A possible role of vitamin D receptors in regulating vitamin D activation in the kidney.

The vitamin D endocrine system is regulated reciprocally by renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1 alpha- and 24-hydroxylases. Previously, we reported that renal proximal convoluted tubules, the major site of 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 production, have vitamin D receptors. In the presence of vitamin D receptors, renal proximal convoluted tubules cannot maintain the state of enhanced production of 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. To clarify this discrepancy, we proposed a working hypothesis for the reciprocal control of renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1 alpha- and 24-hydroxylase activities. In rat models of enhanced renal production of 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, expression of vitamin D receptors and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 24-hydroxylase mRNAs was strikingly suppressed in renal proximal convoluted tubules but not in the cortical collecting ducts. In vitamin D-deficient rats with up-regulated renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1 alpha-hydroxylase activity, expression of vitamin D receptor mRNA in renal proximal convoluted tubules was also down-regulated, indicating that the down-regulation of vitamin D receptor mRNA is not the result of the enhanced production of 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. In Japanese quail models with up-regulated renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1 alpha-hydroxylase activity by sex steroids, expression of vitamin D receptor mRNA was also down-regulated in the kidney but not in the duodenum. These results suggest that the down-regulation of vitamin D receptors plays a critical role in production of 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in renal proximal convoluted tubules.

Excitations in Bose-Einstein condensates: collective modes, quantum turbulence and matter wave statistics

In this thesis, we present the generation and studies of a 87Rb Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) perturbed by an oscillatory excitation. The atoms are trapped in a harmonic magnetic trap where, after an evaporative cooling process, we produce the BEC. In order to study the effect caused by oscillatory excitations, a quadrupole magnetic field time oscillatory is superimposed to the trapping potential. Through this perturbation, collective modes were observed. The dipole mode is excited even for low excitation amplitudes. However, a minimum excitation energy is needed to excite the condensate quadrupole mode. Observing the excited cloud in TOF expansion, we note that for excitation amplitude in which the quadrupole mode is excited, the cloud expands without invert its aspect ratio. By looking these clouds, after long time-of-flight, it was possible to see vortices and, sometimes, a turbulent state in the condensed cloud. We calculated the momentum distribution of the perturbed BECs and a power law behavior, like the law to Kolmogorov turbulence, was observed. Furthermore, we show that using the method that we have developed to calculate the momentum distribution, the distribution curve (including the power law exponent) exhibits a dependence on the quadrupole mode oscillation of the cloud. The randomness distribution of peaks and depletions in density distribution image of an expanded turbulent BEC, remind us to the intensity profile of a speckle light beam. The analogy between matter-wave speckle and light speckle is justified by showing the similarities in the spatial propagation (or time expansion) of the waves. In addition, the second order correlation function is evaluated and the same dependence with distance was observed for the both waves. This creates the possibility to understand the properties of quantum matter in a disordered state. The propagation of a three-dimensional speckle field (as the matter-wave speckle described here) creates an opportunity to investigate the speckle phenomenon existing in dimensions higher than 2D (the case of light speckle).

Hibridación entre la codorniz común (Coturnix coturnix) y la codorniz de granja: estado de un problema de conservación

La hibridación entre especies es un fenómeno ampliamente extendido que puede tener consecuencias en la conservación de la biodiversidad. En el presente artículo se hace una revisión del problema de conservación derivado de la suelta de codornices de granja en poblaciones silvestres de codorniz común (Coturnix coturnix). Estas codornices de granja han resultado ser híbridos de codorniz común y codorniz japonesa (Coturnix japonica). Si no existen mecanismos de aislamiento reproductor, estas sueltas favorecerían la introgresión de genes de codorniz japonesa en las poblaciones de codorniz común; ello conllevaría que se produjera un “enjambre de híbridos” y la sedentarización de las poblaciones de codorniz, lo que comportaría muy probablemente su disminución en Europa. Esta amenaza es real, al haberse demostrado que no hay mecanismos de aislamiento reproductor, ni pre-cigóticos, ni post-cigóticos, ni ecológicos. Sin embargo, datos empíricos sugieren que a pesar de ello no se produce el temido “enjambre de híbridos”, sugiriéndose una mortalidad diferencial entre las dos especies como una posible explicación. Finalmente, se sugieren algunas medidas de gestión derivadas de la situación actual, entre las que destacaría un control genético que certifique el origen de los individuos criados en granja y la prohibición de efectuar sueltas de codornices japonesas o híbridos.

1914 University of Michigan Football Team

Artificial incubation of some upland game birds' eggs,

"References": p. 42. "Bibliography of books and bulletins on the propagation of pheasants, grouse and quail": p. 43-44.

