Maternal immune activation in late gestation enhances locomotor response to acute but not chronic amphetamine treatment in male mice offspring: Role of the D1 receptor

Exposure to elevated levels of maternal cytokines can lead to functional abnormalities of the dopaminergic system in the adult offspring, including enhanced amphetamine (AMPH)-induced locomotion. Therefore, it seems reasonable to consider that offspring of challenged mothers would behave differently in models of addictive behavior, such as behavioral sensitization. Thus, we sought to evaluate the effects of prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the locomotor response to acute and chronic AMPH treatment in male mice offspring. For this purpose, LPS (Escherichia coli 0127:B8; 120 mu g/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to pregnant Swiss mice on gestational day 17. At adulthood, male offspring were studied under one of the following conditions: (1) locomotor response to acute AMPH treatment (2.5 or 5.0 mg/kg) in an open field test; (2) behavioral sensitization paradigm, which consists of a daily injection of AMPH (1.0 mg/kg) for 10 days and observation of locomotion in the open field on days 1, 5, 10 (development phase), 15 and 17 (expression phase). The LPS stimulated offspring showed enhancement of the locomotor-stimulant effect after an acute AMPH challenge in comparison to baseline and saline pre-treated mice. They also showed development of behavioral sensitization earlier than the saline pre-treated group, although no changes between saline and LPS pre-treated groups were observed on development or expression of locomotor behavioral sensitization to AMPH. Furthermore, there was up-regulation of D1 receptor protein level within striatum in the LPS-stimulated offspring which was strongly correlated with increased grooming behavior. Taken together, our results indicate that motor and dopaminergic alterations caused by maternal immune activation are restricted to the acute AMPH challenge, mostly due to up-regulation of the D1 receptor within the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal pathways, but no locomotor differences were observed for behavioral sensitization to AMPH. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Variations in maternal care alter corticosterone and 17beta-estradiol levels, estrous cycle and folliculogenesis and stimulate the expression of estrogen receptors alpha and beta in the ovaries of UCh rats

Background: Variations in maternal care are associated with neonatal stress, hormonal disturbances and reproductive injuries during adulthood. However, the effects of these variations on sex hormones and steroid receptors during ovary development remain undetermined. This study aimed to investigate whether variations in maternal care are able to influence the hormonal profile, follicular dynamics and expression of AR, ER-alpha and ER-beta in the ovaries of UCh rat offspring. Methods: Twenty-four adult UCh rats, aged 120 days, were randomly divided into two groups (UChA and UChB) and mated. Maternal care was assessed from birth (day 0) to the 10th postnatal day (PND). In adulthood, twenty adult female rats (UChA and UChB offspring; n = 10/group), aged 120 days, were euthanized by decapitation during the morning estrus. Results: UChA females (providing high maternal care) more frequently displayed the behaviors of carrying pups, as well as licking/grooming and arched back nursing cares. Also, mothers providing high care had elevated corticosterone levels. Additionally, offspring receiving low maternal care showed the highest estrous cycle duration, increased corticosterone and 17beta-estradiol levels, overexpression of receptors ER-alpha and ER-beta, increased numbers of primordial, antral and mature follicles and accentuated granulosa cell proliferation. Conclusions: Our study suggests that low maternal care alters corticosterone and 17beta-estradiol levels, disrupting the estrous cycle and folliculogenesis and differentially regulating the expression of ER-alpha and ER-beta in the ovaries of adult rats.

Men's Modesty, Religion, and the State: Spaces of Collision

This article examines religious practices in the United States, which govern modesty and other dress norms for men. I focus both on the spaces within which they most collide with regulatory regimes of the state and the legal implications of these norms, particularly for observant Muslim men. Undergirding the research are those ‘‘gender equality’’ claims made by many religious adherents, that men are required to maintain proper modesty norms just as are women. Also undergirding the research is the extensive anti-Islam bias in American culture today. The spaces within which men’s religiously proscribed dress and grooming norms are most at issue—indicated by First Amendment legal challenges to rights of religious practice—are primarily those state-controlled, total institutions Goffman describes, such as in the military and prisons. The implications of gendered modesty norms are important, as state control over religious expression in prisons, for example, is much more difficult to contest than in other spaces, although this depends entirely on who is doing the contesting and within which religious context. In American society today—and particularly within the context of growing Islamaphobia following the 9/11 attacks—the implications are greatest for those men practicing ‘‘prison Islam.’’

“What Happens When Pollinators Get Sick? Behavioral Impacts of Honeybee Viruses”

Like all organisms on the planet, honeybees (Apis mellifera) are susceptible to infection with a wide variety of viruses. These viruses may produce infections with no visible symptoms or may have devastating consequences on both the individual bee and the entire hive. Deformed Wing Virus, a member of the Iflavirus group of viruses, has an RNA genome and has had a particularly important impact on bee health. It can be spread between bees in a several ways – bees can infect each other during feeding or grooming activities, drones can pass the virus to the queen during mating and queens can lay infected eggs. The primary and most devastating way that these viruses are transmitted within and between hives involves a parasitic mite, an animal known ominously as Varroa destructor. The talk will discuss the effect that viruses have on the health and behavior of honeybees and will outline the collaborative research activities of Drs. Evans and Pizzorno over the last 7 years.

