scholarly journals Do Domestic Pigs Acquire a Positive Perception of Humans through Observational Social Learning?

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Daniela Luna ◽  
Catalina González ◽  
Christopher J. Byrd ◽  
Rocío Palomo ◽  
Elizabeth Huenul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Learning ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Open Field Test ◽  
Sucrose Solution ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Positive Perception ◽  
Human Contact ◽  
And Control

Farm animals can perceive humans positively by observing another animal being positively handled. This study evaluated whether pigs acquire a positive perception of humans after observing either a high or low socially ranked conspecific receiving gentle handling. Seventy-five 21-week-old pigs were housed in 15 nursery pens (five pigs/pen) and randomly assigned to one of three pen treatments: Dominant Demonstrator Group (DDG), Subordinate Demonstrator Group (SDG) and Control Group (CG). Pigs from DDG and SDG observed a high and low socially ranked conspecific (“demonstrator”), respectively, while the demonstrator received gentle stroking and a sucrose solution for 10 min, twice a day for 5 weeks. Control group pigs received minimal human contact. Following treatment, the behavior and heart rate variability of non-demonstrator pigs were evaluated in response to a stockperson in an open-field test. Pigs from the DDG and SDG contacted the stockperson sooner (p < 0.001), spent more time investigating the stockperson (p < 0.05), accepted more stroking (p < 0.001) and exhibited a lower low/high frequency ratio (p = 0.015) compared to the CG. No differences in learning between the pigs from the DDG and SDG were found. These results suggest that pigs can learn to perceive humans positively through observational social learning, regardless of the demonstrator conspecific’s social rank.

scholarly journals The Effect of Demonstrator Social Rank on the Attentiveness and Motivation of Pigs to Positively Interact with Their Human Caretakers

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2140
Author(s):  
Daniela Luna ◽  
Catalina González ◽  
Christopher J. Byrd ◽  
Rocío Palomo ◽  
Elizabeth Huenul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Facilitation ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Human Contact ◽  
The Social ◽  
Contact Control ◽  
Large Groups

In this study, we addressed the social attentiveness, as well as the phenomenon of social facilitation and inhibition in the context of a positive human–pig relationship. Specifically, we investigated whether the social rank of an experienced pig (termed “demonstrator”) has an effect on the attentiveness of the remaining pen mates (N = 40) when they observe the demonstrator being gently handled by a stockperson from behind an acrylic panel. We found that pigs preferentially attended to dominant demonstrators rather than subordinate demonstrators during their gentle handling sessions with the stockperson. Additionally, we also examined whether the presence of a demonstrator pig of different social rank, who previously established a positive relationship with the stockperson in presence of conspecifics, affects the behavior and motivation of their pen mates to positively interact with the stockperson. To test for the effect of the presence and demonstrator’s social rank on pen mate interactions with the stockperson, we evaluated the behavior of domestic pigs (N = 65) toward the stockperson using a human-approach test in their home-pen. Pigs showed a decrease in their motivation to positively interact with the stockperson when a socially dominant demonstrator was present, behaving similarly to animals receiving minimal human contact (control group). Overall, they exhibited a greater latency to physical contact, a lower acceptance of stroking, and spent more time looking at the stockperson compared to pigs exposed to subordinate demonstrators. Taken together, these findings expand our current understanding of pigs’ cognition and social behavior, and the nature of social attention bias in farm animals. Our findings indicate that positive handling of previously selected subordinate demonstrators seems to be the best strategy to reduce the level of fear in large groups of pigs.

scholarly journals Treatment of cattle pyroplasmidosis in the conditions of Dagestan Republic

2021 ◽  
Vol 344 (5) ◽  
pp. 8-10
Author(s):  
S. Sh. Abdulmagomedov ◽  
A. Yu. Aliev ◽  
R. M. Bakrieva ◽  
E. A. Belkin
Keyword(s):  
Live Weight ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Blood Parasites ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Single Intramuscular Injection ◽  
Short Time ◽  
And Control

