Submitted by isabela.moljf@hotmail.com (isabela.moljf@hotmail.com) on 2017-08-11T14:53:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 biancapochmannzambonato.pdf: 66966 bytes, checksum: 4fe41640e50864e0a303550aec7df235 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-08-14T17:10:26Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 biancapochmannzambonato.pdf: 66966 bytes, checksum: 4fe41640e50864e0a303550aec7df235 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-14T17:10:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 biancapochmannzambonato.pdf: 66966 bytes, checksum: 4fe41640e50864e0a303550aec7df235 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-08 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Nephila clavipes (Linnaeus, 1767) é uma espécie de aranha orbitelar encontrada em todo o Brasil. Com o intuito de avaliar aspectos da ecologia populacional da espécie, acompanhou-se o crescimento, o desenvolvimento e a fenologia de indivíduos situados no campus da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), no município de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais. Aproximadamente 100 teias (solitárias e agregadas) foram observadas durante os anos de 2008 e 2009. Tanto machos quanto fêmeas foram marcados na parte dorsal do opistossoma com esmaltes de colorações variadas. O período chuvoso compreendeu um maior número de indivíduos dentro da população, tanto para fêmeas quanto para machos. A curva para a variação do número de fêmeas foi proporcional à curva de espécies semélparas. Para o segundo ano de amostragem, a população foi composta basicamente por imigrantes, uma vez que a população original de fêmeas dispersou da área amostral nas primeiras semanas de observação. Para análise dos aspectos comportamentais da espécie, foi avaliada a capacidade das fêmeas em ocupar teias de co-específicos e descritos os comportamentos realizados durante a disputa por espaço. Três experimentos, por manipulação em campo, foram realizados, dois em teias previamente desocupadas com reintrodução na própria teia (n=30) e introdução em teia vazia (n=30) e um experimento com introdução em teia já ocupada (n=55). Os experimentos mostraram que tanto aranhas residentes quanto aranhas introduzidas permaneceram nas teias em que foram colocadas. Fêmeas residentes, quando maiores, mostraram vantagem na disputa sobre as invasoras, porém não foi verificada significativa vantagem quando a invasora era de mesmo tamanho ou maior. As residentes investiram mais para mantimento da teia do que as invasoras, realizando mais comportamentos agressivos e retornando mais vezes para a teia após o combate. Não ocorreu intolerância entre os indivíduos nos fios de sustentação, indicando que a formação de agregações pode estar relacionada com a tolerância dos indivíduos em permitir a presença de co-específicos nas proximidades. / Nephila clavipes (Linnaeus, 1767) is a species of orb-web spider found throughout Brazil. The aim of this work was to evaluate aspects of the populational ecology of the species, along with growth, development, and phenology of individuals located in the campus of the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais. Approximately 100 webs (solitary and aggregate) were observed during the years 2008 and 2009. Both males and females were stained on the dorsal region of the opisthosoma with several colors of enamel paint. The rainy season comprised the largest number of individuals in the population, both for females and for males. The curve of the number of female variation was proportional to the semelparous species curve. In the second year of sampling, the population was basically composed of immigrants, since the original female population dispersed from the sample area in the first weeks of observation. In order to analyze the behavioral aspects of the species, it was evaluated the ability of females in occupying webs of conspecifics, and described the behaviors performed during the territorial disputes. Three field manipulation experiments were carried out; two experiments in previously vacant webs: one of them, with the reintroduction of a spider in their own web (n=30); the other, with the introduction of a spider in a vacant web (n=30). The third experiment, was performed with the introduction of a spider in a previously occupied web (n=55). The experiments showed that both resident spiders and introduced spiders remained in the webs in which they were placed. Resident females demonstrated that, when they were bigger, they showed an advantage in the dispute against the invasive species, though it was not noticed any significant advantage when the invasive individuals had the same size or were bigger. The resident invested more in the maintenance of the web than the invasive, performing more agonistic behaviors and returning more times to the web after combats. It did not occur intolerance among individuals on the support wires, thus indicating that the formation of aggregations might be related to the tolerance of individuals to accept the presence of conspecifics from nearby areas.

