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Vulture Safe Feeding Sites (VSFS) provide diclofenac-free food and create an ideal environment for long-term ecological research on vultures. This study determines the population status and investigates the diurnal behavior White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) at the Ghachowk VSFS in Kaski, Nepal. We deployed the absolute count method to determine population of White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), while scan sampling was applied to investigate their diurnal behaviour. The observed population of Gyps bengalensis ranged from 34 to 65 individuals (with an average of 50±10, based on a sample size of 9). Throughout the daytime, a total of 1651 instances of 11 distinct activities were recorded for the species in 729 separate observations. The most frequent daytime behaviour observed was perching (28%) followed by preening (14%), basking (13%), scratching (13%) flapping (10%), flying (9%) and disturbance (7%). Other behaviors, like feeding, sleeping (roosting), fighting (competition), and bathing, were observed less frequently (

Vulture Safe Feeding Sites (VSFS) provide diclofenac-free food and create an ideal environment for long-term ecological research on vultures. This study determines the population status and investigates the diurnal behavior of White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) at the Ghachowk VSFS in Kaski, Nepal. We deployed the absolute count method to determine population of Whiterumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), while scan sampling was applied to investigate their diurnal behaviour. The observed population of Gyps bengalensis ranged from 34 to 65 individuals (with an average of 50±10, based on a sample size of 9). Throughout the daytime, a total of 1651 instances of 11 distinct activities were recorded for the species in 729 separate observations. The most frequent daytime behaviour observed was perching (28%) followed by preening (14%), basking (13%), scratching (13%) flapping (10%), flying (9%) and disturbance (7%). Other behaviors, like feeding, sleeping (roosting), fighting (competition), and bathing, were observed less frequently (<2% each). Perching occurred most frequently during heavy rain, accounting for 66% of the observations, and in the late afternoon, representing 36% of the instances. Basking was most commonly observed during partly sunny conditions, comprising 26% of the observations, and in the noon hours, representing 20% of the instances. Scratching behavior was most frequently observed during clear weather, accounting for 16% of the observations, and during cloudy conditions and in the morning, accounting for 14% of the instances. In the Ghachowk VSFS, other associated species with Whiterumped Vulture were Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus, Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, and Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris. This study plays a pivotal role in uncovering the conservation requirements especially in reducing social taboos of the tradition communities regarding this critically endangered species which needs strong social support for its long-term conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the antidepressant property of Indomethacin using an IFN-a-induced depression model in albino mice. The locomotor activity, splash test, forced swimming test, tail suspension, sucrose preference and open field tests were used to evaluate the antidepressant effect of selected drug on albino female mice after induction of stress. The period of immobility in the TST and percentage preference for sucrose solution were recorded. By monitoring brain malondialdehyde (MDA) level, catalase (CAT) activity, and reduced glutathione (GSH) level, the antioxidant potential was assessed. When compared to stressed group, animals that received Indomethacin had considerably shorter immobility times during the TST. Indomethacin treatment also raised the percentage preference for sucrose solution, nearer to the conventional antidepressant, Amitriptyline. Furthermore, Indomethacin remarkably lowered plasma corticosterone and nitrite levels, reduced glutathione levels while considerably reducing the brain's MDA and catalase activities. However, further studies should be carried out to explore the antidepressant property of Indomethacin clinically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Aging is a risk factor for several debilitating conditions including those related to chronic back pain and intervertebral disc degeneration, both of which have no cure. Mouse models are useful tools for studying disc degeneration and chronic back pain in a tightly controlled and clinically relevant aging environment. Moreover, mice offer the advantage of carrying out longitudinal studies to understand the etiology and progression of disc pathology induced by genetic or surgical strategies. Previously, age-related behavioral trends of discomfort and enhanced nociception in mice were reported; however, whether these measures are mediated by structural and pathological changes in the disc is unknown. Methods: The goal of the present observational study was to identify behavioral correlates of age-related degenerative changes in the disc. Towards this, we collected radiographs from 150 mice (77 females) between three and 23 months of age and measured the disc height index for each level of lumbar disc. Behavioral measures were collected on several of these mice which included rearing and distance travelled in an open field test; time spent in