Trained quantity discrimination in invasive red-eared slider and a comparison with the native stripe-necked turtle.

Little is known about the behavioral and cognitive traits that best predict invasion success. Evidence is mounting that cognitive performance correlates with survival and fecundity, two pivotal factors for the successful establishment of invasive populations. We assessed the quantity discrimination ability of the globally invasive red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). We further compared it to that of the native stripe-necked turtle (Mauremys sinensis), which has been previously evaluated for its superior quantity discrimination ability. Specifically, our experimental designs aimed to quantify the learning ability as numerosity pairs increased in difficulty (termed fixed numerosity tests), and the immediate response when turtles were presented with varied challenges concurrently in the same tests (termed mixed numerosity tests). Our findings reaffirm the remarkable ability of freshwater turtles to discern numerical differences as close as 9 vs 10 (ratio = 0.9), which was comparable to the stripe-necked turtle's performance. However, the red-eared slider exhibited a moderate decrease in performance in high ratio tests, indicating a potentially enhanced cognitive capacity to adapt to novel challenges. Our experimental design is repeatable and is adaptable to a range of freshwater turtles. These findings emphasize the potential importance of cognitive research to the underlying mechanisms of successful species invasions.

Superior continuous quantity discrimination in a freshwater turtle.

BACKGROUND: Quantity discrimination, the ability to discriminate a magnitude of difference or discrete numerical information, plays a key role in animal behavior. While quantitative ability has been well documented in fishes, birds, mammals, and even in previously unstudied invertebrates and amphibians, it is still poorly understood in reptiles and has never been tested in an aquatic turtle despite the fact that evidence is accumulating that reptiles possess cognitive skills and learning ability. To help address this deficiency in reptiles, we investigated the quantitative ability of an Asian freshwater turtle, Mauremys sinensis, using red cubes on a white background in a trained quantity discrimination task. While spontaneous quantity discrimination methods are thought to be more ecologically relevant, training animals on a quantity discrimination task allows more comparability across taxa. RESULTS: We assessed the turtles' quantitative performance in a series of tests with increasing quantity ratios and numerosities. Surprisingly, the turtles were able to discriminate quantities of up to 9 versus 10 (ratio = 0.9), which shows a good quantitative ability that is comparable to some endotherms. Our results showed that the turtles' quantitative performance followed Weber's law, in which success rate decreased with increasing quantity ratio across a wide range of numerosities. Furthermore, the gradual improvement of their success rate across different experiments and phases suggested that the turtles possess learning ability. CONCLUSIONS: Reptile quantitative ability has long been ignored and therefore is likely under-estimated. More comparative research on numerical cognition across a diversity of species will greatly contribute to a clearer understanding of quantitative ability in animals and whether it has evolved convergently in diverse taxa.

Eight-Channel AC Magnetosusceptometer of Magnetic Nanoparticles for High-Throughput and Ultra-High-Sensitivity Immunoassay.

An alternating-current magnetosusceptometer of antibody-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) was developed for immunomagnetic reduction (IMR). A high-sensitivity, high-critical-temperature superconducting quantum interference device was used in the magnetosusceptometer. Minute levels of biomarkers of early-stage neurodegeneration diseases were detectable in serum, but measuring each biomarker required approximately 4 h. Hence, an eight-channel platform was developed in this study to fit minimal screening requirements for Alzheimer's disease. Two consistent results were measured for three biomarkers, namely Aß40, Aß42, and tau protein, per human specimen. This paper presents the instrument configuration as well as critical characteristics, such as the low noise level variations among channels, a high signal-to-noise ratio, and the coefficient of variation for the biomarkers' IMR values. The instrument's ultrahigh sensitivity levels for the three biomarkers and the substantially shorter total measurement time in comparison with the previous single- and four-channels platforms were also demonstrated in this study. Thus, the eight-channel instrument may serve as a powerful tool for clinical high-throughput screening of Alzheimer's disease.

Diagnostic Value of Echocardiography Combined with Residual Cholesterol for Asymptomatic Myocardial Ischaemia in Coronary Artery Disease.

