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Objective: This study was undertaken to characterize clinical expression and intracerebral electroencephalographic (EEG) correlates of emotional expression during prefrontal epileptic seizures. Methods: We performed a descriptive analysis of seizure semiology in patients explored with stereo‐EEG (SEEG) for pharmacoresistant prefrontal epilepsy, using a semiquantitative score for seizure‐related emotional behavior. Two independent observers scored occurrence and intensity of objective emotional features (face/body movements/vocalization/overall appearance), testing interobserver reliability. Intracerebral electrophysiological changes were documented. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) compared behavioral signs with neural SEEG correlates. For each patient, the clinical and anatomoelectrophysiological scores were established, based on a prototypical emotional seizure. Results: Forty‐two patients (469 seizures) were included. Interobserver correlation for emotional signs was satisfactory (kappa = 0.6–0.8). Prevalence of any subjective and/or objective ictal emotional phenomena was 79% (33/42); objective emotional signs occurred in 27 of 42 subjects (64%). Negatively valenced emotional semiology (ictal feeling of fear, defensive and/or aggressive behaviors) was much more prevalent than positively valenced, prosocial behaviors. Cluster analysis and PCA identified 4 groups with different occurrence of emotional signs and cerebral correlates. Two main clusters of negatively valenced behavior were identified: "active threat response," associated with seizure organizations involving posterior orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, and dorsolateral and/or ventrolateral prefrontal cortex; and "passive fear," associated with amygdala, other mesial temporal structures, and posterior orbitofrontal cortex. Interpretation: Emotional behaviors, especially fear/threat response, are common in prefrontal seizures, reflecting the role of the prefrontal cortex in emotional control. Different cortical seizure localizations were associated with "passive fear" and "active threat response" seizure behaviors at the group level. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:1052–1065 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies mainly focused on the antecedents of voice, yet little research has investigated how sense of power divergently affected voice behavior with different contents. Following the recent literature on voice content and the approach/inhibition theory of power, we argue that sense of power positively influences constructive voice behavior through situational promotion focus but negatively affects defensive voice behavior through situational prevention focus. Moreover, we argue that supervisor openness moderates the relationship between situational regulatory focus and voice behavior. The results of a scenario-based study (N = 95) and a time-lagged field survey (N = 375) indicate that: (1) sense of power is positively related to constructive voice behavior and negatively related to defensive voice behavior; (2) situational promotion focus and situational prevention focus mediate the effect of sense of power on constructive voice behavior and defensive voice behavior, respectively; and (3) the indirect effects of sense of power on constructive and defensive voice behavior via situational regulatory focus are contingent on supervisor openness. The implications for theory and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimulation of the dorsal half of the rat periaqueductal gray (DPAG) with 60-Hz pulses of increasing intensity, 30-μA pulses of increasing frequency, or increasing doses of an excitatory amino acid elicits sequential defensive responses of exophthalmia, immobility, trotting, galloping, and jumping. These responses may be controlled by voltage-gated calcium channel-specific firing patterns. Indeed, a previous study showed that microinjection of the DPAG with 15 nmol of verapamil, a putative blocker of L-type calcium channels, attenuated all defensive responses to electrical stimulation at the same site as the injection. Accordingly, here we investigated the effects of microinjection of lower doses (0.7 and 7 nmol) of both verapamil and mibefradil, a preferential blocker of T-type calcium channels, on DPAG-evoked defensive behaviors of the male rat. Behaviors were recorded either 24 h before or 10 min, 24 h, and 48 h after microinjection. Effects were analyzed by both threshold logistic analysis and repeated measures analysis of variance for treatment by session interactions. Data showed that the electrodes were all located within the dorsolateral PAG. Compared to the effects of saline, verapamil significantly attenuated exophthalmia, immobility, and trotting. Mibefradil significantly attenuated exophthalmia and marginally attenuated immobility while facilitating trotting. While galloping was not attenuated by either antagonist, jumping was unexpectedly attenuated by 0.7 nmol verapamil only. These results suggest that T-type calcium channels are involved in the low-threshold freezing responses of exophthalmia and immobility, whereas L-type calcium channels are involved in the trotting response that precedes the full-fledged escape responses of galloping and jumping. [Display omitted] • DLPAG stimulation elicits hierarchically organized defensive behaviors. • Blockade of T-type Ca2+ channel attenuated only exophthalmia and immobility. • Blockade of L-type Ca2+ channel produced additional attenuation of trotting. • Blockers either did not affect or had little effect on galloping and jumping. • Data implicate voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in the control of behavioral hierarchy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jellyfish comprise a diverse clade of free-swimming predators that arose prior to the Cambrian explosion. They play major roles in ocean ecosystems via a suite of complex foraging, reproductive, and defensive behaviors. These behaviors arise from decentralized, regenerative nervous systems composed of body parts that generate the appropriate part-specific behaviors autonomously following excision. Here, we discuss the organization of jellyfish nervous systems and opportunities afforded by the recent development of a genetically tractable jellyfish model for systems and evolutionary neuroscience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Safety planning is often recommended for stalking victims, yet there has been limited research on personal safety planning in general and specifically for stalking victims. This study has two overall objectives: (1) to examine whether frequency of safety scenario planning (thinking through various strategies in responding to threatening situations) among ex-partner stalking victims is associated with increased personal safety worry, safety efficacy, and other safety behaviors (e.g., seeking safety advice, carrying a safety device); and (2) to explore associations of frequency of safety scenario planning with partner abuse and stalking experiences, help-seeking, and mental health symptoms.Women stalking victims were recruited from Prolific. Three groups were developed for comparisons including stalking victims who: (a) did not engage in safety scenario planning in the past year (n = 121); (b) engaged in one safety scenario planning activity in the past year (n = 256); and (c) engaged in 2 or more safety scenario planning activities in the past year (n = 184).Bivariate results found that frequency of safety scenario planning was associated with increased personal safety worry, increased seeking and giving safety advice, and increased defensive safety behaviors. Additionally, the multivariate analysis found more frequent safety scenario planning was uniquely and significantly associated with increased personal safety worry, safety efficacy, work interference, the number of different help-seeking sources, PTSD symptoms, and sexual discomfort.More research is needed to provide information about best practices in safety planning to better help victims manage the short- and long-term consequences of violence exposure in their recovery journey.Method: Safety planning is often recommended for stalking victims, yet there has been limited research on personal safety planning in general and specifically for stalking victims. This study has two overall objectives: (1) to examine whether frequency of safety scenario planning (thinking through various strategies in responding to threatening situations) among ex-partner stalking victims is associated with increased personal safety worry, safety efficacy, and other safety behaviors (e.g., seeking safety advice, carrying a safety device); and (2) to explore associations of frequency of safety scenario planning with partner abuse and stalking experiences, help-seeking, and mental health symptoms.Women stalking victims were recruited from Prolific. Three groups were developed for comparisons including stalking victims who: (a) did not engage in safety scenario planning in the past year (n = 121); (b) engaged in one safety scenario planning activity in the past year (n = 256); and (c) engaged in 2 or more safety scenario