Analysis of diving behavior of Adelie penguins using acceleration data logger

Acceleration data loggers were attached to five adult Adelie penguins at Hukuro Cove, Lutzow-Holm Bay in austral summer 1997/1998. The loggers recorded time series data of speed, depth, surging acceleration and swaying acceleration in flush memories inside. From time series analyses, the frequency of 2- to 3-Hz was found in the surging acceleration during descent in a straight line. The cycle seemed to correspond to wingbeat frequency of the Adelie penguin. The relation between wingbeat frequency and diving depth was that the frequency ranged from 1.5-Hz to 3.0-Hz when the penguins dive in water shallower than 30-m and was over 2.5-Hz in water deeper than 50-m. The acceleration data logger is a powerful tool to estimate kinematic parameters of free-range marine animals

Preliminary report of new method for ECG measurement of exercising birds

To measure the heart rate of diving seabirds, we tested a new method of attaching electrodes and a miniaturized ECG logger with high memory capacity (2 Mbytes) and high frequent sampling (5ms). A needle type electrode was inserted into subcutaneous tissue of Adelie penguins, and an electrode was implanted under the sternum of hens. Both electrodes were connected to a logger attached to the back of the bird. The mean±SD of heart rate of penguins for 3 h and of hens for 1 h during a resting period were 74.9±15.4 bpm and 245.3±12.1 bpm, respectively. The ECG showed electric noise during exercising periods. However, as R peaks were countable in those periods, it was possible to calculate the heart rate during exercising periods from the interval between R peaks. Though the implantation method needs some recovery time for birds after surgery before the ECG measurement, the method reduces the electric noise caused by the locomotor muscle and electrode movement and is suitable to measure the ECG of free-ranging seabirds during dives

Dynorphin induced magnetic ordering in lipid bilayers as studied by 31P NMR spectroscopy

AbstractLipid bilayers of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) containing opioid peptide dynorphin A(1–17) are found to be spontaneously aligned to the applied magnetic field near at the phase transition temperature between the gel and liquid crystalline states (Tm=24°C), as examined by 31P NMR spectroscopy. The specific interaction between the peptide and lipid bilayer leading to this property was also examined by optical microscopy, light scattering, and potassium ion-selective electrode, together with a comparative study on dynorphin A(1–13). A substantial change in the light scattering intensity was noted for DMPC containing dynorphin A(1–17) near at Tm but not for the system containing A(1–13). Besides, reversible change in morphology of bilayer, from small lipid particles to large vesicles, was observed by optical microscope at Tm. These results indicate that lysis and fusion of the lipid bilayers are induced by the presence of dynorphin A(1–17). It turned out that the bilayers are spontaneously aligned to the magnetic field above Tm in parallel with the bilayer surface, because a single 31P NMR signal appeared at the perpendicular position of the 31P chemical shift tensor. In contrast, no such magnetic ordering was noted for DMPC bilayers containing dynorphin A(1–13). It was proved that DMPC bilayer in the presence of dynorphin A(1–17) forms vesicles above Tm, because leakage of potassium ion from the lipid bilayers was observed by potassium ion-selective electrode after adding Triton X-100. It is concluded that DMPC bilayer consists of elongated vesicles with the long axis parallel to the magnetic field, together with the data of microscopic observation of cylindrical shape of the vesicles. Further, the long axis is found to be at least five times longer than the short axis of the elongated vesicles in view of simulated 31P NMR lineshape

A Fluorescent-Based HPLC Assay Using 4-Chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1, 3-diazole as Derivatization Agent for the Determination of Iron Bioavailability to Red Tide Phytoplankton

A new fluorescent-based high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay using 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-C1) was employed to determine iron (Fe) bioavailability to red tide phytoplankton in seawater. After growing four red tide species (Prymnesium parvum, Heterosigma akashiwo, Eutreptiella gymnastica, and Oltmannsiellopsis viridis) in f/2 artificial seawater under different Fe conditions, soluble extracts of the phytoplankton were derivatized using different fluorescent reagents (NBD-C1, 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole; NBD-F, fluorescamine, and ortho-phthalaldehyde; OPA) followed by HPLC assay. Among the four fluorescent reagents, NBD-C1 was most effective for derivatizing the phytoplankton extracts which would consist of proteins and peptides. HPLC chromatograms of the NBD-derivatized extracts showed gradual changes (decrease/increase) of six peaks for different Fe conditions. Four of the peaks decreased, while two peaks increased with the increase of Fe concentrations in the culture medium. Considering the consistency and sensitivity of chromatogram peaks E and A to different Fe, phosphate and nitrate conditions for all phytoplankton studied, the ratio of these two peaks (IE/A) has been proposed as the indicator of Fe bioavailability to red tide phytoplankton.In Pres

