Postural Behavior Research Articles

Trunk sway changes in professional bus drivers during actual shifts on long-distance routes

Although professional bus drivers are required to perform their task while adopting a prolonged constrained sitting posture, existence of possible effects in terms of postural strategies has been scarcely investigated under actual working conditions. This study aimed to characterise modifications of trunk sway in 14 professional bus drivers during regular shifts performed on non-urban routes using a pressure-sensitive mat placed on the seat. Centre-of-pressure (COP) time series were extracted from body-seat pressure data to calculate sway parameters (i.e. sway area, COP path length, COP displacements and velocities). Results show generalised increase in trunk sway as driving progresses, which becomes statistically significant after approximately 70–100 minutes of continuous driving. This may indicate the adoption of specific strategies to cope with discomfort onset or a fatigue-induced alteration of postural features. Trunk sway monitoring of bus drivers may be useful in detecting postural behaviours potentially associated with deteriorating performance and discomfort onset. Practitioner summary: Professional bus drivers operate in sitting position for prolonged time. Such constrained posture may induce discomfort and fatigue. We investigated trunk sway during actual shifts using pressure-sensitive mats. Significant increase of sway was detected after 70 min of continuous driving. Body-seat pressure data could be used as discomfort and fatigue markers. Abbreviations: ANOVA-RM: analysis of variance with repeated measures; AP: antero-posterior; COP: center of pressure; EC: ellipse’s centroid; ML: medio-lateral; SA: sway area; SP: sway path.

PSXVI-19 Posture behavior and truck microclimate in a very long journey of unweaned dairy beef calves: A field study

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize posture behavior and truck microclimate of 2 to 8-week-old unweaned calves (59.1 ± 6.72 kg body weight) during 10 transports between December and September (one/month) from an assembly center in Dalry, Scotland to Northern Spain via a control post in Northern Ireland and an assembly center in France (Cherbourg). Average journey time was 105.8 h. A subset of 20 calves per transport were fitted with collars carrying a HOBO environmental logger (HOBO U12) to record the temperature and humidity at calf’ head level and an accelerometer (Axivity AX3) to record accelerations to assess the calf posture (resting, standing or in transition). Data were analyzed with JMP. During the transport, 60% of the time animals were standing, 28% of the time lying and 12% transitioning. Specifically, when the truck was in motion calves spent 82.8% of the time standing, when stationary 68.8% standing, when the truck was on the ferry standing time was 48.4% and at the control post and assembly center standing time was 45.1%.Transports from June to September (n = 4) had an average of 11.96 h (min: 5.17 h; max: 18.8 h) of temperatures greater than 30°C, an average of 25 h (min: 0 h; max: 55 h) of mild heat conditions (72 < THI < 79), and an average of 3.5 h (min: 0 h; max: 23 h) of moderate heat conditions (80 < THI < 89). The exposure to mild and moderate heat conditions occurred mainly during the time that the truck was stationary (waiting at ports) and when calves rested at the control post. Results from this study supports the need to evaluate the impact summer months journeys where animals spend over 30% of the time under heat stress, and the long-standing times on animal welfare.

A Convolutional Neural Network Algorithm for the Optimization of Emergency Nursing Rescue Efficiency for Critical Patients.

In order to help pathologists quickly locate the lesion area, improve the diagnostic efficiency, and reduce missed diagnosis, a convolutional neural network algorithm for the optimization of emergency nursing rescue efficiency of critical patients was proposed. Specifically, three convolution layers and convolution kernels of different sizes are used to extract the features of patients' posture behavior, and the classifier of patients' posture behavior recognition system is used to learn the feature information by capturing the nonlinear relationship between the features to achieve accurate classification. By testing the accuracy of patient posture behavior feature extraction, the recognition rate of a certain action, and the average recognition rate of all actions in the patient body behavior recognition system, it is proved that the convolution neural network algorithm can greatly improve the efficiency of emergency nursing. The algorithm is applied to the patient posture behavior detection system, so as to realize the identification and monitoring of patients and improve the level of intelligent medical care. Finally, the open source framework platform is used to test the patient behavior detection system. The experimental results show that the larger the test data set is, the higher the accuracy of patient posture behavior feature extraction is, and the average recognition rate of patient posture behavior category is 97.6%, thus verifying the effectiveness and correctness of the system, to prove that the convolutional neural network algorithm has a very large improvement of emergency nursing rescue efficiency.

