Flight Reactions Research Articles

Diagnosing up-scattered deuterium-tritium fusion neutrons produced in burning plasmas at the National Ignition Facility (invited).

In the push to higher performance fusion plasmas, two critical quantities to diagnose are α-heat deposition that can improve and impurities mixed into the plasma that can limit performance. In high-density, highly collisional inertial confinement fusion burning plasmas, there is a significant probability that deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion products, 14.1MeV neutrons and 3.5MeV α-particles, will collide with and deposit energy onto ("up-scatter") surrounding deuterium and tritium fuel ions. These up-scattered D and T ions can then undergo fusion while in-flight and produce an up-scattered neutron (15-30MeV). These reaction-in-flight (RIF) neutrons can then be uniquely identified in the measured neutron energy spectrum. The magnitude, shape, and relative size of this spectral feature can inform models of stopping-power in the DT plasma and hence is directly proportional to α-heat deposition. In addition, the RIF spectrum can be related to mix into the burning fuel, particularly relevant for high-Z shell and other emerging National Ignition Facility platforms. The neutron time-of-flight diagnostic upgrades needed to obtain this small signal, ∼10-5 times the primary DT neutron peak, will be discussed. Results from several gain > 1 implosions will be shown and compared to previous RIF spectra. Finally, comparisons of experimental data to a simplified computational model will be made.

Combined Injection for Control of Iron-Deficiency Anemia and Coccidiosis in Piglets Decreases Stress at Management Time.

The aim of the present study was to assess the short-term behavioral and physiological responses of piglets to different treatment protocols for the control of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) and cystoisosporosis. Piglets were treated with either (1) an injection of iron combined with an oral application of toltrazuril (TLZ) by drenching or (2) a combination injection of TZL + gleptoferron; the behavior of the piglets was then evaluated. For this study, 288 piglets were divided into three experimental groups: 96 piglets were kept untreated (control group); 96 piglets received an oral administration of a generic TZL-based anticoccidial agent (20 mg/kg BW) along with intramuscular administration of iron dextran (200 mg/mL; 1 mL/piglet) at the same handling (oral + parenteral group, O + P); and 96 piglets received an intramuscular application of the combination product (parenteral group, P). For each treated piglet, the total handling time, flight reaction, and the intensity and frequency of vocalizations were determined using the methodology described by Scollo et al. (2020). Piglets in the O + P group were found to emit more screams during treatment administration than animals in the P group (21.05% vs. 8.42% of animals; p < 0.05). Piglets in the O + P group reacted worse to manipulation and oral administration because a higher percentage of animals continued to fidget even after handling (32.63% vs. 12.63%; p < 0.05). Differences in growth performance between the groups were not observed in our study (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the administration of a combination product reduced stress during administration, as indicated by reduced vocalizations and reactions to manipulation.

Hunting tactics of southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina and anti-predatory behaviours of their prey

For air-breathing marine predators that must save energy during dives, the ability to adopt hunting tactics that minimise the risk of triggering an escape reaction from the prey is crucial for efficient foraging. Female southern elephant seals (SES) Mirounga leonina forage on small mesopelagic prey that they must hunt almost continuously to meet their high-energy requirements. Here we aimed at understanding how these large time-limited deep-divers can efficiently exploit their small-sized prey. To do so, we used data recorded by a new biologger, the sonar tag, deployed on SES during their post-breeding foraging trips. This tag combines an active acoustic sensor with ultra-high-resolution movement and bioluminescence sensors. This combination of sensors offers a unique opportunity to simultaneously describe SES hunting tactics and defence mechanisms of their prey. We analysed more than 5800 prey capture events in 9 SES and show that they adopt a ‘stalking’ hunting behaviour, allowing them to get as close as possible to their prey before attacking. The ability of SES to adopt stealth approach tactics, minimising the risk of initiating a flight reaction from their prey, might be a key factor in the success of this far-ranging generalist predator.