planning activities in the past year (n = 184).Bivariate results found that frequency of safety scenario planning was associated with increased personal safety worry, increased seeking and giving safety advice, and increased defensive safety behaviors. Additionally, the multivariate analysis found more frequent safety scenario planning was uniquely and significantly associated with increased personal safety worry, safety efficacy, work interference, the number of different help-seeking sources, PTSD symptoms, and sexual discomfort.More research is needed to provide information about best practices in safety planning to better help victims manage the short- and long-term consequences of violence exposure in their recovery journey.Results: Safety planning is often recommended for stalking victims, yet there has been limited research on personal safety planning in general and specifically for stalking victims. This study has two overall objectives: (1) to examine whether frequency of safety scenario planning (thinking through various strategies in responding to threatening situations) among ex-partner stalking victims is associated with increased personal safety worry, safety efficacy, and other safety behaviors (e.g., seeking safety advice, carrying a safety device); and (2) to explore associations of frequency of safety scenario planning with partner abuse and stalking experiences, help-seeking, and mental health symptoms.Women stalking victims were recruited from Prolific. Three groups were developed for comparisons including stalking victims who: (a) did not engage in safety scenario planning in the past year (n = 121); (b) engaged in one safety scenario planning activity in the past year (n = 256); and (c) engaged in 2 or more safety scenario planning activities in the past year (n = 184).Bivariate results found that frequency of safety scenario planning was associated with increased personal safety worry, increased seeking and giving safety advice, and increased defensive safety behaviors. Additionally, the multivariate analysis found more frequent safety scenario planning was uniquely and significantly associated with increased personal safety worry, safety efficacy, work interference, the number of different help-seeking sources, PTSD symptoms, and sexual discomfort.More research is needed to provide information about best practices in safety planning to better help victims manage the short- and long-term consequences of violence exposure in their recovery journey.Conclusions: Safety planning is often recommended for stalking victims, yet there has been limited research on personal safety planning in general and specifically for stalking victims. This study has two overall objectives: (1) to examine whether frequency of safety scenario planning (thinking through various strategies in responding to threatening situations) among ex-partner stalking victims is associated with increased personal safety worry, safety efficacy, and other safety behaviors (e.g., seeking safety advice, carrying a safety device); and (2) to explore associations of frequency of safety scenario planning with partner abuse and stalking experiences, help-seeking, and mental health symptoms.Women stalking victims were recruited from Prolific. Three groups were developed for comparisons including stalking victims who: (a) did not engage in safety scenario planning in the past year (n = 121); (b) engaged in one safety scenario planning activity in the past year (n = 256); and (c) engaged in 2 or more safety scenario planning activities in the past year (n = 184).Bivariate results found that frequency of safety scenario planning was associated with increased personal safety worry, increased seeking and giving safety advice, and increased defensive safety behaviors. Additionally, the multivariate analysis found more frequent safety scenario planning was uniquely and significantly associated with increased personal safety worry, safety efficacy, work interference, the number of different help-seeking sources, PTSD symptoms, and sexual discomfort.More research is needed to provide information about best practices in safety planning to better help victims manage the short- and long-term consequences of violence exposure in their recovery journey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurons produce and release neuropeptides to communicate with one another. Despite their importance in brain function, circuit-based mechanisms of peptidergic transmission are poorly understood, primarily due to the lack of tools for monitoring and manipulating neuropeptide release in vivo. Here, we report the development of two genetically encoded tools for investigating peptidergic transmission in behaving mice: a genetically encoded large dense core vesicle (LDCV) sensor that detects presynaptic neuropeptide release and a genetically encoded silencer that specifically degrades neuropeptides inside LDCVs. Using these tools, we show that neuropeptides, not glutamate, encode the unconditioned stimulus in the parabrachial-to-amygdalar threat pathway during Pavlovian threat learning. We also show that neuropeptides play important roles in encoding positive valence and suppressing conditioned threat response in the amygdala-to-parabrachial endogenous opioidergic circuit. These results show that our sensor and silencer for presynaptic peptidergic transmission are reliable tools to investigate neuropeptidergic systems in awake, behaving animals. [Display omitted] • CybSEP2 is a genetically encoded LDCV sensor for presynaptic neuropeptide release • NEP LDCV is a genetically encoded silencer for peptidergic transmission • Neuropeptides, not glutamate, are primary transmitters in the CGRPPBel→CeA US circuit • Multiple neuropeptides, not CGRP alone, are required for CGRPPBel→CeA pain transmission Genetically encoded tools for monitoring and silencing neuropeptide signaling in awake mice reveal that neuropeptides in brainstem peptidergic neurons act as primary transmitters, encoding defensive behaviors in response to noxious stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Conditional freezing and avoidance are both learned defensive behaviors. • Both behavioral responses require amygdala activity for performance. • Additional neural circuits are recruited with task complexity. • Some overlap exists between these circuits suggesting similar underlying processes. Aversive learning can produce a wide variety of defensive behavioral responses depending on the circumstances, ranging from reactive responses like freezing to proactive avoidance responses. While most of this initial learning is behaviorally supported by an expectancy of an aversive outcome and neurally supported by activity within the basolateral amygdala, activity in other brain regions become necessary for the execution of defensive strategies that emerge in other aversive learning paradigms such as active avoidance. Here, we review the neural circuits that support both reactive and proactive defensive behaviors that are motivated by aversive learning, and identify commonalities between the neural substrates of these distinct (and often exclusive) behavioral strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smooth‐coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) and Malayan water monitor lizards (Varanus salvator) occupy similar habitats and interact regularly in Singapore's waterways. These interactions have a range of potential outcomes and are sometimes lethal. Few formal behavioral studies exist for either species. We analyzed interactions between otters and monitor lizards by gleaning data from publicly available videos from citizen scientists to examine what factors influence aggressive and defensive behaviors and what influences vigilance in otters. Behavioral sequence analysis revealed no obvious monitor lizard behavior that predicted otter aggression toward monitors. We found that the presence and number of otter pups are positively associated with otter aggression. Otters also tended to be more vigilant in groups with more pups and more vigilant on land than water. Monitor lizards almost always displayed aggressive and defensive behaviors, regardless of whether otters were aggressive toward the lizards. These observations suggest that otters vary their aggression and vigilance levels depending on their group composition and the physical environment of their interactions with monitor lizards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematophagous arthropods often choose predictable feeding sites on their hosts´ body, presumably to maximize blood uptake while minimizing costs. Feeding sites can be host-specific, mediated by intrinsic host characters and/or specific preferences of the blood feeder. We investigated feeding site specificity in a community of frog-biting midges (Corethrella spp.) and frog hosts in La Gamba, Costa Rica. Midge distribution on hosts differed significantly between 12 investigated frog species, indicating that intrinsic host properties influence potential feeding sites. However, realized feeding sites were also significantly different between four investigated Corethrella morphotypes, across all hosts but also within certain shared hosts, indicating feeding site partitioning