Biology 2 Articles

Republic of the Philippines
ASIAN PACIFIC CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, INC.

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, & MATHEMATICS STRAND
Block 2 Brgy. Cristo Rey, Capas, Tarlac
RESEARCH / JOURNAL CRITIQUING
GENERAL BIOLOGY 2
First Semester S.Y. 2023-2024
NAME: Ramos, Ma.Veronica S._____________ Score________

Year & section: _12 – STEM Hosea____________ Date: _________
Topic/ Lesson: Lesson 1 Reproduction and Development
Title:
Reproductive biology of the sea cucumber Holothuria
sanctori (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea)
Author/s / Researcher/s:
PABLO G. NAVARRO, SARA GARCÍA-SANZ, FERNANDO TUYA
What is this about?:
In this study, we aimed to investigate the reproductive biology of H. sanctori at the island
of Gran Canaria. Specifically, we studied the annual reproductive pattern through the
gonad index, and created a macro- and microscopic scale of the different maturity stages
of female and male gonads in order to assess the sex ratio of the species and the size and
weight at first maturity.
Why is the topic important?
1. It is important for conservation, sustainable management, and a deeper
understanding of marine ecosystems.
What was done?
Gonad index
Animals were taken out of the fridge the following day after collection, and left for 2 to
3 minutes in a plastic tray to drain. The total length (TL) was measured, from mouth to
anus, with a metric tape to the nearest 0.5 cm. Each individual was then weighed
with an electronic scale to the nearest 0.01 g (TW). The ventral part of each animal was
dissected and the entire gonad was removed, including the germinal tubules, and then
towel-dried and weighed to the nearest 0.01 g (GW). Following removal of the internal
organs and excess of coelomic fluid, the gutted body weight (GBW) was determined to
the nearest 0.01 g.
The gonad index was subsequently calculated using the ratio between the gonad weight
and the GBW through the formula (Conand 1981, 1993b, Ramofafia et al. 2001, Asha
and Muthiah 2008, Gaudron et al. 2008, Kohler et al. 2009): GI = × GW GBW 100 All
gonads were fixed using 10% formalin and stored for later macroscopic and microscopic
analysis (Shiell and Uthicke 2005)
Macro and microscopic analysis of gonad tubules Maturity stages were established
according to the physical characteristics of the tubules (length, diameter, colour and
branching). We used the following maturity stages (modification by Shiell and Uthicke
2005 of Conand 1981): - Stage I: Resting or indeterminate tubules. - Stage II: Growing
tubules. - Stage III: Mature tubules. - Stage IV: Partly spawned tubules. - Stage V: Spent
tubules.
Size and weight at first maturity First sexual maturity was defined as the size (LT50) or
gutted body weight (GBW50) at which the gonads of 50% of the individuals were
mature. It was determined by plotting the percentage of individuals with mature
gonads against size or GBW classes (Conand 1981). The size was categorized into 10-
mm classes and the GBW into 10-g classes (Toral and Martínez 2007). Additionally, the
total weight at first maturity (TW50) was calculated following the same procedure, but
with 25-g weight classes.
Key Results:
This key results appears to be describing the results of a scientific study or survey related
to a species called H. sanctori, focusing on aspects such as the sample size, gonad
presence, size distribution, and seasonal variations. Let's break down each of the three
sections:
The first one is the sample size and Gonad Presence.

- A total of 542 H. sanctori individuals were collected or observed.
- Out of these 542 individuals, 222 (40.96%) did not exhibit any visible gonads.
- The 222 individuals without visible gonads were further categorized by season and
location as follows:
- Winter: 105 individuals
- Spring: 41 individuals
- Summer: 9 individuals
- Autumn: 67 individuals
- Distribution by sites:
- PC: 106 individuals (47.75%)
- RV: 65 individuals (29.28%)
- SN: 51 individuals (22.97%)
The second is the Size Distribution

- The mean size (TL, possibly "total length") of H. sanctori was 209.85 ± 27.53 mm.
- The modal size (most common size) was 205 mm.
- Size ranged from 115 to 300 mm.
- Individuals smaller than 150 mm and larger than 270 mm were not common.
- The mean GBW (possibly "gonad body weight") ranged between 34.42 g and 175.76
g, with an overall mean GBW of 100.06 ± 23.61 g.
And lastly, the Seasonal Gonad Index Variations