rearing, reaching, immobile, and self-suspended in the tail suspension test; bilateral hind paw licking in response to cold allodynia using acetone; and unilateral hind paw licking in response to heat hyperalgesia using capsaicin. Results: Results show that the lower lumbar discs lose height with age and these changes are independent of body composition measures including body weight, bone mineral density, fat mass, lean weight mass, percent fat mass, and percent lean mass. Disc height positively correlates with rearing and mobility in the open field test, immobility in the tail suspension test, and thermal hyperalgesia. Disc height negatively correlates with cold allodynia and rearing in the tail suspension test. Furthermore, mediation analysis shows that the lumbosacral disc significantly mediates the effect of age on rearing in the open field test, but not cold allodynia, suggesting this behavior is a useful measure of age-related axial discomfort due to disc degeneration. Conclusion: In summary, the findings from the current study show that disc height are associated with measures of axial discomfort and nociception in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual reality (VR) is a powerful tool for researchers due to its potential to study dynamic human behavior in highly naturalistic environments while retaining full control over the presented stimuli. Due to advancements in consumer hardware, VR devices are now very affordable and have also started to include technologies such as eye tracking, further extending potential research applications. Rendering engines such as Unity, Unreal, or Vizard now enable researchers to easily create complex VR environments. However, implementing the experimental design can still pose a challenge, and these packages do not provide out-of-the-box support for trial-based behavioral experiments. Here, we present a Python toolbox, designed to facilitate common tasks when developing experiments using the Vizard VR platform. It includes functionality for common tasks like creating, randomizing, and presenting trial-based experimental designs or saving results to standardized file formats. Moreover, the toolbox greatly simplifies continuous recording of eye and body movements using any hardware supported in Vizard. We further implement and describe a simple goal-directed reaching task in VR and show sample data recorded from five volunteers. The toolbox, example code, and data are all available on GitHub under an open-source license. We hope that our toolbox can simplify VR experiment development, reduce code duplication, and aid reproducibility and open-science efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a unique collection of four data sets to study social behaviour, collected during international scientific conferences. Interactions between participants were tracked using the SocioPatterns platform, which allows collecting face-to-face physical proximity events every 20 seconds. Through accompanying surveys, we gathered extensive information about the participants: sociodemographic characteristics, Big Five personality traits, DIAMONDS situation perceptions, measure of scientific attractiveness, motivations for attending the conferences, and perceptions of the crowd. Linking the sensor and survey data provides a rich window into social behaviour. At the individual level, the data sets allow personality scientists to investigate individual differences in social behaviour and pinpoint which individual characteristics (e.g., social roles, personality traits, situation perceptions) drive these individual differences. At the group level, the data allow to study the mechanisms responsible for interacting patterns within a scientific crowd during a social, networking and idea-sharing event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unilateral inner ear injury is followed by behavioral recovery due to central vestibular compensation. The therapeutic effect of oxytocin (OT) on vestibular compensation was investigated by behavioral testing in a rat model of unilateral vestibular neurectomy (UVN). Animals in the oxytocin group (UVN-OT) exhibited delayed vestibular compensation on the qualitative scale of vestibular deficits and aggravated static postural deficits (bearing surface) compared to animals in the NaCl group (UVN-NaCl). Surprisingly, oxytocin-treated animals adopt a different postural strategy than untreated animals. Instead of shifting their weight to the ipsilesional paws (left front and hind paws), they shift their weight to the front paws (right and left) without modification along the lateral axis. Furthermore, some locomotor strategies of the animals to compensate for the vestibular loss are also altered by oxytocin treatment. UVN-OT animals do not induce an increase in the distance traveled, their mean velocity is lower than that in the control group, and the ipsilesional body rotations do not increase from 7 to 30 days after UVN. This study reveals that oxytocin treatment hinders the restoration of some postural and locomotor deficits while improving others following vestibular lesions. The mechanisms of the action of oxytocin that support these behavioral changes remain to be elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavioral changes in newborn 3-day-old rats (n=44) with modeled hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) were observed, and the expression of CDK8 in brain tissues was detected to clarify the significance of CDK8. In 30 min, 3 h, and 3 days after HIBI, the left (ischemic) hemisphere was taken for examination. In 3 days after HIBI, the rat pups were examined in