This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of combined echocardiography and residual cholesterol in asymptomatic myocardial ischaemia. One hundred and fifty-seven patients were seen at Hefei BOE Hospital from 2019 to 2022. The patients were divided into two groups, the observation group (n=90, confirmed asymptomatic myocardial ischaemia) and the control group (n=67, negative diagnosis), based on coronary angiography. The observation group had significantly higher residual cholesterol levels (p=0.001). A combined approach of echocardiography and serum residual cholesterol values showed statistically higher accuracy (p<0.05), with ROC curve analysis supporting the superiority of this method [AUC 0.788 (0.711-0.865), Yoden index 0.576]. It also demonstrated higher sensitivity (88.9%) and specificity (68.7%). The study concluded that combined echocardiography and serum residual cholesterol testing offer superior diagnostic efficacy and practicality for asymptomatic myocardial ischaemia, recommending it for the clinical use. Key Words: Echocardiography, Residual cholesterol, Asymptomatic myocardial ischaemia, Diagnosis.

Hidden social complexity behind vocal and acoustic communication in non-avian reptiles.

Social interactions are inevitable in the lives of most animals, since most essential behaviours require interaction with conspecifics, such as mating and competing for resources. Non-avian reptiles are typically viewed as solitary animals that predominantly use their vision and olfaction to communicate with conspecifics. Nevertheless, in recent years, evidence is mounting that some reptiles can produce sounds and have the potential for acoustic communication. Reptiles that can produce sound have an additional communicative channel (in addition to visual/olfactory channels), which could suggest they have a higher communicative complexity, the evolution of which is assumed to be driven by the need of social interactions. Thus, acoustic reptiles may provide an opportunity to unveil the true social complexity of reptiles that are usually thought of as solitary. This review aims to reveal the hidden social interactions behind the use of sounds in non-avian reptiles. Our review suggests that the potential of vocal and acoustic communication and the complexity of social interactions may be underestimated in non-avian reptiles, and that acoustic reptiles may provide a great opportunity to uncover the coevolution between sociality and communication in non-avian reptiles. This article is part of the theme issue 'The power of sound: unravelling how acoustic communication shapes group dynamics'.

[SERS spectroscopy study of three pathogenic bacteria].

The SERS spectra of staphylococcus aureus, proteus, and Escherichia coli was obtained on colloidal Ag nanoparticles prepared by the microwave method with the portable Raman spectrometer. Staphylococcus aureus have obvious Raman vibrating peak at 725, 1 330 and 1 450 cm(-1), proteus have obvious Raman vibrating peaks at 650,725,950, 1 325 and 1 463 cm(-1), while E. coli have obvious Raman vibrating peaks at 650, 950, 1 125, 1 242,1 320 and 1 457 cm(-1). Each peak was assigned preliminarily. Not only the position of Raman vibration peaks but also the intensity of the three bacteria is obviously different, so SERS can be used for identification and distinction of E. coli, staphylococcus aureus and proteus.

A Novel Detection Platform for Shrimp White Spot Syndrome Virus Using an ICP11-Dependent Immunomagnetic Reduction (IMR) Assay.

Shrimp white spot disease (WSD), which is caused by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), is one of the world's most serious shrimp diseases. Our objective in this study was to use an immunomagnetic reduction (IMR) assay to develop a highly sensitive, automatic WSSV detection platform targeted against ICP11 (the most highly expressed WSSV protein). After characterizing the magnetic reagents (Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles coated with anti ICP11), the detection limit for ICP11 protein using IMR was approximately 2 x 10(-3) ng/ml, and the linear dynamic range of the assay was 0.1~1 x 10(6) ng/ml. In assays of ICP11 protein in pleopod protein lysates from healthy and WSSV-infected shrimp, IMR signals were successfully detected from shrimp with low WSSV genome copy numbers. We concluded that this IMR assay targeting ICP11 has potential for detecting the WSSV.

Synovial sarcoma of the neck masquerading as a malignant second branchial cleft cyst.

Synovial sarcoma is an uncommon, aggressive malignant tumor of the soft tissues primarily involving the extremities of young adults. Head and neck synovial sarcoma is rare, and its diagnosis and therapy are still challenging.We report a case of a young patient with synovial sarcoma, clinically masquerading as cystic mass of the neck and malignant second branchial cleft cyst. The pathological diagnosis of the sarcoma was confirmed by a multimodality diagnostic protocol, including histological, immunohistochemical and molecular genetic analysis. The patient underwent complete surgical excision followed by postoperative radiotherapy and recovered well.