Calling Rate Research Articles

Design of online art education system based on 3D virtual simulation technology

Abstract At present, the call for information reform in education teaching is increasing, and art education is also facing the demand for online. This paper analyzes the demand for online art education according to the characteristics of existing online education, proposes an online education system based on virtual simulation technology for the special needs of art education, and studies the structure distribution of learning resources, teaching organization and online teaching practice under 3D virtual simulation scenarios respectively. At the same time, a virtual simulation explanation robot is added using Unity3D technology to realize online learning interaction in art education. In the continuity test of the system, the system throughput per second accounted for 42.31% of the maximum throughput on average, with the lowest accounting for only 28.65% and the highest accounting for 56.98%, and the operating efficiency of the system met the teaching needs of art education. In the concurrency test, the success rate of system interface calls remained above 80% as the number of concurrent users increased. In practice, the overall satisfaction rate of students with the art online education system reached 88.3%. The system in this paper can enhance the interest in art teaching and provide a feasible new path for the development of art education in the information era.

Interspecific differences in the effects of masking and distraction on anti-predator behavior in suburban anthropogenic noise.

Predation is a common threat to animal survival. The detection of predators or anti-predator communication signals can be disrupted by anthropogenic noise; however, the mechanism by which responses are affected is unclear. Masking and distraction are the two hypotheses that have emerged as likely explanations for changes in behavior in noise. Masking occurs when the signal and noise fall within the same sensory domain; noise overlapping the energy in the signal reduces signal detection. Distraction can occur when noise in any sensory domain contributes to a greater cognitive load, thereby reducing signal detection. Here, we used a repeated measures field experiment to determine the relative contributions of masking and distraction in mediating reduced anti-predator responses in noise. We recorded the approaches and vocalizations of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), tufted titmice (Baeolophus bicolor), and white-breasted nuthatches (Sitta carolinensis) to both visual and acoustic cues of predator presence, either with or without simultaneous exposure to anthropogenic noise. Titmice increased their calling to both visual and acoustic cues of predator presence. However, there was no significant effect of noise on the calling responses of titmice regardless of stimulus modality. Noise appeared to produce a distraction effect in chickadees; however, this effect was small, suggesting that chickadees may be relatively unaffected by low levels of anthropogenic noise in suburban environments. White-breasted nuthatch calling behavior was affected by the interaction of the modality of the predator stimulus and the noise condition. Nuthatches had a delayed response to the predator presentations, with a greater calling rate following the presentation of the acoustic stimulus in quiet compared to the presentation of the acoustic stimulus in noise. However, there was no difference in calling rate between the quiet and noise conditions for the visual stimulus. Together this suggests that even moderate levels of noise have some masking effect for white-breasted nuthatches. We suggest that the mechanisms through which noise influences anti-predator behavior may depend on the social roles, foraging ecology and auditory capabilities of each species.

The sound production of Aplodinotus grunniens in the presence of boat sounds.

Archived soundscape data from Lake Champlain, New York, were used to examine the effect of anthropogenic sounds produced by recreational boating on freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) soniferous behavior. Drum progressed from sporadic calling during the day to calls that increasingly overlapped culminating in a chorus in the late afternoon and evening. The response of drum to boat noise appeared to differ among these states, perhaps reflecting differences in the underlying behaviors. In response to boat noise, freshwater drum spawning choruses occurred later in the day, thus avoiding the noisiest periods. The peak frequency and knock rate of calls also increased in the presence of boat noise. Of the acoustical adjustments observed, the most strongly shown were those which increased the likelihood of signal reception, suggesting a Lombard effect response. Therefore, these data suggest freshwater drum have plasticity in their acoustical behavior, potentially shifting chorusing time, and altering sound characteristics to optimize communication in the presence of anthropogenic noise. However, additional work is needed to further clarify the response of freshwater drum to anthropogenic noise.

