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The working principle of conventional Shack-Hartmann-type wavefront sensors is based on a wavefront division by two-dimensional microlens arrays and a Poynting vector mapping by comparing the focal displacements to reference measurements. At complex phase distortions or steep phase gradients, however, wavefront reconstruction can suffer from ambiguities by crossing or overlapping neighboring sub-beams, or even by a complete loss of beam trajectories. Moreover, the recognition of sub-beams can additionally be affected by parasitic reflections at optical surfaces, or scattering in a medium. A possible solution of the problem is to work with arrays of well distinguishable sub-beams. Recently, high-resolution pixelated liquid crystal spatial light modulators became available which enable to flexibly generate spatially structured light and thus to realize advanced wavefront sensors with individually encoded beams. In our experimental study we investigated the specific advantages of orbital angular momentum beams for a robust beam tracking and wavefront reconstruction. As a key point for a wavefront reconstruction from vortex arrays, the reliable detection of spiral-like image features is addressed and related strategies are proposed.

Abstract: Urinary and fecal hormones were analyzed on average every other day in 17 female bonobos kept at four US zoos (San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, Milwaukee, Columbus, and Cincinnati). Ovarian cycle activity was monitored throughout the 15-month study period using estrogen and progesterone profiles and swelling charts. Behavioral data on sexual activity were also collected on a daily basis. Fecal and urinary samples were analyzed using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (CG-MS), and nanoelectrospray. Preliminary results indicate that in urine, both conjugated progestin and estrogen metabolites were abundant, while in fecal samples, free progestin metabolites from the 5a-pregnane series were found. Although traces of estrogen metabolites were detected in fecal samples, long-term monitoring of ovarian activity in our study yielded no meaningful estrogen profiles. In contrast, fecal progestin profiles, after adjusting for a one-day delay in excretion, closely matched the corresponding urinary progestin profiles. Using the identical antibody and tracer for both, fecal and urinary progestins, fecal samples yielded approximately ten times the relative amount of progestins compared to urinary progestins. Thus, when converted using a regression formula, fecal progestins may complete the picture obtained from urinary progestins, particularly in cases where the urine sample record is unavailable or incomplete. Evidence of the usefulness of urinary cortisol as a measure of stress is presented.

We present results from a genomewide association study (GWAS) and a single-marker association study. The GWAS was performed with the Illumina PorcineSNP60 BeadChip from which 5 markers were selected for a validation analysis. Genetic effects were estimated for feed intake, weight gain, and traits of fat and muscle tissue in German Landrace boars kept on performance test stations. The GWAS was performed in a population of 288 boars and the validation study for another 432 boars. No statistically significant effect was found in the GWAS after adjusting for multiple testing. Effects of 2 markers, which were significant genomewide before correction for multiple testing (P< 0.00005), could be confirmed in the validation study. The major allele of marker ALGA0056781 on SSC1 was positively associated with both higher weight gain and fat deposition. The effect on live-weight gain was 2.25 g/d in the GWAS (P= 0.0003) and 3.73 g/d in the validation study (P= 0.01) and for back fat thickness was 0.15 mm in the GWAS (P< 0.0001) and 0.20 mm in the validation study (P= 0.02). The marker had similar effects on test-day weight gain (GWAS: 3.85 g/d, P= 0.001; validation study: 6.80 g/d, P= 0.003) and back fat area (GWAS: 0.27 cm2, P< 0.0001; validation study: 0.35 cm2, P= 0.03). Marker ASGA0056782 on SSC13 was associated with live-weight gain. The major allele had negative effects in both studies (GWAS: –4.88 g/d, P< 0.0001; validation study: –3.75 g/d, P= 0.02). The effects of these 2 markers would have been excluded based on the GWAS alone but were shown to be significantly trait associated in the validation study indicating a false-negative result. The G protein-coupled receptor 126(GPR126) gene approximately 200 kb downstream of marker ALGA0001781 was shown to be associated with human height and therefore might explain the association with weight gain in pigs. Several traits were affected in an economically desired direction by the minor allele of the markers, pointing to the possibility of improvement through further selection.

