The Effects of Visual Color Stimuli on Zebra Finch Behavior and Stress Response

The Australian Zebra Finch, Taeniopygia guttata, is a common vertebrate model for understanding behavioral, neurological, and physiological changes across the life span. The goal of this study was to determine if color in the environment can act as a stimulus and activate the zebra finch stress response. Zebra finches are diurnal and have color vision. Their plumage coloration is sexually dimorphic and they show behavioral changes to color; females prefer males with redder beaks, and both sexes show individual color preferences for materials in nest building. This experiment was conducted to test whether or not a novel color in the environment can elicit a stress response. A colored poster board was introduced to the adult zebra finches’ habitat, and behavioral changes were measured immediately and then again after twenty four hours. In addition, plasma corticosterone (CORT), the main avian stress hormone, concentrations were measured twenty four hours after introduction of the color stimulus. The introduction of the color stimuli resulted in immediate behavioral changes in the birds and increased activity was observed with the addition of green, blue, and red stimuli and decreased activity with the addition of yellow. However, after twenty four hours there were no changes in behavior or plasma CORT levels for any of the colors. These findings suggest that zebra finches show varied behavioral responses to novel stimuli based on color differences and that these changes are temporary

LY86-64: Implementation And Evaluation Of A Y86 Browser-Based Simulator

The Y86-64 PIPE project is a seminal project for Appalachian State University Computer Science majors. For many students, it is their first software product of significant size. After completing the project, students have a better understanding of computer systems and the software engineering skills and tools needed to develop large pieces of software. However, to implement the code, students need a sophisticated understanding of the machine being simulated. Of particular difficulty is the control logic and signals that direct the stages of the PIPE machine. Several Y86-64 simulators are available, but existing simulators display only the contents of memory and general-purpose registers. They do not provide a visualization of the complicated control logic and signals applied to pipeline registers. For this reason, we undertook the development of the LY86-64 (pronounced “lee 86-64”), a Y86-64 browser-based simulator. A survey of 47 students, some currently studying the Y86-64 PIPE machine and some who studied the machine in a previous semester, found that 100% of respondents believed that the simulator provides a better understanding of the control logic

Bioefficacy of leaf extracts from Pouzolzia zeylanica (L.) Benn against diamondback moth plutella xylostella in Viet Nam

In Viet Nam, Pouzolzia zeylanica (L.) Benn is a native plant and has been demonstrated its applicability as a medical plant. Additionally, Pouzolzia zeylanica was used to control fly larvae during food processing due to insecticidal activity. We optimized the extraction of Pouzolzia zeylanica by ethanol at different conditions: concentration, the ratio of solid (material) - liquid (ethanol volume) (mg/ml) and the extraction time (hour). Results indicated that extraction yield was effected by all of the factors. The optimized extraction yield was 6.85% (Y) with ethanol concentration at 96 percent ethanol (Z1), the ratio solid to liquid is 1: 25 (mg/ml) (Z2) and extraction time is 4 days (Z3). We tested the efficiency of leaf extracts from Pouzolzia zeylanica and antifeedant activity against diamondback moth Plutella xylostella at different leaf extract concentrations. Results indicated that 80% mortality induced by those compounds was recorded on Plutella xylostella second instars at 30% leaf extract concentration and had significant difference compared to the control (P=0.0000); the leaf extract affected the ratio of pupation, adult emergence and antifeedant activity of P. xylostella (P=0.0000). The obtained results promise a potential of using Pouzolzia zeylanica as biopesticide in Viet Nam

Safety and efficacy of fluoxetine on functional outcome after acute stroke (AFFINITY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Trials of fluoxetine for recovery after stroke report conflicting results. The Assessment oF FluoxetINe In sTroke recoverY (AFFINITY) trial aimed to show if daily oral fluoxetine for 6 months after stroke improves functional outcome in an ethnically diverse population. Methods AFFINITY was a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done in 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (four), and Vietnam (ten). Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke in the previous 2–15 days, brain imaging consistent with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and a persisting neurological deficit that produced a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 1 or more. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 via a web-based system using a minimisation algorithm to once daily, oral fluoxetine 20 mg capsules or matching placebo for 6 months. Patients, carers, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was functional status, measured by the mRS, at 6 months. The primary analysis was an ordinal logistic regression of the mRS at 6 months, adjusted for minimisation variables. Primary and safety analyses were done according to the patient's treatment allocation. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000774921. Findings Between Jan 11, 2013, and June 30, 2019, 1280 patients were recruited in Australia (n=532), New Zealand (n=42), and Vietnam (n=706), of whom 642 were randomly assigned to fluoxetine and 638 were randomly assigned to placebo. Mean duration of trial treatment was 167 days (SD 48·1). At 6 months, mRS data were available in 624 (97%) patients in the fluoxetine group and 632 (99%) in the placebo group. The distribution of mRS categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio 0·94, 95% CI 0·76–1·15; p=0·53). Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the fluoxetine group had more falls (20 [3%] vs seven [1%]; p=0·018), bone fractures (19 [3%] vs six [1%]; p=0·014), and epileptic seizures (ten [2%] vs two [<1%]; p=0·038) at 6 months. Interpretation Oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome and increased the risk of falls, bone fractures, and epileptic seizures. These results do not support the use of fluoxetine to improve functional outcome after stroke

Twelve-Month Outcomes of the AFFINITY Trial of Fluoxetine for Functional Recovery After Acute Stroke: AFFINITY Trial Steering Committee on Behalf of the AFFINITY Trial Collaboration

Background and Purpose: The AFFINITY trial (Assessment of Fluoxetine in Stroke Recovery) reported that oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome and increased the risk of falls, bone fractures, and seizures. After trial medication was ceased at 6 months, survivors were followed to 12 months post-randomization. This preplanned secondary analysis aimed to determine any sustained or delayed effects of fluoxetine at 12 months post-randomization. Methods: AFFINITY was a randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in adults (n=1280) with a clinical diagnosis of stroke in the previous 2 to 15 days and persisting neurological deficit who were recruited at 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (4), and Vietnam (10) between 2013 and 2019. Participants were randomized to oral fluoxetine 20 mg once daily (n=642) or matching placebo (n=638) for 6 months and followed until 12 months after randomization. The primary outcome was function, measured by the modified Rankin Scale, at 6 months. Secondary outcomes for these analyses included measures of the modified Rankin Scale, mood, cognition, overall health status, fatigue, health-related quality of life, and safety at 12 months. Results: Adherence to trial medication was for a mean 167 (SD 48) days and similar between randomized groups. At 12 months, the distribution of modified Rankin Scale categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.76–1.14]; P =0.46). Compared with placebo, patients allocated fluoxetine had fewer recurrent ischemic strokes (14 [2.18%] versus 29 [4.55%]; P =0.02), and no longer had significantly more falls (27 [4.21%] versus 15 [2.35%]; P =0.08), bone fractures (23 [3.58%] versus 11 [1.72%]; P =0.05), or seizures (11 [1.71%] versus 8 [1.25%]; P =0.64) at 12 months. Conclusions: Fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke had no delayed or sustained effect on functional outcome, falls, bone fractures, or seizures at 12 months poststroke. The lower rate of recurrent ischemic stroke in the fluoxetine group is most likely a chance finding. REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.anzctr.org.au/ ; Unique identifier: ACTRN12611000774921