- The study observed variations in the gonad index (GI) of H. sanctori throughout
different seasons.
- Maximum GI values for males and females were recorded in June and July, during
the summer season.
- During the winter season, the gonads gradually decreased in size until they
disappeared.
- Statistical analysis (four-way ANOVA) showed that the differences in GI between
summer and winter were significant.
- However, these significant seasonal differences were not consistent for factors like
"Year" and "Site" according to the four-way ANOVA.
- The RV site had significantly higher mean GI values compared to the PC site, as
indicated by ANOVA.
To sum it up, the key results presents findings related to the presence of gonads, size
distribution, and seasonal variations in the gonad index of H. sanctori, with some
statistical analyses highlighting significant differences between seasons and sites. It's
likely part of a scientific research paper or report on the biology or ecology of this
species.
What was left unanswered?

There are no data about the reproduction cycles from other sea cucumber species
inhabiting the Canary Islands.
Potential research area/s:
1. Further research if this study also discuss data about the reproduction
cycles from other sea cucumber species inhabiting
the Canary Islands, such as Holothuria mammata and
Holothuria arguinensis, which share the same habitat
as H. sanctori.
References:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259590657_Reproductive_biology_of_the_se
a_cucumber_Holothuria_sanctori_Echinodermata_Holothuroidea
GENERAL BIOLOGY 2
NAME: Ramos, Ma. Veronica S. Score: ________

Year & section: Grade 12 – STEM Hosea Date: _________
Topic/ Lesson: Feedback Loops
Title:
DNA Damage and Repair: Fruit and Vegetable Effects in a Feeding Trial
Jyh-Lurn Chang, Gang Chen, Cornelia M. Ulrich, Jeannette Bigler, Irena B. King,
Yvonne Schwarz, Shiuying Li, Lin Li, John D. Potter, and Johanna W. Lampe
The aim of this study was to investigate whether 10 servings/day of botanically defined
F&V, with their antioxidants and UGT1A1-inducing compounds, may affect human
endogenous lymphocyte DNA damage, resistance to γ-irradiation damage, and DNA
repair capacity as measured by the Comet assay. In addition, we explored the role of
UGT1A1*28 polymorphism and serum bilirubin on DNA damage.
1. Studying the impact of fruits and vegetables on DNA damage and repair in feeding
trials can provide valuable insights into their potential health benefits, cancer prevention,
and their role in promoting overall well-being.
What was done?