Red deer males aggregate for a major part of a year to bachelor groups. Social position - Rank - is unstable in these groups. Previous experiments revealed that rank modulated by agonistic behaviour influences antler growth and antler cycle timing. Antlers are secondary sexual characteristics of the deer family and one of the fastest growing tissue in the vertebrate taxa. Their development is modulated by androgenic hormone, testosterone. In our experiment, we observed agonistic behaviour of 19 males. They were equipped with GPS collars and regularly handled for blood samples and downloading of telemetrical data. Based on statistical analysis, we found that in our bachelor group 13 stags kept similar interindividual distances which did not exceed 22 metres ("Closest associates"), whereas the rest of the group moved tens of metres away ("Wanderers"). In regard to the number of agonistic interactions and the interindividual relationship, which arose from that, we divided the bachelor group on "Friends" (˂9 interactions) and "Rivals" (≥9). We found that the number of interactions depended on average distance among males in groups divided by dyadic relationship ("Friends" and "Rivals"). With increasing distance, "Rivals" increased the number of interactions, while "Friends" did not show this trend....

This essay describes and analyzes of locomotion, sexual, afiliativní and agonistic behavior in a group of pigs macaque (macaca macaques) at Prague Zoo. Data collection took place in the period from December 2015 to May 2016. In the winter months (December to March) at the times from 9.00 to 16.00 hrs., And in April and May 2016 in time from 9.00 to 18.00 pm. The total observation period reached 240 hours. Data were analyzed using Statistics 12th and MS Excel 2007. Objectives of the work are three: (1) Based on the research literature to describe the behavioral ecology of macaque monkeys. (2) The detailed description and analysis of locomotion, sexual, afiliativní and agonistic behavior in a group of macaque pigs in the Prague Zoo. (3) Describe grooming, depending on time of day and social position in the group of pigs macaque in the Prague Zoo. We tested five hypotheses, which can be divided into four categories. We first investigated the hierarchy of the group. Furthermore, we investigated the behavior depending on the sex of the individual, and consequently the position in the hierarchy. In the last part we dealt with in detail during grooming. Tests confirmed the existence of a clear linear hierarchy based on agonistic interactions. The results showed that move around the enclosure depends on...

No description available.

The September 11, 2001 Jihadists attack on the West and the subsequent wars on terrorism indicate that war may be a permanent condition of life in the contemporary world. This implies that to understand contemporary society, culture and communication requires an understanding of war because war could perhaps provide a perspective through which to understand the world. The aim of this study is to provide such a perspective and to critically explore the link between war and communication. However, in approaching a study of war one is confronted with a pervasive pacifist anti-war ideological bias. To overcome the bias the study adopts a critical strategy: firstly it deconstructs the taken for granted assumptions about the positive value of peace and then it reconstructs and traces the contours of a Western tradition of philosophical thought that considers war as being an integral and formative aspect of human identity and communication. Chapter 2 uncovers the limitations of the pacifists' discourse on war. Chapter 3 traces the Western tradition originating in Heraclitus that considers war as formative experience of being human. Chapter 4 traces war and killing as formative of language and communication. Using these insights a careful reading and interpretation of how war informs the thought and functions in the texts of selected social theorists of the twentieth century. Chapter 5 traces war as an agonistic structure in the works of Johan Huizinga on the role of play and in the political theory of Carl Schmitt. Chapter 6 explores the idea of war as a model of society in the works of Foucault. Chapter 7 investigates the central influence of real and imagined war on Marshall McLuhan’s theory of the media. Chapter 8 explores the way war structures the thought of Lyotard on the postmodern condition. Chapter 9 concludes by drawing implications on how a perspective on war contributes to development of communication theory and understanding life in the postmodern condition. / Communication Science / D. Litt. et Phil. Communication )