among Corethrella. We propose that the diversity of feeding sites in Corethrella-frog associations is determined by an interaction of host traits, e. g. calling site, defensive behavior or skin thickness, and midge traits, especially body size and corresponding mouthpart size/structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excitotoxicity is described as the exacerbated activation of glutamate AMPA and NMDA receptors that leads to neuronal damage, and ultimately to cell death. Astrocytes are responsible for the clearance of 80–90% of synaptically released glutamate, preventing excitotoxicity. Chronic stress renders neurons vulnerable to excitotoxicity and has been associated to neuropsychiatric disorders, i.e., anxiety. Microreactors containing platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NP) and glutamate dehydrogenase have shown in vitro activity against excitotoxicity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the in vivo effects of these microreactors on the behavioral and neurobiological effects of chronic stress exposure. Rats were either unstressed or exposed for 2 weeks to an unpredictable chronic mild stress paradigm (UCMS), administered intra-ventral hippocampus with the microreactors (with or without the blockage of astrocyte functioning), and seven days later tested in the elevated T-maze (ETM; Experiment 1). The ETM allows the measurement of two defensive responses, avoidance and escape, in terms of psychopathology respectively related to generalized anxiety and panic disorder. Locomotor activity in an open field was also measured. Since previous evidence shows that stress inhibits adult neurogenesis, we evaluated the effects of the different treatments on the number of cells expressing the marker of migrating neuroblasts doublecortin (DCX) in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus (Experiment 2). Results showed that UCMS induces anxiogenic effects, increases locomotion, and decreases the number of DCX cells in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus, effects that were counteracted by microreactor administration. This is the first study to demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of Pt-NP against the behavioral and neurobiological effects of chronic stress exposure. • Platinum nanoparticle-based microreactors block the anxiogenic effects of stress. • Platinum nanoparticle-based microreactors block stress-induced increases in locomotion. • Platinum nanoparticle-based microreactors increase adult neurogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Early life adversity (ELA) increases the incidence of later-life anxiety disorders. Dysregulated threat processing, including responsivity to ambiguous threats, is an indicator of anxiety disorders and can be influenced by childhood experiences. The acoustic startle response is a defensive reflex displayed by mammals when exposed to sudden intense stimuli reflecting individual variations in vigilance. These measures can be altered by previous experience and experimental modifications, including the introduction of unconditioned aversive stimuli. Rats emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in the 22 KHz range in negative contexts. As such, 22 KHz USVs are an ethologically relevant social cue of environmental threat shown to induce anxiety-like behavior in recipient rats. Because the timing of symptom manifestation after early life adversity can differ between sexes, the current study sought to identify the age- and sex-specific effects of daily maternal separation (MS) on responsivity to ambiguous threat in rats. In Experiment 1, rat pups underwent MS or control rearing from postnatal day (P) 2-20, then underwent behavioral testing beginning on P24, 34, or 54 to determine whether MS modified the baseline startle response or the modulation of startle by 22 KHz USVs. In Experiment 2, rats were tested in a light-enhanced startle paradigm at P54 after MS or control rearing to determine whether MS influenced light-enhanced startle. Results show an enhancement of the baseline startle magnitude by MS in females at P34. At P54, MS reduced the modulation of the startle response by 22 KHz USVs and prevented light-enhanced startle, indicating an MS-induced deficit in defensive responsivity when exposed to potential threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptation to our social environment requires learning how to avoid potentially harmful situations, such as encounters with aggressive individuals. Threatening facial expressions can evoke automatic stimulus-driven reactions, but whether their aversive motivational value suffices to drive instrumental active avoidance remains unclear. When asked to freely choose between different action alternatives, participants spontaneously—without instruction or monetary reward—developed a preference for choices that maximized the probability of avoiding angry individuals (sitting away from them in a waiting room). Most participants showed clear behavioral signs of instrumental learning, even in the absence of an explicit avoidance strategy. Inter-individual variability in learning depended on participants' subjective evaluations and sensitivity to threat approach feedback. Counterfactual learning best accounted for avoidance behaviors, especially in participants who developed an explicit avoidance strategy. Our results demonstrate that implicit defensive behaviors in social contexts are likely the product of several learning processes, including instrumental learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Egyptian honeybee (Apis mellifera lamarckii) is one of the honeybee subspecies known for centuries since the ancient Egypt civilization. The subspecies of the Egyptian honeybee is distinguished by certain traits of appearance and behavior that were well-adapted to the environment and unique in a way that it is resistant to bee diseases, such as the Varroa disease. The subspecies is different than those found in Europe and is native to southern Egypt. Therefore, a special care should be paid to the vulnerable A. m. lamarckii subspecies and greater knowledge about the risk factors as well as conservation techniques will protect these bees. Additionally, more qualitative and quantitative measures will be taken to obtain deep insights into the A. m. lamarckii products' chemical profile and biological characters. Egypt has an ongoing long history with beekeeping, which started with the ancient Egyptians making various reliefs and inscriptions of beekeeping on their tombs and temples. The Egyptian honeybee (Apis mellifera lamarckii) is an authentic Egyptian honeybee subspecies utilized in apiculture. A. m. lamarckii is a distinct honeybee subspecies that has a particular body color, size, and high levels of hygienic behavior. Additionally, it has distinctive characteristics; including the presence of the half-queens, an excessive number of swarm cells, high adaptability to climatic conditions, good resistance to specific bee diseases, including the Varro disorder, and continuous breeding during the whole year despite low productivity, using very little propolis, and tending to abscond readily. This review discusses the history of beekeeping in Egypt and its current situation in addition to its morphology, genetic analysis, and distinctive characters, and the defensive behaviors of native A. m. lamarckii subspecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prompt response to environmental threats is critical to survival. Previous research has revealed mechanisms underlying threat-conditioned physiological responses, but little is known about how threats shape action. Here we tested if threat learning shapes the kinematics of reaching in human adults. In two different experiments conducted on independent samples of participants, after Pavlovian threat learning, in which a stimulus anticipated the delivery of an aversive shock, whereas another did not, the peak velocity and acceleration of reaching increased for the shocked-paired stimulus, relative to the unpaired one. These kinematic changes appeared as a direct consequence of learning, emerging even in absence of an actual threat to body integrity, as no shock occurred during reaching. Additionally, they correlated with the strength of sympathetic response during threat learning, establishing a direct relationship between previous learning and subsequent changes in action. The increase in velocity and acceleration of action following threat learning may be adaptive to facilitate the implementation of defensive responses. Enhanced action invigoration may be maladaptive, however, when defensive responses are inappropriately enacted in safe contexts, as exemplified in a number of anxiety-related disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature of spider mite counterattack and defensive behavior and their effects on predatory mites have only been investigated in social species. Here, we have examined the defensive success of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) male individuals in the presence of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) juveniles. We recorded the number of T. urticae eggs eaten (killed) within three days along with monitoring the predator (dead/alive) status. The defensive behavior of T. urticae male was considered as success when the predator had consumed less than 50% of the prey eggs and was killed at the end of the experimental period. Our main hypothesis was that introducing an additional male would increase the defensive success rate. Results showed that the success rate was significantly higher in the patches with two T. urticae male individuals compared to one. No significant difference were observed among the egg-eating (killing) rate within the three consecutive days of experiment in patches with one male, while in the treatments with an additional male, the egg killing rate of the third day was significantly higher than that on the first day. We also hypothesized that male T. urticae with significant higher rate of defensive success should be morphologically different in comparison with the defeated ones. We found no significant differences in the length of chelicera, first leg and body (length and width) between the successful versus defeated males. We concluded that T. urticae can attack the predator, but the weapon by which the success happens remained unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Three studies tested a novel model of the narcissism‐paranoia link, whereby narcissism (primarily its socially maladaptive facets) is associated with paranoia via over‐use of defensive self‐protection and/or under‐use of self‐affirmation. Methods: In Study 1, 245 online volunteers (87% female; MAGE = 20.92; 44% White‐British) completed trait measures of narcissism, self‐enhancement/protection strategies and paranoia. In Study 2, 116 students (82% female; MAGE = 20.23; 70% White‐British) completed baseline measures, then reported state reactions and paranoia following two difficult and two pleasant interpersonal events after 3–10 days. In Study 3, 517 online volunteers (64% female; MAGE = 22.76; 77% White/Caucasian) completed baseline measures, experienced a standardized social exclusion (vs. neutral) manipulation (Cyberball), then reported state reactions and paranoia. Results: In Study 1, narcissism was associated with higher paranoia via defensiveness. In Study 2, this was replicated in difficult but not pleasant events, and was driven by the Entitlement/Exploitativeness facet of narcissism. In Study 3, narcissistic rivalry and vulnerable narcissism, but not admiration, were associated with Cyberball‐related paranoia via general defensiveness and denigration of others. Conclusions: Individuals high in narcissism—especially its socially maladaptive facets—who over‐rely on defensive self‐protection strategies in response to threat, are particularly vulnerable to paranoia. Findings help to understand individual differences in paranoia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mouse ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) is both necessary and sufficient for defensive responses to predator and social threats. Defensive behaviors typically involve cautious approach toward potentially threatening stimuli aimed at obtaining information about the risk involved, followed by sudden avoidance and flight behavior to escape harm. In vivo neural recording studies in mice have identified two major populations of VMH neurons that either increase their firing activity as the animal approaches the threat (called Assessment+ cells) or increase their activity as the animal flees the threat (called Flight+ cells). Interestingly, Assessment+ and Flight+ cells abruptly decrease and increase their firing activity, respectively, at the decision point for flight, creating an escape-related "switch" in functional state. This suggests that the activity of the two cell types in VMH is coordinated and could result from local circuit interactions. Here, we used computational modeling to test if a local inhibitory feedback circuit could give rise to key features of the neural activity seen in VMH during the approach-to-flight transition. Starting from a simple dual-population inhibitory feedback circuit receiving repeated trains of monotonically increasing sensory input to mimic approach to threat, we tested the requirement for balanced sensory input, balanced feedback, short-term synaptic plasticity, rebound excitation, and inhibitory feedback exclusivity to reproduce an abrupt, sensory-thresholded reciprocal firing change that resembles Assessment+ and Flight+ cell activity seen in vivo. Our work demonstrates that a relatively simple local circuit architecture is sufficient for the emergence of firing patterns similar to those seen in vivo and suggests that a reiterative process of experimental and computational work may be a fruitful avenue for better understanding the functional organization of mammalian instinctive behaviors at the circuit level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we expand upon our use of the cocoon metaphor for understanding and working with organizations from a psychodynamic perspective. Conceived as both defensive and generative, cocoons are relational phenomena that manifest throughout organizations and risk being mistaken as dysfunctional entities in need of dismantling. To illustrate the utility of the cocoon metaphor in conceptualizing organizational problems, we present a case study of a hospital restructuring following its acquisition by a for‐profit health care system and driven by efficiency and cost‐savings. The resulting disruptions across operating divisions created a set of problems that necessitated the help of an outside consultant. Engaging members of the organization in the task of solving their own problems entailed recognizing their (inter)subjective experiences and behaviors as more than just defensive hiding, or aggressive attacking, but also as holding the potential for new ways of working and relating. It also entailed showing leaders how to replace environmental impingement in the form of "looking for mistakes" with what we call, borrowing from Marion Milner (1969), a "waiting watchfulness" that fostered understanding of the emotional world inside, outside, and at the boundaries of cocoons to promote organizational learning and meaningful change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence in schools is one of the biggest problems faced by children, parents, schools, and society as a whole. The causes of violence are multiple, and the consequences numerous, so it is difficult, and at the same time very important, to find potential strategies to prevent and handle this problem. One of the solutions for prevention and treatment can be derived by the application of the attachment theory, which represents a useful theoretical framework for recognizing and understanding the development of violent behavior, and for dealing with it more effectively. The paper will show how some of the important antecedents of peer violence are formed in the context of early interaction with the primary caregiver. The paper summarizes the research indicating that children with a secure pattern of attachment commit peer violence less often, while children with an avoidant and disorganized attachment pattern are the most common in the group of children who behave aggressively and violently towards others. The negative model of others and the underdevelopment of the capacity for mentalization, as a consequence of rejecting caregiving or mothering in which the mother is perceived as fearful and helpless, are key in understanding the inadequate, often reactive and defensive problematic behaviors of these children. The paper will represent the point of view that in the process of preventing peer violence, a positive, sensitive and empathetic relationship that develops between teachers and students is of great importance, and that a teacher's capacity for mentalizing is an important segment for developing mentalizing in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds that have adapted to urban landscapes often display changes in their behavioral responses to human disturbance. This habituation may result in a decreased wariness and secrecy near their nest and an increased inclination to engage in aggressive nest defenses. Aggressive defense of nests has been noted among Mississippi Kites (Ictinia mississippiensis), a raptor that has become a common and abundant urban nesting species across the Southern Great Plains. Defensive behaviors include swoops at, and occasional physical contact with, humans who venture close to nests. Previous research found aggressive responses by kites in 16–20% of experimental passes under nests. However, the type of human pedestrian activity around nests may influence the occurrence of aggressive responses. We assessed adult Mississippi Kite responses to experimental nest area intrusions during each week of the first four weeks of nestling development to explore increases or attenuation of aggressive behaviors. We also assessed responses in context of three types of pedestrian passes to nests. We conducted 84 trials consisting of 252 passes and found 90% elicited no response from the attending kite, 8% elicited a flight response, and 2% elicited an attack. There was no difference in response to pass type, but we found evidence that responsiveness may be associated with nestling age. Our results