The Effects of Altered Prenatal Melatonin Signaling on Adult Behavior and Hippocampal Gene Expression of the Male Rat: A Circadioneuroendocrine-Axis Hypothesis of Psychopathology

Disturbances in melatonin - the neurohormone that signals environmental darkness as part of the circadian circuit of mammals - have been implicated in various psychopathologies in humans. At present, experimental evidence linking prenatal melatonin signaling to adult physiology, behavior, and gene expression is lacking. We hypothesized that administration of melatonin (5 mg/kg) or the melatonin receptor antagonist luzindole (5 mg/kg) to rats in utero would permanently alter the circadian circuit to produce differential growth, adult behavior, and hippocampal gene expressionin the male rat. Prenatal treatment was found to increase growth in melatonin-treated animals. In addition, subjects exposed to melatonin prenatally displayed increased rearing in the open field test and an increased right turn preference in the elevated plusmaze. Rats administered luzindole prenatally, however, displayed greater freezing and grooming behavior in the open field test and improved learning in the Morris water maze. Analysis of relative adult hippocampal gene expression with RT-PCR revealed increasedexpression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) with a trend toward increased expression of melatonin 1A (MEL1A) receptors in melatonin-exposed animals whereas overall prenatal treatment had a significant effect on microtubule-associated protein 2(MAP2) expression. Our data support the conclusion that the manipulation of maternal melatonin levels alters brain development and leads to physiological and behavioral abnormalities in adult offspring. We designate the term circadioneuroendocrine (CNE)axis and propose the CNE-axis hypothesis of psychopathology.

A Social Network Analysis Of Hamadryas Baboons

The study of animal sociality investigates the immediate and long-term consequences that a social structure has on its group members. Typically, social behavior is observed from interactions between two individuals at the dyadic level. However, a new framework for studying social behavior has emerged that allows the researcher to assess social complexity at multiple scales. Social Network Analysis has been recently applied in the field of ethology, and this novel tool enables an approach of focusing on social behavior in context of the global network rather than limited to dyadic interactions. This new technique was applied to a group of captive hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas hamadryas) in order to assess how overall network topology of the social group changes over time with the decline of an aging leader male. Observations on aggressive, grooming, and proximity spatial interactions were collected from three separate years in order to serve as `snapshots¿ of the current state of the group. Data on social behavior were collected from the group when the male was in prime health, when the male was at an old age, and after the male¿s death. A set of metrics was obtained from each time period for each type of social behavior and quantified a change in the patterns of interactions. The results suggest that baboon social behavior varies across context, and changes with the attributes of its individual members. Possible mechanisms for adapting to a changing social environment were also explored.

The contexts of scratching behavior and postconflict behavior in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)

Self-directed behavior (SDB), such as scratching, is a reliable indicator of emotional arousal in non-human primates. In contrast, affiliative behavior, such as social grooming, has been shown to have a calming effect in primates and reduce arousal. In order to test whether the expression of SDB was related to arousal, the scratching behavior of eight captive squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) was compared across four social contexts (huddling, proximity to others, solitary and post-conflict). In addition,rates of scratching were examined before and after affiliative behavior during the postconflict context. I tested for this effect by using the post-conflict/matched control(PC/MC) method in which post-conflict (PC) behavior of an animal is compared to thebehavior of the same animal in a baseline, nonaggressive situation or a matched control(MC). Context and associated scratching data were obtained from a total of 98 hours of focal sample data. Scratching was significantly lower while animals were huddling thanthe other two contexts. Scratching rates while solitary were significantly higher than those occurring while animals were in proximity. Scratching was also higher in PC than MC. Following conflict, animals were significantly more likely to make contact withthird parties not involved in aggression. Most of these (79%) were a third party approaching a combatant. Further, scratching rates decreased following post-conflict third party contacts and the decrease was not due to a general decrease in scratching thatmight have been occurring after the aggressive interaction. Huddling behavior appears to reduce arousal in squirrel monkeys and may act as a tension-reduction mechanism. The elevated scratching in the solitary context may suggest that squirrel monkeys may be engaged in activities while solitary, such as vigilant behavior that may increase arousal. The third party post conflict affiliative contacts observed were the first such interactions observed in squirrel monkeys. The fact that these third contacts reduced scratching ratesin the combatants indicates that 'consolation' may have been demonstrated in this species. The overall pattern of results suggested that scratching was reliable behavioral indicator of anxiety in squirrel monkeys. These results indicate that overt behavior can be used to assess emotional states in this and other species, acting as a mediator to understanding how emotions regulate social behavior.