the behavioral tests. In rat pups with HIBI, changes of CDK8 expression were detected by Western blotting and real-time PCR and changes in the righting reflex and forelimb grip strength test (p<0.05) were revealed in comparison with sham-operated animals. The expression of CDK8 increased 30 min after HIBI and decreased in 3 h and 3 days. Hypoxia and ischemia of the left brain may affect locomotion, but not sensation. Since CDK8 is involved in the immune response after cerebral hypoxia and ischemia, this kinase can be used as an early diagnostic index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus , are considered the primary animal reservoir of Borreliella burgdorferi sensu stricto ( Bb ), the main agent of Lyme disease (LD) in the United States, these animals represent the most relevant model to study borrelial spirochetes in the context of their natural life cycle. Previous studies have consistently demonstrated that although white-footed mice respond immunologically to the invasion of the Lyme pathogen, P. leucopus adults do not develop a clinically detectable disease. This tolerance, which is common for mammalian reservoirs of different pathogens, contrasts with detrimental anti-borrelial responses of C3H mice, a widely used animal model of LD, which always result in a clinical manifestation (e.g., arthritis). The current investigation is a follow-up of our recent study that already showed a relative quiescence of the spleen transcriptome for Bb -infected white-footed mice compared to the infected C3H mice. In an effort to identify the mechanism behind this tolerance, in this study, we have evaluated an extensive list of hematological and biochemical parameters measured in white-footed mice after their 70-day-long borrelial infection. Despite missing reference intervals for Peromyscus mice, our sex- and age-matched uninfected controls allowed us to assess the blood and serum parameters. In addition, for our assessment, we also utilized behavioral, immunological, and histological analyses. Collectively, by using the metrics reported herein, the present results have demonstrated clinical unresponsiveness of P. leucopus mice to the borrelial infection, presenting no restriction to a long-term host-pathogen co-existence.

Background: Monitoring free-living physical activity (PA) through wearable devices enables the real-time assessment of activity features associated with health outcomes and provision of treatment recommendations and adjustments. The conclusions of studies on PA and health depend crucially on reliable statistical analyses of digital data. Data analytics, however, are challenging due to the various metrics adopted for measuring PA, different aims of studies, and complex temporal variations within variables. The application, interpretation, and appropriateness of these analytical tools have yet to be summarized., Objective: This research aimed to review studies that used analytical methods for analyzing PA monitored by accelerometers. Specifically, this review addressed three questions: (1) What metrics are used to describe an individual's free-living daily PA? (2) What are the current analytical tools for analyzing PA data, particularly under the aims of classification, association with health outcomes, and prediction of health events? and (3) What challenges exist in the analyses, and what recommendations for future research are suggested regarding the use of statistical methods in various research tasks?, Methods: This scoping review was conducted following an existing framework to map research studies by exploring the information about PA. Three databases, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and the ACM Digital Library, were searched in February 2024 to identify related publications. Eligible articles were classification, association, or prediction studies involving human PA monitored through wearable accelerometers., Results: After screening 1312 articles, 428 (32.62%) eligible studies were identified and categorized into at least 1 of the following 3 thematic categories: classification (75/428, 17.5%), association (342/428, 79.9%), and prediction (32/428, 7.5%). Most articles (414/428, 96.7%) derived PA variables from 3D acceleration, rather than 1D acceleration. All eligible articles (428/428, 100%) considered PA metrics represented in the time domain, while a small fraction (16/428, 3.7%) also considered PA metrics in the frequency domain. The number of studies evaluating the influence of PA on health conditions has increased greatly. Among the studies in our review, regression-type models were the most prevalent (373/428, 87.1%). The machine learning approach for classification research is also gaining popularity (32/75, 43%). In addition to summary statistics of PA, several recent studies used tools to incorporate PA trajectories and account for temporal patterns, including longitudinal data analysis with repeated PA measurements and functional data analysis with PA as a continuum for time-varying association (68/428, 15.9%)., Conclusions: Summary metrics can quickly provide descriptions of the strength, frequency, and duration of individuals' overall PA. When the distribution and profile of PA need to be evaluated or detected, considering PA metrics as longitudinal or functional data can provide detailed information and improve the understanding of the role PA plays in health. Depending on the research goal, appropriate analytical tools can ensure the reliability of the scientific findings., (©Ya-Ting Liang, Charlotte Wang, Chuhsing Kate Hsiao. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 11.09.2024.)

