Wooden Platform Research Articles

Comparison of anthropometric measurements related to the medial longitudinal arch of feet between non-dancers and Bharatnatyam dancers- an observational study

BackgroundBharatnatyam is an Indian classical dance form that involves rhythmic barefoot tapping at varying speeds. The intense impact forces generated during this dance can result in biochemical alterations in the feet, potentially causing injuries to ligaments, tendons, and fascia. This can lead to changes in the structure of the foot over time. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare anthropometric measurements related to the medial longitudinal arch of the foot in non-dancer, mid-stage, and last stage Bharatnatyam dancers. MethodsThe study was conducted on 192 participants. They were divided into three groups: 1) Non dancers 2) Mid-stage Bharatnatyam dancers, and 3) Last-stage Bharatnatyam dancers. Each group consisted of 64 participants each. Various measurements were taken on both the right and left foot using a wooden platform, foot image, and footprint. Later the results were analyzed statistically. ResultsOn comparing the parameters in non-dancers and mid-stage Bharatnatyam dancers it was found that all the parameters were found to be significant except right and left arch index. On comparing the parameters of mid-stage and last-stage Bharatnatyam dancers, it was found that none of the parameters showed significant value. On comparing the non-dancers and last-stage Bharatnatyam dancers, it was found that except right and left arch index all the parameters were found to be significant. ConclusionFrom the results of the present study, it can be concluded that there were significant changes in the arches of the foot between the non-dancers and mid-stage and last-stage Bharatnatyam dancers.

SolarBot: A Dual-Mode, Bluetooth-Enabled Two-Wheel Robot Powered by Renewable Energy

This research paper explores the development and deployment of a two-wheel drive robot car that leverages renewable solar energy stored in lithium-ion batteries. The system is designed with an L298N motor driver, an Arduino microcontroller, and an HC-05 Bluetooth module, providing the robot with both autonomous and manual control capabilities. The solar panel, integrated with a charging module and voltage regulator, is mounted on a zero PCB, ensuring a sustainable and uninterrupted power supply. The robot is equipped with ultrasonic sensors, enabling it to detect and navigate around obstacles automatically, ensuring a safe and efficient operation. In its autonomous mode, the robot can navigate predefined paths, making real-time adjustments based on sensor input to avoid collisions. This feature is particularly useful for applications such as automated plant watering, where the robot can move through a garden and irrigate plants while avoiding obstacles. Additionally, the robot can be utilized as a floor cleaning device, capable of maneuvering around furniture and other objects. The RC Bluetooth app facilitates manual control, allowing users to operate the robot remotely for various tasks. The project demonstrates a practical application of renewable energy in robotics, emphasizing the benefits of sustainable energy solutions and versatile operational modes. The use of a wooden platform provides a sturdy base for the robot's components, ensuring durability and reliability. This work contributes to the field of robotics by showcasing how solar power can be effectively harnessed to create energy-efficient, multifunctional robotic systems.

Environmental Enrichment Has Minimal Impact on Fresh and Processed Meat Quality of Turkeys

The objective of this study was to determine impacts of environmental enrichment (EE) on turkey meat quality. A randomized complete block design was used with commercial turkeys (n = 420) randomly assigned to 6 EE treatments (control [C], pecking block [PB], platform [P], wooden platform þ straw bale [PSB], straw bale [SB], and tunnel [T]) across 24 pens (16 to 18 turkeys/pen). At 19 wk, turkeys were weighed (live weight [LW]), and 6 birds per pen were harvested, a subset (n = 96 carcasses) fabricated into wings, drumsticks, and boneless breasts and thighs. From the breast and thigh, samples were taken for pH and drip loss. From the breast, samples were taken for instrumental color and shear force, with remaining breast portions further processed into boneless turkey breast logs. From each log, slices were taken for packaged purge loss (PPL), expressed moisture loss (EML), instrumental color, and texture. All EE treatments were analyzed using PROC GLM. For LW, SB turkeys were lightest, PB turkeys were heaviest, and T, PSB, C, and P were intermediate (P = 0.01). For fresh turkey, EE treatment did not impact the fabrication values, fresh breast color, breast or thigh drip loss, or breast or thigh pH (P > 0.05) and had minimal impact to thigh color with significant differences only in the b* values (P = 0.04). For processed turkey, EE did not impact processing yield, PPL, a*, b*, or texture (P > 0.05). For L*, SB, T, P, and PSB were lighter, C were darker, and PB had intermediate values (P = 0.02). PB, PSB, C, and T had greater EML loss, P had the least, and SB had intermediate EML (P = 0.04). The results indicate some variations of turkey quality due to EE, but the impacts of specific enrichments were not consistent across quality parameters.