Seasonal and diel variations in the acoustic communication of tree hyraxes in Taita Hills, Kenya

Tree hyraxes (Dendrohyrax spp.) are highly vocal, elusive nocturnal mammals that live in forests across much of Sub-Saharan Africa. Here, we studied how tree hyrax acoustic communication activity varies during the year in a moist montane forest in Taita Hills, Kenya. Our study increases the knowledge about the seasonal and diel variation in tree hyrax calling activity and on the impact of exogenous factors on the calling behavior of the species. A group of tree hyraxes called 700–2000 times during the night, and calling rate was highest during dry season months. Calling activity was bimodal, with peaks between 19.00 and 20.00 h in the evening and between 04.00 and 05.00 h in the morning; however, counter-calling bouts occurred throughout the night. Singing peaked in May, possibly coinciding with the species’ mating season. Calling activity decreased during full moon phases, probably because the animals felt vulnerable to predation. Tree hyrax calling was suppressed by rain, as rainfall is a powerful acoustic competitor. Annual changes in night temperature, the background chorus of vocalizing orthopterans, or the competing calls of nocturnal primates did not reduce tree hyrax calling rates. The latter suggests that sympatric nocturnal mammals have adapted to each other’s calls as an intrinsic feature of the soundscape of their forest habitat.

P-728 Impact of calling mosaicism for a less stringent threshold on clinical pregnancies in more than 6000 PGT-A cycles

Abstract Study question How does calling mosaicism for a higher threshold affect euploidy, the chance of finding at least one euploid embryo and clinical pregnancy? Summary answer Increasing the threshold significantly increased euploidy percentage and the probability of finding at least one euploid embryo, as expected, but also the pregnancy outcomes. What is known already NGS technology has shed light on the occurrence of chromosomal mosaicism at the preimplantation stage of development. Evidence regarding clinical outcomes after transfer of embryos with putative mosaic results are accumulating (ESHRE Working Group on Chromosomal Mosaicism, 2022). A series of studies reporting the birth of healthy babies after the transfer of embryos with a chromosomal mosaic result on PGT-A (Greco et al., 2015; Kahraman et al., 2020; Viotti et al., 2019 and 2021), have been published. Data suggested lower implantation rates and higher miscarriage rates when mosaics were compared with euploid embryo transfers. Study design, size, duration This retrospective study covers a period from January 2017 to October 2022 and includes 6063 PGT-A cycles. A total of 18425 blastocysts were biopsied and analyzed with NGS. From January 2017 to December 2020, the cut-off value for reporting mosaicism and euploidy was %20; the rate of which was increased to 30% after January 2021. Chromosomes with PGT-A profiles that deviate from 2 copies by less than 30% were reported as normal. Participants/materials, setting, methods A total number of 12751 and 5674 blastocysts were biopsied between January 2017-December 2020 and January 2021-October 2022, respectively. PGT-A was performed on Ion Torrent S5 (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The mean female age for 20% and 30% cut-off groups were 36.7+-5.1, 35.9+-5.2, respectively. As this age difference was statistically significant, further analysis was performed in age subgroups < =38 and >38. Main results and the role of chance For PGT-A cycles with female age < =38, cycles with at least one euploid embryo in the 30% cut-off group increased from 74.0% to 77.5% whereas cycles with at least one mosaic embryo decreased from 40.8% to 37.0% (p = 0.0212; p = 0.0274). Cycles with at least one mosaic embryo without any euploid embryos decreased by 2% (9.2% to 7.2%) (p = 0.0522). The euploidy percentage out of all tested biopsies was significantly increased from 40.4% to 45.8% (p = 0.0001). For cycles with female age >38, ratio of PGT-A cycles with at least one euploid embryo increased from 28.1% to 30.3% in the 30% cut-off group but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.28). Cycles with at least one mosaic embryo were decreased from 15.1% to 10.8% and cycles with at least one mosaic embryo without any euploid embryo decreased from 9.5% to 5.6% in the 30% cut-off group (p = 0.006; p = 0.0018). The euploidy percentage was increased by 2.8% from 15.1% to 18.1% (p = 0.0115). The pregnancy outcomes were significantly higher for euploid embryos with the 30% cut-off compared to 20%, as clinical pregnancy was 64.5% vs. 59.1% and clinical pregnancy loss was 7.9% vs. 12.4% (p = 0.0022; p = 0.0011). Similarly, ongoing pregnancy was 5.2% higher, but non-significant. Limitations, reasons for caution These are the results of a single ART center which is using the same protocols for ovarian stimulation and endometrial preparation in the two periods above mentioned. Although not expected, minor changes may have occurred; similar practices have to be reported. Wider implications of the findings Mosaicism is undeniably a true biological phenomenon. However, trophectoderm biopsy and NGS are prone to create an artefactual false mosaicism. Relaxing the mosaicism calling rate by 10% may have added some better-quality blastocysts to the euploid pool giving the opportunity to embryologists of transferring blastocysts with higher implantation potential. Trial registration number Not applicable