Altered Behavior in Bats Affected by White-Nose Syndrome

WNS-affected bats did so over similar time frames as WNSunaffected bats. The behaviors of bats with WNS did not change as drastically as expected. Thereseems to be little to no effect on their ability to fly/forage until much later stages of the disease when they are likely near death. WNS-affected bats are grooming more which could be altering the way they use energy reserves during hibernation possibly leading tostarvation and eventually death. The decreased likelihood of arousals in response to external cues may be the result of spending more energy during previous and increasingly frequent arousals. While it is clear that WNS does result in changes in behavior whether these changes are directly in response to fungal skin infection or to some other component of the syndrome such as decreased energy availability or loss of homeostasis is unknown. bat behavior, white-nose syndrome, behavior, video surveillance, arousal patterns White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a disease of hibernating bats caused by the fungal pathogen Geomyces destructans. The fungus, which was first noted in 2006, invades bats wings and other exposed membranes, eventually resulting in death. Researchers have yet to understand many aspects of this disease, including basic etiology and epidemiology. There is also a lack of information on how fungal infection may change the behavior of healthy bats during hibernation or how changes in behavior may influence disease progression. Based upon the physiological changes that are known to occur in affected bats, and upon anecdotal observations of aberrant behavior in these bats, I hypothesized that WNS would significantly change the behavior of the little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus). My research examined the behavior of hibernating bats during arousals from torpor. I compared WNS-affected and unaffected bats, in the field and incaptivity, using motion-sensitive infrared cameras. Flight maneuverability and echolocation were also tested between WNS-affected and unaffected bats during arousalsfrom hibernation to detect changes in the bats' ability to perform basic locomotion or potentially catch insect prey. Lastly, hibernating bats were artificially disturbed and theirarousal patterns were monitored to examine changes in the response to external stimuli between WNS-affected and unaffected bats.Bats with WNS groomed for longer periods of time after arousing from torpor, both in the field and in captivity. They also engaged in longer periods of any sort of activity during these arousals. There were no changes in acoustical signaling during flight tests and changes in flight maneuverability were only found in bats were seen staging" near the entrance of the mine which is itself a unique behavior exhibited by affected bats. At this point these bats were likely near death and could barely fly at all. In response toexternal stimuli bats with WNS were less likely to arouse than unaffected bats. However when they did arouse WNS-affected bats did so over similar time frames as WNSunaffected bats. The behaviors of bats with WNS did not change as drastically as expected. Thereseems to be little to no effect on their ability to fly/forage until much later stages of the disease when they are likely near death. WNS-affected bats are grooming more which could be altering the way they use energy reserves during hibernation possibly leading tostarvation and eventually death. The decreased likelihood of arousals in response to external cues may be the result of spending more energy during previous and increasingly frequent arousals. While it is clear that WNS does result in changes in behavior whetherthese changes are directly in response to fungal skin infection or to some other component of the syndrome such as decreased energy availability or loss of homeostasis is unknown."

Performance of jet substructure techniques for large-ℝ jets in proton-proton collisions at sqrts = 7 TeV using the ATLAS detector

This paper presents the application of a variety of techniques to study jet substructure. The performance of various modified jet algorithms, or jet grooming techniques, for several jet types and event topologies is investigated for jets with transverse momentum larger than 300 GeV. Properties of jets subjected to the mass-drop filtering, trimming, and pruning algorithms are found to have reduced sensitivity to multiple proton-proton interactions, are more stable at high luminosity and improve the physics potential of searches for heavy boosted objects. Studies of the expected discrimination power of jet mass and jet substructure observables in searches for new physics are also presented. Event samples enriched in boosted W and Z bosons and top-quark pairs are used to study both the individual jet invariant mass scales and the efficacy of algorithms to tag boosted hadronic objects. The analyses presented use the full 2011 ATLAS dataset, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.7 +/- 0.1 /fb from proton-proton collisions produced by the Large Hadron Collider at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV.

Measurement of the cross-section of high transverse momentum vector bosons reconstructed as single jets and studies of jet substructure in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents a measurement of the cross-section for high transverse momentum W and Z bosons produced in pp collisions and decaying to allhadronic final states. The data used in the analysis were recorded by the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider at a centre-of-mass energy of s = 7 TeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb−1. The measurement is performed by reconstructing the boosted W or Z bosons in single jets. The reconstructed jet mass is used to identify the W and Z bosons, and a jet substructure method based on energy cluster information in the jet centre-of mass frame is used to suppress the large multi-jet background. The cross-section for events with a hadronically decaying W or Z boson, with transverse momentum pT > 320 GeV and pseudorapidity |η| < 1.9, is measured to be σ + = ± W Z 8.5 1.7 pb and is compared to next-to-leading-order calculations. The selected events are further used to study jet grooming techniques.