Effects of artificial foods on the blood chemistry of the Australian magpie

Bird feeding on residential property is a popular activity throughout Western countries. Advocates insist the practice is beneficial, while opponents maintain that it can result in a wide range of negative outcomes including malnutrition. The biological effects of 'backyard feeding' were studied in Australian magpies Gymnorhina tibicen during the non-breeding season in 1999 in the Greater Brisbane and the Lockyer Valley regions, south-east Queensland, Australia. Six magpie populations were selected and 70 birds were individually tagged for identification. The birds were provided with processed foods, 20-40 g per bird daily. To monitor the effects of the food, blood chemistry and body mass (BM) were used as indices. Significant effects were observed in BM and plasma cholesterol (PC), showing strong sensitivity to food provisioning. Significant effects on PC and uric acid were found only when birds were fed dog sausage. Results suggest that blood PC levels in magpies are readily influenced by, probably, the lipids present in food, and that the type of food can affect blood PC levels. These effects may occur widely among fed magpies if the influence that we demonstrated at plasma level can be generalized. Following the free-ranging study, six magpies were captured and subjected to a 6-day captive experiment to determine whether the selected foods had the potential to alter the birds' blood chemistry. It was found that all of the foods, when provided ad libitum, influence at least two of the three blood parameters (PC and non-esterified fatty acids). Due to its popularity, wildlife feeding will continue. To make wildlife-feeding activities truly sustainable, there is a need for further studies. This study clearly demonstrated that the physiology of wild magpies can be affected by 'backyard feeding'.

Prenatal augmented auditory stimulation and visual system development: Effects of timing on intersensory organization

This study investigated the effects of augmented prenatal auditory stimulation on postnatal visual responsivity and neural organization in bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus). I delivered conspecific embryonic vocalizations before, during, or after the development of a multisensory, midbrain audiovisual area, the optic tectum. Postnatal simultaneous choice tests revealed that hatchlings receiving augmented auditory stimulation during optic tectum development as embryos failed to show species-typical visual preferences for a conspecific maternal hen 72 hours after hatching. Auditory simultaneous choice tests showed no hatchlings had deficits in auditory function in any of the groups, indicating deficits were specific to visual function. ZENK protein expression confirmed differences in the amount of neural plasticity in multiple neuroanatomical regions of birds receiving stimulation during optic tecturn development, compared to unmanipulated birds. The results of these experiments support the notion that the timing of augmented prenatal auditory stimulation relative to optic tectum development can impact postnatal perceptual organization in an enduring way.^

The role of temporal synchrony in the facilitation of perceptual learning during prenatal development

This study explored the critical features of temporal synchrony for the facilitation of prenatal perceptual learning with respect to unimodal stimulation using an animal model, the bobwhite quail. The following related hypotheses were examined: (1) the availability of temporal synchrony is a critical feature to facilitate prenatal perceptual learning, (2) a single temporally synchronous note is sufficient to facilitate prenatal perceptual learning, with respect to unimodal stimulation, and (3) in situations where embryos are exposed to a single temporally synchronous note, facilitated perceptual learning, with respect to unimodal stimulation, will be optimal when the temporally synchronous note occurs at the onset of the stimulation bout. To assess these hypotheses, two experiments were conducted in which quail embryos were exposed to various audio-visual configurations of a bobwhite maternal call and tested at 24 hr after hatching for evidence of facilitated prenatal perceptual learning with respect to unimodal stimulation. Experiment 1 explored if intermodal equivalence was sufficient to facilitate prenatal perceptual learning with respect to unimodal stimulation. A Bimodal Sequential Temporal Equivalence (BSTE) condition was created that provided embryos with sequential auditory and visual stimulation in which the same amodal properties (rate, duration, rhythm) were made available across modalities. Experiment 2 assessed: (a) whether a limited number of temporally synchronous notes are sufficient for facilitated prenatal perceptual learning with respect to unimodal stimulation, and (b) whether there is a relationship between timing of occurrence of a temporally synchronous note and the facilitation of prenatal perceptual learning. Results revealed that prenatal exposure to BSTE was not sufficient to facilitate perceptual learning. In contrast, a maternal call that contained a single temporally synchronous note was sufficient to facilitate embryos’ prenatal perceptual learning with respect to unimodal stimulation. Furthermore, the most salient prenatal condition was that which contained the synchronous note at the onset of the call burst. Embryos’ prenatal perceptual learning of the call was four times faster in this condition than when exposed to a unimodal call. Taken together, bobwhite quail embryos’ remarkable sensitivity to temporal synchrony suggests that this amodal property plays a key role in attention and learning during prenatal development.