From Neural Command to Robotic Use: The Role of Symmetry/Asymmetry in Postural and Locomotor Activities

This article deepens a reflection on why and how symmetry/asymmetry affects the motor and postural behavior from the neural source, uterine development, child maturation, and how the notion of symmetry/asymmetry has been applied to walking robot design and control. The concepts of morphology and tensegrity are also presented to illustrate how the biological structures have been used in both sciences and arts. The development of the brain and the neuro-fascia-musculoskeletal system seems to be quite symmetric from the beginning of life through to complete maturity. The neural sources of movements (i.e., central pattern generators) are able to produce both symmetric or asymmetric responses to accommodate to environmental constraints and task requirements. Despite the fact that the human development is mainly symmetric, asymmetries already regulate neurological and physiological development. Laterality and sports training could affect natural musculoskeletal symmetry. The plasticity and flexibility of the nervous system allows the abilities to adapt and compensate for environmental constraints and musculoskeletal asymmetries in order to optimize the postural and movement control. For designing humanoid walking robots, symmetry approaches have been mainly used to reduce the complexity of the online calculation. Applications in neurological retraining and rehabilitation should also be considered.

Evidence for the Effectiveness of Feedback from Wearable Inertial Sensors during Work-Related Activities: A Scoping Review.

Background: Wearable inertial sensor technology (WIST) systems provide feedback, aiming to modify aberrant postures and movements. The literature on the effects of feedback from WIST during work or work-related activities has not been previously summarised. This review examines the effectiveness of feedback on upper body kinematics during work or work-related activities, along with the wearability and a quantification of the kinematics of the related device. Methods: The Cinahl, Cochrane, Embase, Medline, Scopus, Sportdiscus and Google Scholar databases were searched, including reports from January 2005 to July 2021. The included studies were summarised descriptively and the evidence was assessed. Results: Fourteen included studies demonstrated a ‘limited’ level of evidence supporting posture and/or movement behaviour improvements using WIST feedback, with no improvements in pain. One study assessed wearability and another two investigated comfort. Studies used tri-axial accelerometers or IMU integration (n = 5 studies). Visual and/or vibrotactile feedback was mostly used. Most studies had a risk of bias, lacked detail for methodological reproducibility and displayed inconsistent reporting of sensor technology, with validation provided only in one study. Thus, we have proposed a minimum ‘Technology and Design Checklist’ for reporting. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that WIST may improve posture, though not pain; however, the quality of the studies limits the strength of this conclusion. Wearability evaluations are needed for the translation of WIST outcomes. Minimum reporting standards for WIST should be followed to ensure methodological reproducibility.

Behavioral Changes of Solitary Housed Female Pygmy Slow Lorises (Nycticebus pygmeaus) after Introduction into Group Enclosures.

Simple SummaryMost pygmy slow lorises confiscated in the illegal pet trade cannot be released back into the wild and end up in captivity for the rest of their lives. In the wild, their home ranges are large relative to their body size and they maintain a fairly solitary lifestyle compared to other primates. With the aim of improving their captive wellbeing, we tested to see whether female–female group pairings were in the animals’ best interest by looking at their behaviors before and after being moved to social housing in a larger enriched enclosure. With one nesting site per animal and ample space to avoid each other, all females opted to nest in pairs, not alone, and spent their time socially engaged in affiliative behaviors. We found that female pygmy slow lorises are more social than often assumed and that housing them with conspecifics is probably beneficial to their well-being in captivity.Pygmy slow lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus) are threatened with extinction in the wild. Their nocturnal lifestyle and small size make them difficult to study in their natural habitat, but increasing evidence suggests that they are more social than previously thought. Our study was designed to assess the sociability of pygmy slow lorises by transferring six adult females from solo cages into environmentally enriched group home cages at the Japan Monkey Centre’s Slow Loris Conservation Centre. Two females were paired to create one group, while the other four were placed together in a second group. We compared their social interactions, activity budgets, and postural behaviors before and after social housing was initiated. We found that all-female slow loris groups had a high degree of sociality, preferred to stay close to each other, nested together every night, and spent less time in locomotion and more time grooming than when living alone. These results suggest that female pygmy slow lorises actively seek companions when available. The captive housing of all-female groups of lorises could lead to better husbandry practices and improved animal welfare by allowing them to have conspecific companions. We conclude that isosexual groups of pygmy slow lorises should be preferred over single housing when possible.