Relevance. Dagestan Republic in terms of natural and climatic characteristics is the most favorable for the of ixodid ticks - carriers of pathogens of blood-parasitic diseases of farm animals. In this regard, further improvement of the set of scientifically grounded control measures and the search for new promising chemotherapeutic drugs of the prevention and treatment of pyroplasmidosis of cattle are major problem of great national economic importance.Materials and methods. The studies were carried out in farms, unfavorable on pyroplasmidosis, in the conditions of Dagestan Republic. The object of the study was cattle, spontaneously invaded by various types of blood parasites. Experеmental and control groups in production experiments were selected according to the principle of analogues. In the first control group (n = 10) the drug was not used. The second (n = 10) was injected with the drug DAC 5% at a dose of 1 ml/20 kg (DV 2.5 mg/kg), intramuscularly, at the rate 5 ml per 100 kg of live weight. The animals of the third (n = 10) were injected with the injectable preparation forticarb 10% at a dose of 4 ml/100 kg (DV 4 mg/kg) of live weight, intramuscularly, once.Results. It was found that with a single intramuscular injection of forticarb at the rate 2 ml/50 kg of live weight, the temperature and parasitic reaction in the body of sick animals decreased in a very short time. Therapeutic efficacy in pyroplasmidosis of cattle was 90%.

When rank counts — dominant dogs learn better from a human demonstrator in a two-action test

Behaviour ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 149 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Péter Pongrácz ◽  
Petra Bánhegyi ◽  
Ádám Miklósi
Keyword(s):  
Social Learning ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Target Object ◽  
The Other ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Object A ◽  
Companion Dogs ◽  
Initial Preference ◽  
The Social ◽  
Human Demonstration

AbstractDogs can learn effectively from a human demonstrator in detour tests as well as in different kinds of manipulative tasks. In this experiment we used a novel two-action device from which the target object (a ball) was obtained by tilting a tube either by pulling a rope attached to the end of the tube, or by directly pushing the end of the tube. Tube tilting was relatively easy for naïve companion dogs; therefore, the effect of the human demonstration aimed to alter or increase the dogs’ initial preference for tube pushing (according to the behaviour shown by naïve dogs in the absence of a human demonstrator). Our results have shown that subjects preferred the demonstrated action in the two-action test. After having witnessed the tube pushing demonstration, dogs performed significantly more tube pushing than the dogs in the rope pulling demonstration group. In contrast, dogs that observed the rope pulling demonstration, performed significantly more similar actions than the subjects of the other demonstration group. The ratio of rope pulling was significantly higher in the rope pulling demonstration group, than in the No Demo (control) group. The overall success of solving the task was also influenced by the social rank of the dog among its conspecific companions at home. Independently of the type of demonstration, dominant dogs solved the task significantly more often than the subordinate dogs did. There was no such difference in the No Demo group. This experiment has shown that a simple two-action device that does not require excessive pre-training, can be suitable for testing social learning in dogs. However, effects of social rank should be taken into account when social learning in dogs is being studied and tested, because dominant and subordinate dogs perform differently after observing a demonstrator.

scholarly journals Occurrence of Escherichia coli non-susceptible to quinolones in faecal samples from fluoroquinolone-treated, contact and control pigs of different ages from 24 Swiss pig farms

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Morena Amsler ◽  
Katrin Zurfluh ◽  
Sonja Hartnack ◽  
Xaver Sidler ◽  
Roger Stephan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Reduced Frequency ◽  
Colony Forming Units ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background Despite their indispensability in human medicine, fluoroquinolones (FQ) are used for the treatment of bacterial infections in farm animals which increases the risk of transferring FQ-resistant bacteria into the environment and via the food chain to humans. The objectives of this observational study were to follow-up of the presence of quinolone non-susceptible Escherichia coli (QNSE) qualitatively and quantitatively in faecal samples of pigs at four time points (2 weeks old, 4 weeks old, 2 weeks post weaning and during fattening period). Moreover differences between groups of FQ-treated pigs, pigs with contact to treated pigs and control pigs were investigated. Additionally, quinolone and FQ resistance of Escherichia coli isolates of the faecal samples were investigated by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Results 40.9% of 621 fecal samples contained QNSE. Proportion of samples with detectable QNSE from treated and contact pigs did not differ significantly and were highest in piglets of 2 and 4 weeks of age. However, the proportions of samples with QNSE were significantly lowest in control pigs (7/90; 7.8%; CI = 3.5–14.7%) among all groups. Also, the number of colony-forming units was lowest in both weaners and fattening pigs of the control group compared to treated and contact groups. Following CLSI human breakpoints, in total, 50.4% out of 254 isolates in faecal samples were intermediate or resistant to ciprofloxacin. Conclusions QNSE were present in faeces of pigs independent of age or FQ background but significantly less were found in pigs from farms without FQ usage. Due to the long half-life of FQ, it is likely that only a prolonged absence of fluoroquinolone treatments in pig farming will lead to a reduced frequency of QNSE in the farm environment. Solutions need to be found to minimise the emergence and transfer of quinolone and FQ-resistant bacteria from treated pigs to contact pigs and to farms without FQ usage.