A maleic anhydride-mediated green and sustainable route for versatile wood platform

Wood has garnered renewed interest due to its capacity to reduce carbon emissions when replacing non-renewable materials. Wood modification is often necessary because achieving optimal performance solely from the wood itself is challenging. Strategies for wood modification fall short of being genuinely sustainable and eco-friendly. In this context, a catalyst-free esterification method mediated by maleic anhydride (MA) is introduced for modifying wood. Notably, this approach aligns with principles of recycling, reuse, and reduction. A comprehensive comparison of MA-mediated wood esterification versus TEMPO-mediated wood oxidization highlights the effectiveness and superiorities of the MA esterification approach. Delignified wood esterified by MA (MA-DW) exhibits higher charge content (2.42 ± 0.24 vs. 0.53 ± 0.08 mmol/g), superior mass gain (18.4 ± 2.6 wt% vs. −15.92 ± 3.5 wt%), efficient recycling capability of the reaction medium (MA could be recycled five times, while TEMPO cannot be recycled), and integrity of the final products (retaining intact geometry vs. complete disintegration) compared to TEMPO-oxidized delignified wood (TEMPO-DW). Moreover, the MA-DW platform can serve in energy storage applications as an electrode or in sewage remediation applications as a catalyst. The esterification method mediated by MA provides an eco-friendly pathway for modifying wood, serving as a platform for creating diverse materials, potentially offering innovative concepts and insights for wood modification research.

PSIII-6 Impact of Aromatic Palatants on Equine Feeding Preferences

Abstract Although flavored palatants are commonly utilized in feed manufacturing, few data were available regarding the impact of aromatics on equine feeding preferences. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of aromatic palatants on feeding behaviors of lactating mares and nursing foals. Four quarter horse mare and nursing foal pairs were used in this paired preference test. Horses were group-housed with ad libitum access to pasture (cool season grass/legume mix), water and mineral salt. Pairings were tested for four consecutive days, with eighteen days off between each testing series, for a total trial of ten-weeks. Testing occurred from 1630-1730 h each day. Treatments were offered in false bottom pans constructed with twenty-four equally spaced openings (0.19 cm) and one (0.48 cm) central opening to allow odor permeation. Aromatic treatments, in powdered form (anise, apple, and peppermint), were placed within single use plastic containers nested underneath the feeding pans. Feed pans were spaced two inches apart and affixed to a flat, wooden platform with treatment location changed daily. Video was recorded and analyzed for first treatment investigated, consumed, and finished of pairs. Further analysis investigated the time spent consuming treatments and voluntary consumption of foals. Statistical analysis was performed (SAS for Academics, 2014, Cary, NC, USA) with significance set at 5%. The aromatic treatments utilized in this study yielded similar selective actions of mares for first investigated (P = 0.8472), consumed (P = 0.8472), and finished (P = 0.8166). Similarly, foal actions for first investigated (P = 0.5206), consumed (P = 0.5206), or finished (P = 0.1650) were not affected by aromatic treatments. There was a significant relationship between mare and foal first aromatic treatments investigated (P = 0.0415; R2 = -0.262) and consumed (P = 0.0415; R2 = -0.262) suggesting that different treatments were selected between the pairs (Table 6.2). A strong relationship was observed for first investigated and first consumed aromatic treatments of mares (P < 0.0001; R2 = 1.00). However, foals were found to remain with the first investigated aromatic treatment for first consumed (P < 0.0001; R2 = 1.00) and first finished treatments (P < 0.0001; R2 = 1.00). The mean voluntary consumption of concentrate was unaffected by treatment (P = 0.6646) and no period effect was observed (P = 0.1854). Mean time spent consuming was also unaffected by treatments (P = 0.1003) with no period effect observed (P = 0.4903). Despite no differences in the amount consumed, there was a greater time spent consuming peppermint treatments (257.97 ± 103.03 seconds) compared with that of anise (148.85 ± 84.09 seconds) and apple treatments (139.23 ± 77.00 seconds).

