The influence of selected factors and sport results of endurance horses on their saliva cortisol concentration.

The aim of the study was to define the influence of the selected factors (gender, age, transportation time, riding distance and air temperature during the ride) on the cortisol secretion and finding a correlation between the hormone level and the horses' sport results (veterinary parameters and the ride route parameters). The research was performed on 38 Arabian pure breed horses taking part in the endurance rides. The cortisol level was measured with enzyme-immunological method in saliva samples, taken four times from each horse. In order to verify the differences between the mean results the repeated measures design was applied. The significance of the differences between the mean values was determined by the Tukey test. To evaluate the interrelations between the analysed attributes Pearson's correlation analysis was applied. The cortisol level at rest was not affected by any of the analysed factors. In case of other results, the most significant influence (P < or = 0.05) was related to the gender, as well as the ride distance and air temperature during the ride. Higher cortisol level was noted in mares, horses running the longest distances and at the highest temperatures. A significant increase in the cortisol level was noted when the ride distance was longer. There were no clear correlation between the adrenal cortex activity and the veterinary parameters at different riding speed. High cortisol concentration can negatively affect the heart rate (HR) by increasing it, but it can simultaneously stimulate the body to fight dehydration.

Does the type of exercise affect tryptophan catabolism in horses?

Tryptophan (Trp) is an essential amino acid which metabolises via the kynurenine pathway to generate a number of bioactive substances referred to as kynurenines. Among those are 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HKyn) and quinolinic acid, which are neurotoxic, as well as kynurenic acid (Kyna) and xanthurenic acid (XA), which, similarly to nicotinamide (NAm), show neuroprotective and anti-depressive effects. Routine exercise is known to modulate Trp metabolism in skeletal muscle and is thus believed to reduce the risk of depressive states in humans and laboratory animals. Analogously, it was hypothesised that exercise can influence Trp metabolism in horses as well. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of two different types of exercise on Trp metabolism in horses of the same breed. A total of 32 purebred Arabian horses were involved in the study. The 22 three-year-old racehorses were subjected to short-time intense exercise. Ten other horses were made to perform endurance competitions at a distance of 80 km. Blood samples were collected at rest and following the end of the exercise period. Plasma concentrations of Trp, kynurenine (Kyn), Kyna, 3-HKyn, XA and NAm were determined using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionisation-Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Short-time intense exercise led to an increase in plasma concentrations of Kyn, Kyna and XA. The endurance effort induced an increase in Kyna and a decrease in Trp and NAm levels. Both types of exercise, short-time intensive exercise and endurance exercise induced an increase in Trp metabolites, especially Kyna, and did not induce an increase in Trp level. Thus, from a pathophysiological perspective of the kynurenine pathway's influence on mental state, both types of exercise induced beneficial effects in horses.

Heart rate variability in Konik and purebred Arabian horses in response to different predator vocalisations.

The current predation threat of domestic horses is generally low, and horses do not know predators' frightening cues. We studied whether horses still recognise predation threats. The aim of the study was to analyse the emotional response of purebred Arabian horses (Arabian) and Polish Konik horses (Konik) to an Arabian panther (Panthera pardus nimr) (panther) growl and a grey wolf (Canis lupus) (wolf) howl. Panther vocalisation was known to Arabian ancestors, whereas ancestors of Konik knew wolf vocalisation. The response to the howls of golden jackals (Canis aureus) (jackal), which did not prey on equids, was also studied comparatively. Two groups of 10 adult horses of each breed were subject to predator sounds of one predator daily for 5 min during a turn out on pasture. The test was performed for 18 days in total. The sound of each predator was interchangeably featured from one loudspeaker for 3 days followed by four loudspeakers simultaneously to imitate a group of predators for 3 days. The horses' emotional agitation in response to the sounds was measured based on the parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) using telemetric devices. The results showed that the predators' sounds were identified by horses as stressful or neutral. Horses generally retained their anti-predator responses even in the current habitat, which typically lacks predation cues. The results are not always coherent and may demonstrate that the response is somewhat attenuated. The wolf howl elicited a stronger response in Koniks. The panther growl more strongly influenced Arabians, whereas the jackal howl minimally elicited an agitation in the horses. The differentiated response of the two horse breeds to the three predator species suggests that the response is an innate adaptation to the predation risk in the habitat of the breed ancestors. This response occurs regardless of the emotional arousal specific to a breed, and the frightening cue is not the sound per se but the possible attack of predators. Horses display a type of understanding of the sound meaning. Their HRV response seems to be adequate for the threat signalised by the sound.

UV-vis absorption spectra of 1,4-dialkoxy-2,5-bis[2-(thien-2-yl)ethenyl]benzenes.

Complex theoretical and experimental studies and quantum-chemical calculations were applied to study the UV-vis spectroscopic features of the novel compounds: three stereoisomers of 1,4-diethoxy-2,5-bis[2-(5-methylthien-2-yl)ethenyl]benzene (A-C) and E,E isomer of 1,4-diisopropoxy-2,5-bis[2-(thien-2-yl)ethenyl]benzene (D). These structures are the derivatives of 2,5-bis[2-(thien-2-yl)ethenyl]benzene, and belong to a group of thienyl-PPV family that are able to polymerize due to the presence of pi-conjugated bonding system. It was established that such compounds during electropolymerization are strongly dependent on their stereochemistry and on the eventual presence of substituents in alpha-positions of the tiophene ring. We have obtained a good agreement between the theoretically simulated optical within a framework of TDDFT approach and experimentally measured data. Influence of PMMA polymer matrices on the UV-vis spectra is explored. It is shown that a red wavelength spectral shift is observed only for D compounds and agreement between calculated and experimental spectral data is sufficiently good. This may indicate on different influence of local polymer matrix field on the spectral behaviors of the chromophores with different stereochemistry.