Apesar dos morcegos hematófagos serem muito estudados, diversos aspectos de sua biologia e de seu papel na transmissão da raiva ainda não são conhecidos. O objetivo da presente tese foi estudar os abrigos diurnos, os agrupamentos e o comportamento agonístico do morcego hematófago comum, Desmodus rotundus, e sua relação com a raiva dos herbívoros no Vale do Paraíba. Foi possível também obter informações sobre as duas outras espécies de morcegos hematófagos, especialmente de Diphylla ecaudata. Entre 2011 e 2014, dados sobre abrigos diurnos, composição dos agrupamentos, lesões corporais, diagnóstico de raiva e sorologia antirrábica de D. rotundus foram obtidos nos municípios de Jacareí, Paraibuna, Pindamonhangaba, Salesópolis, Santa Branca e São Luiz do Paraitinga no Vale do Paraíba, Sudeste do estado de São Paulo, Sudeste do Brasil. Foram estudados 14 abrigos diurnos de D. rotundus, dos quais 12 eram construções abandonadas na área rural. Desmodus rotundus partilhou abrigos diurnos com apenas cinco espécies de filostomídeos: Diphylla ecaudata, Chrotopterus auritus, Carollia perspicillata, Glossophaga soricina e Anoura caudifer. O tempo de recolonização desses abrigos diurnos por D. rotundus foi em média 12,5 meses, com uma variação entre três e 25 meses. O tamanho dos agrupamentos variou de dois a 79 indivíduos, com uma média de 15,6 morcegos/grupo. Fêmeas foram encontradas em 15 agrupamentos, com uma média de 13 fêmeas e uma variação entre uma e 55 fêmeas/grupo. Por outro lado, machos estiveram mais presentes nos agrupamentos, ocorrendo em quase todos (N=21), com uma média de 7,1 machos/grupo e uma variação de um a 24 machos. Sete agrupamentos foram considerados de machos solteiros. Onze dos 22 agrupamentos eram constituídos de colônia e grupo de machos solteiros. O dimorfismo sexual no comprimento do antebraço de D. rotundus do Vale do Paraíba foi estatisticamente significativo e sugere que as fêmeas são maiores 13 do que os machos. Lesões corporais, atribuídas às mordeduras provocadas por outros morcegos, foram encontradas em 76,7 por cento dos indivíduos de D. rotundus, tanto em machos como em fêmeas. A região mais atingida foram as membranas alares, com 68 por cento , porém lesões nas orelhas, face e membros foram menos frequentes (23,1 por cento nas fêmeas e 26,9 por cento nos machos). Acredita-se que as lesões nessas regiões sejam mais importantes nos mecanismos de transmissão de raiva. Apesar de ter analisado 310 amostras de encéfalos de D. rotundus do Vale do Paraíba, o resultado foi negativo em todas as amostras. A sorologia mostrou que todos os morcegos apresentaram positividade em diferentes graus. Contudo, se considerarmos o ponto de corte 0,5 UI/ml, o número de indivíduos positivos caiu para 30,1 por cento (N=90), sendo 30,9 por cento nas fêmeas e 28,8 por cento em machos. Apesar de nenhum indivíduo de D. rotundus positivo para a raiva ter sido encontrado no Vale do Paraíba durante a presente tese, a sorologia positiva de, pelo menos, 30 por cento mostra que há vírus da raiva circulando em sua população. Essa alta circulação viral pode ter sido favorecida pelas interações agonísticas, que causam lesões em mais de 75 por cento dos morcegos, a formação compacta (em penca) dos agrupamentos, o grooming social, a reciprocidade e partilha alimentar / Despite the hematophagous bats are very studied, many aspects of their biology and their role in the transmission of rabies are not yet known. The aim of this thesis was to study the diurnal shelters, groups and the agonistic behavior of the common hematophagous, Desmodus rotundus, and its relation to the cattle rabies in the Paraíba Valley. It was also possible to obtain information about the two other species of vampire bats, especially Diphylla ecaudata. Between 2011 and 2014, data on diurnal shelters, composition of groups, body injuries, diagnosis of rabies and rabies serology D. rotundus were gathered from the cities of Jacarei, Paraibuna, Pindamonhangaba, Salesópolis, Santa Branca and São Luiz do Paraitinga in the Valley Paraíba, Southeastern of São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil. Fourteen diurnal shelters of D. rotundus were studied here and 12 were abandoned buildings in rural areas. Desmodus rotundus shared daytime shelters with only five species of phyllostomid bats: Diphylla ecaudata, Chrotopterus