Non-invasive user monitoring in daily tasks for cognitive rehabilitation

El uso de técnicas para la monitorización del movimiento humano generalmente permite a los investigadores analizar la cinemática y especialmente las capacidades motoras en aquellas actividades de la vida cotidiana que persiguen un objetivo concreto como pueden ser la preparación de bebidas y comida, e incluso en tareas de aseo. Adicionalmente, la evaluación del movimiento y el comportamiento humanos en el campo de la rehabilitación cognitiva es esencial para profundizar en las dificultades que algunas personas encuentran en la ejecución de actividades diarias después de accidentes cerebro-vasculares. Estas dificultades están principalmente asociadas a la realización de pasos secuenciales y al reconocimiento del uso de herramientas y objetos. La interpretación de los datos sobre la actitud de este tipo de pacientes para reconocer y determinar el nivel de éxito en la ejecución de las acciones, y para ampliar el conocimiento en las enfermedades cerebrales, sus consecuencias y severidad, depende totalmente de los dispositivos usados para la captura de esos datos y de la calidad de los mismos. Más aún, existe una necesidad real de mejorar las técnicas actuales de rehabilitación cognitiva contribuyendo al diseño de sistemas automáticos para crear una especie de terapeuta virtual que asegure una vida más independiente de estos pacientes y reduzca la carga de trabajo de los terapeutas. Con este objetivo, el uso de sensores y dispositivos para obtener datos en tiempo real de la ejecución y estado de la tarea de rehabilitación es esencial para también contribuir al diseño y entrenamiento de futuros algoritmos que pudieran reconocer errores automáticamente para informar al paciente acerca de ellos mediante distintos tipos de pistas como pueden ser imágenes, mensajes auditivos o incluso videos. La tecnología y soluciones existentes en este campo no ofrecen una manera totalmente robusta y efectiva para obtener datos en tiempo real, por un lado, porque pueden influir en el movimiento del propio paciente en caso de las plataformas basadas en el uso de marcadores que necesitan sensores pegados en la piel; y por otro lado, debido a la complejidad o alto coste de implantación lo que hace difícil pensar en la idea de instalar un sistema en el hospital o incluso en la casa del paciente. Esta tesis presenta la investigación realizada en el campo de la monitorización del movimiento de pacientes para proporcionar un paso adelante en términos de detección, seguimiento y reconocimiento del comportamiento de manos, gestos y cara mediante una manera no invasiva la cual puede mejorar la técnicas actuales de rehabilitación cognitiva para la adquisición en tiempo real de datos sobre el comportamiento del paciente y la ejecución de la tarea. Para entender la importancia del marco de esta tesis, inicialmente se presenta un resumen de las principales enfermedades cognitivas y se introducen las consecuencias que tienen en la ejecución de tareas de la vida diaria. Más aún, se investiga sobre las metodologías actuales de rehabilitación cognitiva. Teniendo en cuenta que las manos son la principal parte del cuerpo para la ejecución de tareas manuales de la vida cotidiana, también se resumen las tecnologías existentes para la captura de movimiento de manos. Una de las principales contribuciones de esta tesis está relacionada con el diseño y evaluación de una solución no invasiva para detectar y seguir las manos durante la ejecución de tareas manuales de la vida cotidiana que a su vez involucran la manipulación de objetos. Esta solución la cual no necesita marcadores adicionales y está basada en una cámara de profundidad de bajo coste, es robusta, precisa y fácil de instalar. Otra contribución presentada se centra en el reconocimiento de gestos para detectar el agarre de objetos basado en un sensor infrarrojo de última generación, y también complementado con una cámara de profundidad. Esta nueva técnica, y también no invasiva, sincroniza ambos sensores para seguir objetos específicos además de reconocer eventos concretos relacionados con tareas de aseo. Más aún, se realiza una evaluación preliminar del reconocimiento de expresiones faciales para analizar si es adecuado para el reconocimiento del estado de ánimo durante la tarea. Por su parte, todos los componentes y algoritmos desarrollados son integrados en un prototipo simple para ser usado como plataforma de monitorización. Se realiza una evaluación técnica del funcionamiento de cada dispositivo para analizar si es adecuada para adquirir datos en tiempo real durante la ejecución de tareas cotidianas reales. Finalmente, se estudia la interacción con pacientes reales para obtener información del nivel de usabilidad del prototipo. Dicha información es esencial y útil para considerar una rehabilitación cognitiva basada en la idea de instalación del sistema en la propia casa del paciente al igual que en el hospital correspondiente. ABSTRACT The use of human motion monitoring techniques usually let researchers to analyse kinematics, especially in motor strategies for goal-oriented activities of daily living, such as the preparation of drinks and food, and even grooming tasks. Additionally, the evaluation of human movements and behaviour in the field of cognitive rehabilitation is essential to deep into the difficulties some people find in common activities after stroke. This difficulties are mainly associated with sequence actions and the recognition of tools usage. The interpretation of attitude data of this kind of patients in order to recognize and determine the level of success of the execution of actions, and to broaden the knowledge in brain diseases, consequences and severity, depends totally on the devices used for the capture of that data and the quality of it. Moreover, there is a real need of improving the current cognitive rehabilitation techniques by contributing to the design of automatic systems to create a kind of virtual therapist for the improvement of the independent life of these stroke patients and to reduce the workload of the occupational therapists currently in charge of them. For this purpose, the use of sensors and devices to obtain real time data of the execution and state of the rehabilitation task is essential to also contribute to the design and training of future smart algorithms which may recognise errors to automatically provide multimodal feedback through different types of cues such as still images, auditory messages or even videos. The technology and solutions currently adopted in the field don't offer a totally robust and effective way for obtaining real time data, on the one hand, because they may influence the patient's movement in case of marker-based platforms which need sensors attached to the skin; and on the other hand, because of the complexity or high cost of implementation, which make difficult the idea of installing a system at the hospital or even patient's home. This thesis presents the research done in the field of user monitoring to provide a step forward in terms of detection, tracking and recognition of hand movements, gestures and face via a non-invasive way which could improve current techniques for cognitive rehabilitation for real time data acquisition of patient's behaviour and execution of the task. In order to understand the importance of the scope of the thesis, initially, a summary of the main cognitive diseases that require for rehabilitation and an introduction of the consequences on the execution of daily tasks are presented. Moreover, research is done about the actual methodology to provide cognitive rehabilitation. Considering that the main body members involved in the completion of a handmade daily task are the hands, the current technologies for human hands movements capture are also highlighted. One of the main contributions of this thesis is related to the design and evaluation of a non-invasive approach to detect and track user's hands during the execution of handmade activities of daily living which involve the manipulation of objects. This approach does not need the inclusion of any additional markers. In addition, it is only based on a low-cost depth camera, it is robust, accurate and easy to install. Another contribution presented is focused on the hand gesture recognition for detecting object grasping based on a brand new infrared sensor, and also complemented with a depth camera. This new, and also non-invasive, solution which synchronizes both sensors to track specific tools as well as recognize specific events related to grooming is evaluated. Moreover, a preliminary assessment of the recognition of facial expressions is carried out to analyse if it is adequate for recognizing mood during the execution of task. Meanwhile, all the corresponding hardware and software developed are integrated in a simple prototype with the purpose of being used as a platform for monitoring the execution of the rehabilitation task. Technical evaluation of the performance of each device is carried out in order to analyze its suitability to acquire real time data during the execution of real daily tasks. Finally, a kind of healthcare evaluation is also presented to obtain feedback about the usability of the system proposed paying special attention to the interaction with real users and stroke patients. This feedback is quite useful to consider the idea of a home-based cognitive rehabilitation as well as a possible hospital installation of the prototype.