suggest aggression by Mississippi Kites is uncommon, but infrequent events that gain local attention may increase the perceived risk from the species due to the availability heuristic. Additionally, individual nesting pairs may tend toward aggression and become persistent nuisance birds that gain attention but are not representative of the majority of nesting pairs. Las aves que se han adaptado a los paisajes urbanos a menudo muestran cambios en sus respuestas de comportamiento frente a la perturbación humana. Esta habituación puede resultar en una disminución de la cautela y la discreción cerca de su nido y en una mayor inclinación a participar en defensas agresivas del mismo. Este fenómeno se ha observado en Ictinia mississippiensis, una rapaz que se ha convertido en una especie que anida de forma común y abundante en las áreas urbanas de las Grandes Llanuras del sur. Los comportamientos defensivos incluyen ataques y contacto físico ocasional con humanos que se aventuran cerca de los nidos. Investigaciones anteriores encontraron respuestas agresivas de I. mississippiensis en el 16-20% de las pasadas experimentales por debajo de los nidos. Sin embargo, el tipo de actividad peatonal humana alrededor de los nidos podría influir en la aparición de estas respuestas agresivas. Evaluamos las respuestas de individuos adultos de I. mississippiensis a las intrusiones experimentales en el área del nido durante cada semana de las primeras cuatro semanas de desarrollo de los polluelos, para explorar los aumentos o la atenuación de los comportamientos agresivos. También evaluamos las respuestas en el contexto de tres tipos de pasadas peatonales cerca de los nidos. Realizamos 84 ensayos, consistentes en 252 pasadas y encontramos que el 90% no provocó una respuesta por parte del individuo de I. mississippiensis presente, el 8% provocó una respuesta de vuelo y el 2% provocó un ataque. No hubo diferencia en la respuesta al tipo de pasada, pero encontramos evidencia de que la capacidad de respuesta puede estar asociada con la edad de los polluelos. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la agresión por parte de I. mississippiensis es poco común, pero los eventos poco frecuentes que atraen la atención local pueden aumentar el riesgo percibido de la especie debido al sesgo de disponibilidad. Además, algunas parejas que anidan pueden tender a la agresión y convertirse en aves molestas de forma persistente y llamar la atención, pero no son representativas de la mayoría de las parejas de I. mississippiensis que anidan. [Traducción del equipo editorial] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty of threat has been linked to anxiety, but little is known about how neurophysiological responses change as uncertain threats approach and whether trait anxiety modulates these changes. The current study was designed to explore aspects of the dynamics of defensive motivation (startle reflex elicited by acoustic startle probes), attention (probe N100 component of event-related potentials elicited by acoustic startle probes), and autonomic nervous system activity (heart rate) when the approaching threat was certain or uncertain in a variant of the threat probability task. Behavioral results showed that high-trait anxious individuals reported higher levels of anxiety than low-trait anxious individuals only under the uncertain threat condition. Electromyographic data showed that high-trait anxious individuals tended to produce a more pronounced startle reflex, especially when the uncertain threat was proximal. This pattern was not observed in low-trait anxious individuals. By examining early attention engagement through probe N100, we observed a similar pattern in relation to defensive motivation. Moreover, under the uncertain threat condition, high-trait anxious individuals yielded a greater deceleration of heart rate than low-trait anxious individuals. These results indicate a distinct modulation effect of trait anxiety in the dynamics of defensive motivation, attention, and the autonomic nervous system during the anticipation of uncertain threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to effectively thwart predation, antipredator defensive behaviors must be matched to the current spatio-temporal relationship to the predator. We have proposed a model where different defensive responses are organized along a predatory imminence continuum (PIC). The PIC is a behavior system organized as a sequence of innately programmed behavioral modes, each representing a different interaction with the predator or threat. Ranging from low threat to predator contact, the PIC categorizes defense modes as pre-encounter, post-encounter, and circa-strike, corresponding to states of anxiety, fear, and panic, respectively. This experiment examined if the same significant stressor caused overexpression of all defensive responses along the PIC, including anxiety-like behavior, freezing, and panic-like responses. Female and male mice were exposed to acute stress that consisted of a series of ten pseudorandomly presented unsignaled footshocks (or no shocks). Mice were subsequently tested on a battery of tasks to assess stress effects on pre-encounter (anxiety-like), post-encounter (fear), and circa-strike (panic-like) behaviors. Results revealed that following stress, mice exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior shown through reduced average velocity within a modified open field. Furthermore, stressed mice showed increased fear following a single footshock in a new context as well as an increase in reactivity to white noise in the original stress context, with stressed mice exhibiting a more robust circa-strike-like response than controls. Therefore, significant stress exposure influenced the defensive states of anxiety, fear, and panic across the predatory imminence continuum. This research could therefore reveal how such responses become maladaptive following traumatic stress in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Caldasia is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As companies are transforming their branding, marketing, operations, and research and development (R&D) by running online communities to build their core competitive advantages in the digital era, the silent majority is still the norm in the online community and has become the focus of online community operations. Thus, it has become the core issue that why silent behavior of online community members occurs and its impact on operation performance of the online community. According to the traditional theory of organizational behavior, this study focuses on the theoretical model of the relationship between proactive personality, silent behavior of online community members (acquiescent, defensive, and prosocial silence), and operation performance of the online community, and further analyzes the impact of community identification on these relationships. Eight hundred online community members in China participated in this study. The results indicate that: (1) proactive personality has a significant negative impact on acquiescent silent and defensive silent behavior of the online community members, and a significant positive impact on prosocial silent behavior of the online community members; (2) The acquiescent silence and defensive silence have a significant negative impact on online community operation performance, whereas prosocial silence has a significant positive impact on community operation performance; (3) The acquiescent silence and defensive silence have a significant mediating effect on the relationship between proactive personality and community operation performance; (4) Online community identification has a moderating effect on the relationship between silent behavior and online community operation performance. The study proposes the mechanisms and double-edged sword effects of the silent behavior of online community members from the perspective of personality traits. On the one hand, it generalizes the research of traditional organizational silent behavior theory to the context of the online community. On the other hand, it provides reference and inspiration for the theoretical research and practical management of silent behavior of online community members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the importance of data safety for psychology, the present study investigated the influence of data leaking scandal on campus customers' financial consumption behaviors at intelligent tourism platforms in China, and explored the roles that individual characteristics play in this process by focusing on a set of participants from colleges. Data were collected through sending out an online questionnaire, where respondents were asked to finish a series of questions about their background information, their trust, future consuming intention, and defensive behaviors toward intelligent platforms. After they finished these questions, a short description about an online tourism platform leaking customers' personal information was presented to the respondents, following which they were asked to report about their future consuming intentions and defensive behaviors again. In total, 236 participants of college students and teachers were recruited. Paired samples