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It is well known that animals rely on multiple sources of information in order to successfully identify sounds in natural environments, to make decisions that are optimal for their survival. For example, rats use duration and pitch cues to respond appropriately to prosocial and distress vocalizations (Saito et al., 2019). Vocalization duration cues are known to co-vary with other temporal cues (Khatami et al., 2018), yet little is known about whether animals rely upon such co-variations to successfully discriminate sounds. In the current study, we find natural alarm vocalizations in rats have onset and offset slopes that are correlated with their duration. Accordingly, vocalizations with faster onset slopes are more likely to have shorter durations. Given that vocalization slopes begin and end within milliseconds, they could provide rapid perceptual cues for predicting and discriminating vocalization duration. To examine this possibility, we train rodents to discriminate duration differences in sequences of synthetic vocalizations and examine how artificially changing the slope impacts duration judgments. We find animals are biased to misjudge a range of synthetic vocalizations as being shorter in duration when the onset and offset slopes are artificially fast. Moreover, this bias is reduced when rats are exposed to multiple synthetic vocalization bursts. The observed perceptual bias is accurately captured by a Bayesian decision-theoretic model that utilizes the empirical joint distribution of duration and onset slopes in natural vocalizations as a prior during duration judgements of synthetic vocalizations. This model also explains why the bias is reduced when more evidence is accumulated across multiple bursts, reducing the prior’s influence. These results support the theory that animals are sensitive to fine-grained statistical co-variations in auditory timing cues and integrate this information optimally with incoming sensory evidence to guide their decisions.

Anxiety disorders are associated with a failure to sufficiently extinguish fear memories. The serotonergic system (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) with the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT, SERT) is strongly implicated in the regulation of anxiety and fear. In the present study, we examined the effects of SERT deficiency on fear extinction in a differential fear conditioning paradigm in male and female rats. Fear-related behavior displayed during acquisition, extinction, and recovery, was measured through quantification of immobility and alarm 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV). Trait-like inter-individual differences in novelty-seeking, anxiety-related behavior, habituation learning, cognitive performance, and pain sensitivity were examined for their predictive value in forecasting fear extinction. Our results show that SERT deficiency strongly affected the emission of 22-kHz USV during differential fear conditioning. During acquisition, extinction, and recovery, SERT deficiency consistently led to a reduction in 22-kHz USV emission. While SERT deficiency did not affect immobility during acquisition, genotype differences started to emerge during extinction, and during recovery rats lacking SERT showed higher levels of immobility than wildtype littermate controls. Recovery was reflected in increased levels of immobility but not 22-kHz USV emission. Prominent sex differences were evident. Among several measures for trait-like inter-individual differences, anxiety-related behavior had the best predictive quality. ispartof: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES vol:22 issue:13 ispartof: location:Switzerland status: published

The top-ranked cross-disorder risk gene CACNA1C is strongly associated with multiple neuropsychiatric dysfunctions. In a recent series of studies, we applied a genomically informed approach and contributed extensively to the behavioral characterization of a genetic rat model haploinsufficient for the cross-disorder risk gene Cacna1c. Because deficits in processing social signals are associated with reduced social functioning as commonly seen in neuropsychiatric disorders, we focused on socio-affective communication through 22-kHz and 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV). Specifically, we applied a reciprocal approach for studying socio-affective communication in sender and receiver by including rough-and-tumble play and playback of 22-kHz and 50-kHz USV. Here, we review the findings obtained in this recent series of studies and link them to the key features of 50-kHz USV emission during rough-and-tumble play and social approach behavior evoked by playback of 22-kHz and 50-kHz USV. We conclude that Cacna1c haploinsufficiency in rats leads to robust deficits in socio-affective communication through 22-kHz and 50-kHz USV and associated alterations in social behavior, such as rough-and-tumble play behavior. ispartof: BRAIN SCIENCES vol:11 issue:6 ispartof: location:Switzerland status: published

During the design process for wireless charging equipment, it is important to consider interoperability with other designs. This paper presents a mathematical method that uses impedance zones and parameter estimation to visualize the interoperability rating of wireless charging equipment. By introducing a decoupled impedance interface, it works without a reference system and, therefore, only requires knowledge of the device being tested. We describe the influence of electronic circuits and magnetic parameters on impedance zone boundaries. Typical values are given for the crucial parameters. The studied method is compared to electric circuit simulation and measurement results.