Psychophysiological disorders and the skin

AbstractThe interaction between the mind, skin, and body is well studied lately and many studies focus on the multiple mechanisms between them that affects skin health. From psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, and immunology, to psychophysiological and inflammation, there are many issues to consider for the brain–skin cross‐interaction. Altered balance or activation of the neuroendocrine‐immune system triggers a cascade of events that allow the so‐called fight–flight reaction that influences several skin diseases, as a risk factor for developing a dermatological disease or disease flares. Psychosocial stressors change the responses of neuroactive substances that regulates the immune system. Research focuses on study of several influencers like neuroendocrine mediators (corticotrophin‐releasing factor, substance P, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, glucocorticoids, and catecholamines), pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IFN‐g, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐10, IL‐13), the activity of mast cells, NK cells or dendritic cells in the skin. The conditions exacerbated by psychological factors and stress are seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, zona zoster, herpes simplex, neurodermatitis, hyperhidrosis, allodynia.

When to Go? A Conjoint Experiment on Social Networks, Violence, and Forced Migration Decisions in Eastern and Southeastern Turkey

Abstract How do heterogeneous patterns of violence affect people's decision to flee? We provide individual-level evidence on flight decision-making in light of violence with a conjoint experiment in Turkey. The results suggest that intense indiscriminate violence nearby forces individuals into the decision to leave. In contrast to previous studies, we find that the fear of repeated violence plays a more important role in flight decision-making than the attack frequency. The survey experiment reveals that violence committed by the government makes a decision to flee abroad more likely than rebel violence. We find that individuals with support networks abroad are less responsive to patterns of violence, making flight decisions more independently and being generally more inclined to move. Our findings contribute to the growing literature on forced migration with individual-level evidence on the decision-making process underlying flight reactions to violence.

Four reasons why we should screen for dissociation in competitive sports

Four reasons why we should screen for dissociation in competitive sports

Behavior is movement only but how to interpret it? Problems and pitfalls in translational neuroscience-a 40-year experience.

Translational research in behavioral neuroscience seeks causes and remedies for human mental health problems in animals, following leads imposed by clinical research in psychiatry. This endeavor faces several problems because scientists must read and interpret animal movements to represent human perceptions, mood, and memory processes. Yet, it is still not known how mammalian brains bundle all these processes into a highly compressed motor output in the brain stem and spinal cord, but without that knowledge, translational research remains aimless. Based on some four decades of experience in the field, the article identifies sources of interpretation problems and illustrates typical translational pitfalls. (1) The sensory world of mice is different. Smell, hearing, and tactile whisker sensations dominate in rodents, while visual input is comparatively small. In humans, the relations are reversed. (2) Mouse and human brains are equated inappropriately: the association cortex makes up a large portion of the human neocortex, while it is relatively small in rodents. The predominant associative cortex in rodents is the hippocampus itself, orchestrating chiefly inputs from secondary sensorimotor areas and generating species-typical motor patterns that are not easily reconciled with putative human hippocampal functions. (3) Translational interpretation of studies of memory or emotionality often neglects the ecology of mice, an extremely small species surviving by freezing or flight reactions that do not need much cognitive processing. (4) Further misinterpretations arise from confounding neuronal properties with system properties, and from rigid mechanistic thinking unaware that many experimentally induced changes in the brain do partially reflect unpredictable compensatory plasticity. (5) Based on observing hippocampal lesion effects in mice indoors and outdoors, the article offers a simplistic general model of hippocampal functions in relation to hypothalamic input and output, placing hypothalamus and the supraspinal motor system at the top of a cerebral hierarchy. (6) Many translational problems could be avoided by inclusion of simple species-typical behaviors as end-points comparable to human cognitive or executive processing, and to rely more on artificial intelligence for recognizing patterns not classifiable by traditional psychological concepts.