Multiscale Porous Carbon Materials by In Situ Growth of Metal-Organic Framework in the Micro-Channel of Delignified Wood for High-Performance Water Purification.

Porous carbon materials are suitable as highly efficient adsorbents for the treatment of organic pollutants in wastewater. In this study, we developed multiscale porous and heteroatom (O, N)-doped activated carbon aerogels (CAs) based on mesoporous zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanocrystals and wood using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) oxidation, in situ synthesis, and carbonization/activation. The surface carboxyl groups in a TEMPO-oxidized wood (TW) can provide considerably large nucleation sites for ZIF-8. Consequently, ZIF-8, with excellent porosity, was successfully loaded into the TW via in situ growth to enhance the specific surface area and enable heteroatom doping. Thereafter, the ZIF-8-loaded TW was subjected to a direct carbonization/activation process, and the obtained activated CA, denoted as ZIF-8/TW-CA, exhibited a highly interconnected porous structure containing multiscale (micro, meso, and macro) pores. Additionally, the resultant ZIF-8/TW-CA exhibited a low density, high specific surface area, and excellent organic dye adsorption capacity of 56.0 mg cm-3, 785.8 m2 g-1, and 169.4 mg g-1, respectively. Given its sustainable, scalable, and low-cost wood platform, the proposed high-performance CA is expected to enable the substantial expansion of strategies for environmental protection, energy storage, and catalysis.

Hand preference in wild crab-eating capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) in the coastal area of Northest Brazil.

Handedness is a fundamental human trait, although recent research, especially on nonhuman primates, has shown that it is displayed by other animals as well (e.g., chimpanzees, gorillas). In this study, we explore hand preference in wild crab-eating tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) inhabiting a mangrove forest located on the coastal area of Northeast Brazil (Maranhão State). Tufted capuchin monkeys at our site use facultatively wooden tools to crack open crabs. We observed hand preference in 12 subjects who spontaneously participated in experiment sessions, in which we provided crabs and tools on wooden platforms. We recorded (using events and bouts) two unimanual tasks, (tool or crab) grabbing and (tool or crab) pounding, and one bimanual task, crab pulling, where one hand kept the crab in place while the other pulled off parts of the crab. Hand preference increased with greater strength needed to perform the task and its complexity. While only 17%-25% of capuchins showed hand preference during grabbing, 44%-64% showed hand preference during pounding, and most subjects 64%-80% displayed a right-hand preference when performing the bimanual task, for which all lateralized individuals were right-handed. Hand preference did not vary between adults and juvenile individuals and was not consistent across tasks. Group-level hand preference was found only for the bimanual task, for which all lateralized individuals were right-handed. Our findings are in concordance with those of other primate studies showing the emergence of hemispheric specialization for bimanual actions, highlight the importance of conducting such studies on diverse type of tasks, and show the feasibility to conduct experimental manipulation under natural conditions.

121-OR: Fear of Falling and Its Relation to Balance Task Performance in Individuals with Chronic Diabetes

Background: Older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have lower balance confidence and a higher risk and fear of falling. This may lead to fear of falling avoidance behaviors (FFAB). It has been shown that balance training may attenuate fall risk, but it is unclear how balance task performance and learning is associated with FFAB. Methods: Participants included in the study were greater than 50 y.o., with or without T2DM, able to walk 50m, and able to stand for 5 min. FFAB was assessed using a 14-item questionnaire (FFABQ). Balance task performance was measured using a stabilometer, a wooden platform connected to a single axis to allow for bidirectional sway and a potentiometer to measure rotation of the board (±18° maximum). Participants underwent 3 days of balance training, each of which consisted of at least ten, 30 second trials. Participants were encouraged to keep the board in balance, defined as ±5° from the midline, and time in balance (TIB) was the primary outcome measure for each trial. Statistical analysis was done by independent sample T-tests through IBM SPSS software. Results: To date, data collection has been completed for 37 patients, 17 with T2DM and 20 without. T2DM participants had a significantly higher FFABQ score than controls (12.41 ± 14.22 vs 2.59 ± 4.22; p = 0.006). The T2DM group had significantly lower TIB than the control group on day 1 (6.16 ± 1.89 vs 8.91 ± 3.05; p=0.001) and day 3 (8.099 ± 2.91 vs 12.28 ± 4.69; p=0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in balance task improvement between T2DM and controls (34.1% ± 34.4 vs 32.5% ± 39.5; p = 0.447). Similarly, there was a significant negative correlation between FFABQ scores and day 1 stabilometer performance but no correlation between FFABQ and balance task improvement [(day 3-day 1)/day 1)]. Conclusions: These results suggest that T2DM participants exhibited greater FFAB and poorer balance performance; however, with training they are still able to improve at the same rate as control participants. Disclosure K.Habashi: None. T.Iida: None. B.Yee: None.

