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Mathematical models can be profitably used to establish whether our perception of the external world is accurate. Donald Hoffman and his collaborators have developed a promising mathematical framework within which this question can be addressed and which is based on an exhaustive taxonomy of the different possible relations between perceptual representations and the external world. After reformulating their framework by means of an improved formal system, we discuss their application of evolutionary game theory, which appears to show that an essentially anti-realistic perceptual strategy would in the long run biologically outcompete its rivals. We argue that their model does not take the crucial biological significance of environmental changes into due consideration and propose alternative models which do. We conclude that a partially realistic representation would be favoured in our models. Les modèles mathématiques peuvent être utilisés avec profit pour établir si notre perception du monde extérieur est précis. Donald Hoffman et ses collaborateurs ont développé un cadre mathématique prometteur dans lequel cette question peut être abordée, et qui repose sur une taxonomie exhaustive des différentes relations possibles qui peuvent tenir entre les représentations perceptuelles et le monde extérieur. Après avoir reformulé leur cadre au moyen d’un système formel amélioré, nous discutons de leur application de la théorie des jeux évolutifs, qui semble montrer qu’une stratégie perceptuelle essentiellement anti-réaliste à long terme surpasserait biologiquement ses rivaux. Nous soutenons que leur modèle ne prend pas dûment en considération la signification biologique cruciale des changements environnementaux et proposons des modèles alternatifs qui le font. Nous concluons que, dans nos modèles, une représentation partiellement réaliste serait privilégiée.

Simple Summary Ultrasound data are vital for monitoring and detecting problems in pregnancies, and although there is a significant amount of data for domestic species, data for marine mammals are scarce. In domestic species, the use of ultrasonography to monitor a pregnancy usually has the following aims: fetal movements, fetal heart rates, measurements of the skull and the thorax for the prediction of the birth date interval, the morphological aspects of the fetal organs, the appearance of the umbilical cord, and the placentation. The purpose of this study is to provide to the clinician additional relevant data on fetal development and well-being during a dolphin pregnancy that may also be useful for wild population monitoring. This study is the result of a retrospective analysis of 192 ultrasound scans over 10 years that, for the first time, describes the sonographic findings of the bottlenose dolphin organogenesis and their correlation with the stage of pregnancy, as well as the calf presentation at birth, according to its position within the uterus, and moreover a complete literature review. Abstract Ultrasonography is widely used in veterinary medicine for the diagnosis of pregnancy, and can also be used to monitor abnormal pregnancies, embryonic resorption, or fetal abortion. Ultrasonography plays an important role in modern-day cetacean preventative medicine because it is a non-invasive technique, it is safe for both patient and operator, and it can be performed routinely using trained responses that enable medical procedures. Reproductive success is an important aspect of dolphin population health, as it is an indicator of the future trajectory of the population. The aim of this study is to provide additional relevant data on feto-maternal ultrasonographic monitoring in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) species, for both the clinicians and for in situ population studies. From 2009 to 2019, serial ultrasonographic exams of 11 healthy bottlenose dolphin females kept under human care were evaluated over the course of 16 pregnancies. A total of 192 ultrasound exams were included in the study. For the first time, the sonographic findings of the bottlenose dolphin organogenesis and their correlation with the stage of pregnancy are described. Furthermore, this is the first report that forecasts the cephalic presentation of the calf at birth, according to its position within the uterus.

There are few published studies regarding lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) reproduction, crop milk composition, and hand-rearing under human care. Between the end of June and the beginning of August of 2017, three eggs were laid in a group of 29 lesser flamingos kept under human care. Two eggs and one chick were abandoned by the parents, and three chicks were hand-reared. This report describes diet composition, dietary intake, feeding protocols, and growth index, from the first day to 60 days after hatching, for three lesser flamingo chicks.

For wood-based panels, is possible to apply two different testing methodologies for formaldehyde emissions (gas analysis (GA) method and chamber method), respectively, regulated by UNI EN717-2:1996 and UNI EN717-1:2004; the analysis procedures have many differences, with regard to the equipment, the dimensions of samples and the testing environment parameters (temperature and relative humidity). The aim was to identify the most reliable method, by evaluating the technical results obtained, as well as by making a supporting statistical analysis aimed at the definition of the agreement degree between the two methodologies. In detail, we individuated the nine most used wood-based panels by a kitchens producer and we performed two different types of analysis: the GA method and chamber method. As properly described in this paper, the chamber method has a higher reliability due to the more realistic environmental testing conditions; moreover, we have demonstrated a low correlation between the two method...