A Comparison between Different Types and Frequency of Physiotherapy Treatment for Children and Adolescents with Postural Problems and Low Back Pain

Aim To examine the effect of a once-a-week group physiotherapy session in addition to a once-a-month individual physiotherapy treatment, in comparison to a monthly individual physiotherapy treatment. Methods Fifty children and adolescents aged 10-18 years with poor back posture, some of whom had LBP, met individually with a physiotherapist once a month. The intervention group received an additional once-a-week group physiotherapy session for 12 weeks. Thorax curve angle, postural behavior, and low back pain (LBP) were measured before and after intervention. Results The thorax curve angle decreased from 39.2 ± 9.3 to 28.2 ± 6.8 (p < 0.001) in the group + individual therapy group and from 38.9 ± 9.3 to 27.9 ± 7.8 in the individual therapy only group (p < 0.001). LBP decreased from 5.6 ± 2.2 to 1.6 ± 1.9 (p < 0.001) and from 5.5 ± 2.1 to 2.8 ± 2.0 (p < 0.001). A significantly greater improvement in postural behavior was found in the group + individual therapy group (p = 0.04). Moreover, attrition rates were lower in the experimental group. Conclusion A lower-frequency individual physiotherapy treatment for 12 weeks proved as beneficial as the same program with an additional higher-frequency group physiotherapy in improving thorax curve angle and LBP. However, the higher-frequency group physiotherapy in addition to the lower-frequency individual treatment was significantly more effective in improving postural behavior and adherence to treatment.

Social Status Differentially Affects Behavioral and Immunological Outcomes of Group-Kept Sows Fed Different Dietary Fiber Using Different Length Feeding Barriers

Social conflict is inevitable among group-housed sows and may contribute to poorer welfare among those sows experiencing more social stress. The degree of individual welfare is associated with social position within the group. Therefore, this study examined the effects of social status on behavior, immune, endocrine, and productivity of group-housed pregnant sows fed a diet supplemented with 30% wheat middlings and 15% soybean hulls (MID-SH) or 30% distillers dried grains with solubles and 30% corn germ meal (DDGS-GM) and in pens with individual feeding places made from short (58.4 cm) or long (203.2 cm) barriers. A 2 × 2 factorial design resulted in 4 experimental treatment groups (n= 9 sows/diet-length-block combination): (1) MID-SHshort; (2) MID-SHlong; (3) DDGS-GMshort; (4) DDGS-GMlong. Groups of sows equally representing all diet-length combinations across 4 blocks (n= 36 sows/block) were subjected to a feeding competition test to identify highest (dominant) and lowest (subordinate) ranked sows within each group resulting in 64 sows (n= 16 sows/treatment;n= 32 sows/social status). Data revealed 2- and 3-way interactive effects on aggressive behavior (P&amp;lt; 0.005), postural (P&amp;lt; 0.01), oral (P&amp;lt; 0.0001), and eating (P&amp;lt; 0.005) behaviors, sow mean body weights and gains (P&amp;lt; 0.05) and litter weaning weights (P&amp;lt; 0.05), especially among subordinates in pens with long barriers. Subordinates in pens with long barriers received 21% less aggression and were 73% less likely to be displaced than subordinates in pens with short ones (P&amp;lt; 0.0001). Dietary treatment also influenced some of these measures among the subordinates in pens with long barriers. For example, subordinates in DDGS-GMlongreceived 64 and 67% less aggression than subordinates in DDGS-GMshortand MID-SHshort(P&amp;lt; 0.005). Eat bouts were greatest among subordinates in MID-SHlong, and sitting and sham-chewing were less. However, those in DDGS-GMlongspent less time standing and laying, and their litters were 15.28 kg heavier (P= 0.01), but overall subordinates fed DDGS-GM diet were lightest and gained less total body weight than those fed MID-SH (P&amp;lt; 0.05). Other measures such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were elevated among dominants in MID-SHlong(P&amp;lt; 0.05); whereas, cortisol (P= 0.06) was lowest and glucose (P= 0.09) highest for subordinates in DDGS-GMlong.These data imply that subordinates benefited from being housed in pens with long barriers, but the type of dietary fiber consumed differentially influenced behavioral budget and several sow- or litter-related traits among subordinates in pens with long barriers. In contrast, the subordinates in pens with short barriers had poorer welfare regardless of diet. Collectively, these data imply that social status is a crucial factor contributing to variation in individual well-being among group-housed sows and that sows of different social positions within a group may evoke different biological responses in an attempt to cope.