Benign acute childhood myositis (BACM) is a rare syndrome associated with various viral infections. Bilateral calve pain may lead to inability to walk. During winter 2007/2008, we investigated a nationwide outbreak of influenza-associated BACM (IA-BACM) to identify etiologic (sub)type, describe the course of disease, and explore how well the syndrome is known among physicians.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate behavioral and physiological parameters of reproduction in a breeding colony of pygmy lorises. To this end, nine male and eight female adult pygmy lorises were kept under natural lighting conditions and monitored through five consecutive breeding seasons. Behavioral data were collected continuously throughout the year on all loris pairs. Behaviors associated with estrogen peaks in females included approaches, leaves, and lunges by females. Whistles were more frequent during estrus, but there was high inter‐individual variability. Males responded to estrous females by persistent following. There was a higher percentage of births in pairs that were together for more than 30 days before onset of estrus, compared with pairs that were put together when females came into estrus. However, these results may have been influenced by factors such as previous familiarity and social compatibility. Fecal testosterone levels were measured using radioimmunoassays and correlated with estrogen peaks and labial swelling of the females. The data showed an annual rhythm in testosterone that was consistent with a July–August mating season. Captive births were significantly higher during January–April than they were during any other months of the year. The earliest testosterone peak in a juvenile male was detected at 58 weeks, while the youngest male to sire offspring was 73 weeks of age at the time of the conception. Zoo Biol 22:15–32, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Four adult femaleCallimicowere studied in terms of their sexual motivation relative to three unrelated adult males using an operant paradigm followed by a pair test or a two-male choice test. Reductions in urinary cortisol concentrations and the duration of immobility were used as indicators of subjects’ adjustment to the experimental situation. When females were tested with unfamiliar males there was no effect of ovarian state on operant or species-typical measures of female sexual motivation. When females were retested with the same males after a 1-week familiarization, sexual motivation was higher during the peri-ovulatory phase than during the post-ovulatory phase in terms of operant but not in terms of species-typical proceptive behavior or in terms of receptive behavior. During the familiarization periods, female sociopositive behavior and sexual motivation demonstrated marked variation depending on the identity of the male. Males with which females demonstrated high sexual motivation during familiarization were the object of equal amounts of female operant behavior during pair tests and two-male choice tests; males with which females had demonstrated low sexual motivation were the objects of less female sexual motivation under conditions of female choice than in pair tests.

This longitudinal study addresses the relationship of cortisol excretion to ovarian activity in captive female cheetahs. A radioimmunoassay was developed and validated to measure corticoid metabolite concentrations in feces. A restraint experiment was used to demonstrate that fecal cortisol is detectable following stressful episodes. In studies of 7 females, fecal cortisol output indicated that they could be placed into 3 different categories. Females of the high‐in‐cortisol category (∼200 ng/g feces, n = 2) were independently rated by caretakers as the most nervous individuals in the collection (n = 24). These females appeared to be compromised in their ovarian cycling, as indicated by fecal estrogen measurements. In contrast, reproducing females fell into the low and intermediate cortisol excretion categories. A non‐cycling high‐cortisol female had an episodic cycle following a period of relatively low (intermediate) cortisol levels, followed by resumption of acyclicity and high cortisol excretion. Stress and reproductive failure may, therefore, be associated in the female cheetah. The close proximity of conspecifics as a potential source of stress and, consequently, suppressed ovarian activity in some females is suggested by these results. Zoo Biol 16:133–147. 1997 © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Goeldi's monkey (Callimico goeldii) is an endangered species of New World primate. The present study provides the first description of the non-conception ovarian cycle in this species based on circulating reproductive steroid and peptide hormones. The data obtained were used to validate a non-invasive system for monitoring cyclicity based on urinary reproductive steroid metabolites. Nine sexually mature females were studied. In three females, matched blood and urine samples were collected once every 2–3 days for 90–120 days; in three other females, matched blood and urine samples were collected daily for 14–20 days for one peri-ovulatory period; and in the remaining three females, urine samples only were collected once every 1–3 days for 40–60 days. Plasma progesterone, oestrone-3-conjugates and bioactive LH were measured, in addition to urinary pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide and oestrone-3-conjugates. The mean maximum concentration of plasma LH occurred 1–2 days before a significant rise in plasma progesterone, which was considered to occur 1 day after ovulation. On the basis of plasma progesterone titres, the duration of the ovarian cycle was estimated as 23.9 ± 0.4 days (n= 9), and constituted a follicular phase of 10.7 ± 0.3 days and a luteal phase of 13.5 ± 0.3 days. Urinary pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide demonstrated a high correlation with plasma progesterone (r= 0.8), and demonstrated a significant rise at the same time as plasma progesterone. Application of this urinary progesterone metabolite to determine whether a female was in a follicular phase (pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide < 0.20 μg mg−1creatinine) or a luteal phase (pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide > 0.20 μg mg−1creatinine) provided an accurate and reliable non-invasive system for monitoring reproductive state and timing ovulation in this endangered primate. Urinary oestrone-3-conjugates were less accurate and reliable than pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide: while plasma and urinary oestrone-3-conjugates were generally higher during the luteal phase than during the follicular phase, a marked increase in their concentration did not occur until 3–5 days after inferred ovulation.