Unhandled horses classified with broken/unbroken test (BUT) exhibit longer avoidance, flight reactions, and displacement behaviors when approached by humans.

Horses with a low level of tameness are at higher risk for transport-related disease and injury; hence, European regulations for the protection of animals during transport (EC 1/2005) are stricter for unhandled (unbroken) horses. However, the regulation does not provide adequate tools for unhandled horse identification. The Broken/Unbroken Test (BUT) was developed and validated to easily identify whether a horse is broken (handled) or not. As a further validation step, the aim of this study was to assess whether there is any correspondence between the BUT classification and the behavioral response of the horse. A total of 100 healthy Italian Heavy Draft horses were video recorded when assessed with the BUT. In total, 90 videos (48 handled and 42 unhandled horses) matched the inclusion criteria and were assessed. The behavior of each horse was evaluated by three observers blinded as to the horses' experience with a focal animal continuous recording method. Behaviors were classified in four categories: stress, avoidance, displacement, and aggression. A Mann–Whitney test was used to identify differences in behavioral patterns between horses classified as handled or unhandled with the BUT. Unhandled horses showed not only a significantly longer time to be approached by the handler but also more avoidance and flight reactions (p < 0.001). Unhandled horses showed significantly longer displacement behaviors, such as sniffing (p < 0.001). These findings further validate the BUT classification and confirm that horses classified as unhandled are more prone to show avoidance and flight reactions when approached by humans. For this reason, the adoption of the BUT could be helpful to minimize humans' horse-related injuries and, if applied regularly before loading, to contribute to safeguard the welfare of horses during transport.

A Physical and Behavioral Barrier for Enhancing Fish Downstream Migration at Hydropower Dams: The Flexible FishProtector

Fish protection at hydropower plants is important for the sustainability of hosting ecosystems and the acceptance of hydropower. On their way downstream, fish are exposed to hydropower plants and various related negative effects, ranging from a delay in downstream movement to being injured or killed by a turbine. Understanding the behavior of fish in close proximity to protection devices is essential in order to establish efficient fish protection facilities. In this study, physical (horizontal steel cables) and behavioral barriers (electric field) for fish protection were developed (Flexible FishProtector) and their effectiveness was investigated. The behavior of brown trout (Salmo trutta fario), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), grayling (Thymallus thymallus) and chub (Squalius cephalus) at the Flexible FishProtector was analyzed using video evaluation. The experimental setup was a non-scaled section model of a runoff river power plant. The used electric field induced a flight reaction at a corresponding distance to the Flexible FishProtector that significantly increased the protection rate. Furthermore, an increase in guiding efficiency was achieved with the use of a physical as well as a physical and behavioral barrier, supporting safe downstream migration with the narrower cable clearance (30 mm versus 60 mm).

Oral defensiveness in children with autism spectrum disorders at Biruku Foundation, Bandung

Background: Oral defensiveness (OD) is a reaction to avoid stimulation of touch, texture, or taste of certain foods and feeling irritated with any activities involving the mouth in general. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have OD have difficulty with anything that involves touching in and around the child’s mouth. OD can lead to fight or flight reactions including screaming, aggressive behavior, and withdrawal in an effort to avoid stimuli. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess OD in children with ASD at the Biruku Foundation, Bandung. Methods: A descriptive study with a cross-sectional approach using total sampling technique was conducted with the parents of 24 children with ASD at the Biruku Foundation, Bandung with inclusion criteria—children with ASD who had been diagnosed by a pediatrician—and exclusion criteria—parents of children who were unwilling to participate. The research used an Oral Sensory Processing Questionnaire by Winnie Dun (1999) with a total of 12 questions. Respondents filled out the questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale. Results were classified into three categories: typical, probable, and definite. Results: A total of 10 respondents (41.7%) were classified as typical (normal), 6 (25.0%) were classified as probable (moderate), and 8 (33.3%) were classified as definite (OD). Overall, 14 children with ASD (58.3%) were classified as having OD. Conclusion: Most children with ASD at the Biruku Foundation, Bandung have OD.