Abstract Anxiety disorders are general and psychological problems that are also linked to symptoms of depression. This study aimed to investigate the anxiolytic-like effects of Urena lobata L. (MEUL) methanolic extract in different behavioral paradigms in Swiss albino mice. For this, after an oral acute toxicity study, adult male mice were treated with MEUL (250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) and/or diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.), and subjected to a number of behavioral studies. In the open-field test, the number of square field cross, grooming, and rearing, was counted, while in the light/dark and swing test, the time spent in the dark portion and number of swings was calculated, respectively. Additionally, the phytochemical analysis was also done. Results reveal that the MEUL possesses alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, terpenes (including triterpenes), gums, and reducing sugars. MEUL showed a significant (p

Unilateral inner ear injury is followed by behavioral recovery due to central vestibular compensation. The therapeutic effect of oxytocin (OT) on vestibular compensation was investigated by behavioral testing in a rat model of unilateral vestibular neurectomy (UVN). Animals in the oxytocin group (UVN-OT) exhibited delayed vestibular compensation on the qualitative scale of vestibular deficits and aggravated static postural deficits (bearing surface) compared to animals in the NaCl group (UVN-NaCl). Surprisingly, oxytocin-treated animals adopt a different postural strategy than untreated animals. Instead of shifting their weight to the ipsilesional paws (left front and hind paws), they shift their weight to the front paws (right and left) without modification along the lateral axis. Furthermore, some locomotor strategies of the animals to compensate for the vestibular loss are also altered by oxytocin treatment. UVN-OT animals do not induce an increase in the distance traveled, their mean velocity is lower than that in the control group, and the ipsilesional body rotations do not increase from 7 to 30 days after UVN. This study reveals that oxytocin treatment hinders the restoration of some postural and locomotor deficits while improving others following vestibular lesions. The mechanisms of the action of oxytocin that support these behavioral changes remain to be elucidated.

This paper describes an implementation of a remote laboratory system for the practical works (PW) of electronics, this system make available to target and analysis the gaps, weaknesses and lack of scientific knowledge of students in the context of electric engineering through data mining algorithms and students’ study behavior. Experimental work has traditionally been developed in laboratories. However, the increase in the number of higher education students in the last decades has put pressure on the physical structures and resources of laboratories. To overcome this, computational simulations and remote laboratories have been developed enabling the expansion of educational boundaries. this paper provides new opportunities to enhance the student’s learning process. The results are presented and discussed according to two levels. The first is development a complete system of remote laboratory E@Slab and compare it with the related work. second level, we present an algorithms of Intelligence Artificial that automate evaluation and classify students in different groups attending to an assessment rubric. After this classification we compare the obtained results from algorithms of Intelligence Artificial with the levels obtained from interviews with the students and from the practical work review for to be a validation of sorts. Finally we compare the two results and we remark that algorithm classifies correctly the students with an accuracy of more than 90%.