This paper discusses the empirical question concerning the physical realization (or implementation) of a computation. We give a precise definition of the realization of a Turing-computable algorithm into a physical situation. This definition is not based, as usual, on an interpretation function of physical states, but on an implementation function from machine states to physical states (as suggested by Piccinini G, Computation in physical systems. The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2012/entries/computation-physicalsystems. Accessed 5 Dec 2013, 2012). We show that our definition avoids difficulties posed by Putnam’s theorem (Putnam H, Representation and reality. MIT Press, Cambridge, 1988) and Kripke’s objections (Stabler EP Jr, Kripke on functionalism and automata. Synthese 70(1):1–22, 1987; Scheutz M, What is not to implement a computation: a critical analysis of Chalmers’ notion of implementation. http://hrilab.tufts.edu/publications/scheutzcogsci12chalmers.pdf. Accessed 5 Dec 2013, 2001). Using our notion of representation, we analyse Gandy machines, intended in a physical sense, as a case study and show an inaccuracy in Gandy’s analysis with respect to the locality notion. This shows the epistemological relevance of our realization concept. We also discuss Gandy machines in quantum context. In fact, it is well known that in quantum mechanics, locality is seriously questioned, therefore it is worthwhile to analyse briefly, whether quantum machines are Gandy machines.

The mammalian commensal microbiota constitutes over a thousand bacterial phylotypes (Suchodolski, 2014) and confers important functions, including a mucosal barrier function, a metabolic function, and an immune regulatory function, which contribute to the development and regulation of the gut immune system (Backhed et al., 2005). The composition of microbiota can be influenced by various factors, including diet, exposure to antibiotics, and the well-functioning mechanisms of immune tolerance (Koenig et al., 2011). Unfortunately, there are few reports describing gastrointestinal microflora in cetacean species, and the available information is related to free-ranging dolphins (Morris et al., 2011). The knowledge of normal gastrointestinal microflora from healthy dolphins under human care, in addition to allowing a wider understanding of the role of bacteria in animals with physiological disorders, could permit an evaluation of the general health status of wild marine mammals and the potential transmission risks to humans. The aim of this study is to detect and enumerate some culturable microorganisms from the gastric juice and faeces of clinically healthy bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) kept under human care to establish baseline data for this species for the first time.

Background: Despite limited information, topical drug combinations are being routinely used for the treatment keratitis in pinnipeds.Corneal alterations in pinnipeds, as in other animal species, can be cause of

Serum chemistry analysis is used for the evaluation of a subject's health status in reptile medicine. Protein electrophoresis, combined with the determination of total protein concentration, is the standard method for the determination of serum albumin concentration. An alternative method is the bromocresol green (BCG) dye-binding method. The BCG method for the measurement of albumin concentration in reptiles may lead to inaccurate results for serum albumin concentration. The aim of this study was to compare the serum albumin values of Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni) obtained by protein electrophoresis and the BCG method and to test the reliability of the BCG method for the measurement of albumin concentration in this species of tortoise. Between May and June 2012, serum samples from 32 Hermann's tortoises, 22 healthy and 10 diseased, were analyzed. Serum albumin concentrations were measured by protein electrophoresis and by the BCG method. The results of the two methods were compared usin...

In veterinary medicine, protein electrophoresis has become a routine test. However, its use in exotic animals remains controversial because of a lack of reference values for many species. Establishing protein electrophoresis reference values of healthy Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni) could prove to be a very useful tool for assessing the health status of this endangered species. The aim of this study was to establish a preliminary reference interval for the protein fractions of Hermann's tortoises under normal conditions. Serum samples from healthy adult Hermann's tortoises (n = 22) were analyzed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Total protein concentration (min–max: 2.10–6.20 g/dl) was measured by the biuret method. Four protein fractions were identified: albumin, α-globulins, β-globulins, and γ-globulins. The reference intervals for healthy tortoises were determined by parametric methods as recommended by the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathologists Quality Assurance and Laboratory Standards Committee. Furthermore, differences between sexes (15 females, 7 males) were evaluated and a statistical difference was noted. To our knowledge, this is the first study to determine reference intervals for the protein profile of Hermann's tortoise using parametric methods.