Subjects were a subset of participants who completed a feeding study of diet and
glucuronidation. In the feeding study, healthy, nonsmoking men and women, aged 20 to
40 yr, were recruited from the greater Seattle area through print advertisements, radio,
television, targeted mass mailings, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Web
site, and flyers sent to university campuses. Potential participants were excluded if any
of the following was reported in the eligibility questionnaire: medical history of hepatic,
gastrointestinal or renal disorders; current or planned pregnancy or lactation; weight gain
or loss greater than 10 lb within the last 2 mo; major changes in eating habits within the
past year; antibiotic use within the past 3 mo; body mass index (BMI) greater than 30
kg/m2 or less than 18 kg/m2; exercise regimens that require or result in considerable
short-term dietary changes; current use of prescription or over-the-counter medications
(including oral contraceptives); known allergies to acetaminophen, aspirin, and any
foods used in the feeding trial; regular exposure to passive smoke; occupational exposure
to smoke or organic solvents; food dislikes that would preclude participation in the
feeding trial; alcohol intake of greater than 2 drinks/day (720 ml beer, 240 ml wine, or
90 ml hard liquor); and no interest in participating in a controlled feeding trial. The
Center Institutional Review Board approved the study, and informed consent was
obtained from all participants prior to the start of the study.
Participants completed a 3-day food record, a self-administered food frequency
questionnaire, health and demographic survey, and provided a fasting morning blood
sample for genotyping UGT1A1. Individuals with the desired genotypes and normal
serum alanine aminotransferase levels (5–42 U/l) were contacted and invited to
participate in the feeding study.
Feeding Study Design
The feeding study of diet and glucuronidation was conducted between April 2002 and
May 2005. For a detailed description, see Chang et al. Of the 63 individuals who
completed the study, 39 provided lymphocyte samples from both diet periods for the
Comet assay. The other 24 individuals had finished the parent study before this ancillary
study started.
Study Diets
Participants consumed 2 different diets: a basal diet devoid of F&V and the basal diet
supplemented with 10 servings/day of cruciferous vegetables, soy foods, and citrus
fruits. Details on the diets and dosing are described in Chang et al. Participants were
instructed to consume only the food and beverages provided for them during both diet
periods, and use of dietary supplements was not allowed. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks
were taken home for consumption, and dinner was served at the Human Nutrition Lab
dining room under the supervision of the study staff. Dinner contained the major portion
of the test F&V. Overall compliance with the study diet was assessed using daily food
check-off forms: each checklist covered all foods on the study diets as well as space to
record any additional non study foods consumed. Participants were encouraged to report
any deviations from the study diets and were asked to bring back study foods that were
consumed incompletely so that the staff dietitian could weigh the amount of leftover
food.
Female participants were scheduled for the feeding periods according to time in the
menstrual cycle, with the goal that sample collection for each feeding period occurred
during the same phase. Women were also asked to keep menstrual-cycle diaries.
Specimen Collection
At Day 15 of each feeding period, one 10-h fasting morning blood was collected in a
red-top Vacutainer for serum, and one in a yellow-top tube containing acid citrate
dextrose Solution A for lymphocyte extraction for the Comet assay. Both samples were
sent to Specimen Processing Lab within 1 h of collection for processing. The serum,
aliquotted and stored at −80°C, was used to measure total and direct (conjugated)
bilirubin concentrations. The lymphocyte samples were cryopreserved at−70°C.
Key Results:
Among the 39 pairs of samples, 11 did not yield useable data due to experimental errors
(samples did not survive cryopreservation and thawing process, loss of gel during
experiment, and undetected DNA repair activity due to unknown factors); therefore, data
from only 28 participants (17 women and 11 men) were included in the statistical
analysis. Baseline characteristics of the 28 individuals did not differ by diet order,
although those who were assigned to basal then F&V had lower BMI and a higher
proportion of women than those with periods in the reverse order.
What if it is done to the elderly and they are no longer healthy?

Further research if this could be applied also to elderly.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3799895
GENERAL BIOLOGY 2
NAME: Score: ________

Topic/ Lesson: _____________________________________________
Title:
High Temperature and Low Moisture Reduce the Storage Requirement of Freshly
Harvested True Potato Seeds
Noël Pallais
This study is about the Freshly Harvested True Potato Seeds in High Temperature and
Low Moisture
Optimizing storage conditions for freshly harvested True Potato Seeds by maintaining
high temperature and low moisture levels is crucial for preserving their viability, genetic
material, and overall quality. This contributes to the sustainable use of potato genetic
resources, agricultural productivity, and food security, making it an important aspect of
potato research and farming practices.
What was done?
The experiments were conducted at the International Potato
Center (CIP) in Lima, Peru, using TPS of Serrana x AVRDC
produced in Osomo (41°S), Chile, in April 1991, and provided by
Chile’s Instituto Nacional de Investigacion es Agropecuarias (INIA)
in October 1991. There were three different seed lots, which had
been separated at harvest according to the position of the berries on
the mother plant. Lot A was harvested from the bottom third
position on the mother plant (10–12 weeks postpollination), lot B
from the middle third (8- 10 weeks) and lot C from the top third (6-
8 weeks). SMC on a dry weight basis was determined upon arrival
in Peru with a Sartorius thermocontrol infrared dryer (YTC01L),
and seeds were stored with 7.68% (lot A), 7.24% (lot B) and 7.51%
(lot C) SMC at 15C (±5C) before treatments. Physical characteristics
were determined by separating all bulk lots received into four
different seed sizes using round-hole screens placed over a seed
shaker for 4 min, and 10 random samples of »0.5 g each were weighed
and counted to calculate 100-seed weight. All lots were
carefully reconstituted to their original bulk state before treatments.
Initial laboratory tests based on percentage of germination after 14
days at 20C confined the high viability (>94%) of all lots.
Storage treatments consisted of drying seeds to 3%, 5%, and 7%
SMC at 22C with silica gel, as previously determined in a seed
sample obtained from lot B. Sufficient sublets were sealed airtight
and stored separately at 5 and 45C according to the treatments and
evaluations. Monthly germination and emergence tests were conducted simultaneously
in the laboratory and greenhouse after 1 to
6 months of storage (data not shown). Each month, seed subsamples
were removed from storage at 45C and stored at 5C. These seeds
were tested for germination after 7 months of storage together with
seeds that had been stored only at 5C (0 months at 45C) and only
at 45C, and for emergence after 14 months. A final seedling
emergence test was conducted with seeds that had been stored for
18 months at 45C only. Before germination and emergence tests,
seeds were humidified to an equal SMC of about 13% by exposing
to water vapor at 22C for 24 h.
Key Results:
The results of this study showed that it is possible to significantly decrease the length of
storage required for releasing TPS dormancy by after-ripening freshly harvested TPS at
high temperature (45C) and very low (3%) SMC. The practical applicability of these
findings was demonstrated at CIP during 1993. A more moderate storage treatment at
40C and 4% SMC for 4 months proved to be effective for after-ripening 12.5 kg of
dormant TPS of a different genotype than that used for this study.
What about at low temperature, is that the same thing that can be obtained?
Further research if this could be applied also to low temperature.
References:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268180366_High_Temperature_and_Low_M
oisture_Reduce_the_Storage_Requirement_of_Freshly_Harvested_True_Potato
_Seeds
GENERAL BIOLOGY 2