This paper describes an implementation of a remote laboratory system for the practical works (PW) of electronics, this system make available to target and analysis the gaps, weaknesses and lack of scientific knowledge of students in the context of electric engineering through data mining algorithms and students' study behavior. Experimental work has traditionally been developed in laboratories. However, the increase in the number of higher education students in the last decades has put pressure on the physical structures and resources of laboratories. To overcome this, computational simulations and remote laboratories have been developed enabling the expansion of educational boundaries. this paper provides new opportunities to enhance the student's learning process. The results are presented and discussed according to two levels. The first is development a complete system of remote laboratory E@Slab and compare it with the related work. second level, we present an algorithms of Intelligence Artificial that automate evaluation and classify students in different groups attending to an assessment rubric. After this classification we compare the obtained results from algorithms of Intelligence Artificial with the levels obtained from interviews with the students and from the practical work review for to be a validation of sorts. Finally we compare the two results and we remark that algorithm classifies correctly the students with an accuracy of more than 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the use of scenario planning—a strategic planning tool used for making decisions of long‐term nature—to adapt a buyer–supplier dyad for disruptions in their supply chain resulting from abrupt changes in regulations. We posit that dyadic scenarios, that is, those created jointly by a buyer and a supplier, alter the scope of supply chain design in relation to a regulatory disruption. We offer four hypotheses distinguishing dyadic scenario creation from the traditional single‐firm scenario creation and two additional hypotheses related specifically to scenarios of regulatory disruptions. Five of the six hypotheses are supported in a behavioral study of a regulatory context. We integrate these findings to propose a Supply Chain Regulation Preparedness (SRP) framework for assessing the effects of dyadic scenario creation in six regimens of regulatory disruptions. We discuss the implications of this framework for the theory and practice of organizational learning associated with supply chain configurations in the face of emergent public policies and highlight collaborative scenario planning as an emergent strategic‐level mechanism that supply chain partners can deploy jointly to address just‐in‐case uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety disorders are general and psychological problems that are also linked to symptoms of depression. This study aimed to investigate the anxiolytic-like effects of Urena lobata L. (MEUL) methanolic extract in different behavioral paradigms in Swiss albino mice. For this, after an oral acute toxicity study, adult male mice were treated with MEUL (250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) and/or diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.), and subjected to a number of behavioral studies. In the open-field test, the number of square field cross, grooming, and rearing, was counted, while in the light/dark and swing test, the time spent in the dark portion and number of swings was calculated, respectively. Additionally, the phytochemical analysis was also done. Results reveal that the MEUL possesses alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, terpenes (including triterpenes), gums, and reducing sugars. MEUL showed a significant (p < 0.05) anxiolytic-like effect in experimental animals, where it's dose-dependently modulated the test parameters in an open-field test. The MEUL also increased the light residence time and the number of swings in a dose-dependent manner. A dose of 500 mg/kg of MEUL caused the highest calming effect when combined with the experimental animals' diazepam group. Taken together, findings expand an understanding of the impact of U. lobata on the central nervous system and show that this plant may be useful for the treatment of disorders associated with anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased, but the etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear. In this narrative review, we review and systematically summarize the methods used to construct animal models to study ASD and the related behavioral studies based on recent literature. Utilization of various ASD animal models can complement research on the etiology, pathogenesis, and core behaviors of ASD, providing information and a foundation for further basic research and clinical treatment of ASD., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

The study of cognitive impairment associated with hearing loss has recently garnered considerable interest. Epidemiological data have demonstrated that hearing loss is a risk factor for cognitive decline as a result of aging. However, no previous study has examined the effect of hearing loss in patients with cognitive problems such as Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, we investigated the effect of conductive hearing loss in an Alzheimer’s mouse model. Positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to evaluate changes in glucose metabolism and gray matter concentrations in the 5xFAD Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) transgenic mouse model with and without conductive hearing loss (HL). Conductive hearing loss was induced using chronic perforation of the tympanic membrane. Behavioral data from the Y-maze and passive avoidance tests revealed greater memory deficits in the AD with HL (AD-HL) group than in the AD group. Following induction of hearing loss, lower cerebral glucose metabolism in the frontal association cortex was observed in the AD-HL group than in the AD group. Although lower glucose metabolism in the hippocampus and cerebellum was found in the AD-HL group than in the AD group at 3 months, the gray matter concentrations in these regions were not significantly different between the groups. Furthermore, the gray matter concentrations in the simple lobule, cingulate/retrosplenial cortex, substantia nigra, retrosigmoid nucleus, medial geniculate nucleus, and anterior pretectal nucleus at 7 months were significantly lower in the AD-HL group than in the AD group. Taken together, these results indicate that even partial hearing loss can aggravate memory impairment in Alzheimer’s disease.