The first fully on-line use of the angular distribution of beta emission in detection of NMR of nuclei oriented at low temperatures is reported. The magnetic moments of the single valence particle, intermediate mass, isotopes 67Ni(nup(-1)(1/2);1/2(-)) and 69Cu(pip(1)(3/2);3/2(-)) are measured to be +0.601(5) andmgr;(N) and +2.84(1) andmgr;(N), respectively, revealing only a small deviation from the neutron p(1/2) single-particle value in the former and a large deviation from the proton p(3/2) single-particle value in the latter. Quantitative interpretation is given in terms of core polarization and meson-exchange currents.

Statistical model of beta-delayed proton emission is briefly reviewed. Theory of angular distribution of beta-delayed proton emission from nuclear states oriented at low temperatures is discussed and the design of the first trial experiment using Cs-118 oriented at low temperature at the ISOLDE/NICOLE facility at CERN is described.

The neutron-rich isotopes 65,67Fe and 65Co have been produced at the LISOL facility, Louvain-La-Neuve, in the proton-induced fission of 238U. Beams of these isotopes have been extracted with high selectivity by means of resonant laser ionization combined with mass separation. Yrast and near-yrast levels of 65Co have also been populated in the 64Ni+238U reaction at Argonne National Laboratory. The level structure of 65Co could be investigated by combining all the information from both the 65Fe and 65Co beta decay and the deep-inelastic reaction. The 65Fe, 65Co and 67Fe decay schemes and the 65Co yrast structure are fully established. The 65,67Co level structures can be interpreted as resulting from the coexistence of core-coupled states with levels based on a low-energy proton-intruder configuration., 17 pages, 13 figures, preprint

Two types of automatic inspection systems are needed to achieve the optimal inspection environment for manufacturing high-volume multilayer ceramic substrates. Diagnostic systems with flexibility, which are adaptable to process and product changes, are most useful at the earlier product development stage. In the manufacturing environment, where the process parameters are stable, emphasis is on inspection speed. A diagnostic system is described to illustrate the essential components of an automatic pattern inspection system. The test methodology used to characterize the inspection system quantitatively is discussed, and test results are reported. The use of this system for multilayer ceramic product application is also discussed. >

Several searches for new proton emitters were performed recently at ATLAS using the Argonne Fragment Mass Analyzer equipped with a Double‐Sided Si Strip Detector. Proton emitting states were observed in odd‐odd spherical nuclei 164Ir and 170Au. 164Ir is the fourth Ir proton emitter. A proton line was associated with the highly deformed odd‐odd nucleus 130Eu. The proton emitter 135Tb was also observed. It is the first proton emitting Tb isotope. The estimated cross section for producing 135Tb is about 2 nb. The properties of the proton emitters deduced from this work helped to understand the role of core vibrations and neutrons in proton decay. In view of the present results the full delineation of the proton drip‐line between Z=50 and Z=83 is feasible. In order to cope with small cross sections and short half lives expected for even more exotic proton emitters several modifications of the FMA implantation station were implemented. Measurements were also performed at the target position using a catcher to ...

The first fully on-line use of the angular distribution of beta emission in detection of NMR of nuclei oriented at low temperatures is reported. The magnetic moments of the single valence particle, intermediate mass, isotopes 67Ni(nup(-1)(1/2);1/2(-)) and 69Cu(pip(1)(3/2);3/2(-)) are measured to be +0.601(5) andmgr;(N) and +2.84(1) andmgr;(N), respectively, revealing only a small deviation from the neutron p(1/2) single-particle value in the former and a large deviation from the proton p(3/2) single-particle value in the latter. Quantitative interpretation is given in terms of core polarization and meson-exchange currents.