Automated Classification of the Phases Relevant to Work-Related Musculoskeletal Injury Risks in Residential Roof Shingle Installation Operations Using Machine Learning

Awkward kneeling in sloped shingle installation operations exposes roofers to knee musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risks. To address the varying levels of risk associated with different phases of shingle installation, this research investigated utilizing machine learning to automatically classify seven distinct phases in a typical shingle installation task. The classification process relied on analyzing knee kinematics data and roof slope information. Nine participants were recruited and performed simulated shingle installation tasks while kneeling on a sloped wooden platform. The knee kinematics data were collected using an optical motion capture system. Three supervised machine learning classification methods (i.e., k-nearest neighbors (KNNs), decision tree (DT), and random forest (RF)) were selected for evaluation. The KNN classifier provided the best performance for overall accuracy. The results substantiated the feasibility of applying machine learning in classifying shingle installation phases from workers’ knee joint rotation and roof slope angles, which may help facilitate method and tool development for automated knee MSD risk surveillance and assessment among roofers.

Wooden Tongue Depressor Multiplex Saliva Biosensor Fabricated via Diode Laser Engraving

Since wood is a renewable, biodegradable naturally occurring material, the development of conductive patterns on wood substrates is a new and innovative chapter in sustainable electronics and sensors. Herein, we describe the first wooden (bio)sensing device fabricated via diode laser-induced graphitization. For this purpose, a wooden tongue depressor (WTD) is laser-treated and converted to an electrochemical multiplex biosensing device for oral fluid analysis. A low-cost laser engraver, equipped with a low-power (0.5 W) diode laser, programmably irradiates the surface of the WTD, forming two mini electrochemical cells (e-cells). The two e-cells consist of four graphite electrodes: two working electrodes, a common counter, and a common reference electrode. The two e-cells are spatially separated via programmable pen-plotting, using a commercial hydrophobic marker pen. Proof-of-principle for biosensing is demonstrated for the simultaneous determination of glucose and nitrite in artificial saliva. This wooden electrochemical biodevice is an easy-to-fabricate disposable point-of-care chip with a wide scope of applicability to other bioassays, while it paves the way for the low-cost and straightforward production of wooden electrochemical platforms.

Socio-economic importance and rearing system of goat in south-western part of Bangladesh

The experiment was carried out in the south-west region of Bangladesh to understand the general goat husbandry practices and the socioeconomic significance of goat farmers. Through a face-to-face interview with these rural farmers, information was collected from a total of 100 goat farmers at random in five Upazila in the Kustia district. The majority of the farmers were illiterate and middle-class, and their main source of income was agriculture. In this region, 14% of farmers involved in goat rearing mostly raised Black Bengal goats (84%) and crossbred goats (9%). Both buck and doe were reared by 67% of the farmers. Most of the farmers (92%) practiced a semi-intensive rearing system. Among the farmers, 88% did not use bamboo or wooden platform inside houses. The farmers fed their goats green grass, green grass with straw and green grass with concentrates at 70%, 11%, and 19%, respectively. Only Napier Pakchong (43%) and German (22%) fodders were cultivated whereas 92% of farmers practiced no methods. On rainy days, the goats were nourished mostly on tree leaves and 93% of farmers did not practice their goats a winter bath. Most of the goats in the study areas were affected by pneumonia (59%) and PPR (24%) with pneumonia having a high mortality rate (28%). A good portion (87.67%) of farmers practiced vaccination against PPR. The burial method for disposal of carcasses was followed by 96% of farmers. Most of the farmers (92%) gave the anthelmintic drug to deworm their goats. These results suggested that proper training is essential for better rearing and management of goats. Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science, 51 (4): 138-144