Tests of the Intersensory Redundancy Hypothesis across early postnatal development

The Intersensory Redundancy Hypothesis (IRH; Bahrick & Lickliter, 2000, 2002, 2012) predicts that early in development information presented to a single sense modality will selectively recruit attention to modality-specific properties of stimulation and facilitate learning of those properties at the expense of amodal properties (unimodal facilitation). Vaillant (2010) demonstrated that bobwhite quail chicks prenatally exposed to a maternal call alone (unimodal stimulation) are able to detect a pitch change, a modality-specific property, in subsequent postnatal testing between the familiarized call and the same call with altered pitch. In contrast, chicks prenatally exposed to a maternal call paired with a temporally synchronous light (redundant audiovisual stimulation) were unable to detect a pitch change. According to the IRH (Bahrick & Lickliter, 2012), as development proceeds and the individual's perceptual abilities increase, the individual should detect modality-specific properties in both nonredundant, unimodal and redundant, bimodal conditions. However, when the perceiver is presented with a difficult task, relative to their level of expertise, unimodal facilitation should become evident. The first experiment of the present study exposed bobwhite quail chicks 24 hr after hatching to unimodal auditory, nonredundant audiovisual, or redundant audiovisual presentations of a maternal call for 10min/hr for 24 hours. All chicks were subsequently tested 24 hr after the completion of the stimulation (72 hr following hatching) between the familiarized maternal call and the same call with altered pitch. Chicks from all experimental groups (unimodal, nonredundant audiovisual, and redundant audiovisual exposure) significantly preferred the familiarized call over the pitch-modified call. The second experiment exposed chicks to the same exposure conditions, but created a more difficult task by narrowing the pitch range between the two maternal calls with which they were tested. Chicks in the unimodal and nonredundant audiovisual conditions demonstrated detection of the pitch change, whereas the redundant audiovisual exposure group did not show detection of the pitch change, providing evidence of unimodal facilitation. These results are consistent with predictions of the IRH and provide further support for the effects of unimodal facilitation and the role of task difficulty across early development.

The Role of Temporal Synchrony in the Facilitation of Perceptual Learning during Prenatal Development

This study explored the critical features of temporal synchrony for the facilitation of prenatal perceptual learning with respect to unimodal stimulation using an animal model, the bobwhite quail. The following related hypotheses were examined: (1) the availability of temporal synchrony is a critical feature to facilitate prenatal perceptual learning, (2) a single temporally synchronous note is sufficient to facilitate prenatal perceptual learning, with respect to unimodal stimulation, and (3) in situations where embryos are exposed to a single temporally synchronous note, facilitated perceptual learning, with respect to unimodal stimulation, will be optimal when the temporally synchronous note occurs at the onset of the stimulation bout. To assess these hypotheses, two experiments were conducted in which quail embryos were exposed to various audio-visual configurations of a bobwhite maternal call and tested at 24 hr after hatching for evidence of facilitated prenatal perceptual learning with respect to unimodal stimulation. Experiment 1 explored if intermodal equivalence was sufficient to facilitate prenatal perceptual learning with respect to unimodal stimulation. A Bimodal Sequential Temporal Equivalence (BSTE) condition was created that provided embryos with sequential auditory and visual stimulation in which the same amodal properties (rate, duration, rhythm) were made available across modalities. Experiment 2 assessed: (a) whether a limited number of temporally synchronous notes are sufficient for facilitated prenatal perceptual learning with respect to unimodal stimulation, and (b) whether there is a relationship between timing of occurrence of a temporally synchronous note and the facilitation of prenatal perceptual learning. Results revealed that prenatal exposure to BSTE was not sufficient to facilitate perceptual learning. In contrast, a maternal call that contained a single temporally synchronous note was sufficient to facilitate embryos’ prenatal perceptual learning with respect to unimodal stimulation. Furthermore, the most salient prenatal condition was that which contained the synchronous note at the onset of the call burst. Embryos’ prenatal perceptual learning of the call was four times faster in this condition than when exposed to a unimodal call. Taken together, bobwhite quail embryos’ remarkable sensitivity to temporal synchrony suggests that this amodal property plays a key role in attention and learning during prenatal development.