Topic/ Lesson: Lesson 1 Reproduction and Development
Title:
Seed germination and seedling development in the mango (Mangifera indica L.)
FRANCOISE CORBINEAU, MAMADOU KANTE’, and DANIEL COME
The aim of the present study was to obtain information about seed germination and
seedling development that could facilitate nursery production of mango seedlings for
orchard establishment.
Seed germination and seedling development in mango are crucial for maintaining genetic
diversity, supporting research and breeding efforts, and ensuring the sustainability of
mango cultivation. By starting with healthy seedlings, growers and researchers can work
towards improved mango varieties that are better adapted to local conditions and
consumer preferences.
What was done?
Ripe fruits of the single-embryo cultivar, Ruby, were picked on June 2, 1984, in
the orchards of the Centre National de Recherches Fruitieres at Bamako, Mali.
The seeds were immediately removed from the stones and wrapped in moist paper
to prevent dehydration during the air journey to Paris. They arrived at the laboratory on
June 4, 1984 and the experiments were begun immediately. Seedcoats were removed for
the germination tests as they were very fragile and
often tom, and batches of ten isolated embryos were placed on cotton wool
moistened with deionized water in separate plastic boxes (18 cm long, 12 cm wide
and 5.5 cm deep). The tests, each with a total of 40 embryos, were performed in
the dark at temperatures between 5 and 40 -’ 0.5”C. Germination counts were
carried out daily and an embryo was considered to have germinated when its
radicle had lengthened by 2-3 mm (further elongation of the radicle is related to
its growth rather than to germination) (Evenari 1957, CBme 1970, 1982a).
To study the effect of dehydration on seed viability, seeds were exposed to the
air at either 20 or 30°C with relative humidities of 55 and 42%, respectively.
Periodically, 40 seeds were removed and placed under the germination test conditions at
30°C. Seed viability was expressed as percent germination after seven
days, as no seeds germinated beyond this period. Loss of moisture was monitored
by weighing batches of 30 seeds at intervals over a period of 20 days, then drying
for three days at 105°C and reweighing. Moisture content was calculated on a dry
weight basis.
To study the effect of temperature on the early phases of seedling growth independently
of its effect on germination, embryos were germinated at 30°C and, when their radicles
began to lengthen, placed in boxes identical to those used in the germination tests and
kept in the dark at temperatures between 5 and 40°C. The time of transfer was taken as
zero time. The length of the root + hypocotyl, and of the epicotyl, were monitored for 2
to IO weeks. These measurements were made on 10 or 20 seedlings and the results were
expressed as the mean of the values obtained ? standard deviation (SD). To study shoot
development of seedlings, germinated embryos were kept at 30°C for 10 days and the
seedlings then planted individually in 12-cm pots filled with a mixture of equal parts of
leaf mold and sand. The pots were placed in a phytotron under the following conditions:
16 h photoperiod (25 W m-2), 25°C day and night, and a relative humidity of 75%. The
seedlings were watered three times each week with deionized water. Shoot development
was monitored for more than two months by measuring the length of the axis and the
surface area of the leaves every two days. The surface area was measured by drawing
round the leaves on tracing paper (90 g m-l), cutting out the leaf shapes and weighing
them, Each final internode length was measured and the number of foliar elements (well
developed leaves and leaves reduced to scales) was noted. The results presented are the
mean ? SD of the values obtained with eight plants. Because of difficulties in obtaining
viable seeds, the experiments were performed on small samples, but they were repeated
with seeds collected in 1985 and the results obtained were very similar.
Key Results:
Germination of embryos from freshly harvested seeds was very fast; almost all the
became progressively slower as the temperature decreased below 25”C, but some
seeds were able to germinate at 5°C. Exactly the same results were obtained with
seeds retaining their seedcoats
The mean moisture content of seeds at the start of the experiment was 85% (dry weight
basis). It gradually decreased during dry storage (Figure 2). Reflecting the difference in
atmospheric water vapor pressure deficit, the rate of moisture loss was faster at 30°C
than at 20°C. The seeds lost viability as they dried out (Figure 2). All the seeds died
when their mean moisture content fell to 25 to 30% (dry weight). This occurred after
about 2 weeks at 20°C (Figure 2A) and after about 10 days at 30°C.
shows the effect of temperature on seedling growth during the first 15 days after
germination. Growth of the root + hypocotyl (Figure 3A) was practically zero at 5°C and
very slow at 10°C. Root + hypocotyl growth increased with temperature from 15 to 30°C
and then decreased at higher temperatures. A temperature of 40°C was lethal. The effect
of temperature on epicotyl growth was similar (Figure 3B). Epicotyl growth was also
optimal at 30°C but was always much slower than that of the root + hypocotyl. At
temperatures between 5 and 15°C the epicotyl did not lengthen during the first 15 days.
Can it be done with another variety of mango?
Further research if this could be applied also to other variety of mango.
References:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5522092_Seed_germination_and_seedling_d
evelopment_in_the_mango_Mangifera_indica_L
GENERAL BIOLOGY 2