mean comparison showed that after the stimulus was presented, the respondents had a significant decrease in future financial consumption intention, and a significant increase in defensive behaviors toward online tourism platforms due to risks perceived. Multiple regression analysis was conducted subsequently to investigate individual characteristics that may account for part of the decrease (increase) in consuming intention (defensive behaviors). Results showed that, customers with higher level of trust and monthly income, as well as older customers, tend to experience higher level of decrease in consuming intention, and increase in defensive behaviors. These findings highlighted the importance of online tourism platforms guaranteeing data security of their customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study incorporated the dual-motivational theory with psychological reactance theory to investigate the cognitive and emotional responses that unfold when audience members encounter a freedom-threatening message and experience psychological reactance. A total of 100 college-aged, daily e-cigarette users were purposively recruited and randomly assigned to view four, 30-second anti-vaping public service announcements (PSAs) in random presentation featuring either dogmatic or suggestive language. As expected, daily e-cigarette users in the dogmatic anti-vaping PSA condition self-reported greater unpleasantness, freedom threat, psychological reactance, and behavioral intentions to use e-cigarettes than daily e-cigarette users in the suggestive anti-vaping PSA condition. Daily e-cigarette users in the dogmatic anti-vaping PSA condition also had greater defensive motivational reactivity during message exposure as indicated by greater corrugator muscle activation, skin conductivity levels, and less heart rate deceleration than daily e-cigarette users in the suggestive anti-vaping PSA condition. Taken together, this study provides substantial evidence of the psychophysiological and defensive nature of psychological reactance theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rodents, defensive behaviors increase the chances of survival during a predator encounter. Observable rodent defensive behaviors have been shown to be influenced by the presence of predator odors and nearby environmental cues such as cover, odors from conspecifics and food availability. Our experiment tested whether a predator scent cue influenced refuge preference in meadow voles within a laboratory setting. We placed voles in an experimental apparatus with bedding soaked in mink scent versus olive oil as a control across from four tubes that either contained (a) a dark plastic covering, (b) opposite-sex conspecific odor, (c) a food pellet, or (d) an empty, unscented space. A three-way interaction of tube contents, subject sex, and the presence of mink or olive oil on the preference of meadow voles to spend time in each area of the experimental apparatus and their latency to enter each area of the apparatus revealed sex differences in the environmental preference of meadow voles facing the risk of predation. The environmental preference of female, but not male, meadow voles was altered by the presence of mink urine or olive oil. A similar trend was found in the latency of males and females to enter each area of the experimental apparatus. These differences suggest that each sex utilizes different methods to increase their fitness when experiencing a predation risk. The observed sex differences may be explained by the natural history of voles owing to the differences in territorial range and the dynamics of evasion of terrestrial predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predators influence microhabitat selection and activity level of tadpoles, but it is still unclear how such responses to predators differ among species and how water column's depth influences this predator–prey interaction. Here, we experimentally tested whether the presence of Odonata water nymphs influenced the spatial use and activity of benthic and nektonic tadpoles in different food availability contexts. Benthic tadpoles occupied and consumed more food at the bottom level, irrespective of predator's presence. However, when predators were at the bottom, benthic tadpoles remained close to the cages, suggesting a typical "stay-still" defensive behavior known for Physalaemus nattereri (Steindachner, 1863). Nektonic tadpoles occupied shallower depths on predator presence, and they also consumed less food and avoided the predator by selecting food sources far from it. When the predator was at the bottom level and food was available, the distance of tadpoles to the cage tended to be smaller. Scinax fuscovarius (Lutz, 1925) tadpoles were more active when food was absent regardless of predator's presence. When food was available, these tadpoles generally occupied and consumed more food at the bottom level. Tadpole responses depended not only on predator presence but also on a complex net of factors, which included tadpole habit, antipredatory behavior, and availability and location of food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A host of studies have shown that self‐relevant health messages may result in increased defensiveness and rejection of protective recommendations. Drawing on research showing that multiple identities offer psychological resources to deal with identity threats, we sought to examine whether the salience of an alternative identity before people are exposed to a personally relevant health message may buffer the threat and reduce defensive responses. Two studies were conducted on samples of daily smokers asked to read an antismoking message before completing a range of measures of defensiveness. Half of the participants had an alternative identity made salient beforehand (vs. no salience condition). Consistent with our hypotheses, Study 1 (N = 90) showed that this manipulation significantly reduced defensiveness to the message. Study 2 (N = 95) additionally showed that such effects only occurred when the alternative identity overlapped highly with the threatened identity. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Making the appropriate responses to predation risk is essential for the survival of an organism; however, the underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. Here, we find that Drosophila has evolved an adaptive strategy to manage the threat from its parasitoid wasp by manipulating the oviposition behavior. Through perception of the differences in host search performance of wasps, Drosophila is able to recognize younger wasps as a higher level of threat and consequently depress the oviposition. We further show that this antiparasitoid behavior is mediated by the regulation of the expression of Tdc2 and Tβh in the ventral nerve cord via LC4 visual projection neurons, which in turn leads to the dramatic reduction in octopamine and the resulting dysfunction of mature follicle trimming and rupture. Our study uncovers a detailed mechanism underlying the defensive behavior in insects that may advance our understanding of predator avoidance in animals. Animals have evolved varied strategies for predator avoidance. Here the authors find that Drosophila can recognize threats from younger parasitoid wasps via the perception of their search performance, and reduce egg laying through the reduction of octopamine neuronal signalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to attachment theory, care-seeking is the primary coping strategy in threatening situations. However, anxious and avoidant individuals often use secondary regulation strategies. The purpose of this study was to test whether, in a potentially threatening situation, the participants' attachment orientation affects whether they prefer to resort to care or food to regulate their negative emotions. Ninety-two participants took part in an experimental situation in which they had to choose between pictures of care or food, following the presentation of threatening images randomly alternating with neutral ones. Results showed that care pictures were chosen to a greater extent in the threatening condition compared to the food pictures and the neutral condition, without distinction of attachment orientation. In addition, in threatening condition, anxious individuals chose to care less than non-anxious individuals. Finally, avoidant participants chose care pictures to a lesser extent than individuals low on avoidance in the neutral condition, but not in the threatening condition. In conclusion, attachment anxiety was associated with more difficulty in the choice of representation of care in a threatening condition, while avoidant individuals show their defensive strategies in the neutral condition rather than in the threatening condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neural mechanisms underlying placebo analgesia have attracted considerable attention over the recent years. In contrast, little is known about the neural underpinnings of a nocebo‐induced increase in pain. We previously showed that nocebo‐induced hyperalgesia is accompanied by increased activity in the hippocampus that scaled with the perceived level of anxiety. As a key node of the neural circuitry