Caldo de cana desidratado na ração de codornas de corte

In order to evaluate the effect of levels of dehydrated cane juice sugar (DCJS) (0.0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5%) in the diet of European quail (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) on performance on performance, carcass characteristics and economical at 22 days of age indices, 192 quails cutting, were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replicates of eight birds each There was no significant difference to the performance of quail in any of the periods. Quadratic effects of levels of DCJS on carcass weight (y = 173.71 + 4.2767x – 1.2644x², R² = 0.99), thigh-thigh more about (y = 36,055 + 1,1263x – 0,2256x², R² = 0.91) and abdominal fat (y = 3,3295 - + 0.8903x 0,19x2, R ² = 0,97) where the optimum levels were estimated 1,69; 2.50 and 2.34%, respectively. There was a linear effect descending of DCJS levels on weight breast with skin (y = 66.267 – 0.5653x, R² = 0.83) and without skin (y = 60.286 – 0.7193x, R² = 0.58). In economic analysis, one can observe higher profit to the producer with the use of conventional feed. However, between the levels of inclusion of sugar cane juice is observed that the level of 1.5% DCJS obtained the best results in economic analysis, obtaining only a difference of relative gross margin of 0.47% compared to conventional. It is recommended 1.69 and 2.50% DCJS for higher carcass, thigh + drumstick weight and lower percentage of abdominal fat quails, respectively.

Effects of Prenatal and Early Postnatal Exposure to Aversive Stimuli on Fearfulness and Exploratory Behavior in Bobwhite Qauil Neonates (Colinus virginianus)

Neophobia, the fear of novelty, is a behavioral trait found across a number of animal species, including humans. Neophobic individuals perceive novel environments and stimuli to have aversive properties, and exhibit fearful behaviors when presented with non-familiar situations. The present study examined how early life exposure to aversive novel stimuli could reduce neophobia in bobwhite quail chicks. Experiment 1 exposed chicks to a novel auditory tone previously shown to be aversive to naïve chicks (Suarez, 2012) for 24 hours immediately after hatching, then subsequently tested them in the presence of the tone within a novel maze task. Postnatally exposed chicks demonstrated decreased fearfulness compared to naïve chicks, and behaved more similarly to chicks tested in the presence of a known attractive auditory stimulus (a bobwhite maternal assembly call vocalization). Experiment 2 exposed chicks to the novel auditory tone for 24 hours prenatally, then subsequently tested them within a novel maze task. Prenatally exposed chicks showed decreased fearfulness to a similar degree as those postnatally exposed, revealing that both prenatal and postnatal exposure methods are capable of decreasing fear of auditory stimuli. Experiment 3 exposed chicks to a novel visual stimulus for 24 hours postnatally, then subsequently tested them within a novel emergence box / T-maze apparatus. Chicks exposed to the visual stimulus showed decreased fearfulness compared to naïve chicks, thereby demonstrating the utility of this method across sense modalities. Experiment 4 assessed whether early postnatal exposure to one novel stimulus could generalize and serve to decrease fear of novelty when chicks were tested in the presence of markedly different stimuli. By combining the methods of Experiments 1 and 3, this experiment revealed that chicks exposed to one type of stimulus (auditory or visual) demonstrated decreased fear when subsequently tested in the presence of the opposite type of novel stimulus. These results suggest that experience with novel stimuli can moderate the extent to which neophobia will develop during early development.

Efeito da suplementação com retinol palmitato em codornas (Coturnix coturnx japonica) nos níveis de retinol na gema dos ovos

Vitamin A deficiency is a serious public health problem in developing countries, and it causes death and blindness among children in the developing countries. The fortification of food could be an important source of vitamins to control deficiency. 60 Coturnix coturnix japonica quails were used in a randomized design with duration of seven weeks. The birds were assigned into five treatments with four repetitions. The objective was to evaluate the influence of the supplementation with different levels of retinyl palmitate (2,000 IU, 4,000 IU, 8,000IU and 16,000 IU) in quails under the levels of retinyl in egg yolks. The method used to dose retinyl in yolks of quail eggs was High Performance Liquid Chromatography and the enzymatic method to quantify the cholesterol concentration. The weight and production of eggs was significantly modified by the supplementation with retinyl in the birds. The results showed a gradual increase in the incorporation of retinyl in the egg yolk as a response to the supplementation, reaching values 384% higher than the control values. By the end of the supplementations a significant reduction in the concentrations of retinyl in the eggs yolk was observed. The most lasting supplementations were with 8,000 IU and 16,000 IU which lasted for three weeks. The cholesterol content in eggs was not significantly modified. The consumption of one egg enriched with 16000UI of retinol palmitate in the present study, by day, would probably reach 10 and 7,3% of the daily recommendations of this micronutrient for children of 1 to 3 years of age, and for 4 to 8 years, respectively. The nutritional value of eggs, related to the vitamin A, can be improved by supplementation of quails