Abstract Background To prevent occupational skin cancer, it is essential that the sun-protective behavior of outdoor workers is adequate. The aim is to study the sun-protective behavior of Danish outdoor workers at work, at leisure, and on sun holiday and compare it to that of indoor workers. Methods This is a cross-sectional study, based on a 53-item survey completed by Danish outdoor (n = 380) and indoor workers (n = 119) in 2016–2017. Status as outdoor or indoor worker was decided based on self-report and behavioral differences were tested using (paired) t tests and multiple regression adjusted for age, sex, educational level, history of smoking, and skin type. Results Danish outdoor workers at work use sun protection less than they do at leisure and on sun holiday (α 80.0% agree that risk of skin cancer is reduced by the use of sun protection, and only 4.0% dismiss the possibility of sun protection use at work. Conclusions Skin cancer risk and use of sun protection at work are largely neglected in Danish outdoor workers, more so than at leisure and on sun holiday where their risk behavior resembles that of indoor workers. This indicates an untapped workplace preventive potential.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of low-dose of ketamine, in short-term, on behavioral impairment and acute neuronal death in the cerebral cortex during the acute phase in a model of epileptic mouse induced by pilocarpine. Methods:Ketamine was administrated (10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, 30 min before pilocarpine injection (100 mg/kg) in the first group. The second group received the same dose of ketamine 30 min after pilocarpine injection. The effect of ketamine on behavioral disorders and cerebral neuronal integrity in epileptic mice was evaluated. Results:Clinical observations and behavioural tests relate a reduction in behavioural dysfunctions in mice treated with ketamine. Interestingly, treatment of mice with low dose of ketamine decreased the clinical symptoms (movements of the vibrios, nods of the head, and movements of the whiskers), especially when administered before epilepsy induction. Furthermore, the administration of ketamine limits oedema in the hippocampus, neuronal degeneration and gliosis in the different cortical layers. These results could be explained by NMDA receptors inhibition by ketamine. Conclusion:Therefore, it appears that ketamine is endowed with a potential neuroprotective effect and can reduce the severity of neurodegeneration, especially when administrated before Status Epilepticus (SE) installation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of cognitive impairment associated with hearing loss has recently garnered considerable interest. Epidemiological data have demonstrated that hearing loss is a risk factor for cognitive decline as a result of aging. However, no previous study has examined the effect of hearing loss in patients with cognitive problems such as Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, we investigated the effect of conductive hearing loss in an Alzheimer's mouse model. Positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to evaluate changes in glucose metabolism and gray matter concentrations in the 5xFAD Alzheimer's Disease (AD) transgenic mouse model with and without conductive hearing loss (HL). Conductive hearing loss was induced using chronic perforation of the tympanic membrane. Behavioral data from the Y-maze and passive avoidance tests revealed greater memory deficits in the AD with HL (AD-HL) group than in the AD group. Following induction of hearing loss, lower cerebral glucose metabolism in the frontal association cortex was observed in the AD-HL group than in the AD group. Although lower glucose metabolism in the hippocampus and cerebellum was found in the AD-HL group than in the AD group at 3 months, the gray matter concentrations in these regions were not significantly different between the groups. Furthermore, the gray matter concentrations in the simple lobule, cingulate/retrosplenial cortex, substantia nigra, retrosigmoid nucleus, medial geniculate nucleus, and anterior pretectal nucleus at 7 months were significantly lower in the AD-HL group than in the AD group. Taken together, these results indicate that even partial hearing loss can aggravate memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article continues a recent trend of exploring the linkages between supply chain risk, resilience and decision‐making at an individual level. Specifically, the article reports the results of a behavioral study that explores whether and how the perceptions of supply chain risk and resilience influence the decisions made regarding the selection of a new source of critical components. The study uses a full factorial design for a scenario‐based role‐playing experiment involving over 1,000 valid responses drawn from multiple sampling pools including supply chain managers, students, and crowd‐sourced respondents. The results indicate that the perception of supply chain resilience—whether it is by systemic resilience communication, such as training or corporate pronouncements, or through personal exposure—significantly influences decision‐making, although personal exposure appears to have a stronger impact on the outcome. This relationship is significantly moderated by the risk propensity of the individual decision‐makers. The article concludes with a discussion of the results and their implication for both theory and practice. The discussion provides a framework for integrating the macro and micro levels by arguing that the micro issues can potentially moderate and mediate the relationships and findings observed at the macro level. Failure to integrate the micro effects can result in variance that the macro‐level analysis is unable to explain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The impact of PES on participants' motivations was analyzed. • The design features of PES can significantly affect the motivation crowding. • Crowding-in is related to successful environmental outcomes, while crowding-out is associated with environmental failure. • The study provided recommendations for avoiding negative motivation in PES projects. Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) is a commonly used policy tool to fund nature conservation efforts. However, the implementation of financial incentives may have unintended consequences on intrinsic motivations, such as attitudes and environmental values, resulting in reduced levels of pro-environmental behaviors after PES compared to those observed before PES. The effect of PES schemes on participants' motivations is not well understood. To address this gap, we conducted a quantitative analysis of motivation effects in PES schemes using 155 data points from 126 primary studies. Our study found that: 1) 54% of PES projects had a crowding-in effect, reinforcing intrinsic motivations, while 42% had a crowding-out effect, weakening intrinsic motivations; 2) PES projects with community payments were more likely to induce crowding-out due to free-riding and reduced trust; 3) compliance monitoring was a weak predictor of crowding-in, possibly due to increased satisfaction; and 4) monetary payment, when compared to in-kind payment, was more likely to lead to crowding-out due to reduced autonomy. Our findings also suggest that crowding-in is associated with successful environmental outcomes, while crowding-out is associated with environmental failure. To enhance the effectiveness of PES programs, policymakers should promote motivation crowding-in and prevent crowding-out by using in-kind payments, addressing free-riding, and enhancing fairness and transparency through monitoring, where feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Martino's vole (Dinaromys bogdanovi) is a rare species that lives in differently structured karst habitats, varying from open rocky plains to deep fissures, mostly residing under boulders and in crevices. Populations of the species are declining, probably due to its strict habitat preferences and competition with the European snow vole. Since the species is difficult to study in the wild, we tested its behavioral response to a differently complex environment and novel object presence in captivity. We exposed 14 individuals to differentially complex setups, from open and unsheltered to rocky with covered tunnels. We measured the effect of the presented setup and season on vole behavior. Analysis showed seasonal differences with higher movement frequency and longer time spent still during the breeding season, and a higher number of attempts due to the lack of vole entry into the experimental terrarium in the non-breeding season. Additionally, movement significantly differentiated between an open and simple setup in comparison to more complex ones, with higher frequencies of moving and peeping and the duration of peeping in the simple setup, indicating restlessness. We also found significant differences between the novel object and control setup. The results of this study could be useful for future assessment of the influence of habitat complexity on mobility in the wild. Moreover, this is the first study on the behavior of this endemic and rare rodent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain is the most common sensation installed in us naturally which plays a vital role in defending us against severe harm. This neurological mechanism pathway has been one of the most complex and comprehensive topics but there has never been an elaborate justification of the types of analgesics that used to reduce the pain sensation through which specific pathways. Of course, there have been some answers to curbing of pain which is a lifesaver in numerous situations—chronic and acute pain conditions alike. This has been explored by scientists using pain-like behavioral study methodologies in non-anesthetized animals since decades ago to characterize the analgesic profile such as centrally or peripherally acting drugs and allowing for the development of analgesics. However, widely the methodology is being practiced such as the tail flick/Hargreaves test and Von Frey/Randall–Selitto tests which are stimulus-evoked nociception studies, and there has rarely been a complete review of all these methodologies, their benefits and its downside coupled with the mechanism of the action that is involved. Thus, this review solely focused on the complete protocol that is being adapted in each behavioral study methods induced by different phlogogenic agents, the different assessment methods used for phasic, tonic and inflammatory pain studies and the proposed mechanism of action underlying each behavioral study methodology for analgesic drug profiling. It is our belief that this review could significantly provide a concise idea and improve our scientists’ understanding towards pain management in future research.