Abstract: The fate of most nonhuman primate species is intimately related to man. The increasing encroachment on the natural habitat has resulted in the decimation and even near extinction of some species. Along with this development, the basic concept in many modern zoos has changed from one of merely display to self-perpetuating units. Primate research facilities are orienting their research programs towards reproductive physiology and behavior in an effort to provide basic knowledge of reproduction in these species. This increased emphasis in the area of reproductive biology and the various efforts to improve breeding of these mostly endangered primates in captivity has stimulated the author to write this review. It represents an attempt to provide the reader with basic background information relating to the endocrinology and behavior of reproduction in the clawed New World monkeys as it exists at the time of publication. The intermediate evolutionary position ofCallimico goeldii between the clawed New World monkeys and the ‘true New World monkeys’ and our relatively poor knowledge about reproduction and behavior in this particular species fully justifies the focus on Goeldi’s monkey in this essay. This review is an attempt to provide a brief history of previous studies but also the basis for research in the future. The current status of knowledge of the small-bodied clawed monkeys is also discussed in an evolutionary context, with an emphasis on the different reproductive strategies in this dynamic group of primates. The outcome, not surprisingly, confirms the unique position ofCallimico goeldii in its social, ecological, and evolutionary environment.

Introduction:Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have been applied in numerous clinical settings to help reduce pain, stress, and anxiety. This qualitative study sets out to evaluate the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program in the emergency department of the Royal University Hospital. Methods:An observer identified patients interested in visiting with a Therapy Dog during their emergency department stay and obtained consent. Participants were asked to indicate on a pictographic scale their physical and mental states before and after the visit. The Therapy Dog team, consisting of a dog and handler, visited the patient for 5-10 minutes. During this time an observer took notes. Participants were asked at the conclusion of the visit to answer questions regarding their overall experience with the Therapy Dog team. Results:117 patients participated in this study. Pre- and post AAI pictographic faces [c1] scale results showed an average improvement of 1.2. Before AAI, patients most commonly reported feeling pain, anxiety, tiredness, sadness, boredom, weakness, and a desire to go home. Immediately after the AAI, they most commonly reported feeling happiness, relaxation, better, calmness, and good. Observers noted positive participant and family changes during the AAI, including tone of voice, body language, facial expression (e.g., smiling), and openness. Patients often made efforts to make physical contact for the majority of the visit, often despite pain and immobility. There was also frequent sharing of stories about patients’ pets, which seemed to serve as a comfort within the emergency department environment. Conclusion:Animal-assisted interventions with a therapy dog team in an emergency department is a ‘pawsitive’ addition to the patient experience. An important next step is to measure whether the positive impact continued post visit.