of perceived threat and fear, the hippocampus has recently been proposed to coordinate defensive behaviour in a context‐dependent manner. Such a role requires close interactions with other regions involved in the detection of and responses to threat. Here, we investigated the functional connectivity of the hippocampus during nocebo‐induced hyperalgesia. Our results show an increase in functional connectivity between hippocampus and brain regions implicated in the processing of sensory‐discriminative aspects of pain (posterior insula and primary somatosensory/motor cortex) as well as the periaqueductal grey. This nocebo‐induced increase in connectivity scaled with an individual's increase in anxiety. Moreover, hippocampus connectivity with the amygdala was negatively correlated with the pain intensity reported during nocebo hyperalgesia relative to the placebo condition. Our findings suggest that the hippocampus links nocebo‐induced anxiety to a heightened responsiveness to nociceptive input through changes in its crosstalk with pain‐modulatory brain areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain and emotion are strongly regulated by neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), a major output of the limbic system; yet, the neuronal signaling pathways underlying this modulation are incompletely understood. Here, we characterized a subpopulation of CeA neurons that express the CaMKIIα gene ((CeACAM neurons) and project to the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN), a brainstem region known for its critical role in distributing nociceptive and other aversive signals throughout the brain. In male Sprague Dawley rats, we show that (CeACAM-LPBN neurons are GABAergic and mostly express somatostatin. In anaesthetized rats, optogenetic stimulation of (CeACAM-LPBN projections inhibited responses of LPBN neurons evoked by electrical activation of Ad- and C-fiber primary afferents; this inhibition could be blocked by intra- LPBN application of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline. (CeACAM-LPBN stimulation also dampened LPBN responses to noxious mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimuli. In behaving rats, optogenetic stimulation of (CeACAM-LPBN projections attenuated nocifensive responses to mechanical pressure and radiant heat, disrupted the ability of a noxious shock to drive aversive learning, reduced the defensive behaviors of thigmotaxis and freezing, induced place preference, and promoted food consumption in sated rats. Thus, we suggest that (CeACAM-LPBN projections mediate a form of analgesia that is accompanied by a shift toward the positive-appetitive pole of the emotional-motivational continuum. Since the affective state of pain patients strongly influences their prognosis, we envision that recruitment of this pathway in a clinical setting could potentially promote pain resilience and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slippery liquid‐infused porous surface (SLIPS) has received widespread attention in the antifouling field, while its controllability of surface lubricity and durability of lubricant are relatively insufficient. In this study, inspired by the hagfish's defensive behavior of secreting mucus to escape from predators, a smart SLIPS marine antifouling coating is prepared, which possesses responsively switching lubrication modes and self‐healing property. The responsive supramolecular interaction between azobenzene (Azo) and α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD) is introduced to regulate the lubricity of SLIPS. cis‐Azo is converted to trans and combined with α‐CD by supramolecular interaction under visible light or heating, driving the shrinkage of polymer chains to squeeze the stored lubricant to the surface. The responsive self‐replenishment of lubricant can adjust the surface lubricity to switch antifouling modes between "enhancive" and "normal" smartly, which adapts to different occasions. Moreover, disulfide and hydrogen bonds are introduced to enhance self‐healing performance (91.73%). In summary, it has efficient self‐cleaning, anti‐protein, antibacterial, anti‐algae properties, and 180‐day real marine field antifouling performance during boom season (the longest antifouling period in real marine field test of reported SLIPS materials), which demonstrates the promising application in neritic sea equipment and other antifouling fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypothesis was tested that some children develop a defensive mindset that subsumes individual social information processing (SIP) steps, grows from early experiences, and guides long‐term outcomes. In Study 1 (Fast Track [FT]), 463 age‐5 children (45% girls; 43% Black) were first assessed in 1991 and followed through age 32 (83% retention). In Study 2 (Child Development Project [CDP]), 585 age‐5 children (48% girls, 17% Black) were first assessed in 1987 and followed through age 34 (78% retention). In both studies, measures were collected of early adverse experiences, defensive mindset and SIP, and adult outcomes. Across both studies, a robust latent construct of school‐age defensive mindset was validated empirically (comparative fit index =.99 in each study) and found to mediate the impact of early child abuse (38% in FT and 29% in CDP of total effect) and peer social rejection (14% in FT and 7% in CDP of total effect) on adult incarceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey bee colonies exhibit a wide range of behavioral variations depending on genetic origin and environmental factors. Therefore, the performance evaluation of honey bee races is critical to laying a foundation for future selection and improvement in Ethiopia. Thirty colonies of Apis mellifera scutellata (A. m. scutellata) similar in resources contained in the hive were kept in improved box hives and evaluated through various behaviors (i.e. Reproductive swarming tendency, foraging activity, defensive behavior, hygienic behavior, brood population, honey production, and absconding behavior) during the active season and dearth season. In the study area, the A. m. scutellata race has a higher swarming tendency in the active season, with up to 3.42 queen caps per hive prepared per year. Defensive behavior during the active season takes an average of 25.41 seconds after disturbances and follows up to a 212.20-meter distance. But during the dearth season, the colony slightly took a long time to reach aggressiveness after disturbance (31.28 seconds) and followed the observer for a short distance (45.58 meters). The closed brood production is higher (149 units per hive) during the active season and nectar production units per hive are reduced by 50% as compared to the dearth season. The yielding performance of the race per frame ranged from 1.3 kg to 1.5 kg, and an average of 14 kg of honey per harvest. The A. m. scutellata exhibited an absconding tendency of 34.5% if there was any disruption. A. m. scutellata showed good performance in hygienic behaviors (>95%), but undesirable behaviors in defensive behavior, and swarming tendencies make it difficult to manage honey bees. However, the race has good performance in foraging and hygienic behaviors. Further, studies of the honey bee race through selection and breeding could be conducted to reduce the higher defensive and swarming tendency of A. m. scutellata to improve production performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is one of the richest countries in reptile fauna. However, the antipredator mechanisms regarding many of these species are not yet known. As we document new records, it may continually improve our understanding on predatorprey interactions. Here, four antipredator mechanisms are reported, the scorpion mimicry displayed by Gymnodactylus darwinii and Chatogekko amazonicus, as well as cloacal discharge, skin loss, and tail autotomy for the former. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte is the property of Redprint Editora Ltda. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During threat exposure, survival depends on defensive reactions. Prior works linked large glutamatergic populations in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) to defensive freezing and flight, and established that the overarching functional organization axis of the PAG is along anatomically-defined columns. Accordingly, broad activation of the dorsolateral column induces flight, while activation of the lateral or ventrolateral (l and vl) columns induces freezing. However, the PAG contains diverse cell types that vary in neurochemistry. How these cell types contribute to defense remains unknown, indicating that targeting sparse, genetically-defined populations may reveal how the PAG generates diverse behaviors. Though prior works showed that broad excitation of the lPAG or vlPAG causes freezing, we found in mice that activation of lateral and ventrolateral PAG (l/vlPAG) cholecystokinin-expressing (CCK) cells selectively caused flight to safer regions within an environment. Furthermore, inhibition of l/vlPAG-CCK cells reduced predator avoidance without altering other defensive behaviors like freezing. Lastly, l/vlPAG-CCK activity decreased when approaching threat and increased during movement to safer locations. These results suggest CCK cells drive threat avoidance states, which are epochs during which mice increase distance from threat and perform evasive escape. Conversely, l/vlPAG pan-neuronal activation promoted freezing, and these cells were activated near threat. Thus, CCK l/vlPAG cells have opposing function and neural activation motifs compared to the broader local ensemble defined solely by columnar boundaries. In addition to the anatomical columnar architecture of the PAG, the molecular identity of PAG cells may confer an additional axis of functional organization, revealing unexplored functional heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Blue tree monitor, Varanus macraei Böhme & Jacobs, 2001 is a tree monitor species favored by reptile keepers. Successful captive breeding was reported from hobbyists and zoos in Europe shortly after its scientific description. Meanwhile, commercial farming to supply international demands has been progressing in Indonesia. However, such successful ex-situ breeding efforts have not yet been documented or published in Indonesia thus far. Therefore, in this, study we describe for the first time the mating behavior and reproduction of a V. macraei couple in an in-country outdoor facility, which is a common husbandry practice for monitor lizard breeders in Indonesia. The male started to approach the female at the beginning of the dry season, in May, with the female showing defensive behavior towards the male, both before mating and after laying eggs, pointing to a seasonal reproductive behavior. Monitor lizards were observed being active during the daytime. Eggs were laid by mid-July 2020. Two of the six eggs laid were revealed to be fertile and hatched after about 23 weeks (5.6 months). The two hatchlings were reared in an indoor enclosure, but only one survived, which showed to be a male. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to record and analyze various reaction times and behaviors of drivers in response to cut-in situations in a driving simulator. A total of 105 male and female volunteers between the age of 20 and 49 participated in an experiment in a driving simulator with an installed eye-tracking system. The participants experienced a scenario in which a vehicle parked on a shoulder unexpectedly cut in while they were driving on a city road. The mean perceived reaction time was 1.05 s with a standard deviation of 0.43 s. The mean brake/steering reaction time after perceiving the danger was 0.59/0.56 s with a standard deviation of 0.40/0.42 s. The influence of age and gender was observed only in the steering reaction time. No interaction effects were found in any reaction times. Approximately half the drivers steered first and then braked to avoid collision. The perceived reaction time in accident cases was longer than in no-accident cases. A rich dataset was established based on the 93 valid participants who completed the experiment, and established database can be used as a look-up table to identify the percentile of a certain cut-in case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the aims of social work education is to facilitate learners to develop skills of critical thinking. Having a growth mindset opens greater possibilities to develop the skills and enhance commitment to lifelong learning. In contrast, students and educators who possess a fixed mindset focus on performance and less on learning. Furthermore, people with a fixed mindset tend to engage in defensive behaviours and respond negatively to feedback. This article explores the existing knowledge on both fixed mindset and growth mindset relevant to social work education and my reflection as a learner and educator. It also offers some possible ideas to increase self-awareness for social work learners, educators, and education providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of conducting honey bee experiments on the Greek Island of Lesbos we took the opportunity to observe the reactions of ants, Messor oertzeni Forel (Hymenoptera Formicidae Myrmicinae), to a baited ant trap placed in its main foraging path (active ingredient: sodium cacodylate). Each trap had three entrances and we tested five nests. For 14 days we observed the nests and photographs were taken daily to document our observations. Following a baseline condition in which none of the three entrances were open, one entrance was open. Several days later the entrance we opened was turned 90 degrees away from the main foraging trail and a second entrance was opened and placed in the same orientation as the first entrance (i.e., in the main foraging path). Our observations revealed that for four of the five ant colonies, the ants built a barrier around the opened entrance preventing other ants from entering the trap. The materials they used to bar the entrance was composed of twigs, pebbles and soil. We believe that the apparent ability of ants to avoid the effects of an insecticide by baring the entrance to a bait trap is a novel finding and should be replicated under more controlled conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultured Mytilus coruscus fall-offs regularly led to the reduction of harvest yields of suspension-cultured mussels. High temperature and marine pollutants affect mussel physiological health, which increases the risk of mussel fall-offs and results in yield declines. In this study, we classified mussels into proactive and reactive groups based on their self-organizing behavior after air exposure stress and investigated the differences in defense performance of different group mussels. Proactive mussels were found to have a significantly higher byssus number, adhesion area, and gene expression in the mussel foot protein mfp5 and the byssus collagen preCOL-P. Exposure of mussels to high temperature and different concentrations of BDE-47 revealed a decrease in byssus performance and byssus gene expression in both proactive and reactive groups, but the decreased level of expression of the proactive mussel foot proteins mfp5 and mfp6 was significantly less than that of the reactive mussels. Our study found that proactive mussels have more and better byssuses, better adhesion and defense ability, and greater adaptability under higher temperature and pollutant-exposed conditions. The performance of byssus is correlated with the individuality of stress coping, providing a new direction for future mussel selection breeding and aquaculture. [Display omitted] • Mussels can be divided into proactive and reactive individuals based on self-organizing behavior. • Proactive mussels have better byssus performance, and expression levels of mfp5 and preCOL-P than reactive mussels.Proactive mussels have better byssus performance, and expression levels of mfp5 and preCOL-P than reactive mussels. • Proactive mussels perform better at high temperatures and BDE-47 exposure compared to reactive mussels.Proactive mussels perform better at high temperatures and BDE-47 exposure compared to reactive mussels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We investigated defensive hissing behavior and associated physiological costs in a venomous snake species. • Sex significantly affects the probability of hissing and hissing intensity was higher during expiration than during inspiration. • The production of hissing sound dramatically increased metabolic rate and evaporative water loss and this effect was more marked in males. • Atmospheric desiccation may compromise water-based tradeoff and predator-prey biotic interaction. To minimize predation risk and the cost of confronting predators, prey have developed a range of defensive strategies and warning signals. Although advantageous, defensive warnings may also induce physiological and energy costs to the emitter. Ventilatory sounds (hissing) are the most distributed warning sound in vertebrates. Because they involve the respiratory apparatus, defensive hissing may substantially increase evaporative water loss. Herein, we examined the determinants of hissing as well as its physiological costs in a medium-sized venomous snake, the long-nosed viper (Vipera ammodytes). We first used a neutral arena and applied standardized stimulation to measure the occurrence and acoustic characteristics of warning hissing. Then, we used open-flow respirometry to quantify changes in respiratory gas exchanges (oxygen consumption and evaporative water loss) during defensive responses. We demonstrated that males are more likely to engage in sound warnings when stimulated. Expirations generated the strongest signals compared to inspiration but did not differ between sexes. We found that defensive hissing dramatically increased average metabolic rate and evaporative water loss during the 10-minute stimulation period, and this effect was more pronounced in males. Metabolic rates and evaporative water loss were closely related to the duration of hissing. Overall, our results indicate that respiratory-based warning sounds induce significant physiological costs and may alter water balance. The higher responsiveness in males than females likely reflects sexually selective pressure (higher mobility for mate acquisition) and enhanced risk exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]