Photoinduced transparency in polypyrrole films.

For the first time we have discovered drastic photoinduced effects in the transparency for the pyrrole films. Photoinduced investigations of transparency were performed for the polypyrroles with different number of the pyrrole rings. We have established a considerable increase of the transparency from 70-75% up to 82-84% for the wavelengths of the probing lasers operating within the 530-1040 nm spectral range. The photoexcitation was performed by nanosecond pulsed polarized Nd-YAG laser generating at 1.34 microm. The phototransparent changes are completely reversible and disappear after switching off the laser treatment. The typical relaxation time for the photoinduced transparency is equal to about 10-20 micros and the changes of the transparency are strictly related with the values of state dipole moments of the polypyrroles. As a possible mechanism for explanation of the observed dependences one can consider existence of the charged trapping levels intra the forbidden energy gaps which effectively interact with the electric strength of the external polarized optical field and state dipole moments of the particular polymers.

Specific features of UV-vis absorption spectra of cis- and trans-polythiophenes.

UV-vis optical spectra of several polythiophene with number of dimers n=1, 5, 10, 15 for cis- and trans-forms were investigated. The study was done theoretically using semi-empirical AM1 (Austin Model 1) and PM3 (Parametric Method 3) methods with the appropriate molecular geometry optimization. The experimental UV-vis absorption spectra were used for verification of the both semi-empirical theoretical models. With the increasing number of dimers a red shift of the absorption edge was observed. Solvent does not play a crucial role on behavior of the absorption spectrum. A comparison of the both semi-empirical methods with the observed experimental absorption spectra is performed. Role of state dipole moments of the investigated polythiophenes in the behavior of the observed UV-vis spectra is discussed. Particular role of pi-conjugated bonds is demonstrated.

Optical spectra of some 6-styrylo-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines.

It was proposed a method of synthesis several 6-styrylo1-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines as promising material for optoelectronics. Particularly, 6-styryl-1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines were prepared by Wadsworth-Emmons reaction. One of advantageous of these materials is stability of their optical spectra versus the possible cis- and trans-transformation. Theoretical and experimental studies of optical absorption and photoluminescence excitation spectra for styryloquinolines were done. They show that the AM1 semi-empirical method gives better results compared to other approaches. We have found that the solvents do not play a role in the behavior of the spectra. The backside-substituted groups do not influence substantially the observed optical spectra.

Third-order nonlinear optical figure of merits for conjugated TTF-quinone molecules.

We have revealed a substantial enhancement of third-order optical figure of merits by the synthesis of a compact molecule possessing the tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) group with two backside C=O groups. Addition of the saturated methylene chain substantially suppresses the third-order optical figure of merits and even local optical hyperpolarizabilities at lambda = 532 nm. Another TTF-derivative molecule possessing ethylenic and acetylenic chains demonstrates large hyperpolarizabilities; however, generally, the figure of merit factor decreases due to the increasing optical losses as a consequence of enhanced linear absorption. At the same time, both of the chromophores have a large nonlinear optical response. General approaches for search and design of the third-order optical materials with improved properties are given.

Changes of coat cover in primitive horses living on a reserve.

Changes in the coat cover are important for mammalian thermoregulation. This is especially true where variable environmental conditions exist throughout the seasons. Coat cover shedding is the replacement of old coat hair with new hair. The process differs in various equids. The aim of the study was to examine the changes in the coat of primitive Polish Konik horses living on a reserve in southeast Poland (50.6319° N). The reserve is located in a temperate climate. The mean temperature is below 0°C in winter (December 8 to March 9) and over 15°C in summer (June 8 to September 8). Five adult mares were included in the study. The study used a specific methodical approach to quantitatively assess coat cover changes. Photos were taken once every 2 wk throughout the whole year to document the state of the mares' coat. MultiScanBase software was used to analyze 260 photos. The percentage of the skin surface covered with short hair in relation to the surface of the body (without the head, neck, and limbs; short hair body [SHB]) was determined. To assess the topography of coat changes, surface parts covered with short hair within 6 regions of the body (shoulder, back, chest, loins, belly, and hindquarters; short hair part [SHP]) were considered separately. The regression coefficient was calculated for the SHB and the air temperature. Correlations in SHP and SHB between the left and right sides of the body were determined. The correlations within the right side of the body concerned particular SHP. As the results show, the coat changes take place at the same time on both sides of the horse's body. In spring, the winter hair is shed, and in the fall, the winter hair grows in longer. High regression (0.901; < 0.0001) proved that air temperature strongly affected the coat changes. The most important increase of SHB occurs in April and the first half of May, whereas the main decrease of SHB takes place in September. Changes between SHP are highly correlated (0.967-0.994; < 0.05). Spring and fall coat changes demonstrate that the shoulders, back, and loins require the winter cover for a longer time than the chest and belly, whereas the hindquarters are the least demanding in this respect. The phenomenon may be associated with, among others, the stronger effect of rain and snow on the upper parts of the body.

Absorption, fluorescence and second harmonic generation in Cr³âº-doped BiB3O6 glasses.

Synthesis, spectral properties and photoinduced nonlinear optical effects of chromium-doped BiB3O6 glass are studied in the present paper. Absorption, excitation and time resolved luminescence spectra are presented and luminescence decay behavior is discussed. Detailed analysis of the obtained spectra (assignment of the most prominent spectral features in terms of the corresponding Cr(3+) energy levels, crystal field strength Dq, Racah parameters B and C) was performed. A weak photostimulated second harmonic generation signal was found to increase drastically due to poling by proton implantation in the investigated sample.