Topic/ Lesson: Genetic Disorder
Title:
Polygenic risk score analysis reveals shared genetic burden between epilepsy and
psychiatric comorbidities
C. Campbell, D. Lewis-Smith, C. Leu, H. Martins, S. Wolking8,9, R. Krause10, T.
O’Brien11, G. Sill, F. Zara, B. Koeleman1, C. Depondt, A. Marson, H. Stefánnson,
K. Stefánnson, J. Craig, MR. Johnson, P. Striano, A. Jorgensen, H. Lerche, N. Delanty,
The EpiPGX Consortium, S.M. Sisodiya, R. H. Thomas, G. L. Cavalleri,
What is this about?
Here we aim to leverage the cohort size and diverse phenotypic data of the UKB to test
the hypothesis that PRS for a variety of psychiatric disorders are elevated in people with
epilepsy. The traits we examined were ADHD, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.
We aimed to test whether PRS for a variety of psychiatric conditions differed in people
with common epilepsy relative to controls without epilepsy.
It advances our understanding of these conditions, enhances diagnosis and treatment
options, informs drug development, and ultimately has the potential to improve the lives
of individuals affected by these disorders while reducing the societal burden associated
with them.
What was done?
All genotype and phenotype data were from the UKB25. Data access was approved
under UKB project proposal 35124. After phenotyping, all samples were screened for
Caucasian ancestry using UKB field 220066 (genetic ethnic grouping). For EpiPGX
samples, ethical approval was obtained from the ethics committee of each referral centre.
Informed consent was obtained from all patients or where applicable, from their legal
guardians, during routine clinic attendance.
We identified people predicted to have active or previous epilepsy from the UKB cohort
recruited at ages 40–69 years, between 2007 and 2010, using data released between 2nd
July and 25th September 2020 (502 493 individuals). We searched self-reported data,
inpatient hospital episode statistics (HES), death certificates diagnostic data for
“epilepsy” or “status epilepticus”. We also searched the primary care diagnostic codes
of the 230 090 individuals for whom these records were available. We searched these
data sources independently to allow appraisal of the evidence of affectation rather than
relying on the provided UKB epilepsy diagnosis (data fields 131048 and 13049, which
pool diagnoses mapped to ICD-10 code G40 (epilepsy) from these sources). This
allowed us to exclude individuals without sufficient evidence of epilepsy, such as those
with seizures due solely to an unspecified disorder or condition that is not considered
epilepsy, and to identify further cases according to our criteria that may have been
overlooked in the UKB provided cohort. While the use of ASM data can increase the
sensitivity of case identification from administrative records26, the positive predictive
value of ASM for a diagnosis of epilepsy is poor if not combined with positive diagnostic
data27. Consequently, we elected not to use the presence of self-declared or prescribed
ASM to predict epilepsy affectation. For anxiety, depression and psychosis we used
previously published criteria. In the absence of published criteria or a UKB-provided
field for identifying those participants with a history of ADHD, ADHD cases were
identified using ICD coding for ‘hyperkinetic disorder’ (ICD: F90). The ICD-10 uses the
term ‘hyperkinetic disorders’ to describe early childhood-onset disorders characterised
by impersistence with cognitive tasks and superfluous disorganised activity, rather than
to describe 'hyperkinetic movement disorders' such as Huntington’s chorea. The codes
for all phenotypes are detailed in the supplemental materials
Key Results:
Of the 502 493 individuals from the UKB considered for this study, we identified 8 488
individuals with epilepsy. Following genotype quality control and screening for
Caucasian ancestry, this figure fell to 409 634 individuals, which included 6 579 people
with epilepsy. Control screening identified 286 502 samples with soft markers of
epilepsy: these individuals were excluded from all analysis. Indicates the numbers of
cases and controls included in each PRS analysis. Control numbers varied between
analyses due to phenotype-specific control screening criteria. We defined two exclusive
strata of epilepsy severity in the UKB: ‘Resistant’ and ‘Responsive’ (see Methods, Table
1). When compared to individuals in the responsive group, those in the resistant group
were more likely to have poor outcomes codes and less likely to have good outcome
codes. Additionally, while there was no difference in age at onset, as might be expected
from the inclusion criteria the Resistant group tended to have a greater duration of
documented epilepsy, to report taking more ASM at enrolment, to have received more
prescriptions for ASM, and to have received prescriptions for a greater number of
distinct ASM.