New systems of management to improve the health and welfare of rabbits in farm conditions = Nuevos sistemas de cría y manejo para mejorar la salud y bienestar de conejos de granja

El objetivo general de esta Tesis Doctoral fue evaluar nuevos sistemas de alojamiento y cría de conejos de granja, estudiando tanto parámetros comportamentales (experimento 1) como productivos y reproductivos (experimento 3). Además, se evaluaron diferentes técnicas de muestreo con el fin de optimizar el tiempo empleado para el estudio del comportamiento animal (experimento 2). En el experimento 1, se estudió el comportamiento de conejas alojadas en dos tipos de jaulas (TJ), convencionales vs. alternativas con una plataforma elevada, en distintos estados fisiológicos (EF), lactantes y gestantes. Se observó el comportamiento de 12 conejas reproductoras con grabaciones de una duración de 24 h continuas. Independientemente del EF y TJ, las conejas pasaron gran parte de su tiempo sobre el reposapatas (57,7 %, de media). Sin embargo, debido al uso de la plataforma (23,0% del tiempo, de media), las conejas lactantes permanecieron un 36,6 % menos de tiempo (P<0,001) sobre el reposapatas y las gestantes un 27,0% menos (P<0,001) sobre el enrejillado en jaulas alternativas que en convencionales. En las jaulas alternativas, las conejas podían adoptar la postura “levantada”, sin embargo ésta fue observada solamente en conejas gestantes una media de 4,6 veces al día. Las conejas bebieron con mas frecuencia en jaulas convencionales que en alternativas (24,6 vs 19,1 veces al día; P<0,05). Se observó una mayor duración y frecuencia del comportamiento “interactuando con compañeras” en conejas gestantes alojadas en jaulas convencionales (276 s/d y 4,6 veces/d; P<0,05). La frecuencia de “interactuando con gazapos” fue menor en jaulas alternativas que en convencionales (2,4 vs 8,6 veces al día; P<0,01). La hora del día afectó al comportamiento de las conejas, teniendo un comportamiento menos activo durante las horas centrales del día. Durante las horas de oscuridad, las conejas estuvieron más inquietas realizando comportamientos como ‘encabritarse’ o amamantar, coincidiendo éstos en el tiempo en el cual las conejas pasaron más tiempo en la plataforma. Las conejas utilizaron frecuentemente la plataforma, independientemente del estado fisiológico. En la fase de lactación, las conejas utilizaron la plataforma para huir de los intentos de mamar por parte de los gazapos cuando éstas no estaban receptivas. El uso de la plataforma puede dar lugar a problemas higiénicos debidos tanto por la acumulación de heces sobre ella como por la caída de heces y orina sobre los animales que están en la parte inferior. La ausencia de estereotipias por parte de las conejas tanto en jaulas alternativas como en convencionales no sugiere una falta de bienestar debida al sistema de alojamiento. En el experimento 2, se compararon distintos métodos de observación simplificada con respecto un método de referencia usando grabaciones continuas de 24 h para la evaluación del comportamiento de conejas en distintos estados fisiológicos (gestantes y lactantes) alojadas en dos tipos de jaulas (convencionales y alternativas). Se analizaron un total de 576 h de grabaciones continuas de 24 h en 12 conejas reproductoras al final del periodo de lactación y en las mismas conejas después del destete. Los comportamientos observados se clasificaron en tres categorías independientes (localización en la jaula, postura y comportamientos funcionales). Se utilizaron grabaciones continuas de 24 h como método de referencia para validar otros cuatro métodos de observación simplificados, utilizando grabaciones de distinta duración y frecuencia a lo largo del día. Métodos regulares: corto y largo con 2.4 y 8 h de observación respectivamente, y métodos irregulares: corto y largo con 6 y 8 h de observación, respectivamente. Como resultado, se observó que independientemente del sistema de alojamiento, el mejor método para reducir el tiempo de observación necesario para evaluar el comportamiento de conejas reproductoras depende del tipo de variable a estudiar y del estado fisiológico de las conejas. En gestantes, los métodos irregulares no fueron adecuados para estimar comportamientos de larga duración tales como tumbada, sentada, descansando y acicalándose. Sin embargo, en ambos estados fisiológicos, los métodos regulares fueron precisos para los comportamientos de los grupos localización y postura y para comportamientos funcionales de larga duración. Por otro lado, los coeficientes de variación de los comportamientos poco frecuentes realizados principalmente durante el periodo de oscuridad fueron muy altos, y el método irregular largo obtuvo los menores errores de estimación para éstos comportamientos. En el experimento 3, se estudió el efecto de un uso combinado de lactaciones largas (hasta 46 días) con jaulas alternativas sobre los parámetros productivos y reproductivos de 104 conejas y sus camadas durante cinco ciclos reproductivos. La mitad de las conejas fueron alojadas en jaulas polivalentes convencionales (39 cm x 100 cm x 30 cm) y la otra mitad en jaulas polivalentes alternativas (39 cm x 100 cm x 60 cm), con una plataforma elevada. Dentro de cada grupo de alojamiento, la mitad de las conejas se destetaron a 32 días y la otra mitad a 46 días tras el parto. Las lactaciones más largas afectaron negativamente al peso (P<0,001), contenido en grasa y energía (P<0,05) de las conejas al final del periodo de lactación, pero éste efecto disminuyó con el número de partos. La fertilidad, prolificidad y la mortalidad de las conejas no fue afectada por la duración de la lactación. El destete tardío dio lugar a un mayor tamaño y peso de la camada al final del periodo de crecimiento (8,9 y 11,3 %, respectivamente) y a un menor índice de conversión por jaula durante el todo el periodo experimental (13,5 %) con respecto al destete convencional (P<0,001). Éstos resultados fueron paralelos a la menor mortalidad global (12,6 vs 17,6 %; P<0,05) observada en gazapos con destete tardío. Las diferencias en los parámetros productivos con las distintas edades al destete sólo fueron observadas en los ciclos con peor estado sanitario (tercer y quinto ciclo), en los cuales el destete tardío redujo la mortalidad. El tipo de jaula no afectó al peso de la coneja, condición corporal, mortalidad, fertilidad ni tamaño de camada durante los cinco primeros ciclos reproductivos. Sin embargo, el peso de la camada y el índice de conversión a los 21 días de edad fueron 4,2% mayor (P<0,001) y 5,0% menor (P<0,005) en animales alojados en jaulas alternativas que en jaulas convencionales. A día 59 las jaulas alternativas dieron lugar a camadas más pesadas (P<0,01); sin embargo, éste efecto fue