Seasonal Dynamics and Environmental Drivers of Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) Sound Production

The Goliath groupers are known to produce characteristic low frequency vocalizations (“calls”) during spawning aggregations and as part of territorial behavior. Acoustic monitoring for Goliath grouper calls around Florida has historically occurred between July and December to capture the spawning season, with a particular focus on August–November. Because of the unique waveform of the Goliath grouper call, we implemented a noise adaptive matched filter to automatically detect Goliath grouper calls from year-round passive acoustic recordings at two wrecks off Florida’s Gulf of Mexico coast. We investigated diel, temporal and environmental factors that could influence call rates throughout the year. Call rates peaked in August, around 0300 EST and just after the full moon. The Goliath groupers were more vocal when background noise was between 70 and 110 dB re 1 µPa. An additional smaller peak in call rates was identified in May, outside of the typical recording period, suggesting there may be other stimuli besides spawning that are eliciting high sound production in this species. Goliath grouper sound production was present year-round, indicative of consistent communication between individuals outside the spawning season.

Does Variation in Call Rate Affect the Response of Territorial Males in the Strawberry Poison Frog (Oophaga pumilio)?

Males of the Strawberry Poison Frog (Oophaga pumilio) use acoustic signals during courtship and territorial interactions. In these contexts, spectro-temporal characteristics of the calls provide information on body size, territory quality, and dominance to conspecifics. Previous research on this species has associated low-rate territorial calls produced by resident males with greater aggressiveness. However, how variation in call rate of intruding males affects the response of the territorial males has not been tested experimentally. We evaluated the effect of different call-rate stimuli (low, average, and high call rate) on the acoustic and behavioral responses of territorial males of the Strawberry Poison Frog using playback experiments to simulate territorial male intrusions. We found that territorial males lowered their call rate in response to playbacks with high and average call rate. In addition, territorial males approached three times more, closer, and faster to the average and low call-rate playback stimuli than to high call-rate stimulus. Males also responded, vocalizing faster to the average and low call-rate playback stimuli than to high call-rate stimulus. Our results suggest that different call rates correlate with different levels of aggressiveness in males of the Strawberry Poison Frog. Therefore, the observed behavior supports the hypothesis that a low call rate indicates higher aggressiveness in male–male interactions.

Evaluation of Code Blue Notifications and Their Results: A University Hospital Example.

Code blue is one of the important practices for preventing mortality and morbidity and increasing the quality of care in hospitals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the blue code notifications and their results, emphasise their importance, and determine the effectiveness and deficiencies of the application. In this study, all code blue notification forms recorded between January 1 and December 31, 2019, were examined retrospectively. It was determined that code blue calls were made for 108 cases, including 61 females and 47 males, and the mean age of the patients was 56.47 ± 20.73. The accuracy rate of the code blue calls was determined as 42.6%, and 57.4% of them were made during non-working hours. Also, 15.2% of the correct code blue calls were made from dialysis and radiology units. The mean time for the teams to reach the scene was 2.83 ± 1.30 minutes, and the mean time to respond to correctly made code blue calls was 33.97 ± 17.95 minutes. It was found that 15.7% of the patients in correctly made code blue calls were exitus after the intervention. Early diagnosis of cardiac or respiratory arrest cases and quick and correct intervention are very important in achieving patient and employee safety. For this reason, it is necessary to continuously evaluate code blue practices, educate the staff, and organise improvement activities constantly.

Bacterial Aetiology of Neonatal Sepsis and Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern at the Regional Referral Hospital, Dar es Salam, Tanzania; A Call to Strengthening Antibiotic Stewardship Program.

The diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in lower-income countries is mainly based on clinical presentation. The practice necessitates empirical treatment with limited aetiology and antibiotic susceptibility profile knowledge, prompting the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the aetiology of neonatal sepsis and antimicrobial resistance patterns. We recruited 658 neonates admitted to the neonatal ward with signs and symptoms of sepsis and performed 639 automated blood cultures and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Around 72% of the samples were culture positive; Gram-positive bacteria were predominantly isolated, contributing to 81%. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci were the most isolates, followed by Streptococcus agalactiae. Overall, antibiotic resistance among Gram-positive pathogens ranged from 23% (Chloramphenicol) to 93% (Penicillin) and from 24.7% (amikacin) to 91% (ampicillin) for Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, about 69% of Gram-positive and 75% of Gram-negative bacteria were multidrug-resistant (MDR). We observed about 70% overall proportion of MDR strains, non-significantly more in Gram-negative than Gram-positive pathogens (p = 0.334). In conclusion, the pathogen causing neonatal sepsis in our setting exhibited a high resistance rate to commonly used antibiotics. The high rate of MDR pathogens calls for strengthening antibiotic stewardship programs.

Age, but not an immune challenge, triggers terminal investment in the Pacific field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus.

The terminal investment hypothesis proposes that, when individuals are faced with a threat to survival, they will increase investment in current reproduction. The level of the threat necessary to elicit terminal investment (the dynamic terminal investment threshold) may vary based on other factors that also influence future reproduction. Here, we tested whether there is an interactive effect of age and an immune challenge on the dynamic terminal investment threshold in the Pacific field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus. We measured the courtship call, mating attractiveness, ejaculate size, and offspring production of T. oceanicus males. We found only limited support for the dynamic terminal investment threshold: there was no consistent evidence of a positive interaction between male age and immune challenge intensity. However, we found evidence for age-related terminal investment: older males produced a larger spermatophore than younger males. Older males also had a slower calling rate compared to younger males, suggesting a potential trade-off between these two pre- and post-copulatory traits. As some, but not all, reproductive traits responded plastically to cues for terminal investment, our research highlights the importance of considering a broad range of pre-and post-copulatory traits when exploring the potential for terminal investment to occur.

Predominance of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria on Contaminated Surfaces at a Tertiary Hospital in Tanzania: A Call to Strengthening Environmental Infection Prevention and Control Measures.

The spreading of multidrug resistance (MDR) strains in the hospital settings via contaminated surfaces have been increasingly reported where Gram-negative bacteria have been implicated in causing most nosocomial infections. This study aimed to determine the rate of contamination with multi-resistant gram-negative bacteria in the hospital environment. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital paediatric department, between July and August 2020. Non-repetitive surface swab samples were collected from predefined surfaces and medical device surfaces, and cultured on MacConkey agar with and without antibiotics. Isolates were identified using biochemical test and tested for antibiotic susceptibility using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The rate of hospital contamination with Gram-negative bacteria across the Pediatrics units was 30%, with a high rate observed in oncology units (34.8%) and the malnutrition/diarrhoea ward (32.1%). Sink/washing basin had the highest frequency of bacterial contamination (74.2%). We observed a high rate of ESBL (32.5%), with Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and E. coli being the predominant ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria, while carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria was detected at 22.8%. Highest resistance rates (63-100%) were observed against ceftriaxone and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Up to 51% of the Gram-negative bacteria showed resistant to meropenem. MDR strains were detected in 61.4% of Gram-negative bacteria isolated. In conclusion, we observed a high rate of MDR bacteria contaminating hospital surfaces. The higher rate of MDR calls for a need to strengthen infectious prevention control measures, including cleaning practices in the hospital environment, to reduce the risk of transmission of resistant strains to patients and healthcare workers.

Acoustic plasticity in Boana goiana (Lutz, 1968) (Anura, Hylidae): how males respond to successive interactions with conspecific competitors

ABSTRACT During the breeding season, hundreds of anurans agglomerate at spawning sites, where a diversity of social contexts arise. In this scenario, anurans may alter their vocal repertoire according to the immediate social context, to overcome intraspecific competition. To evaluate the acoustic response of Boana goiana to successive interactions with a conspecific competitor, the present study was based on comparing the repetition rates of advertisement and aggressive calls of B. goiana focal males exposure to repeated artificial advertisement calls in 10 playback sessions. We observed that B. goiana males altered their acoustic behaviour in response to the simulated arrival of a new competitor. Males emitted less advertisement calls and more aggressive calls with the arrival of the competitors. Temperature and body condition were not important predictors of continuity of males in the experiment or the call repetition rates in the pre-playback session. However, the body condition influenced the total delta advertisement calls (differences in the call rate emission between end and the beginning of the experiment), indicating that higher values of body conditions allow males to show smaller reductions in the emission of advertisement calls over time in the presence of a competitor.

Trends in Crisis Hotline Call Rates and Suicide Mortality in the United States.