A PCA-based frame selection method for applying CNN and LSTM to classify postural behaviour in sows

Posture and the rate of postural changes of farrowing and lactating sows are considered reliable indicators of environmental comfort and health status and are risk factors for piglet crushing. The objective of this study was to develop a combined deep learning and principle component analysis (PCA) based approach to classify different postural behaviours of sows in videos. Compared to previous studies of sow’s postural behaviour classification based on deep learning, this study selects sequences of frames from the videos that distinguish different postural behaviours rather than using all frames for the classification. Videos were collected from 13 sows, and the recording started from 5 days before the expected date of farrowing until weaning. From the videos, 3100 videos without piglets and 1680 including piglets were manually selected. Then, these videos were augmented by using vertical mirroring and adding Gaussian noise, which resulted in 7200 and 4600 videos without and including piglets, respectively. Each video lasted 5 sec and included 1 out of 5 behavioural postures (sternal lying, lateral lying, sitting, standing, walking) labelled by one trained expert with extensive experience in sow’s behaviour classification. Out of the total of 11,800 videos, 75% were randomly allocated as training set and the remaining 25% as validation set. To select motion-related frames, each video was first converted into a multidimensional matrix. Then, PCA was performed on the matrix and a number of component(s) were selected to represent the frame. After that, the frame Euclidean distances were computed based on the components and the frames over a certain distance threshold were selected to generate new videos. Since a different number of components and distance thresholds can affect the number of selected frames, a range of component numbers (1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50) and distance thresholds were further tested to find the optimal parameters. The best balance between accuracy and performance of the classification was obtained when using 10 components (87.98% of total variation). The best results were obtained when the threshold was set as one fourth of the largest distance between two successive frames. To classify different behaviours, the videos composed of the selected frames were trained and validated with convolutional neural network (CNN) and a long short-term memory (LSTM) models. Using the proposed method, postural behaviours could be classified with accuracies of 95.33% and 92.67% on videos without piglets and all data (including and not including piglets). Furthermore, 500 new videos were selected from the experiment and were used as test set. The final model was further tested on the test set and returned an accuracy of 90.60%, which indicated that the proposed method can be generalized on new data.

Type of exercise may influence postural adaptations in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

ObjectiveTraditional posturography measurements characterize postural instability in patients with chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), while underlying postural control mechanisms remain unclear. Taking a model‐based approach can yield insights into these mechanisms. This study’s aim was to characterize the modifications in postural control of CIPN patients associated with exercise in relation to the postural behavior of healthy control participants (hCON) via an exploratory approach.MethodsThirty‐one CIPN patients were randomly assigned to two interventions (balance plus moderate endurance training vs. moderate endurance training only) and exercised twice per week over 12 weeks. Baseline data were compared to 36 matched hCONs. We recorded spontaneous sway and postural reactions to platform tilts using Optotrak and a Kistler force platform pre‐ and post‐intervention. Data interpretation relied on a model‐based parameter identification procedure.ResultsSpontaneous sway amplitudes were larger and postural reactions smaller, with a relative phase advance, in our pre‐intervention patients than the hCONs. Post‐intervention, spontaneous sway, and postural reactions were reduced and the sensory‐motor ratio larger in both groups, while the postural reaction timing differed between groups.InterpretationThe abnormally small postural reactions in CIPN patients before the intervention can be interpreted as the consequence of abnormally strong velocity control—a strategy modification that may serve as a prediction mechanism to compensate for the lack of timely and accurate proprioceptive signals. While both groups reduced postural sway and showed an adapted sensory‐motor ratio post‐intervention, the interventions seemed to trigger different velocity control strategies. This study emphasizes the need for taking a more differentiated perspective on intervention effects.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) number: DRKS00005419, prospectively registered on November 19, 2013.