First eddy covariance flux measurements of semi-volatile organic compounds with the PTR3-TOF-MS

Abstract. We present first eddy covariance flux measurements with the PTR3-TOF-MS, a novel proton transfer time of flight reaction mass spectrometer. During 3 weeks in spring 2016, the instrument recorded 10 Hz data of biogenic volatile organic compounds above a boreal forest, on top of a measurement tower at the SMEAR (Station for Measuring Ecosystem –Atmosphere Relations) II station in Hyytiälä, Finland. Flux and concentration data of isoprene, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes were compared to the literature. Due to the improved instrument sensitivity and a customized wall-less inlet design, we could detect fluxes of semi-volatile and low-volatility organic compounds with less than single-digit picomol per square meter per second (pmolm-2s-1) values for the first time. These compounds include sesquiterpene oxidation products and diterpenes. Daytime diterpene fluxes were in the range of 0.05 to 0.15 pmolm-2s-1, which amounts to about 0.25 % to 0.5 % of the daytime sesquiterpene flux above canopy.

The lobula plate is exclusive to insects

Just one superorder of insects is known to possess a neuronal network that mediates extremely rapid reactions in flight in response to changes in optic flow. Research on the identity and functional organization of this network has over the course of almost half a century focused exclusively on the order Diptera, a member of the approximately 300-million-year-old clade Holometabola defined by its mode of development. However, it has been broadly claimed that the pivotal neuropil containing the network, the lobula plate, originated in the Cambrian before the divergence of Hexapoda and Crustacea from a mandibulate ancestor. This essay defines the traits that designate the lobula plate and argues against a homologue in Crustacea. It proposes that the origin of the lobula plate is relatively recent and may relate to the origin of flight.

Inflight Polymerase Chain Reaction of samples with drones

A system devised to conduct Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in-flight on drones that uses the spatial displacement of capillary tubes on thermal blocks kept at 94 °C, 58 °C and 72 °C corresponding to cycling temperatures for denaturation, annealing and extension is demonstrated here. The use of acetal as the thermal block material reduced heat loss and the input power (within 18.5 W) needed to maintain the required temperatures. Tests showed that concentrations of samples down to 1.16 × 106 DNA copies/μL could be significantly and consistently detected above the background emission of the fluorescence signal intensity.

The time relative to parturition does not affect the behavioral or aggressive reactions in Zebu cows (Bos indicus)

One of the main causes of accidents with cattle is the maternal aggression of mothers protecting their newborns. Thus the purpose of the present experiment was to determine if the reaction of Bos indicus cows to different practices varies during the peripartum period. The reaction of the cow to the separation and handling of her calf by humans, and the exit speed and flight reaction were evaluated on a herd of 31 zebu-type cows. A scoring system from 1 to 5 was used to categorize the reaction of the cow to the separation and handling of her calf. In this sense, while 1 meant that the cow stood very quiet or indifferent during the procedure, 5 indicated that the cow was aggressive and tried to get through the fence to protect her calf. Data were analyzed with a mixed model including the peripartum period (5 weeks pre-calving to 5 weeks after parturition) as a repeated factor. The data from the maternal protective tests with or without humans were compared with a mixed model including the peripartum period, the type of test and their interaction in the model. There were no significant effects in any analysis performed. The protective test without humans ranged from 1.69 to 1.94, while the protective test with the presence of humans ranged from 0.93 to 1.38. The exit velocity ranged from 0.53 m/s to 1.01 m/s. The flight distance ranged from 4.1 m to 5.1 m, and the flight reaction ranged from 1.47 to 2.10. It was concluded that the temperament of Zebu type cows and their reaction to their calves and people handling their calves was not affected by the peripartum period. Thought, these measures cannot be used to predict the aggressiveness of the cows.

