night into seven time periods each of 1.75 h duration were recorded. A total of 48 263 scarabs representing 21 genera were caught. Within the 14 species caught most often, six types of summer activity pattern were apparent: late spring to early summer (Australobolbus gayndahensis), early to mid-summer (Scitala sericans), mid-summer only (Sericesthis ignota), mid- to late summer (Acrossidius tasmaniae, Aphodius lividus, Heteronyx chlorotica, Het. praecox and Antitrogus morbillosus), late summer only (Ataenius picinus) and all summer (Anoplognathus pallidicollis, Phyllotocus macleayi, Sericesthis geminata, Ser. micans and Ser. nigrolineata). Abundances of nine species peaked between 21:30 and 23:15 h (Aph. lividus, Phy. macleayi, Het. chlorotica, Sci. sericans, Ser. geminata, Ser. micans, Ser. nigrolineata and possibly also Ant. morbillosus), three were most abundant between 19:45 and 21:30 h (Ano. pallidicollis, Ser. ignota and possibly also Ata. picinus), another two were most abundant from 19:45 to 23:15 h (Acr. tasmaniae and Het. praecox) and Aus. gayndahensis was most abundant between 23:15 and 01:00 h. Of course, it is not just a knowledge of the identity of the species and the timing of their occurrence that are important when making insect management decisions, but also the size of population needed to inflict economically significant loss. It is now beholden upon bluegum plantation companies to support further research to determine the relationships between light trap catches of eucalypt-feeding scarabs, tree age and/or size and level of defoliation in order to improve their confidence in this method of monitoring over ground surveys. [source] Morphofunctional patterns in Neotropical felids: species co-existence and historical assemblyBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 3 2010MIRIAM M. MORALES Extant felids are morphologically homogeneous, probably as a result of recent radiation and constraints from their predatory specializations. The Neotropical assemblage comprises 12 of the 41 extant felid species, which occupy all habitats available, with many species coexisting locally. We studied this assemblage on the basis of 31 craniodental variables reflecting morphofunctional variation, measured from 229 specimens representing all 12 species. Multivariate patterns were summarized allowing for phylogenetic covariation. Additional factors (geographical distribution, use of habitat and stratum, and activity pattern) were coded for each species. As expected, body size accounted for most variation, covarying with membership to three deep clades and, to a lesser extent, with large-scale geographic variation. The species tend to segregate in morphospace plus one or more factors (e.g. habits) that make interspecific overlap in niche space minimal. Using dated phylogenies, biogeographic history, and the fossil record, we reconstructed the historical assembly of the Neotropical felid guild. We found a pattern of successive invasions and speciation in which new lineages occupied previously vacant areas of morphospace, or new species occupied overlapping areas but with contrasting habits. This may be general among antagonistic species of historically structured guilds, and we predict similar patterns in other continents. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 100, 711,724. [source] Coevolution of daily activity timing in a host,parasite systemBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 2 2009IRENE ORTOLANI Coevolutionary theories applied in the study of host,parasite systems indicate that lineages exhibit progressive trends in response to reciprocal selective pressures. Avian brood parasites have generated intense interest as models for coevolutionary processes. Similar to avian cuckoos, Polistes wasp social parasites usurp a nest and exploit the parental care of a congeneric species to rear their own brood. In the present study, we show a coevolutionary arms race in the daily activity pattern in a Polistes host,parasite pair. We measured the daily activity rate, in constant laboratory conditions, of both host and parasite females during the period in which nest usurpations occur. The parasites showed a hyperkinesis in the middle of the day. As the field observations suggested, this mid-day activity is used to perform host nest usurpation attempts. Timing the usurpations allows the parasite to maximize its usurpation attempts during daytime when the host defence is lower. A field comparison of host presence on the nest in two populations with different parasitism rates showed that populations under strong parasitic pressure exhibit timing counteradaptations to optimize nest defence. This study provides the first example of a mutual coadaptation in timing activity in a parasite,host system. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 96, 399,405. 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