Effectiveness of Selected Exercise Programme on Cervical Range of Motion in Patients with Thoracic Kyphosis &amp; Forward Head Posture

Background: Altered postural behaviours result in Forward head posture and thoracic kyphosis making it amenable to correction. The biomechanical strain, in presence of reduced strength of the core stabilizing musculature, in particular, if it is repeated or prolonged, is the predominant explanation for symptoms associated with forward head posture and thoracic kyphosis i.e., neck pain and reduced cervical range of motion. Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the effect of postural awareness and conventional exercises on the cervical range of motion in patients with thoracic kyphosis and forward head posture. Methodology: This experimental study was conducted on 60 subjects both male and female of age group 20-35yrs. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups consisting of 30 subjects each. Group A received hot pack and postural advice and Group B received hot pack and stretching and strengthening exercises. All the subjects received a total intervention of 4 days (alternate days) per week for 4 weeks. Results: Intra-group significant differences were obtained between pre- and post-treatment for all evaluated variables (p˂0.01) in both groups. The inter-group comparison showed significant differences (p˂0.01) between post-treatment variables of Group A and Group B where, Group B showed greater improvement than Group A. Conclusion: The treatment given to both the groups together can be used to improve cervical range of motion, thoracic kyphosis, and forward head posture. This study may serve as a guideline for physiotherapists when making decisions regarding possible interventions. KEY WORDS: Cervical range of motion, Craniovertebral angle, Forward head posture, Kyphosis index, Neck disability index, Thoracic kyphosis.

Effect of Topical Spray Containing Lidocaine on Piglet Behaviour Post castration

ABSTRACT Previous studies examining the impact of topical lidocaine spray on postcastration pain behavior in piglets used scan sampling for the collection of behavior data. This methodology led to inconclusive results on the efficacy of topical lidocaine spray for pain relief. This study uses continuous coding to examine the effect of topical lidocaine on piglet behavior post castration. Castrated piglets received either no pain relief or topical lidocaine spray and are compared to gilts that were handled only. Postcastration piglet behavior was continuously coded for postural behaviors, social isolation, as well as nosing and playing. Behaviors in the castrated piglets differed from those that were handled only, but the piglets that received the spray did not exhibit significantly different behaviors from castrated pigs that received no spray. Play, exploratory behavior, and continuous behavioral observations proved to be sensitive modalities for detecting alterations in behavior postcastration and revealed that topical lidocaine spray does not provide effective pain mitigation for piglets undergoing castration and would thus not be recommended as a method for providing postcastration pain relief in piglets.

Design and evaluation of postural interactions between users and a listening virtual agent during a simulated job interview