Evaluation of pain and stress in three-week old piglets in relation to route of vaccine administration

Public opinion sees safeguarding the welfare of food-producing animals as a fundamental issue. Reducing pain during routine procedures has gained increasing attention accordingly. The aim of this study was to evaluate piglet behavioral and physiological response during vaccine administration, by comparing intramuscular injection with needle (IM) and intradermal injection without needle (ID).In this study, video and audio recordings were made at the time of vaccination on 53 piglets for IM and 53 piglets for ID in order to quantify their reactions (attempts at flight) and vocalizations (number and intensity), while cortisol analyses were performed on blood samples collected from a subsample of 18 piglets per treatment.Statistical analysis of the variables collected from video and audio files showed significant differences between the two treatments. At the time of vaccination, no flight reactions were shown by 90% of the ID piglets and 55% of the IM piglets (P<0.001). Eighteen percent of the IM pigs continued fidgeting after vaccination, while the ID pigs did not (P < 0.01).No vocalization was recorded in 55% of the ID piglets and in 25% of the IM group (P<0.008). Repeated screams were recorded for 13% of the piglets of the ID group and 50% of the IM group (P<0.001). Detailed analysis of the vocalizations also revealed longer length (IM = 588 ms vs. ID = 352 ms, P = 0.010) and higher maximum peak (IM = 99.8 dB vs. ID = 90.7 dB, P < 0.001) in the IM group compared to the ID.In conclusion, both during and immediately after vaccination, a lower frequency of behavioral aversive responses was observed in the ID route of vaccine administration group than in the IM group.

Genome-wide association study identifies genomic loci associated with flight reaction in cattle.

Lower flight reaction is closely related to higher production in cattle, but the genetic basis of lower flight reaction is not clearly understood. Here, we sampled a total of 45 Brahman cattles and 166 Yunling cattles with flight distance (FD), and 73 Brahman cattles and 288 Yunling cattles with crush score (CS) and flight speed (FS), whereas there were 45 Brahman cattles and 161 Yunling cattles with all three traits. The FD, CS and FS in Brahman cattle were significantly lower than those in Yunling cattle. The flight reaction traits had negative correlation with conformational traits (e.g., body weight, withers height and body length). Based on SNPs derived from a subset of 162 whole genomes (25 Brahman genomes and 100 Yunling genomes with FD, 30 Brahman and 131 Yunling genomes with CS and FS), genome-wide association study with mixed linear model was performed to test potential associations between flight reaction traits and genomic variants. We identified five, two and two genomic loci suggestively associated with FD, CS and FS, respectively. Five out of five candidate genes for FD (LOC789753, LRP6, CTIF, SLC9A9 and ZEB1) were reported to be related to Alzheimer's disease representing cognitive impairment in human, which was consistent with the finding that cognitive-behavioural intervention decreased the FD of cows to human. In CS, a very strong association locus was assigned to CDH8, a cadherin involved in synaptic adhesion, axon outgrowth and guidance, whose deletion was associated with autism spectrum disorder. In FS, a very strong association locus was assigned to GABRG2, a gamma-aminobutyric acid (a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in brain) receptor, whose polymorphisms were associated with suicidal behaviour in schizophrenia patients. Our findings will provide targets for molecular-marker selection and genetic manipulation of cattle improvement to meeting the growing demand for lower flight reaction to human.