influenciado por la densidad alcanzada en cada ciclo, ya que cuando la densidad de los animales fue menor que 40kg/m2 (tercer y quinto ciclo), el efecto del tipo de jaula sobre el peso de la camada no fue significativo. De los resultados obtenidos se puede concluir que el uso combinado de lactaciones más largas y jaulas con mayor superficie disponible con una plataforma elevada podría ser una alternativa para mejorar el bienestar animal en determinadas situaciones productivas. ABSTRACT The general aim of this PhD Thesis was to evaluate new housing and husbandry systems of farmed rabbits, studying behavioral (experiment 1), productive and reproductive (experiment 3) parameters. Moreover, different sampling techniques were evaluated in order to optimize the assessment of rabbit behaviour (experiment 2). In experiment 1, the behaviour of rabbit does housed in two different types of cage (TC), conventional vs. alternative with an elevated platform, at different physiological stages (PS), lactation and gestation was to study. Behavioural observations were carried out on 12 commercial rabbit does using continuous 24 hour video recording. Independently of PS and TC, rabbit does spent most of their time on foot mats (57.7 %, as average). However, due to the use of platforms (23.0% of time, as average), lactating does spent 36.6% less time (P<0.001) on foot mats and gestating does spent 27.0% less (P<0.001) time on wire mesh in alternative cages than in conventional cages. Alternative cages allowed for standing posture but this behaviour was only observed in gestating does (4.6 times a day, as average). Frequency of drinking was higher in conventional than in alternative cages (24.6 vs. 19.1 times a day; P<0.05). Gestating does housed in conventional cages reached the highest duration and frequency of interacting with neighbours (276 s/d and 4.6 times/d; P<0.05). The frequency of interacting with kits was lower in alternative than in conventional cages (2.4 vs. 8.6 times a day; P<0.01). Does’ behaviour was influenced by hour of day, being less active at the midday hours. During dark hours rabbit does more frequently performed restless behaviour such as hyperactivity or nursing, matching the time at which rabbit does spent more time on the platform. The platform was frequently used by rabbit does, independent of their physiological state, and during late lactation phase, when mothers were not receptive to nursing, does housed in alternative cages used the platform as a mean to flee from kids trying to suckle. The use of the platform might lead to hygienic problems due to retained faeces on the platform and faeces and urine falling onto animals located in the lower part of the cage. Stereotypies were not observed in any housing system, therefore conventional cages do not suggest lack of animal welfare. In experiment 2, it was compared the results of different simplified sampling methods of behavioural data with respect to reference records of 24-h in order to assess rabbit does behaviours at different physiological stages (gestation and lactation) in animals housed in two types of cages (conventional and alternative). A total of 576 h of continuous video of 12 rabbit does at the end of lactation and on the same females after weaning were analysed. The behavioural observations were studied using three independent categories of classification (location in the cage, posture and functional behaviours). Continuous behavioural recordings of 24 h were considered as the reference method to validate another 4 sampling methods of data collection by aggregated video recordings of different frequency and duration (regular short and long methods with 2.4 and 8 h of observation respectively, and irregular short and long methods with 6 and 8 h of observation, respectively). The current results showed that, independently of housing system, the best method to reduce the total observation time required to assess rabbit does behaviour depends on the trait studied and physiological stage of does. In gestating does, irregular methods were not suitable to estimate behaviours of long duration such as lying, sitting, resting and grooming. However, in both physiological stages, regular methods were accurate for location behaviours, postures and functional behaviours of long duration. Instead, for the study of infrequent behaviours performed mainly during dark period, where coefficients of variation were high, the irregular long method led to the lowest mean estimation errors. In experiment 3, the effects of the combined use of long lactation periods (46 days) with alternative cages on the reproductive and growth performance of 104 rabbit does and their litters during five consecutive reproductive cycles were studied. Half of does were housed in conventional polyvalent cages (39 cm x 100 cm x 30 cm) and the other half in alternative polyvalent cages (39 cm x 100 cm x 60 cm), with a raised platform. Half of the rabbit does in each type of cages were weaned at 32 and the other half at 46 days after parturition. Longer lactations affected negatively to body weight (P<0.001), fat and energy content (P<0.05) of rabbit does at the end of the lactation period, but this effect decreased with the number of parturitions. Fertility, prolificacy and doe mortality were not affected by lactation length. Late weaning led to higher litter size (by 8.9 %) and litter weight (by 11.3 %) at the end of growing period and lower feed conversion ratio per cage during the overall experimental period (13.5 %) than standard weaning (P<0.001). These results were parallels to a lower mortality (12.6 vs 17.6 %; P<0.05) of young rabbit weaned later during the overall experimental period. Differences in performances at different weaning ages were only observed during cycles with worst health status (third and fifth cycles) in which late weaning decreased mortality. Type of cage did not affect doe body weight and body condition, mortality, fertility, prolificacy and litter size during the five firsts reproductive cycles. Nevertheless, at day 21 litter weight and feed conversion ratio were 4.2 % higher (P<0.001) and 5.0 % lower (P<0.005) in animals housed in alternative than in conventional cages. Alternative cages also led to heavier litters at 59 days (P<0.01); however, this effect was influenced by density reached in each cycle, as when the density of animals was lower than 40 kg/m2 (cycles three and five), the difference of litter weight between alternative and conventional cages was not significant. From the results obtained it can be concluded that the combined use of longer lactations and cages with higher available surface with a raised platform could be an alternative to improve animal welfare in some productive situations.