A Unique Form of Ritualism of the Early Medieval Population of Sambia

Three decades ago, the author of these paper excavated a number of burials at the Dollkeim/Kovrovo-1 soil burial ground (Zelenogradsky district, Kaliningrad region). At the beginning of the summer of 1981, under an agreement with the Kaliningradmelioratsia Association, the Baltic Expedition of the Institute of Archeology of the USSR Academy of Sciences carried out excavations at the burial ground, part of which fell under the laying of reclamation pipes. After the completion of the excavation work, the author of these lines described a variant of the rituals of the Prussians of the early Middle Ages, unknown until then. It was presented as an inhumation on a wooden platform, named option “a” and was interpreted as a possible transition from cremation to inhumation burial. This variant “a” was presented only at five complexes of the Dollkeim/Kovrovo-1 burial ground. Since then, new data have been received on the funeral rituals of the population of Sambia in the post-Viking era, which allows us to return to the problem of the special form of burials at the Dollkeim/Kovrovo-1 burial ground. All the burials found on eastern outskirts of the Kovrovo settlement were created practically according to a single standard. The deceased tribesman was placed by his relatives on a platform made of wood and resting on stakes. Funerary food was laid on the platform in circular vessels, the fragments of which were subsequently subjected to secondary firing. After the installation of the platform was completed, it was burned. Concerning the situation with burial K2, after the combustion had been completed, its remains were raked to the side and the place of burning could be used repeatedly. As analogies from Western Lithuania show, excavations in 1981 at the Dollkeim/Kovrovo-1 burial ground unearthed a form of burial ritual that was Curonian in origin and survived in Sambia until the pre-Orden time. Further study of this rare form of ritualism will show the connections between the Western Baltic tribes on the threshold of order aggression.

ABSOLUTE CHRONOLOGY AT THE WATERLOGGED SITE OF LA DRAGA (LAKE BANYOLES, NE IBERIA): BAYESIAN CHRONOLOGICAL MODELS INTEGRATING TREE-RING MEASUREMENT, RADIOCARBON DATES AND MICRO-STRATIGRAPHICAL DATA

ABSTRACTSixty-two 14C dates are analyzed in combination with a recently established local floating tree-ring sequence for the Early Neolithic site of La Draga (Banyoles, northeast Iberian Peninsula). Archaeological data, radiometric and dendrochronological dates, as well as sedimentary and micro-stratigraphical information are used to build a Bayesian chronological model, using the ChronoModel 2.0 and OxCal 4.4 computer programs, and IntCal 2020 calibration curve. The dendrochronological sequence is analyzed, and partially fixed to the calendrical scale using a wiggle-matching approach. Depositional events and the general stratigraphic sequence are expressed in expanded Harris Matrix diagrams and ordered in a temporal sequence using Allen Algebra. Post-depositional processes affecting the stratigraphic sequence are related both to the phreatic water level and the contemporaneous lakeshore. The most probable chronological model suggests two main Neolithic occupations, that can be divided into no less than three different “phases,” including the construction, use and repair of the foundational wooden platforms, as well as evidence for later constructions after the reorganization of the ground surface using travertine slabs. The chronological model is discussed considering both the modern debate on the Climatic oscillations during the period 8000–4800 cal BC, and the origins of the Early Neolithic in the western Mediterranean region.

Radial growth response of Pinus sylvestris L. and Fagus sylvatica L. to technological solutions applied in rope climbing parks

Vitality is a genetic preservation factor that keeps a tree in the right condition. Changes in tree vitality are a measure of the impact exerted on trees by environmental factors, such as injuries to trunks and branches, and are among the basic parameters of the state of their preservation. The dynamics of changes in the width of annual increments of trees is one of several parameters characterizing the level of their vitality. The aim of the study is to determine changes in radial increment and linking them to the level of the vitality of Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) and European beeches (Fagus sylvatica L.), on which the standard (old system) and specially designed (new system) systems of fastening of wooden platforms were installed as part of adventure park infrastructure. In the old system, the platforms were installed on square wooden beams placed in milled tree trunks, while in the new system on semi-circular metal brackets matching the curvature of the trunks. The present research is aimed to determine the dynamics of incremental trends in trees with different platform systems in relation to the reference group, and to determine the impact of the tested support systems on trees with different levels of vitality. Most of the studied trees were in the optimum stage of increment. The initial tree vitality level recorded at the beginning of the experiment was clearly better for the beech stands. In the case of Scots pine, the average vitality was close to stable. Pines that were initially in better condition responded much worse to the installation of old system platforms compared to those with the specially new platform system. A similar trend was also visible in the case of beeches, but the differences were not that clear and the annual increments of the trees with platforms installed were slightly higher compared to the reference trees. The trees that were initially in worse condition, both pines and beeches on which the old system of platforms had been installed, responded by increasing the width of annual increments during the measurement period. The described response of trees most probably does not result from the lower harmfulness of the old support system, but from the defensive responses of trees subjected to stronger stress.