AbstractPostural interaction is of major importance during job interviews. While several prototypes enable users to rehearse for public speaking tasks and job interviews, few of these prototypes support subtle bodily interactions between the user and a virtual agent playing the role of an interviewer. The design of our system is informed by a multimodal corpus that was previously collected. In this paper, we explain how we were inspired by these video recordings of human interviewers to build a library of motion‐captured movements that interviewers are most likely to display. We designed a fully automatic interactive virtual agent able to display these movements in response to the bodily movements of the user. Thirty‐two participants presented themselves to this virtual agent during a simulated job interview. We focused on the self‐presentation task of the job interview, the virtual agent being listening. Participants stood on a force platform that recorded the displacements of their center of pressure to assess the postural impact of our design. We also collected video recordings of their movements and computed the contraction index and the quantity of motion of their bodies. We explain the different hypotheses that we made concerning (1) the comparison between the performance of participants with human interviewers and the performance of participants with virtual interviewers, (2) the comparison between mirror and random postural behaviors displayed by a female versus a male virtual interviewer, and (3) the correlation between the participants' performance and their personality traits. Our results suggest that users perceive the simulated self‐presentation task with the virtual interviewer as threatening and as difficult as the presentation task with the human interviewers. Furthermore, when users interact with a virtual interviewer that mirrors their postures, these users perceive the interviewer as being affiliative. Finally, a correlation analysis showed that personality traits had a significant relation to the postural behaviors and performance of the users during their presentation.

Posture Recognition and Behavior Tracking in Swimming Motion Images under Computer Machine Vision

This study is to explore the gesture recognition and behavior tracking in swimming motion images under computer machine vision and to expand the application of moving target detection and tracking algorithms based on computer machine vision in this field. The objectives are realized by moving target detection and tracking, Gaussian mixture model, optimized correlation filtering algorithm, and Camshift tracking algorithm. Firstly, the Gaussian algorithm is introduced into target tracking and detection to reduce the filtering loss and make the acquired motion posture more accurate. Secondly, an improved kernel-related filter tracking algorithm is proposed by training multiple filters, which can clearly and accurately obtain the motion trajectory of the monitored target object. Finally, it is proposed to combine the Kalman algorithm with the Camshift algorithm for optimization, which can complete the tracking and recognition of moving targets. The experimental results show that the target tracking and detection method can obtain the movement form of the template object relatively completely, and the kernel-related filter tracking algorithm can also obtain the movement speed of the target object finely. In addition, the accuracy of Camshift tracking algorithm can reach 86.02%. Results of this study can provide reliable data support and reference for expanding the application of moving target detection and tracking methods.

Phylogenetic Patterns in Mouth Posture and Echolocation Emission Behavior of Phyllostomid Bats

While phyllostomid bats show an impressive range of feeding habits, most of them emit highly similar echolocation calls. Due to the presence of an often prominent noseleaf, it has long been assumed that all phyllostomids emit echolocation calls exclusively through the nostrils rather than through the mouth. However, photo evidence documents also phyllostomid bats flying with an opened mouth. We hypothesized that all phyllostomid species emit echolocation calls only through the nostrils and therefore fly consistently with a closed mouth, and that observations of an open mouth should be a rare and random behavior among individuals and species. Using a high-speed camera and standardized conditions in a flight cage, we screened 40 phyllostomid species. Behavior varied distinctly among the species and mouth posture shows a significant phylogenetic signal. Bats of the frugivorous subfamilies Rhinophyllinae and Carolliinae, the nectarivorous subfamilies Glossophaginae and Lonchophyllinae, and the sanguivorous subfamily Desmodontinae all flew consistently with open mouths. So did the animalivorous subfamilies Glyphonycterinae, Micronycterinae and Phyllostominae, with the notable exception of species in the omnivorous genus Phyllostomus, which consistently flew with mouths closed. Bats from the frugivorous subfamily Stenodermatinae also flew exclusively with closed mouths with the single exception of the genus Sturnira, which is the sister clade to all other stenodermatine species. Further, head position angles differed significantly between bats echolocating with their mouth closed and those echolocating with their mouths opened, with closed-mouth phyllostomids pointing only the nostrils in the direction of flight and open-mouth phyllostomids pointing both the nostrils and mouth gape in the direction of flight. Ancestral trait reconstruction showed that the open mouth mode is the ancestral state within the Phyllostomidae. Based on the observed behavioral differences, we suggest that phyllostomid bats are not all nasal emitters as previously thought and discuss possible reasons. Further experiments, such as selectively obstructing sound emission through nostrils or mouth, respectively, will be necessary to clarify the actual source, plasticity and ecological relevance of sound emission of phyllostomid bats flying with their mouths open.