scholarly journals Study of the influence of different methods of application of Metrogyl Denta gel on the microbiota of periodontal pockets in periodontitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-47
Author(s):  
Dmitry I. Morozov ◽  
Alexander G. Volkov ◽  
Egor E. Olesov ◽  
Nataliya Zh. Dikopova ◽  
Yulia A. Trefilova
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Periodontal Diseases ◽  
Practical Interest ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Periodontal Tissue ◽  
High Frequency Ultrasound ◽  
Periodontal Tissues ◽  
Group Data ◽  
And Control ◽  
Frequency Ultrasound

BACKGROUND: One of the most popular antibacterial drugs used in periodontology is Metrogil Denta gel. In recent years, it is most often prescribed as a means of local antibacterial therapy. However, there is practically no information about the use of Metrogil Denta gel ultraphonophoresis in the treatment of periodontal tissue diseases. Therefore, the development of the Metrogil Denta gel ultraphonophoresis technique and the study of its effectiveness in inflammatory periodontal diseases has significant theoretical and practical interest. AIM: This study aimed to explore the influence of various methods of using Metrogyl Denta gel on the microbiota of the periodontal pockets in periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the first group (main), composed of 20 patients with a diagnosis of moderate periodontitis, the treatment procedures included high-frequency ultrasound and application of antibacterial preparation of Metrogyl Denta gel for the periodontal tissue (ultraphonophoresis of Metrogyl Denta gel). In the second group (control), composed of 20 patients with a diagnosis of moderate periodontitis, phonophoresis was not prescribed, and Metrogyl Denta gel was applied into the surface of the gums of the upper and lower jaw two times a day for 10 days. RESULTS: Contents of the pathological periodontal pockets were examined twice: first after dental plaque removal in patients with periodontitis of the main and control groups and then after 10 ultraphonophoresis procedures using Metrogyl Denta gel as a contact medium in the study group or after 10 days of Metrogyl Denta gel applications in the control group. Data analysis revealed that ultraphonophoresis of Metrogyl Denta gel has a more pronounced antibacterial effect in comparison with the injection of this drug. CONCLUSIONS: The combined effect of high-frequency ultrasound and Metrogyl Denta gel makes it possible to create a drug reserve in the periodontal tissues.

scholarly journals Acute effect of cola and caffeine on locomotor activity in drosophila and rat

2021 ◽  
pp. 287-292
Author(s):  
K Kmeťová ◽  
M Marônek ◽  
V Borbélyová ◽  
J Hodosy ◽  
P Celec
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Open Field ◽  
Field Test ◽  
Open Field Test ◽  
Acute Effect ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Activity Effect ◽  
Other Substances ◽  
And Control

Caffeine is well known for reducing fatigue and its effect on behavior is widely studied. Usually, caffeine is not ingested in its pure form but rather in sugar-sweetened beverages such as cola. Our aim was to compare the acute effect of cola and caffeine on locomotor activity. Rats and flies ingested cola or caffeine solution for 24 hours. The open field test revealed higher locomotor activity in cola groups for both flies and rats. Surprisingly, no differences have been observed between caffeine and control group. We conclude that caffeine itself does not explain the effect of cola on locomotor activity. Effect of cola cannot be generalized and interpreted for any caffeinated drink with other contents. Rather, the observed effect on locomotor activity may be caused by interaction of caffeine with other substances present in cola.

scholarly journals High-performance inulin and oligofructose prebiotics increase the intestinal absorption of iron in rats with iron deficiency anaemia during the growth phase

2011 ◽  
Vol 108 (6) ◽  
pp. 1008-1016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karine de Cássia Freitas ◽  
Olga Maria Silvério Amancio ◽  
Mauro Batista de Morais
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Absorption ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Fe Deficiency ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
And Control

Considering the high frequency of anaemia due to Fe deficiency, it is important to evaluate the effects of prebiotics on the absorption of Fe. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of high-performance (HP) inulin, oligofructose and synergy1 during recovery from anaemia in rats through the intestinal absorption of Fe, food intake, body growth, caecal pH and weight of the intestine. Wistar rats (n 47) were fed with rations of AIN93-G with no Fe to induce Fe deficiency anaemia. At 36 d of life, anaemic rats were divided into four groups: (1) the HP inulin group; (2) the synergy1 group; and (3) the oligofructose group, all with 100 g of the respective prebiotic per kg of ration; and (4) a control group, in which the prebiotic was replaced by maize starch. Then, 25 mg of elemental Fe/kg of ration was added to all rations to allow recovery from anaemia. The final values of Hb in the HP inulin, synergy1, oligofructose and control groups were, respectively: 98 (94–99); 83 (81–92); 100 (90–114); 77 (72–81) g/l, with a statistically significant difference (P ≤ 0·001) between the oligofructose and control groups and the HP inulin and control groups. The four groups had an increase in weight and body length and had similar consumption of rations. The intestinal weight and caecal pH were significantly different between the groups that consumed prebiotics and the control group. HP inulin and oligofructose increased the intestinal absorption of Fe in rats.

