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Hélène LM Ruel,1,2 Ryota Watanabe,1,2 Marina C Evangelista,1,2 Guy Beauchamp,3 Paulo V Steagall1,2 1Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada; 2Quebec Animal Pharmacology Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada; 3Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada Purpose: Quantitative sensory testing has been used to assess the somatosensory system. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of electrical (ENT), mechanical (MNT) and thermal (TNT) nociceptive testing and the effect of a conditioning stimulus on MNT. Patients and methods: Sixteen healthy client-owned dogs were included in this study. Stimulation was applied bilaterally to the dorsal and plantar aspect of the metacarpus and metatarsus respectively, using transcutaneous electrical stimulator, algometry and a cold nociceptive device in a randomized order until a behavior response was observed or a cut-off reached. Tests were performed twice (60 seconds apart) by two observers. Retesting was performed 5 hours later. The diffuse noxious inhibitory control was tested by comparing MNT pre- and post-conditioning stimuli. Sham-testing was performed for ENT and TNT. Statistical analysis included linear model and intra-class correlation coefficient (P

Recent policy initiatives in England have focused on promoting "interactive" teaching in schools, with a clear expectation that this will lead to improvements in learning. This expectation is based on the perceived success of such approaches in other parts of the world. At the same time, there has been a large investment in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources, and particularly in interactive whiteboard technology. This paper explores the idea of interactive teaching in relation to the interactive technology which might be used to support it. It explains the development of a framework for the detailed analysis of teaching and learning in activity settings which is designed to represent the features and relationships involved in interactivity. When applied to a case study of interactive teaching during a lesson involving a variety of technology-based activities, the framework reveals a confusion of purpose in students' use of an ICT resource that limits the potential for learning when students are working independently. Discussion of relationships between technical and pedagogical interactivity points a way forward concerning greater focus on learning goals during activity in order to enable learners to be more autonomous in exploiting ICT's affordances, and the conclusion identifies the variables and issues which need to be considered in future research which will illuminate this path.

When animals face time constraints, antipredator vigilance is expected to decrease in patches with higher food density. Indeed, sacrifices in safety are worthwhile in rich food patches that allow substantial foraging gains in response to a decrease in vigilance. This prediction has received little empirical attention. I tested this prediction in fall- staging Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla (L., 1766)) using the frequency of looks while foraging as a proxy for vigilance. Fall- staging sandpipers face time constraints, as individuals must accumulate fat rapidly before undertaking their long migration south. Controlling for known correlates of vigilance, such as distance to obstructive cover, bird density, and position in the flock, the frequency of looks decreased as predicted when the density of food in a patch was higher. That vigilance can vary with food density is relevant for observational studies of vigilance. When food density is positively correlated with group size, food density can become a confounding factor in the well-known negative relationship between vigilance and group size. Key words: Calidris pusilla, food density, predation risk, Semipalmated Sandpiper, vigilance. Il est prevu que, quand ils se trouvent dans des parcelles de forte densite de nourriture, les animaux aux prises avec des contraintes de temps devraient faire preuve d'une moins grande vigilance envers les predateurs. De fait, des compromis en matiere de securite en valent le cout dans des parcelles riches en nourriture qui permettent des gains alimentaires importants en reponse a une baisse de la vigilance. Cette prediction n'a pas recu beaucoup d'attention empirique. Je l'ai testee chez des becasseaux semipalmes (Calidris pusilla (L., 1766)) en halte migratoire automnale en utilisant la frequence des regards durant l'alimentation comme indicateur de la vigilance. Durant la halte migratoire automnale, les becasseaux semipalmes font face a des contraintes de temps puisque les individus doivent accumuler rapidement des graisses avant d'entreprendre leur longue migration vers le sud. En tenant compte de correlats connus de la vigilance tels que la distance jusqu'a un couvert obstructif, la densite d'oiseaux et la position dans le groupe d'oiseaux, il a ete determine que la frequence des regards diminuait comme prevu quand la densite de nourriture dans une parcelle etait elevee. Le fait que la vigilance puisse varier en fonction de la densite de nourriture est une constatation importante pour les etudes observationnelles sur la vigilance. Quand la densite de nourriture est positivement correlee a la taille du groupe, elle peut constituer un facteur de confusion dans la relation negative bien etablie entre la vigilance et la taille du groupe. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: Calidris pusilla, densite de nourriture, risque de predation, becasseau semipalme, vigilance., Introduction Many species of birds monitor their surroundings while foraging to detect potential threats like predators (Elgar 1989). Given that antipredator vigilance often interferes with foraging, animals should reduce their [...]

ABSTRACT. Levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and total mercury (Hg) were assessed in samples of muscle, kidney, and liver from caribou (Rangifer tarandus; n = 317) harvested in two [...]