Spin dynamics of a trapped spin-1 Bose Gas above the Bose-Einstein transition temperature

We study collective spin oscillations in a spin-1 Bose gas above the Bose-Einstein transition temperature. Starting from the Heisenberg equation of motion, we derive a kinetic equation describing the dynamics of a thermal gas with the spin-1 degree of freedom. Applying the moment method to the kinetic equation, we study spin-wave collective modes with dipole symmetry. The dipole modes in the spin-1 system are found to be classified into the three type of modes. The frequency and damping rate are obtained as functions of the peak density. The damping rate is characterized by three relaxation times associated with collisions.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figur

Use of beds by laboratory beagles.

Comfortable resting areas for laboratory dogs have been recommended by many authors and by the European Directive 2010/63/EU. They are particularly important for geriatric dogs for age- and health-related reasons. Systematic research in this area has not been done. Therefore, we conducted an orientation study on the use of dog beds. In preliminary choice tests with 12 laboratory dogs (three groups), initial information was collected regarding dog bed properties such as size, elevation, and filling material. Subsequently, nine elderly laboratory dogs (three groups) were provided with dog beds filled with fleece blankets, either placed on the ground or elevated. The preliminary choice tests indicated a preference for soft bedding. Further studies would be necessary to confirm our preliminary results with a larger sample. The herein observed elderly dogs intensively used the resting places, especially at night, and rarely slept on the floor. The beds were used on average for 83% of the 10 hours dark phase when located on floor level. In contrast, beds that were elevated at a height of 30 cm were used 21% of the 10 hours dark phase. According to the results, we recommend a padded, soft bed which is easily accessible, especially for elderly dogs. Because of differences in preference among the groups, we further recommend providing a variety of options so that the animals have a choice. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Horn of calf hooves as chews in laboratory dogs.

European law recommends the enrichment of laboratory dogs with chewing objects. This study examines the suitability of the horn of calf hooves for this purpose and was performed with 62 dogs (60 beagles, 2 Foxhound Boehringer Ingelheim) across 3 research facilities. In facility A, 18 female dogs and 1 neutered male were housed in 6 groups, in facility B, 16 intact male dogs were housed in 8 groups and in facility C, 25 female dogs were housed in 6 groups under their usual housing conditions. Each group of dogs received autoclaved calf horn for 3 consecutive days. In addition to its role as an enrichment object, the nutritional components of the horn were determined. Dogs in facilities A and C chewed intensively in the first hour after they received the horn (average for A = 29.3 minutes, average for C = 22.8 minutes per dog). Thereafter, the chewing time decreased during the day. In facility B, many dogs initially reacted by barking and jumping at the horn, suggesting a reaction of uncertainty, most likely due to the dogs' young age and lack of experience. Dogs in facilities A and C chewed significantly longer (P = 0.009 in A; P = 0.000 in C) and more frequently (P = 0.008 in A, P = 0.001 in C) on the first day compared to the second day. Consistent with these findings, the daily weight loss of the horn in facilities A and C was significantly higher on the first day compared to the second day (P = 0.003 in A, P = 0.002 in C). Fights over the horn were observed in 2 groups of intact male dogs, aged 4-6 months in facility B. Injuries of the oral cavity were not observed. Two dogs of facility B had minor crown fractures of a deciduous dens caninus. In conclusion, autoclaved horn of calf hooves is an attractive chewing object for dogs after a change in deciduous teeth. However, dogs should be supervised when these enrichments are newly introduced

Behavioral observations in dogs in 4 research facilities: Do they use their enrichment?

European legislation recommends comfortable resting areas, toys, and chews in laboratory dogs' husbandry. However, there is no standard "enrichment" defined for laboratory dogs as yet. Different research facilities provide different housing conditions and forms of enrichment. To get an overview of the behavior of dogs in their usual housing conditions in different laboratories and to evaluate whether and how much they use the enrichment available to them, the present study was conducted in 4 research facilities (A-D) by videotaping 47 beagles over a 24-hour period. Housing conditions differed widely between facilities. In 3 facilities, the kennels were equipped with resting areas (A: dog beds, B: elevated lying boards, C: low lying boards), 2 facilities provided chewing objects that were permanently available (A: branches, C: dental balls), and 2 facilities enabled permanent access to outdoor runs (C, D). The dogs frequently used available indoor resting areas, mainly in company and as a whole group (mean of 0.83 in the 80% confidence interval with a lower bound of 0.59 and an upper bound of 0.94) and particularly during the night (dog beds with bedding in A: 83.1%-95.6% of ca. 17 hours in the indoor kennels; elevated plastic lying board in B: 50.2% of 24 hours; 75.4% of 12 hours at night; low lying boards in C: 60.3% of 24 hours; 79.8% of 12 hours at night; percentages represent mean portion of time per dog). The dogs only rarely lay on the ground when dog beds or lying boards were available. The permanent available chews, branches in the runs or dental balls, were only rarely used. Permanent access to outdoor runs was predominantly used during daytime (C: 41.8%, D: 24.1% from 6 to 18 hrs.) and as exclusive defecation area. Aggressive behaviors such as baring teeth, snapping, or biting did not occur. Only 2 of the 47 dogs showed repetitive behaviors lasting for more than 5 minutes. Coprophagy occurred very frequently in all 4 facilities, and 1 facility with the youngest dogs had the highest mean incidence of 5.3 times per dog during 24 hours. This study confirms the importance of resting areas as permanent enrichment and shows the willingness and desire of laboratory dogs to use defecation areas away from their resting areas. However, the attractiveness and safety of chews and toys require further research

Consistency in behavior: Evaluation of behavior tests in laboratory beagles.