De la desintegración Espacial a la Conformación regional en la Sabana de Bogotá. Una Propuesta para el desarrollo de la Ciudad Región en el siglo XXI

El presente trabajo de investigación aborda el tema del desarrollo regional en torno a una gran metrópoli como Bogotá y la Sabana de Bogotá. El crecimiento, expansión y relación con los municipios vecinos. Su entorno territorial; es un tema de discusión que cada día adquiere más fuerza desde hace varias décadas. Bogotá y la Sabana de Bogotá, se consideran en la actualidad como un caso representativo del caótico modelo de expansión urbana y crecimiento demográfico, enfrentado al desarrollo urbano como paradigma de la desigualdad de la ciudad latinoamericana. Son muchos los procesos y conflictos de naturaleza Regional y metropolitana que atraviesa la capital colombiana. Sin embargo esta investigación abordada el tema desde la necesidad de gobernanza y coordinación para el desarrollo territorial consensuado y equilibrado de la Región. La sabana de Bogotá está conformada por ciudades dormitorio, ciudades industriales, turísticas, agropecuarias, etc., es atravesada por el Río Bogotá, y en su centro la gran metrópoli, Bogotá D.C. centro de trabajo muy importante a nivel nacional, su área de influencia más próxima llega hasta: Caqueza, Zipaquira, Facatativa, Soacha, Fusagasuga y Girardot. Principales polos de desarrollo en la sabana y el departamento. Cundinamarca está compuesto por 15 provincias y Bogotá. Conformando un sistema de redes urbanas con necesidades comunes y demanda servicios públicos, de transporte, aseo, movilidad, salud, educación, espacio público y calidad ambiental. La metodología de esta investigación consiste en el análisis de la región a partir de la articulación de planes de ordenamiento territorial en un área de estudio propuesta. Mediante entrevistas con profesionales, expertos, funcionarios y empleados públicos y teniendo en cuenta las posibilidades legales en Colombia para el desarrollo territorial regional, establecer la situación real en materia de desarrollo para el departamento de Cundinamarca, evidenciando las necesidades del territorio y su desarrollo de una forma más compleja, valorando las sinergias y necesidades sociales, ambientales y económicas propias del crecimiento urbano, para proponer una serie de directrices que estructuren un desarrollo regional equilibrado en Bogotá y Cundinamarca. El análisis de los modelos del caso contribuye a fortalecer iniciativas para el desarrollo Regional de la Sabana de Bogotá como territorio sostenible: ambiental, económico y socialmente. En un sistema de redes que interconecte a Bogotá, con Cundinamarca, Colombia y el resto del mundo. Cundinamarca como región debe fijar estrategias y articular políticas en función de un modelo de desarrollo urbano regional para el departamento y la Sabana de Bogotá. Directrices departamentales básicas y fundamentales para el desarrollo territorial equilibrado que promueva ciudades sostenibles, compactas y con Calidad de vida para todos sus habitantes. ABSTRACT: This research addresses the issue of regional development around a big metropolis like Bogotá and Sabana de Bogota. The growth, expansion and relations with neighboring municipalities. Your local environment; It is an issue that becomes stronger every day for decades. Bogotá and Sabana de Bogotá, are considered today as a representative case of the chaotic model of urban expansion and population growth, urban development faced as a paradigm of inequality in Latin American city. Many processes and conflicts of Regional and metropolitan nature that crosses the Colombian capital. However this research addressed the issue from the need for governance and coordination for consensual and balanced territorial development of the region. The savannah of Bogota consists of bedroom communities, industrial cities, tourism, agriculture, etc., is crossed by the Bogota River, and at its center the great metropolis, Bogota DC center very important work at the national level, the area closest influence reaches: Caqueza, Zipaquira, Facatativa, Soacha, Fusagasuga and Girardot. Main centers of development in the savannah and the department. Cundinamarca is composed of 15 provinces and Bogota. Forming a system of urban networks with common needs and demand utilities, transportation, grooming, mobility, health, education, public space and environmental quality. The methodology of this research is the analysis of the region from the joint land use plans in the proposed study area. Through interviews with professionals, experts, public officials and employees and taking into account the legal possibilities in Colombia for regional territorial development, establish the real situation in development for the department of Cundinamarca, showing the region's needs and development of a more complex form, assessing synergies and own social, environmental and economic needs of urban growth, to propose a set of guidelines to structure a balanced regional development in Bogota and Cundinamarca. The analysis of case models helps to strengthen initiatives for regional development of the Sabana de Bogota and sustainable region: environmentally, economically and socially. In a network system that interconnects to Bogotá with Cundinamarca, Colombia and elsewhere. Cundinamarca region should set as joint strategies and policies based on a model of regional urban development for the department and the Sabana de Bogota. Basic and fundamental to balanced territorial development that fosters sustainable, compact and quality of life for all its inhabitants cities departmental guidelines.