Utilization of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (Lifeline; formerly called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) was analyzed in relation to suicide deaths in U.S. states between 2007 and 2020 to identify states with potential unmet need for mental health crisis hotline services. Annual state call rates were calculated from calls routed to the Lifeline during the 2007-2020 period (N=13.6 million). Annual state suicide mortality rates (standardized) were calculated from suicide deaths reported to the National Vital Statistics System (2007-2020 cumulative deaths=588,122). Call rate ratio (CRR) and mortality rate ratio (MRR) were estimated by state and year. Sixteen U.S. states demonstrated a consistently high MRR and a low CRR, suggesting high suicide burden and relatively low Lifeline use. Heterogeneity in state CRRs decreased over time. Prioritizing states with a high MRR and a low CRR for messaging and outreach regarding the availability of the Lifeline can ensure more equitable, need-based access to this critical resource.

Passive acoustic localization and tracking of Rice’s whales (Balaenoptera ricei) in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico

The endangered Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei) is endemic to the Gulf of Mexico and is also the Gulf’s only resident baleen whale. Limited knowledge of this species’ ecology combined with the high industrialization of this region raises serious conservation concerns. As part of an ongoing project to study the Rice’s whale in its core habitat, an array of moored passive acoustic monitoring sites has been near-continuously deployed in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico since May 2021. While detecting Rice’s whale calls in these data provides valuable insight into the species’ spatiotemporal distribution, further analyses to localize and track individual whales would allow better characterization of their acoustic behavior and movement patterns, possibly allowing for density estimation. Here, we present a method for automated passive acoustic localization and tracking of calling Rice’s whales. The two key components of this approach are (1) the use of opportunistic sound sources to time-synchronize recordings across sites given clock-drift between acoustic recorders and (2) the implementation of automatic multi-target tracking techniques based on the Gaussian mixture probability hypothesis density filter. Analyses of the first four months of data show potential for measuring basic behavioral parameters such as calling rate, source level, and average swim speed.

Community First Responders' Contribution to Emergency Medical Service Provision in the United Kingdom.

We aimed to investigate community first responders' contribution to emergency care provision in terms of number, rate, type, and location of calls and characteristics of patients attended. We used a retrospective observational design analyzing routine data from electronic clinical records from 6 of 10 ambulance services in the United Kingdom during 2019. Descriptive statistics, including numbers and frequencies, were used to illustrate characteristics of incidents and patients that the community first responders attended first in both rural and urban areas. The data included 4.5 million incidents during 1 year. The community first responders first attended a higher proportion of calls in rural areas compared with those in urban areas (3.90% versus 1.48 %). In rural areas, the community first responders also first attended a higher percentage of the most urgent call categories, 1 and 2. The community first responders first attended more than 9% of the total number of category 1 calls and almost 5% of category 2 calls. The community first responders also attended a higher percentage of the total number of cardiorespiratory and neurological/endocrine conditions. They first attended 6.5% of the total number of neurological/endocrine conditions and 5.9% of the total number of cardiorespiratory conditions. Regarding arrival times in rural areas, the community first responders attended higher percentages (more than 6%) of the total number of calls that had arrival times of less than 7 minutes or more than 60 minutes. In the United Kingdom, community first responders contribute to the delivery of emergency medical services, particularly in rural areas and especially for more urgent calls. The work of community first responders has expanded from their original purpose-to attend to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. The future development of community first responders' schemes should prioritize training for a range of conditions, and further research is needed to explore the contribution and potential future role of the community first responders from the perspective of service users, community first responders' schemes, ambulance services, and commissioners.

Do golden snub-nosed monkeys use deceptive alarm calls during competition for food?

Tactical deception can be beneficial for social animals during intra-specific competition. However, the use of tactical deception in wild mammals is predicted to be rare. We tested whether a food-provisioned free-ranging band of golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) use alarm calls in a functionally deceptive manner to gain access to food resources, whether the rate of deceptive alarm calls varies among individuals, and whether there are any counter-deception behaviors. We used a hexagonal camera array consisting of 10 cameras to record videos during feeding, which allowed us to identify individual alarm callers. We found evidence that these monkeys use deceptive alarms and that adult females were more likely to use such calls than other individuals. The monkeys increased their rates of response to alarm calls when competition for food was high. However, we found no direct evidence of any counter-deception strategies.