Phylogenetic Patterns in Mouth Posture and Echolocation Emission Behavior of Phyllostomid Bats

While phyllostomid bats show an impressive range of feeding habits, most of them emit highly similar echolocation calls. Due to the presence of an often prominent noseleaf, it has long been assumed that all phyllostomids emit echolocation calls exclusively through the nostrils rather than through the mouth. However, photo evidence documents also phyllostomid bats flying with an opened mouth. We hypothesized that all phyllostomid species emit echolocation calls only through the nostrils and therefore fly consistently with a closed mouth, and that observations of an open mouth should be a rare and random behavior among individuals and species. Using a high-speed camera and standardized conditions in a flight cage, we screened 40 phyllostomid species. Behavior varied distinctly among the species and mouth posture shows a significant phylogenetic signal. Bats of the frugivorous subfamilies Rhinophyllinae and Carolliinae, the nectarivorous subfamilies Glossophaginae and Lonchophyllinae, and the sanguivorous subfamily Desmodontinae all flew consistently with open mouths. So did the animalivorous subfamilies Glyphonycterinae, Micronycterinae and Phyllostominae, with the notable exception of species in the omnivorous genus Phyllostomus, which consistently flew with mouths closed. Bats from the frugivorous subfamily Stenodermatinae also flew exclusively with closed mouths with the single exception of the genus Sturnira, which is the sister clade to all other stenodermatine species. Further, head position angles differed significantly between bats echolocating with their mouth closed and those echolocating with their mouths opened, with closed-mouth phyllostomids pointing only the nostrils in the direction of flight and open-mouth phyllostomids pointing both the nostrils and mouth gape in the direction of flight. Ancestral trait reconstruction showed that the open mouth mode is the ancestral state within the Phyllostomidae. Based on the observed behavioral differences, we suggest that phyllostomid bats are not all nasal emitters as previously thought and discuss possible reasons. Further experiments, such as selectively obstructing sound emission through nostrils or mouth, respectively, will be necessary to clarify the actual source, plasticity and ecological relevance of sound emission of phyllostomid bats flying with their mouths open.

Functional Myology of the Neck in Primates

The neck is often used to study postural and locomotor behaviors across primates. Partially due to the complexity of this 3D system, there has not yet been a quantitative study of comparative nuchal muscle function. In this study, we applied innovative methods to visualize, quantify, and compare the epaxial muscles among primate taxa to characterize the relationship between trunk posture, extreme head turning behaviors, and forelimb-dominated below branch suspensory locomotion and muscle function. DiceCT imaging, 3D muscle fascicle-tracking, and 3D muscle visualization were all used to compare the attachment sites, orientations, and estimates of force for 19 muscles across five species that displayed contrasting postural and locomotor behaviors. To explore estimates of muscle force and 3D orientation of muscle bellies, ternary diagrams were used. Results show that most muscle forces scale with isometry, but musculature varies according to positional behavior and function. Semisuspensory species have a more dorsoventrally oriented cranial bellies of the trapezius muscle than closely related, but non-suspensory taxa. Pronograde primates have more powerful longissimus capitis muscles compared to orthograde primates. Carlito, noted for its pronounced head turning behaviors, has a more transversely oriented and more powerful sternocleidomastoid in addition to more powerful obliquus capitis superior muscle. The latter is also seen in Propithecus. These findings support the hypothesis that estimates of muscle force for certain key neck muscles are related to positional behaviors in primates. Therefore, the bony attachment sites of the muscles that were observed to vary among taxa could aid in understanding locomotor behaviors in extinct primates.