Artificial nesting platforms support population recovery of the Dalmatian pelican Pelecanus crispus along the Danube River in Bulgaria

The Dalmatian pelican Pelecanus crispus is a Near Threatened species of waterbird with populations in the wetlands of the Lower Danube River. Breeding populations declined due to habitat loss and wetland drainage and conservation efforts have focused on bringing breeding Dalmatian pelicans back to their former wetland sites in Bulgaria. Since 2008, conservation efforts have focused on building artificial nesting platforms at marshes along the Lower Danube River. These efforts resulted in considerable growth of the population in the country. Between 2011 and 2021, four wooden platforms were installed at the Belene Island wetland complex (Pechina and Martvo Marshes) and the Kalimok wetland complex. All four platforms were used successfully by pelicans, resulting in the formation of two new breeding colonies and a total of 91 pairs in 2021. The majority, 88 pairs, were recorded at the Belene Island marshes, with the remainder at the Kalimok colony. The average annual breeding success was 1.17 young per pair at Peschina Marsh (occupied from 2016-2021), 0.90 at Martvo Marsh (2020-2021), and 1.33 at Kalimok (2021). The average across all three colonies was 1.14 young per pair. By 2021, the breeding population of Dalmatian pelicans in Bulgaria had grown to 131-150 breeding pairs at three locations.

Models of Neolithisation of Northeastern Iberian Peninsula: New Evidence of Human Occupations During the Sixth Millennium cal BC

Abstract The goal of this article is to discuss the significance of the archaeological evidence from the sites of La Draga (Banyoles, Spain) and Coves del Fem (Ulldemolins, Spain), in the context of the neolithisation of Northeastern Iberia. The 14C dates have been analysed using Bayesian statistics. The stratigraphy of Coves del Fem covers the transition between the last hunter–gatherers of the region and the first farmers. The chronological sequence covers approximately 1,300 years, from 6065–5990 cal BC to 4700–4550 cal BC. The site of La Draga was occupied by the first farmers circa 5300–5230 cal BC when a wooden platform was constructed and first used. Subsequent repairs of the wooden piles have been dated as well. Another use of the wooden platform is documented around 5200–5085 cal BC, although until now new construction evidence has not been documented. La Draga site was reoccupied later, when several travertine structures dated in two moments between the years 5100–4900 cal BC and 4950–4700 cal BC were constructed and used. The radiocarbon dates of Coves del Fem and La Draga support the existence of two different models of neolithisation in Northeastern Iberia. In the southern part of the territory, Coves del Fem suggests that the Holocene hunter–gatherer populations remained in the area until the arrival of the first farmers, in a model similar to the one observed at the Ebro basin. On the contrary, the site of La Draga supports the hypothesis of the first farmers colonising a previously unoccupied territory.

Great apes (Pan troglodytes, Pan paniscus, Pongo abelii) exploit better the information of failure than capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) when selecting tools to solve the same foraging problem.

In a previous study, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and capuchin monkeys faced a task that required the use of a rigid stick-like tool to displace an out-of-reach food reward, which was located outside the cage either hanging on a string (e.g., apes) or on a table (e.g., capuchins). Three unfamiliar stick-like tools were placed on a wooden platform for the subjects to choose. Testing consisted of two consecutive trials, each with the same set of tools. Previous to the test subjects learned about the rigidity of the tool either by handling the tools (manipulation), or by observing an experimenter bending and unbending them in sequence (observation); or did not receive any information since the three tools were presented lying on the platform (visual static). In the current study, we investigated whether failing to select the right type of tool in the first trial affected subjects' choices in the second trial. Results showed that when information about the tool rigidity was obtained before selection, great apes and capuchin monkeys changed options in their second choices. However, in the visual static condition, where no information about the rigidity of the tools had been provided before their selection, only great apes discarded wrong tool exemplars in their second trials benefitting from their own mistakes. In contrast, capuchin monkeys did not. We argue that lower attentional focus and lack of stimuli distinctiveness might account for capuchins monkeys' failure to benefit from their own experience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

