To mix or not to mix? Evaluating breeding productivity in mixed species bird enclosures within European zoos.

Housing animals within mixed species aggregations is often believed to offer a more naturalistic captive environment by providing behavioural and social enrichment, and has become an integral design feature for many zoos across the world. There is however, a common perception among zoo professionals that for birds in particular, breeding performance may be reduced when housing them within mixed species environments. In order to investigate this perception, three objectives were outlined, which aimed to evaluate the impact that mixed species housing has on bird breeding performance within European zoo collections. Objective one compared the breeding performance of bird species housed within mixed species enclosures versus when those species were housed in single species enclosures. This was followed by objective two which identified the factors that may be influencing bird breeding performance when housed within mixed species enclosures only. Finally objective three discussed the use of historical zoo records for evaluating breeding performance within mixed species enclosures. To test these objectives the breeding performance of birds housed in mixed (and where applicable single species) enclosures were collected via questionnaire (n=88 zoos) and via historical records (n=2 zoos). Analysis revealed that 55% of species tested were considered to breed better when housed as a single species. Furthermore a number of factors were found to impact on breeding performance within mixed species enclosures; including breeding sociality, fledge time and the presence of non-bird taxa, however these factors were found to be effected by bird phylogeny. Comparisons with results from historical records suggest that questionnaires were a suitable method for assessing breeding performance. In addition records data highlighted that birds housed in mixed enclosures were subject to many transfers’ between enclosures, which may be impacting on the ability to breed successfully. As the first attempt at quantifying the influence that mixing bird species has on breeding performance, evidence supports the perceptions that for some species breeding may be reduced. This result is not consistent across all species and thus requires further investigation to assess how these breeding issues may be impacting upon future population sustainability of birds housed in European zoos

Expanding Group Support System Capabilities from the Knowledge Management Perspective

A group support system (GSS) is a computer-based system that enables people in different places to discuss and make decisions on connected computers. Expanding GSS capabilities from the knowledge management perspective is believed to significantly improve the performance and satisfaction of group meetings. This study develops the organizational knowledge management process, proposed by Alavi and Leidner (2001), to expand the capabilities of a GSS. Additionally, a prototype system has been implemented. Finally, an experiment is conducted to evaluate the system and demonstrate its applicability and usability. Experimental results indicate that users perceive a web-based GSS with knowledge management capabilities to be more helpful and more satisfying than a conventional GSS. They also perceived that using a web-based GSS with knowledge management capabilities can improve the decision quality

Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by a soluble collagen-derived frizzled domain interacting with Wnt3a and the receptors frizzled 1 and 8.

International audienceThe Wnt/β-catenin pathway controls cell proliferation, death and differentiation. Several families of extracellular proteins can antagonize Wnt/β-catenin signaling, including the decoy receptors known as secreted frizzled related proteins (SFRPs), which have a cysteine-rich domain (CRD) structurally similar to the extracellular Wnt-binding domain of the frizzled receptors. SFRPs inhibit Wnt signaling by sequestering Wnts through the CRD or by forming inactive complexes with the frizzled receptors. Other endogenous molecules carrying frizzled CRDs inhibit Wnt signaling, such as V3Nter, which is proteolytically derived from the cell surface component collagen XVIII and contains a biologically active frizzled domain (FZC18) inhibiting in vivo cell proliferation and tumor growth in mice. We recently showed that FZC18 expressing cells deliver short-range signals to neighboring cells, decreasing their proliferation in vitro and in vivo through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Here, using low concentrations of soluble FZC18 and Wnt3a, we show that they physically interact in a cell-free system. In addition, soluble FZC18 binds the frizzled 1 and 8 receptors' CRDs, reducing cell sensitivity to Wnt3a. Conversely, inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling was partially rescued by the expression of full-length frizzled 1 and 8 receptors, but enhanced by the expression of a chimeric cell-membrane-tethered frizzled 8 CRD. Moreover, soluble, partially purified recombinant FZC18_CRD inhibited Wnt3a-induced β-catenin activation. Taken together, the data indicate that collagen XVIII-derived frizzled CRD shifts Wnt sensitivity of normal cells to a lower pitch and controls their growth

Brochure: See Jacksonville’s Free Zoo

A pamphlet describing the history of the zoo and listing its amenities. See and learn – Relax – Have Fun! The Southeast’s largest collection of rare animals, birds, and reptiles! Animals from all the continents of the world. The zoo is located on the Trout River, Heckscher Drive Jacksonville, Florida. Phone: Poplar 5-4431. The brochure includes a map. Drummond Press, Inc. Litho U.S.A. No date

Unraveling the living: reframing cramped housing as a social living

In Seoul, people of the poorest economic status live in compressed units no larger than 32 square feet, known as “sliced housing.” The majority of these residents hope for better living conditions, but they are unable to move for multiple reasons. This is an interwoven sociological issue that requires intervention proposals that improve the physical and mental wellbeing of the people in these housing situations. This thesis demonstrates possible architectural interventions that will enhance the quality of life and support systems within Seoul’s “sliced housing” villages. Other urban villages in Seoul in similar states of degradation have been destroyed, with districts of collective housings as a planned replacement. Though these districts intend to absorb the displaced residents, they still need to leave for several years before a new home is ready. An alternative way to renovate the area is needed that doesn’t upend the lives of the community. An existing single sliced housing unit holds multiple functions; sleeping, cooking, eating, resting, studying, storing. This thesis explores ways to expand shared facilities to the community within the tight context. Then overlapping activities will be spread out to the new space, leaving each new sliced unit, which is technically a small room, only for sleeping. In addition to improvements in individual living standards, they also encourage community contact between residents. Though the city government and many charities provide resources to the community, they lack easy access. The proposal brings those facilities into the same block, enhancing a kin connection

The Effect of Clonidine Pretreatment on Epidural Resiniferatoxin in a Neuropathic Pain Rat Model

Resiniferatoxin (RTX) is an ultrapotent synthetic TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1) agonist with significant initial transient hyperalgesia followed by a prolonged analgesic effect in response to thermal stimulus. Using a rat model of neuropathic pain, we evaluated the effect of pretreatment with clonidine－which has been shown to relieve intradermal capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia－on the initial hyperalgesic response and the thermal analgesic property of RTX. Thirty-six male rats were divided into 6 treatment groups (n＝6 each):RTX 500ng, RTX 1μg, clonidine 20μg (Cl), Cl＋RTX 500ng, Cl＋RTX 1μg, or normal saline 20μL (control). We evaluated the short-term (180min) and long-term (20 days) analgesic effects of RTX after thermal stimulation and mechanical stimulation. RTX had significant initial transient hyperalgesia followed by a prolonged analgesic effect in response to the thermal stimulus, but the RTX 500ng and RTX 1μg groups showed no initial short-term thermal hyperalgesic responses when pretreated with clonidine. The Cl＋RTX 1μg ratsʼ behavior scores indicated that they were more calm and comfortable compared to the RTX 1μg rats. Even though we cannot precisely confirm that pretreatment with clonidine potentiates or adds to the analgesic effect of RTX, clonidine pretreatment with epidural RTX eliminated the initial RTX-associated hyperalgesic response and systemic toxicity in this neuropathic pain rat model