対話的な手法によるふれあい遊びの実践 ―幼稚園2 歳児クラスの表現遊びを通して―

This study sought to implement imaginary play for a class of 2-year-olds in preschool. A teacher was asked to describe her views on guidance and her specific considerations while looking at video recordings on the implementation of that play. This study also sought to examine the considerations made by and guidance provided by that teacher during implementation of interactive play through dialogue. Taking into account the level of development of 2-year-olds, Teacher A emphasized the association between creation of a play environment in which young children feel at ease and a feeling of normalcy. Teacher A also implemented play as a way to foster a sense of ease by starting with simple movements. Moreover, Teacher A also took into account the process of play in order to encourage children to fully engage in free play. Individual connections with children were taken into account, and even when the teacher held a child’ s hand the teacher provided assistance in her estimate so that the child would naturally hold other child’s hand and thus maintain their relationship. Such steps were found to create a comfortable environment. Play was found to develop through dialogue. The teacher would frequently look at a child and modify her behavior, talking to the child so that the child gradually grew accustomed to the interaction. The teacher also predicted the child’s actions and talked to the child at the appropriate time

幼児の「表現する過程」を大切にした劇つくりの実際

In this paper, we examined the children’s growth, and the teacher’s supports through making up a dramatic play of 5 year-children in kindergarten. There, the teachers valued the process of forming children’s expression. The enhanced relationship between the teacher and the children, influenced on the variety of the children’s body expression, strengthened their fellowship, strengthened the brief that they made up the play by themselves, and it also changed the conscience of the teacher against the dramatic play festival. Through making up the dramatic play focusing on the process, not the result, it became clear that the children could enjoy the body expression in cooperation, between teacher, and also between friends

子どもの劇つくりにおける保育者の援助

In this paper, we examined the way how one teacher (woman) supports the children’s dramatic play of 5-year children in kindergarten. We analyzed the teacher’s words, from a dramatic play activity for forty-five minutes, and eleven categories have been extracted. And that, made clear that the teacher changed her support according to each children’s reactions. We found that the teacher did not teach the expression of children directly, but tried to let them mature their body expressions spontaneously

運動会における身体表現遊びの実際

The research clarified the contents and the methods in educating preschoolers’ body expression, through analyzing the contents and the forms of the body expression activities from the programs at athletic meetings in preschools. The research showed the numbers of the programs for “body expression”, and for “rhythm and dance” , were almost equal. Therefore, the programs were classified into two patterns: “the body expression ”aimed for enjoying the process of making the stories and expressing them, and “the dancing ” aimed for enjoying the rhythm to music

ふれあい遊びにおける双方向性 ―手をつなぐ行為に着目して―

本研究は誰もが広く親しめる遊びを通して，子どもの感性の育成を目指す着眼点を確認するために，ふれあいあそびによる双方向的展開について，手をつなぐ行為に着目して検討をおこなった。 その結果，提示者の遊びを基に個別的な遊びへの展開がみられること，また子ども同士の関わりで遊びが瞬時に変化していくこと，またそれを受けて，提示者が個別的な遊びを全体への遊びへと提案しているなど，子どもたちと提示者の関係において双方向的な遊びの進め方が見られた。手をつなぐ，つながれるという子どもの行為を観察することによって，手をつなぐという積極的な行為と子どもの身体表現の豊かさにも深まりとの関連が示された。 手をつないで動く遊びの意義については，①リズムや動きの共有が容易である ②交流が容易である ③手の動きが制限されるが身体の感覚が伝わりやすい ④表現する役割が明確になる ⑤動きを繰り返すことで一体感や高揚感を感じる ⑥安心感の受け渡しができるという6つの意義を見出した