Noxious stimulation induces self-protective behavior in bumblebees

It has been widely stated that insects do not show self-protective behavior towards noxiously-stimulated body parts, but this claim has never been empirically tested. Here, we tested whether an insect species displays a type of self-protective behavior: self-grooming a noxiously-stimulated site. We touched bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) on the antenna with a noxiously-heated (65°C) probe and found that, in the first two minutes after this stimulus, bees groomed their touched antenna more than their untouched antenna and more than bees that were touched with an unheated probe or not touched at all. Our results present evidence that bumblebees display self-protective behavior. We discuss the potential neural mechanisms of this behavior and the implications for the topic of insect pain

Charging electric vehicles on long trips and the willingness to pay to reduce waiting for charging. Stated preference survey in Norway

Technological developments in charging speed and battery capacity are leading to an increased use of electric vehicles (EV) for long trips, but the charging infrastructure network is too scarce to satisfy the growing energy needs. Few public charger stations are available outside urban areas, triggering long queues waiting for a vacant charger. A better understanding of charging behaviour on long trips is needed to optimise the provision and distribution of charging facilities. This research contributes to existing literature by estimating the willingness to pay for reducing waiting time for charging, as well as understanding the role of explanatory variables in influencing decisions about charging at public charging stations on long trips. Responses from a stated preference (SP) survey in Norway in 2021 were analysed with a mixed logit model. Results showed that price, waiting time, charging speed and facilities were significant variables for station characteristics, while for trip features, the distance to destination and remaining range, also play a significant role. Finally, if deciding to charge, respondents to charge the battery to a higher level rather than a small top-up. There is extensive heterogeneity in preferences across travellers

Non-numerical strategies used by bees to solve numerical cognition tasks

We examined how bees solve a visual discrimination task with stimuli commonly used in numerical cognition studies. Bees performed well on the task, but additional tests showed that they had learned continuous (non-numerical) cues. A network model using biologically plausible visual feature filtering and a simple associative rule was capable of learning the task using only continuous cues inherent in the training stimuli, with no numerical processing. This model was also able to reproduce behaviours that have been considered in other studies indicative of numerical cognition. Our results support the idea that a sense of magnitude may be more primitive and basic than a sense of number. Our findings highlight how problematic inadvertent continuous cues can be for studies of numerical cognition. This remains a deep issue within the field that requires increased vigilance and cleverness from the experimenter. We suggest ways of better assessing numerical cognition in non-speaking animals, including assessing the use of all alternative cues in one test, using cross-modal cues, analysing behavioural responses to detect underlying strategies, and finding the neural substrate

Molecular benchmarks of a SARS-CoV-2 epidemic.

To access publisher's full text version of this article, please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field or click on the hyperlink at the top of the page marked DownloadA pressing concern in the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic and other viral outbreaks, is the extent to which the containment measures are halting the viral spread. A straightforward way to assess this is to tally the active cases and the recovered ones throughout the epidemic. Here, we show how epidemic control can be assessed with molecular information during a well characterized epidemic in Iceland. We demonstrate how the viral concentration decreased in those newly diagnosed as the epidemic transitioned from exponential growth phase to containment phase. The viral concentration in the cases identified in population screening decreased faster than in those symptomatic and considered at high risk and that were targeted by the healthcare system. The viral concentration persists in recovering individuals as we found that half of the cases are still positive after two weeks. We demonstrate that accumulation of mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genome can be exploited to track the rate of new viral generations throughout the different phases of the epidemic, where the accumulation of mutations decreases as the transmission rate decreases in the containment phase. Overall, the molecular signatures of SARS-CoV-2 infections contain valuable epidemiological information that can be used to assess the effectiveness of containment measures

Comparison of rotating cylinder and loop methods for testing CO2 corrosion inhibitors

A study was carried out to investigate the effect of various hydrodynamic parameters on the corrosion rate of low carbon steel in CO environments in the presence of inhibitors. Two different flow geometries, rotating cylinder and pipe flow, were studied simultaneously in the same electrolyte within a glass loop. Comparisons were also carried out at room temperature, pH 4-6, partial pressure of CO 1 bar, and velocity 0-13 m s. The hydrodynamic conditions studied cover the range from stagnant to highly turbulent flow. The corrosion process was monitored using polarisation resistance, potentiodynamic sweep, and electrochemical impedance. Comparison of the two flow geometries was carried out in terms of the hydrodynamics, mass transfer rates, CO corrosion rates, and corrosion mechanisms. The measured mass transfer rates were found to agree well with previously published correlations for the rotating cylinder and straight pipe flow. In the case of CO corrosion without inhibitors, it was possible to achieve good agreement between corrosion rates in the two flow geometries by ensuring the same water chemistry and mass transfer conditions. This conclusion is valid for the case when no protective corrosion product or scale is, present. With inhibitors present, the performance of both amine and imidazoline based inhibitors measured using the rotating cylinder was identical to that in the straight pipe flow geometry. The performance of the inhibitors was not significantly affected by flowrate in the range 2-10 m s (corresponding to shear stresses of 13 and 222 Pa respectively)

The Hopen Member:a new member of the Triassic De Geerdalen Formation, Svalbard

Hopen is a solitary island of Upper Triassic strata in the south-eastern most corner of the Svalbard archipelago. Outcrop studies throughout the island, supported by palynology, magnetostratigraphy and geological modelling have led to the identification of a new member unit within the upper part of the De Geerdalen Formation, the Hopen Member. Based on the distinctive visual properties of the strata observed in the mountain sides of Hopen, a recorded change in sediment style and an increase in the concentration of marine palynomorphs, the unit is well expressed. The Hopen Member represents an extensive, ~70 m thick succession of marine influenced shale and subordinate sandstones, distinguishing itself from the paralic and non-marine clastic sediment packages of the remaining part of the De Geerdalen Formation. The Hopen Member is traceable throughout the entire island, given its prominent darker colouration due to the lateral extent of its marine mudstones, unlike the bed packages below, which are laterally inextensive and more sandstone rich. Palynological and magnetostratigraphic studies have indicated an age of latest Carnian to earliest Norian for the member. With the age and stratigraphical position of the member being taken into account, it is possible to define this unit as a time equivalent to that of the Isfjorden Member of central Spitsbergen. However, its distinctively different lithological properties call for the creation of a new lithostratigraphic unit as opposed to simple correlation