Application of transcutaneus electroneurostimulation in complex therapy and rehabilitation of diabetic neuropathic pain

10.12737/7217 ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
Аль-Замиль ◽  
M. Al-Zamil ◽  
Божко ◽  
S. Bozhko ◽  
Кудаева ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Clinical Signs And Symptoms ◽  
And Control ◽  
Low Amplitude

. In this article expediency of application of monophasic, high frequency and low amplitude transcutaneous neuroelectrostimulation in treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with diabetic distal polyneuropathy of lower extremity was proved. This study included 159 patients with acute distal neuropathic pain in lower extremity. In all patients di-abetic mellitus 2 type was diagnosed and clinical signs and symptoms of distal polyneuropathy were found. Comparative dynamics of clinical and electromyographic manifestations of diabetic distal polyneuropathy between basis and control groups were analyzed. 62 patients in control group undergone treatment by the Duloxetine 60 mg every day within 3 months. In basis group 97 patients in addition to the Duloxetine were treated by transcutaneous neuroelectrostimulation during 30 minutes per day after day for 15 days. This study showed that complex treatment by combination use of transcutaneous neuroelectrostimula-tion with central analgesic more effective than traditional analgesic therapy in treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with diabetic distal polyneuropathy.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of the Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)with high frequency (20 Hz) on Auditory Hallucinations, Inner Speech and Working Memory in Schizophrenic Patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 111-124
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Auditory Hallucinations ◽  
Inner Speech ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
And Control

Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of high frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment (20 Hz) on auditory hallucinations, inner speech and working memory in schizophrenic patients. Materials and Methods: This study was a pretest-posttest experimental design with control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of all schizophrenic patients referring to the outpatient department of Imam Hossein hospital in 2019, 12 of whom were selected by available sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria then were assigned randomly into two groups of 6 each. High frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (r TMS) treatment (20 Hz) was used for experimental group but the control group received no intervention during the study. The instruments were the positive and negative syndrome scale in schizophrenia, the inner speech questionnaire, and the Daneman and Carpenter working memory questionnaire before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, and one-way covariance analysis (ANCOVA) and multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) were used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that there were significant differences between experimental and control group (p<0.005). The rate of auditory hallucinations and inner speech significantly decreased in comparison with pretest and control group, but the rate of active memory increased. Conclusion: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (r TMS) treatment (20 Hz) significantly reduced auditory hallucinations, inner speech and improved active memory.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid Causes a Marked Increase in Liver α-Tocopherol and Liver α-Tocopherol Transfer Protein in C57BL/6 J Mice

2010 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei-Min Chao ◽  
Wan-Hsuan Chen ◽  
Chun-Huei Liao ◽  
Huey-Mei Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Enzymes ◽  
Linoleic Acid ◽  
Conjugated Linoleic Acid ◽  
Thiobarbituric Acid ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Transfer Protein ◽  
And Control

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a collective term for the positional and geometric isomers of a conjugated diene of linoleic acid (C18:2, n-6). The aims of the present study were to evaluate whether levels of hepatic α-tocopherol, α-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP), and antioxidant enzymes in mice were affected by a CLA-supplemented diet. C57BL/6 J mice were divided into the CLA and control groups, which were fed, respectively, a 5 % fat diet with or without 1 g/100 g of CLA (1:1 mixture of cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12) for four weeks. α-Tocopherol levels in plasma and liver were significantly higher in the CLA group than in the control group. Liver α-TTP levels were also significantly increased in the CLA group, the α-TTP/β-actin ratio being 2.5-fold higher than that in control mice (p<0.01). Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were significantly decreased in the CLA group (p<0.01). There were no significant differences between the two groups in levels of three antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase). The accumulation of liver α-tocopherol seen with the CLA diet can be attributed to the antioxidant potential of CLA and the ability of α-TTP induction. The lack of changes in antioxidant enzyme protein levels and the reduced lipid peroxidation in the liver of CLA mice are due to α-tocopherol accumulation.

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