They did not found an elevation for anxiety PRS in people with epilepsy.
A potential confounder to our results is that cases included in the various psychiatric
GWAS used to calculate PRS were not screened for epilepsy, and as such the GWAS
may contain cryptic associations with epilepsy.
References:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372154931_Polygenic_risk_score_analysis_r
eveals_shared_genetic_burden_between_epilepsy_and_psychiatric_comorbidities
GENERAL BIOLOGY 2

Topic/ Lesson: Lesson 7: Immune System
Title:
Immune challenge reduces daily activity period in free-living birds for three weeks
Rosie J. Lennon, Shivani Ronanki and Arne Hegemann
What is this about?
To describe the effects of an immune challenge on the behavior of free-living birds over
a specific time period.
The finding that an immune challenge reduces the daily activity period in free-living
birds for three weeks is important because it enriches our understanding of how the
immune system interacts with behavior in natural settings. This knowledge has
ecological, physiological, and conservation relevance and can inform future research and
management strategies for bird populations.
What was done?
The study involved collecting data from an urban population of Eurasian black birds in
Lund, Sweden. The birds were captured between July and October 2019, and were
collected again between May and September the following year. The birds were
measured for body mass, tarsus length, and wing length, and were aged and sexified
based on plumage characteristics. Accelerometers were fitted to the birds at the first
capture event, recording their level of lateral movement five times per hour. The birds
were assigned to either a control or experimental group, with males and females
distributed evenly. The experimental group received an immune challenge via a
subcutaneous injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), mimicking a bacterial
infection. The experimental responses were viewed as the result of both the LPS and the
injection procedure. The blood was stored on ice until returned to the laboratory, where
plasma and red blood cells were separated by centrifugation and stored at −50°C until
analysis.
The study involved 45 accelerometers deployed to monitor the effects of a low-pressure