Effects of farrowing stall layout and number of heat lamps on sow and piglet behavior

Farrowing stalls are used in the United States swine industry to reduce pre-weaning piglet mortality, enable efficient individual animal management, and decrease facility construction and operating costs. The quantity and quality of space provided for sows and piglets in farrowing stalls are important economic and welfare considerations. To further explore the impacts of farrowing stall space allocation, a large-scale field study was conducted to compare sow and piglet behavior when housed in three farrowing stall layouts (TSL – traditional stall layout, ECSL – expanded creep area stall layout, ESCSL – expanded sow and creep area stall layout) with either one or two heat lamps (1HL and 2HL, respectively). A computer vision system classified posture budgets and behaviors of 322 sows and piglet location for 324 litters. Linear mixed models were developed to compare behavior and piglet pre-weaning mortality metrics between experimental treatments. Results show sows in ESCSL spent more time lying compared to sows in ECSL (p = 0.028) and less time sitting compared to sows in TSL and ECSL (p < 0.01). Sows with the 2HL treatment had an increase in percentage lying (p = 0.017) and a decrease in percentage standing (p = 0.045) compared to sows with the 1HL treatment. Number of piglets, parity, and batch also influenced sow postural behavior (p < 0.05). Sow lying orientation was not impacted by HL treatment. Sow postures and behaviors were influenced by day of lactation (p < 0.001). Piglets with 2HL treatment spent more time in the heated region and less time in the creep and sow regions for all stall layouts on all days of lactation observed (p < 0.001). In the ESCSL, piglets had a greater percentage of time in the sow region compared to ECSL piglets (p < 0.004). Piglets did not spend equal percentages of time between the two creep or two HL regions (p < 0.001), and piglet location was correlated with sow lying orientation for most of the creep regions analyzed (p < 0.01). Increases in piglet pre-weaning mortality were correlated with increases in sow lying (p = 0.027) and decreases in standing (p = 0.025) and feeding (p < 0.001). However, correlations with sow posture were likely due to the impacts of day of lactation (p < 0.001). No correlations were found between piglet location and pre-weaning mortality (p> 0.05). Results can guide producers to consider wider sow areas in farrowing stalls to better meet sow behavioral needs and to include larger heated areas to meet piglet behavioral needs during lactation.

Activity Budget and Postural Behaviors in Orangutans on Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island for Assessing Captive Great Ape Welfare

ABSTRACT Assessments of the welfare status of captive and semi-captive animals often compare how their expression of natural behaviors differs from that of free-ranging conspecifics. From December 2015–2016, we recorded and analyzed the activity budget and postural behaviors of three orangutans in Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island (BMOUI) to evaluate their welfare status. The orangutans’ activity budget was dominated by resting (60%), feeding (13%), playing (14%), and moving (9%). Behavioral categories followed a similar trend: resting > feeding > moving > playing, except that the subadult male spent significantly more time playing than the two adults. The most predominant posture was sitting (47.0%), followed by pronograde standing (29.4%), lying (10.5%), and clinging (4.5%). Our results suggest that orangutans on BMOUI engage in less feeding but more resting, and show less postural diversity than free-ranging individuals. We propose that appropriate interventions to shift activity budgets, especially feeding vs. resting, and postural behaviors of captive orangutans toward those found in free-ranging orangutans might be beneficial for their welfare and survival.

A general model of the thermal constraints on the world's most destructive locust, Schistocerca gregaria.

All terrestrial ectotherms are constrained to some degree by their thermal environment and the extent to which they can behaviorally buffer variable thermal conditions. New biophysical modeling methods (NicheMapR) allow the calculation of the body temperature of thermoregulating animals anywhere in the world from first principles, but require detailed observational data for parameterization and testing. Here we describe the thermoregulatory biology of marching bands of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, in the Sahara Desert of Mauritania where extreme heat and strong diurnal fluctuations are a major constraint on activity and physiological processes. Using a thermal infrared camera in the field, we showed that gregarious nymphs altered the microhabitats they used, as well as postural thermoregulatory behaviors, to maintain relatively high body temperature (nearly 40°C). Field and laboratory experiments demonstrated that the preferred body temperature accelerated digestive rates. Migratory bands frequently left foraging sites with full guts before consuming all vegetation and moved to another habitat before emptying their foregut. Thus, the repertoire for behavioral thermoregulation in the desert locust strongly facilitates foraging and digestion rates, which may accelerate developmental rates and increase survival. We used our data to successfully parameterize a general biophysical model of thermoregulatory behavior that could capture hourly body temperature and activity at our remote site using globally available environmental forcing data. This modeling approach provides a stronger basis for forecasting thermal constraints on locust outbreaks under current and future climates.