Perirhinal cortex learns a predictive map of the task environment.

Goal-directed tasks involve acquiring an internal model, known as a predictive map, of relevant stimuli and associated outcomes to guide behavior. Here, we identified neural signatures of a predictive map of task behavior in perirhinal cortex (Prh). Mice learned to perform a tactile working memory task by classifying sequential whisker stimuli over multiple training stages.

Effects of a Novel Consensus Bacterial 6-Phytase Variant on Growth Performance and Bone Ash of Broilers Fed Complex Diets Highly Deficient in Minerals, Digestible Amino Acids and Energy through 42 Days of Age.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of increasing the dose of a novel consensus bacterial 6-phytase variant expressed in (PhyG) in broilers fed complex diets highly deficient in minerals, dig AA, and energy. Diets were a nutrient-adequate control (PC); a nutrient-reduced control (NC) formulated with a reduction in available P (avP) by 0.199%, Ca by 0.

Diversity of fungal microbiome obtained from plant rhizoplanes.

Microbial communities, and their ecological importance, have been investigated in several habitats. However, so far, most studies could not describe the closest microbial interactions and their functionalities. This study investigates the co-occurring interactions between fungi and bacteria in plant rhizoplanes and their potential functions.

PERIRHINAL CORTEX LEARNS A PREDICTIVE MAP (INTERNAL MODEL) OF THE TASK ENVIRONMENT.

Goal-directed tasks involve acquiring an internal model, known as a predictive map, of relevant stimuli and associated outcomes to guide behavior. Here, we identified neural signatures of a predictive map of task behavior in perirhinal cortex (Prh). Mice learned to perform a tactile working memory task by classifying sequential whisker stimuli over multiple training stages.

Evaluating a novel consensus bacterial 6-phytase variant on growth performance of broilers fed U.S. commercial diets deficient in nutrients and energy through 63 days of age.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a novel consensus bacterial 6-phytase variant expressed in Trichoderma reesei (PhyG) in broilers fed corn-soybean meal-based diets with application of dose-specific full nutrient and energy matrix values. Ross 708, straight-run broilers (n = 2,016) were assigned to one of 7 dietary treatments, with 12 replicate pens/diet and 24 birds/pen. Diets were a nutrient adequate control (PC), nutrient reduced negative controls 1, 2, and 3 (NC1, NC2, and NC3) with reductions in available phosphorus (avP) by 0.

Differences in fear response strategy and stress susceptibility amongst four different commercial layer strains reared cage free.

Different commercial lines of laying hens may show varying levels of fearfulness in response to stressful events or situations. It is important to understand the differences in fear response and stress susceptibility. In this study, four commercial laying hen lines reared from hatch to 32 weeks of age in a cage free system Strains consisted of a brown egg laying line (Hyline Brown; HB) and three white egg laying lines (W36, W80, and LSL).

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Taxa Show Variable Patterns of Micro-Scale Dispersal in Prairie Restorations.

Human land use disturbance is a major contributor to the loss of natural plant communities, and this is particularly true in areas used for agriculture, such as the Midwestern tallgrass prairies of the United States. Previous work has shown that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) additions can increase native plant survival and success in plant community restorations, but the dispersal of AMF in these systems is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the dispersal of AMF taxa inoculated into four tallgrass prairie restorations.

Experimental monochromatic light-emitting diode fixture impacts Pekin duck stress and eye development.

Poultry color perception of artificial light-emitting diode (LED) lighting mediates bird physiology and behavior; however, very limited research has focused on how changes in LED light color affect these same parameters in Pekin ducks. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to determine how four LED bulbs emitting various portions of the visible light spectrum - monochromatic blue (BLUE), monochromatic green (GREEN), monochromatic red (RED), and white (WHITE) - impact the stress, fear responses, eye development, and growth of 768 straight run Pekin ducks. Elevated plasma corticosterone concentration and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio was observed in BLUE and RED ducks compared to WHITE and GREEN ducks (P = 0.

A comparison of white/red and white/blue LED light fixtures on Pekin duck production, stress and behaviour.

1. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of two mixed LED light spectra on duck production, stress and fear responses. Pekin ducks were reared under either white/red (WR) or white/blue (WB) LED light.

Democratization of fungal highway columns as a tool to investigate bacteria associated with soil fungi.

Bacteria-fungi interactions (BFIs) are essential in ecosystem functioning. These interactions are modulated not only by local nutritional conditions but also by the physicochemical constraints and 3D structure of the environmental niche. In soils, the unsaturated and complex nature of the substrate restricts the dispersal and activity of bacteria.

Future Directions in Sports-Related Concussion Management.

This article focuses on 3 concepts that continue to be investigated in the search for the holy grail of concussion-a valid diagnostic test. Imaging advances are discussed with optimism that functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging may be available clinically. Biomarkers and the use of genetic tests are covered.

Root pathogen diversity and composition varies with climate in undisturbed grasslands, but less so in anthropogenically disturbed grasslands.

Soil-borne pathogens structure plant communities, shaping their diversity, and through these effects may mediate plant responses to climate change and disturbance. Little is known, however, about the environmental determinants of plant pathogen communities. Therefore, we explored the impact of climate gradients and anthropogenic disturbance on root-associated pathogens in grasslands.