Monitoring of effectiveness of bird flight diverters in preventing bird mortality from powerline collisions in Slovakia

Abstract Flight observations and carcass searches were carried out along distribution power lines in Slovakia. 77 km of 22 kV and 110 kV lines were marked on a total of 108 sections to evaluate the effectiveness of three types of bird flight diverters (FireFly Bird Diverter, RIBE Bird Flight Diverter and SWAN-FLIGHT Diverter) designed to increase power line visibility. Numbers of carcasses were compared before and after installation of the devices and reaction distances on marked power lines were surveyed. We observed a 93.5% reduction (93 vs. 6) in the number of fatalities under the marked power lines after line marking (06/2016–06/2019) compared to the period before installation (12/2014–02/2016). 2,296 flight reactions were observed and an estimated total of 41,885 individuals (57 bird species belonging to 13 orders) were recorded with their reactions to marked lines in the period 06/2016–06/2019. After installation of bird diverters, there was a low proportion of flight distance observations at the closest distance, i.e. up to 5 m, indicating that birds reacted further away from marked lines. Although we lack flight observations for the period before the installation of diverters, the reactions of birds at greater distances and reduced number of bird victims under marked lines indicate that all tested diverters have a positive effect on reducing the number of avian collisions with power lines.

Thermal injuries in Atlantic salmon in a pilot laboratory trial

Thermal delousing is a new method for removing sea lice from farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L). We investigated thermally-related tissue injuries in Atlantic salmon in a pilot laboratory trial to describe the acute effect of high water temperatures (34–38 °C). Acute tissue injuries in gills, eyes, brain and possible also nasal cavity and thymus were seen in salmon exposed to water temperatures of 34 - 38 °C in 72 to 140 s. This implies that exposing salmon to such water temperatures is a welfare risk, not only due to the direct tissue injuries that may also be dependent on exposure time, but also due to risk of thermal pain and aversion, including flight reactions.

Does inattentional blindness exist in horses (Equus caballus)?

Inattentional Blindness (IB) is a phenomenon which has been widely researched in humans. If attention is highly focused, humans may become blind to other environmental cues. To further understand the perception of horses, we applied the well-tested experimental design of human IB studies to the first study of this kind in horses. Since the use of cognitive tasks in human IB-studies ensures that the subject’s attention is focused in a certain direction, we wanted to show if a food reward is strong enough to induce IB in the horse while confronted with a novel object. Therefore, we tested 24 horses, divided in an experimental (n = 12) and a control group (n = 12). The horses had to walk through the same corridor (10 m) for 12 consecutive trials. In the experimental group, animals were trained to focus on a food reward presented at the end of the corridor. Their duration to pass the run decreased significantly, indicating that an expectation focused on the feed was induced. In the test trials 11 and 12, a startle stimulus was presented to both groups. The response to the novel object was scored from 1 (no reaction) to 5 (flight reaction). We found a significant difference between the groups in the second test run with the experimental group showing lower reactions to the novel object (p = 0.018). The horses in the experimental group where not completely “blind” to the object, but the food reward clearly influenced their reaction. The results of the study suggest that while the occurrence of IB in horses has yet to be proven, a suitable distractor can lower horses’ startle response to a novel object. By further investigation into IB, new insight into the perception of horses can emerge and improve the understanding between horses and their handlers.

Behavioral reactions of brown bears to approaching humans in Fennoscandia

ABSTRACTHuman disturbance causes behavioral responses in wildlife, including large carnivores. Previous research in Scandinavia has documented that brown bears (Ursus arctos) show a variety of behavioral reactions to different human activities. We investigated how proximity to human settlements and roads, as proxies of human influence, affected brown bears’ reactions to encountering humans. We analyzed experimental approaches to GPS collared bears, 18 males and 23 single females, in Sweden (n = 148 approaches) and Finland (n = 33), conducted between 2004 and 2012. The bears in Finland inhabited areas with higher human density compared to Sweden. However, the proportion of bears staying or moving when approached and the flight initiation distances were similar in both countries. In Sweden, the flight responses were not dependent on human densities or roads inside the bears’ home ranges or the distances from the bears to roads and settlements. Brown bears in Fennoscandia live in areas with relatively low human population densities, but in many areas with high forestry road densities. Our results show that bears’ flight reactions were consistent between areas, which is an important message for management, reinforcing previous studies that have documented human avoidance by bears at different spatial and temporal scales.