O LÚDICO VIA FÁBULAS EM ATENDIMENTO PSICOTERAPÊUTICO: UM ESTUDO DE CASO CLÍNICO DE MOBBING

Esta pesquisa verifica a validade da utilização de fábulas em processo psicoterapêutico de paciente de Mobbing acometida de depressão e síndrome de pânico. Desenvolve-se por meio de estudo de caso avaliativo-interventivo evolutivo prolongado, com um total de 116 sessões semanais. Inicialmente realiza o diagnóstico clínico elaborado a partir do desenho da figura humana, extraído do teste projetivo House Tree and Person, de entrevista inicial semi-dirigida, e de coleta de relatos verbais e observações feitas durante os primeiros atendimentos. As sessões são realizadas com utilização ocasional de fábulas, associada ou não a técnicas de relaxamento de Schultz e Jacobson, com interpretação de sonhos e recomendação de filmes. O objetivo é verificar se as fábulas contribuem de forma positiva para o paciente compreender com mais facilidade as interpretações do psicoterapeuta, se diminui sua resistência ao falar dos seus conteúdos e se amplia à consciência simbólica. O primeiro momento interventivo tem a duração de aproximadamente 16 meses, o segundo, de 04 meses, quando é solicitado o segundo desenho e o terceiro processa-se em 09 meses, quando é solicitado o último desenho. No primeiro momento é proporcionado à paciente um ambiente facilitador com sustentação emocional (Holding), buscando resgatar sua ilusão, numa visão winnicottiana. Revela-se uma situação de Mobbing acompanhada de depressão manifesta e síndrome do pânico; com alto nível de exigência pessoal e profissional; grande passividade nos relacionamentos e na dinâmica do casal. Ao final desse momento, já consegue começar a desviar sua auto-agressividade para o meio externo de maneira mais positiva e socialmente aceita. No segundo momento predomina o encontro e aceitação de seu verdadeiro jeito de ser; enxerga o quanto estava se deixando prejudicar; mostra-se mais confiante, comunica-se e enfrenta melhor suas dificuldades afetivas. No terceiro momento demonstra estar segura e feliz. Cuida de sua aparência e sente prazer em ser notada socialmente. Demonstra ter aprendido a se defender em situações de confronto, com maior autonomia e verbaliza estar muito feliz com as mudanças, sorri com freqüência. A análise evolutiva dos desenhos confirmam esta boa evolução. A utilização de fábulas foi muito bem aceita pela paciente, que conseguiu por meio da leitura simbólica contida nas mesmas, aproximar-se de sua problemática e aprender a lidar com ela de forma mais saudável. Os resultados também indicam que a utilização de relaxamento associado à leitura das fábulas contribuiu para sua assimilação mais abrangente e profunda. O estudo ilustra a evolução do caso por meio de 24 vinhetas, devidamente analisadas em relação aos momentos descritos.(AU)

O LÚDICO VIA FÁBULAS EM ATENDIMENTO PSICOTERAPÊUTICO: UM ESTUDO DE CASO CLÍNICO DE MOBBING

Esta pesquisa verifica a validade da utilização de fábulas em processo psicoterapêutico de paciente de Mobbing acometida de depressão e síndrome de pânico. Desenvolve-se por meio de estudo de caso avaliativo-interventivo evolutivo prolongado, com um total de 116 sessões semanais. Inicialmente realiza o diagnóstico clínico elaborado a partir do desenho da figura humana, extraído do teste projetivo House Tree and Person, de entrevista inicial semi-dirigida, e de coleta de relatos verbais e observações feitas durante os primeiros atendimentos. As sessões são realizadas com utilização ocasional de fábulas, associada ou não a técnicas de relaxamento de Schultz e Jacobson, com interpretação de sonhos e recomendação de filmes. O objetivo é verificar se as fábulas contribuem de forma positiva para o paciente compreender com mais facilidade as interpretações do psicoterapeuta, se diminui sua resistência ao falar dos seus conteúdos e se amplia à consciência simbólica. O primeiro momento interventivo tem a duração de aproximadamente 16 meses, o segundo, de 04 meses, quando é solicitado o segundo desenho e o terceiro processa-se em 09 meses, quando é solicitado o último desenho. No primeiro momento é proporcionado à paciente um ambiente facilitador com sustentação emocional (Holding), buscando resgatar sua ilusão, numa visão winnicottiana. Revela-se uma situação de Mobbing acompanhada de depressão manifesta e síndrome do pânico; com alto nível de exigência pessoal e profissional; grande passividade nos relacionamentos e na dinâmica do casal. Ao final desse momento, já consegue começar a desviar sua auto-agressividade para o meio externo de maneira mais positiva e socialmente aceita. No segundo momento predomina o encontro e aceitação de seu verdadeiro jeito de ser; enxerga o quanto estava se deixando prejudicar; mostra-se mais confiante, comunica-se e enfrenta melhor suas dificuldades afetivas. No terceiro momento demonstra estar segura e feliz. Cuida de sua aparência e sente prazer em ser notada socialmente. Demonstra ter aprendido a se defender em situações de confronto, com maior autonomia e verbaliza estar muito feliz com as mudanças, sorri com freqüência. A análise evolutiva dos desenhos confirmam esta boa evolução. A utilização de fábulas foi muito bem aceita pela paciente, que conseguiu por meio da leitura simbólica contida nas mesmas, aproximar-se de sua problemática e aprender a lidar com ela de forma mais saudável. Os resultados também indicam que a utilização de relaxamento associado à leitura das fábulas contribuiu para sua assimilação mais abrangente e profunda. O estudo ilustra a evolução do caso por meio de 24 vinhetas, devidamente analisadas em relação aos momentos descritos.(AU)