A motion‐detection based camera trap for small nocturnal mammals with low latency and high signal‐to‐noise ratio

Abstract Camera traps are useful for monitoring wildlife populations, but traps may not always trigger when targeting small, nocturnal species. Motion‐detection techniques have advantages over time‐lapse and heat‐triggered traps, but need to be deployed to maximize signal‐to‐noise ratio. As part of a study of flying squirrels (Glaucomys) in urban environments we developed motion‐detecting camera traps using a raspberry pi microcomputer and camera and a 940 nm IR illuminator on a tree‐mounted wooden platform. The system was built from commercially available parts and was comparable in cost to a consumer camera trap, although this cost did not include a waterproof housing. We compared the performance of our system to commercial trailcams. Four pi cameras successfully documented visits by Glaucomys and other animals to bait placed on the platform over three nights at four wooded sites: suburban and rural backyards, a private outdoors club and a small urban nature reserve (16 camera X site combinations, 48 trap nights). The traps showed low latency, with an average of <1 night until detection of Glaucomys at each site. Data collected had a high signal‐to‐noise ratio; of 2,182 capture events 55% documented Glaucomys, 40% documented non‐target mammals, 1% were caused by large insects and the remaining 4% were unknown. Commercial camera traps placed at the sites failed to capture many of these events. The low cost and high signal‐to‐noise ratio of this system may make it easy to adapt for other small animal applications. The main modification required to deploy this system in new situations will be in locating or providing a fixed or static background against which animals can be observed and in using masking techniques within motion‐detection software.

Possible Causes of Health Disorders in Stored Yam at Farm Gate

This study investigated and ascertained causes of health disorders in stored yam at farm gate in major yam producing communities in the Nanumba North District of Ghana. A mixed method research design was adopted for data collection through the application of Participatory Research Appraisal tools and techniques including individual interviews using questionnaires. Random sampling technique was used to select five communities and hundred respondents. Data was analyzed via descriptive statistics which generated summaries, Tables, histograms, and pie-charts using SAS software. Ages of respondents were in the range of 11 to over 60 years with illiterate majority. They were inadequate in their knowledge of agronomic, harvest, and postharvest practices and techniques including curing, chemical or botanical treatments for the yam tuber prior to storage. Fresh yam produce was kept in shallow dug trenches where temporal storage was the target but stored their dry yam produce intended for long periods in barns (most preferred) and on wooden platforms which were more sustainable with a little preponderance of the former. Causes of yam health disorders and associated problems in store were insect pests, rodents, weed pests, diseases (tuber rot), yam beetles, snakes, scorpions, and the inability of some storage structures to keep produce for a long time. Research, government, and other stakeholder institutions should partner up and make improved and certified yam sets accessible and affordable, and intensify agriculture extension services’ interventions that empower farmers the knowledge on agronomic, harvest, and postharvest practices and techniques.

New evidence from Bouldnor Cliff for technological innovation in the Mesolithic, population dispersal and use of drowned landscapes

Investigation of underwater prehistoric sites during the twenty-first century has been gathering momentum. This has been a positive development for the discipline that has been strengthened by research into human occupation of the drowned lands around the British coastline, particularly the submerged forests of the Solent seaway on the south coast of England as well as the North Sea. Over the last two decades underwater investigations at the Mesolithic site of Bouldnor Cliff, off the isle of Wight has revealed advanced wood working technological capabilities, the presence of sedimentary DNA from einkorn and outstanding levels of organic preservation including string, worked timbers, and most recently, a wooden platform. The timber assemblage represents the most extensive collection of Mesolithic worked wood in the country including previously unknown methods of timber working and wooden artefacts. The material evidence indicates links across Europe, while the wooden structures suggest some degree of sedentism. The site was occupied just prior to the severance of Great Britain from continental Europe, therefore, similar sites could remain in comparable landscapes before they were drowned by the emergent North Sea. This paper presents new evidence from Bouldnor Cliff to support previous interpretations, demonstrates how shallow underwater sites near the modern coastline can reveal new information about patterns of land use, population contacts and dispersal patterns over wide areas. It highlights their significance as a complement to large scale mapping of more deeply submerged landscapes and as a model for the discovery of archaeological sites in deeper water, and emphasises the need for more intensive investigation given the constant threat of erosion and destruction of such evidence.