Effects of Ultraviolet Light Supplementation on Pekin Duck Production, Behavior, and Welfare.

Ducks, like other domestic poultry species, can visualize the ultraviolet (UV) portion of the light spectrum; however, the importance of UV light radiation in artificially lit duck growout facilities remains unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of UV light supplementation on Pekin duck production parameters, eye development, stress, and fear. Pekin ducks were reared with light-emitting diode (LED) lights supplemented with UV light or just LED lights (control).

A Randomized Feasibility Trial of a Novel, Integrative, and Intensive Virtual Rehabilitation Program for Service Members Post-Acquired Brain Injury.

Introduction: Acquired Brain Injury, whether resulting from Traumatic brain injury (TBI) or Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA), represent major health concerns for the Department of Defense and the nation. TBI has been referred to as the "signature" injury of recent U.S.

Bacterial spores, from ecology to biotechnology.

The production of a highly specialized cell structure called a spore is a remarkable example of a survival strategy displayed by bacteria in response to challenging environmental conditions. The detailed analysis and description of the process of sporulation in selected model organisms have generated a solid background to understand the cellular processes leading to the formation of this specialized cell. However, much less is known regarding the ecology of spore-formers.

Oxalic acid, a molecule at the crossroads of bacterial-fungal interactions.

Oxalic acid is the most ubiquitous and common low molecular weight organic acid produced by living organisms. Oxalic acid is produced by fungi, bacteria, plants, and animals. The aim of this review is to give an overview of current knowledge about the microbial cycling of oxalic acid through ecosystems.

Disturbance reduces the differentiation of mycorrhizal fungal communities in grasslands along a precipitation gradient.

Given that mycorrhizal fungi play key roles in shaping plant communities, greater attention should be focused on factors that determine the composition of mycorrhizal fungal communities and their sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbance. We investigate changes in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal community composition across a precipitation gradient in North American grasslands as well as changes occurring with varying degrees of site disturbance that have resulted in invasive plant establishment. We find strong differentiation of AM fungal communities in undisturbed remnant grasslands across the precipitation gradient, whereas communities in disturbed grasslands were more homogeneous.

Evaluating methods to visualize patterns of genetic differentiation on a landscape.

With advances in sequencing technology, research in the field of landscape genetics can now be conducted at unprecedented spatial and genomic scales. This has been especially evident when using sequence data to visualize patterns of genetic differentiation across a landscape due to demographic history, including changes in migration. Two recent model-based visualization methods that can highlight unusual patterns of genetic differentiation across a landscape, SpaceMix and EEMS, are increasingly used.

A feasibility study to determine the benefits of upper extremity virtual rehabilitation therapy for coping with chronic pain post-cancer surgery.

Background: Persistent pain in shoulder and arm following post-surgical breast cancer treatment can lead to cognitive and physical deficits. Depression is also common in breast cancer survivors. Virtual reality therapy with integrative cognitive and physical rehabilitation has not been clinically trialed for this population.

Phylogenetically Structured Differences in rRNA Gene Sequence Variation among Species of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Their Implications for Sequence Clustering.

Unlabelled: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form mutualisms with plant roots that increase plant growth and shape plant communities. Each AM fungal cell contains a large amount of genetic diversity, but it is unclear if this diversity varies across evolutionary lineages. We found that sequence variation in the nuclear large-subunit (LSU) rRNA gene from 29 isolates representing 21 AM fungal species generally assorted into genus- and species-level clades, with the exception of species of the genera Claroideoglomus and Entrophospora However, there were significant differences in the levels of sequence variation across the phylogeny and between genera, indicating that it is an evolutionarily constrained trait in AM fungi.

A Rehabilitation First-Tournament Between Teams of Nursing Home Residents with Chronic Stroke.

Purpose: This study describes the BrightArm™ Duo virtual reality system (Bright Cloud International Corp., Highland Park, NJ) and determines its clinical benefit for maintenance of upper extremity function in nursing home residents who are chronic poststroke.

Materials And Methods: Participants sat at a low-friction robotic table with tilt and lift capability and interacted with serious games through computerized supports that measured forearm movement and grasp.

Integrative rehabilitation of residents chronic post-stroke in skilled nursing facilities: the design and evaluation of the BrightArm Duo.

Purpose: To describe the novel BrightArm Duo bimanual upper extremity (UE) rehabilitation system; to determine its technology acceptance and clinical benefit for older hemiplegic participants.

Methods: The system table tilted to adjust arm gravity loading. Participants wore arm supports that sensed grasp strength and wrist position on the table.

Novel integrative virtual rehabilitation reduces symptomatology of primary progressive aphasia--a case report.

Purpose: BrightBrainer™ integrative cognitive rehabilitation system evaluation in an Adult Day Program by a subject with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) assumed to be of the mixed nonfluent/logopenic variant, and for determination of potential benefits.

Methods: The subject was a 51-year-old Caucasian male diagnosed with PPA who had attended an Adult Day Program for 18 months prior to BrightBrainer training. The subject interacted with therapeutic games using a controller that measured 3D hand movements and flexion of both index fingers.