In the present report, we analyzed the consistency in the behavior of laboratory dogs in 4 standardized tests (an encounter test with a familiar caretaker, an encounter test with an unfamiliar test person, a simulation of experimental manipulation, and a complex behavior test) that were conducted on 2 consecutive days. We further analyzed whether the dogs’ behavior in the subsequent tests could be predicted by the preceding tests. Data of 90 laboratory beagles kept in 4 research facilities were reevaluated for this purpose by using Kruskal's gamma, Spearman rank correlation, and simple linear regression. Correlations of behavior scores based on the behavior reactions of the dogs were low to moderate between the investigations. Only the test part isolation, where the dogs were left alone in an unfamiliar room, was highly correlated to the test part entering (of another unfamiliar room) in the experimental manipulation. Regarding the body language scores, there were considerably more moderate to high correlations between the respective investigations and test parts. The encounter test with the familiar caretaker had predictive power (P < 0.001) regarding the encounter test with an unfamiliar test person on the next day but not with respect to the behavior in the behavior test. However, the experimental manipulation predicted the behavior in the behavior test (P < 0.001). We conclude that body language is more consistent for individual dogs than are their reactions in different situations. Thus, a detailed behavior test that includes different situations and stimuli cannot be replaced by a simple encounter test in the familiar housing surroundings. In contrast, the simulation of experimental manipulation can be a better predictive tool

Behavior of laboratory beagles towards humans: Assessment in an encounter test and a simulation of experimental situations.

Because of the close emotional bonds between the man and the domesticated dog, husbandry of laboratory dogs is regarded with particular interest by the public. The relationship between laboratory dogs and the man is particularly important for animal welfare, and daily contact with caregivers and handlers should not elicit fear in dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate the behaviors of laboratory dogs toward humans. In 4 research facilities, 90 male and female 1- to 10-year-old laboratory beagles of different origins (facility bred or from other origins) were tested in an "encounter test" and a setting that simulated realistically general research situations. No significant differences were observed in the encounter test when the dogs were approached by a familiar caretaker or by an unfamiliar person. Nearly all of the dogs could be caught easily, and they exhibited pronounced interest in and established contacts with both persons. We simulated an experimental manipulation by placing the dogs on a treatment table in an examination room and having them restrained by a familiar caretaker; this resulted in submissive behavior and/or signs of distress in many dogs (e.g., 12% urinated when being lifted onto the examination table and most dogs showed muzzle licking on the table). Multifactorial analysis of variance revealed that, based on most of the calculated scores, the facility-bred dogs were significantly less fearful than those obtained from commercial breeders or from other research facilities. Sex differences were not observed, and younger dogs were significantly more difficult to catch. The data revealed that good relationships were established between the caretakers and the dogs in all 4 research facilities. The facility-bred dogs in particular were friendly and exhibited little fear toward both the familiar and unfamiliar persons

Behavior of laboratory beagles: Assessment in a standardized behavior test using novel stimuli and situations.

Laboratory dogs should be sociable with humans and react in a relaxed way when confronted with new stimuli and situations. This is of particular advantage when dogs are used in animal experiments and for the handling of dogs and animal welfare, in general. We determined the reactions of laboratory dogs to different stimuli and manipulations and evaluated the dogs' behaviors to these in the context of housing condition, sex, age, and origin of the dogs. Ninety purpose bred, 1- to 10-year-old laboratory beagles of both sexes from 4 research facilities were subjected to: a new, standardized behavioral test including unfamiliar situations, varied and novel manipulations not routinely involved in physical examination as performed by an unfamiliar person, and novel optical and acoustic stimuli. An earlier article reported on these dogs' responses to approaches and physical examination by known and unknown people (Döring et al., 2014). Here, we concentrate on the effects of environmental stimuli and atypical manipulations. Videotape-based assessment and scoring of the dogs' behavior showed distinct patterns of reactions. Most dogs reacted with interest toward the unfamiliar test person and readily established contact. Many dogs reacted with uncertainty to the unfamiliar object and sound. Signals that may indicate conflict or distress (muzzle licking, paw lifting, and panting) were observed in some of the dogs in all facilities and in all parts of the test. Lowest body language scores indicated by anxious and/or "submissive" postures were observed when the dogs' muzzles were held shut or when the dogs were covered with a thin cloth.Characteristic housing conditions of the different facilities significantly affected several endpoints. Male dogs were significantly less fearful than females in several parameters and older and facility-bred dogs were significantly less fearful. Housing conditions, sex, age, and origin of the dogs markedly affected their behavior