The spread of the exotic insect pest sycamore lace bug Corythucha ciliata (Say) is increasing worldwide. The identification of behaviorally active compounds is crucial for reducing the current distribution of this pest. In this study, we identified and documented the expression profiles of genes encoding chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in the sycamore lace bug to identify CSPs that bind to the alarm pheromone geraniol. One CSP (CcilCSP2) that was highly expressed in nymph antennae was found to bind geraniol with high affinity. This finding was confirmed by fluorescence competitive binding assays. We further discovered one candidate chemical, phenyl benzoate, that bound to CcilCSP2 with even higher affinity than geraniol. Behavioral assays revealed that phenyl benzoate, similar to geraniol, significantly repelled sycamore lace bug nymphs but had no activity toward adults. This study has revealed a novel repellent compound involved in behavioral regulation. And, our findings will be beneficial for understanding the olfactory recognition mechanism of sycamore lace bug and developing a push-pull system to manage this pest in the future.

Introduction: Review of official reports for the last 10 years revealed that up to 5% of the country population suffers from acute respiratory infections (ARI) annually. The study aimed to research the actual incidence by analyzing the prevailing behaviors in populations with respiratory symptoms.Methods: The prospective behavioral study was conducted at the outpatient clinic No 1 in Bishkek, with the number of catchment population aged above 18 totaling 25,057. Selection of respondents was based on systematic sampling. Every hundredth resident was selected from the electronic database of the catchment population. 224 people above 18 were actually enrolled in the study. The survey continued from November 2012 to April 2013. Except for the first interview, all follow-up interviews were done over the phone. For the purposes of the study, individuals in the study group were considered cases if they exhibited symptoms of ARI, according to the WHO Regional Office for Europe guidance for sentinel influenza surveillance in humans (2011). The survey results data analysis was performed using the Epi Info statistical software.Results: From November 2012, to April 2013, 61.2% (224) of the observed population became ill. 46.7% were ill with ARI once, 40.1% – 2 – 3 times, 11.7% – 4 – 7 times, as a result 137 people got sick a total of 307 times (136,161 per 100,000 population), only 75 cases sought medical attention (24.6%). The incidence rates in the observed group of patients with ARI (75/305) who sought medical care per 100,000 population comprised 33,482.1. According to the routine surveillance in 2012 – 2013 epidemic season, there were 34,637 cases of ARI (3,826.9 per 100,000 population). In the fall, the incidence totaled 36.8%, in winter – 20.2% and in spring 29.1%. The incidence rates by age group, gender, and presence of children in the family did not have statistically significant differences. The most frequent symptoms were as follows: cough (64.6%), rhinitis (61.0%), headache (58.1%), and sore throat (50.1%).Conclusions: In the 2012 – 2013 epidemic season, the incidence of ARI in the observed population was 35.6 times higher than the registered incidence in Bishkek, which indicates the low rate of seeking care.

The spread of the exotic insect pest sycamore lace bug Corythucha ciliata (Say) is increasing worldwide. The identification of behaviorally active compounds is crucial for reducing the current distribution of this pest. In this study, we identified and documented the expression profiles of genes encoding chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in the sycamore lace bug to identify CSPs that bind to the alarm pheromone geraniol. One CSP (CcilCSP2) that was highly expressed in nymph antennae was found to bind geraniol with high affinity. This finding was confirmed by fluorescence competitive binding assays. We further discovered one candidate chemical, phenyl benzoate, that bound to CcilCSP2 with even higher affinity than geraniol. Behavioral assays revealed that phenyl benzoate, similar to geraniol, significantly repelled sycamore lace bug nymphs but had no activity toward adults. This study has revealed a novel repellent compound involved in behavioral regulation. And, our findings will be beneficial for understanding the olfactory recognition mechanism of sycamore lace bug and developing a push-pull system to manage this pest in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]