Development and Evaluation of High-Density SNP Arrays for the Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica.

The eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica is a major aquaculture species for the USA. The sustainable development of eastern oyster aquaculture depends upon the continued improvement of cultured stocks through advanced breeding technologies. The Eastern Oyster Breeding Consortium (EOBC) was formed to advance the genetics and breeding of the eastern oyster. To facilitate efficient genotyping needed for genomic studies and selection, the consortium developed two single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays for the eastern oyster: one screening array with 566K SNPs and one breeders' array with 66K SNPs. The 566K screening array was developed based on whole-genome resequencing data from 292 oysters from Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico populations; it contains 566,262 SNPs including 47K from protein-coding genes with a marker conversion rate of 48.34%. The 66K array was developed using best-performing SNPs from the screening array, which contained 65,893 oyster SNPs including 22,984 genic markers with a calling rate of 99.34%, a concordance rate of 99.81%, and a much-improved marker conversion rate of 92.04%. Null alleles attributable to large indels were found in 13.1% of the SNPs, suggesting that copy number variation is pervasive. Both arrays provided easy identification and separation of selected stocks from wild progenitor populations. The arrays contain 31 mitochondrial SNPs that allowed unambiguous identification of Gulf mitochondrial genotypes in some Atlantic populations. The arrays also contain 756 probes from 13 oyster and human pathogens for possible detection. Our results show that marker conversion rate is low in high polymorphism species and that the two-step process of array development can greatly improve array performance. The two arrays will advance genomic research and accelerate genetic improvement of the eastern oyster by delineating genetic architecture of production traits and enabling genomic selection. The arrays also may be used to monitor pedigree and inbreeding, identify selected stocks and their introgression into wild populations, and assess the success of oyster restoration.

High-Throughput Association Mapping in Brassica napus L.: Methods and Applications.

Oil seed rape (Braasica napus L.) is ranked second among oil seed crops cultivated globally for edible oil for human, and seed cake for animal consumption. Recent genetic and genomics advancements highlighted the diversity that exists within B. napus, which is largely discovered using the most promising genetic markers called single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Their calling rate is also enhanced to ~100 folds after the continuous advancements in the next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. As the high throughput of NGS resulted in multi-Giga bases data, the detailed quality control (QC) prior to downstream analyses is a pre-requisite. It mainly involved the removal of false positives, missing proportions, filtering of low-quality SNPs, and adjustments of minor-allele frequency and heterozygosity. After marker-trait association, for conformation of target SNPs, validations of SNPs can be performed using various methods, especially allele-specific PCR assay-based methods have been utilized for SNP genotyping of genes targeting agronomic traits and somaclonal variations occurred during transgenic studies. In the present study, the authors mainly argue on the genotypic progress, and pipelines/methods that are being used for detection, calling, filtering, and validation of SNPs. Also, insight is provided into the application of SNPs in linkage and association mapping, including QTL mapping and genome-wide association studies targeting mainly developmental traits related to the root system and plant architecture, flowering time, silique, and oil quality. Briefly, the present study provides the recent information and recommendations on the SNP genotyping methods and its applications, which can be useful for marker-assisted breeding in B. napus and other crops.

The acoustic repertoire of the burrowing bettong (Bettongia lesueur)

Acoustic signalling is used by a range of taxa to convey information. Terrestrial marsupials are not considered particularly vocal, however acoustic signalling in this group may be important for predator avoidance and social cohesion. We defined the nocturnal acoustic repertoire of the burrowing bettong, a social macropod that shelters down warrens during the day, using micro audio-recorders on the radio-collars of 19 individuals. Alarm calls were emitted in response to external stimuli just prior to fleeing, whilst aggression and submission calls were generally recorded simultaneously in pairs of individuals, usually in food defence. Submission calls were often made whilst laying and defending with the hind feet. Contact calls were quieter and emitted when one individual slowly approached another. The isolation call was only observed in interactions between adult and juvenile. Bettong call rates were higher at night when bettongs were active (nearly 50/h) than during the day (<6/h). Males emitted alarm calls more often than females, and smaller females produced higher rates of submission calls than larger females. This study provides a foundation for improved call elicitation analysis in bettongs which could assist with conservation management.

After 988’s Launch, Experts Emphasize More Work Needed

After 988’s Launch, Experts Emphasize More Work Needed