stress (LPS) challenge on birds. Out of the remaining 22 accelerometers, 23 were
retrieved, while the remaining 22 belonged to control birds and 10 to immune-challenged
birds. Activity data was available for 24-310 days after the deployment date. One
individual displayed significantly higher activity scores than the other birds in the first
20 days after treatment. The data was analyzed using additive time windows, which
allowed for the identification of the longevity of behavioral changes. The first three time
periods corresponded to known durations of behavioral or physiological effects of an
LPS challenge in birds under aviary conditions. The study concluded that all 21
accelerometers had collected data up to and including day 48.
Plasma samples were used to measure baseline innate immune function in blackbirds
before an immune challenge. Bacterial killing capacity was measured using a method
that measures the integrative ability of plasma to remove pathogens, such as E. coli.
Haptoglobin was measured using a commercial colometric kit, and baseline
concentrations can predict changes during an infection. Lysis enzyme activity of the
complement system and non-specific natural antibodies were measured. The results
showed that plasma samples had a stable phase after initial loss of activity, and the
coefficient of variation for within-plate variation was 7 and 6%, and between-plate
variation was 17 and 11% for lysis and agglutination, respectively.
All statistical analyses were carried out in R. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs)
were used to analyse the data using the package ‘glmmTMB’ and model fit was assessed
using DHARMa.
The study omitted activity scores before and after dawn and dusk to minimize
zero-inflation. The hourly activity score data was used for GLMMs to analyze
daytime activity. Model fit was assessed through visualization, QQ-plots, and
statistical tests for overdispersion, outliers, and zero-inflation.
Key Results:
The study found that immune-challenged birds experienced significant reductions in
activity within the first 24 hours, 48 hours, 5 days, and 20 days post-treatment. Female
birds were more active than male birds, and activity scores decreased with ordinal day
except for the first 48 hours. However, no significant difference in activity scores was
found between control and immune-challenged birds at the follow-up time frame,
suggesting the difference is a consequence of the treatment.
The study found that immune-challenged birds were more active than control birds in
the first 2, 5, 20, and 24 evenings post-treatment, with the last hour of activity before
dusk being earlier. This effect was significant for 2 and 24 days, but marginally non-
significant for 5 and 20 days. Control birds were slightly more active than immune-
challenged birds, with a total number of hours active per day being marginally higher in
the first 24 days post-treatment. However, there was no significant difference in the total
number of active hours per day between the two treatment groups.
The study found that the mean activity score of immune-challenged birds was positively
correlated with lysis measured before the experimental immune challenge for the first
24 hours post-treatment. This effect remained significant even after multiple testing, but
not for the period 1-5 days.
There was no significant correlation was found between activity score and baseline
immune function for other parameters in immune-challenged birds
Further research could provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between the
immune system and behavior in free-living birds, contributing to our understanding of
avian biology, ecology, and health.
References:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373159822_Immune_challenge_reduces_dail
y_activity_period_in_free-living_birds_for_three_weeks

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Republic of the Philippines

ASIAN PACIFIC CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, INC.

RESEARCH / JOURNAL CRITIQUING

NAME: Ramos, Ma.Veronica S._____________ Score________

Topic/ Lesson: Lesson 1 Reproduction and Development

The first one is the sample size and Gonad Presence.

The second is the Size Distribution

And lastly, the Seasonal Gonad Index Variations

What was left unanswered?

RESEARCH / JOURNAL CRITIQUING

NAME: Ramos, Ma. Veronica S. Score: ________

Topic/ Lesson: Feedback Loops

What was done?

Potential research area/s:

RESEARCH / JOURNAL CRITIQUING

NAME: Score: ________

Topic/ Lesson: _____________________________________________

RESEARCH / JOURNAL CRITIQUING

NAME: Ramos, Ma. Veronica S. Score: ________

Topic/ Lesson: Lesson 1 Reproduction and Development

RESEARCH / JOURNAL CRITIQUING

NAME: Ramos, Ma. Veronica S. Score: ________

Topic/ Lesson: Genetic Disorder

What was left unanswered?

RESEARCH / JOURNAL CRITIQUING

NAME: Ramos, Ma. Veronica S. Score: ________

Topic/ Lesson: Lesson 7: Immune System

The study involved 45 accelerometers deployed to monitor the effects of a low-pressure

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NAME: Ramos, Ma.Veronica S._____ Score