auritus, Carollia perspicillata, Glossophaga soricina and Anoura caudifer. The time of recolonization of these roosts by D. rotundus was on average 12.5 months, ranging from three to 25 months. The size of the groups ranged from two to 79 individuals, with a mean of 15.6 bats/group. Females were found in 15 groups with an average of 13 females/group and ranging between one and 55 females. Moreover, males were present in most groups from Paraíba Valley, occurring in almost all (N = 21), with an average of 7.1 males/group, and a variation of 24 males. Seven groups were considered to be single males groups. Eleven of the 22 groups were made up of colony and single male groups. Sexual dimorphism in the forearm length of D. rotundus from the Paraíba Valley was statistically significant and suggests that females are larger than males. Body Injuries, attributed to bites caused by other bats were found in 76.7 per cent of individuals of D. rotundus, in both males and females. The most affected region was the wing membranes, with 68 per cent , but lesions on the ears, face and limbs were less frequent (23.1 per cent in females and 26.9 per cent in males). It is believed that injuries in these regions are more important in the rabies transmission mechanism. Despite having analyzed 310 samples of brains of D. rotundus from the Paraíba Valley, the result was negative in all samples. Serology showed that all bats were positive in varying degrees. However, if we consider the cut off 0.5 IU/ml, the number of positive samples dropped to 30.1 per cent (N = 90) and 30.9 per cent in females and 28.8 per cent males. Although no individual of D. rotundus positive for rabies was found in the Paraíba Valley during this thesis, the positive serology at least 30 per cent shows that there is rabies virus circulating in this bat population. This high viral circulation may have been favored by agonistic interactions, that cause lesions in more than 75 per cent of the bats, the compact formation (in clusters) of groups, social grooming, reciprocity and food sharing.

The glycoprotein hormones, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) are heterodimeric proteins with an identical α-subunit associated noncovalently with the hormone specific β-subunit and play important roles in reproduction and overall physiology of the organism (Pierce & Parsons, 1981). The receptors of these hormones belong to the family of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) and have a large extracellular domain (ECD)comprising of 9-10 leucine rich repeats (LRR) followed by a flexible hinge region, a seven helical transmembrane domain (TMD) and a C terminal cytoplasmic tail (Vassart et al, 2004). Despite significant sequence and structural homologies observed between the ECDs of the receptors and the specific β-subunits of the hormones, the hormone-receptor pairs exhibit exquisite specificity with very low cross-reactivity with other members of the family. Several biochemical, immunological and molecular biological tools have been employed to elucidate the structure– function relationship of the hormones and their receptors. These studies also helped in deciphering some of the regions present in both the hormones and the receptors involved in maintaining the specificity of their interaction (Fan & Hendrickson, 2005b; Fox et al, 2001; Wu et al, 1994). However, the complete understanding of the hormone-receptor contact sites and mechanism of receptor activation are still an enigma. Understanding the molecular details of these phenomena can lead to the development of novel strategies of regulating hormone action. Binding of FSH to FSHR occurs in the large extracellular NH2-terminal domain where the participation of the LRRs (amino acids 18-259) is essential to determine the ligand selectivity (Dias & Van Roey, 2001; Fan & Hendrickson, 2005a; Szkudlinski et al, 2002). In fact, mutations in these regions lead to reduction in binding of the agonist to the receptor. It is not known how the signal from the large extracellular domain liganded complex is transmitted to the TMD (amino acids 367-695). It is envisioned that hormone binding to the LRRs leads to series of conformational changes leading activation of the TMD resulting in signal transduction. The recently reported crystal structure of the single chain form of FSH in complex with the leucine rich repeats of the FSHR (amino acids 1-268) (Fan & Hendrickson, 2005b), although provides detailed understanding of the molecular interactions of the LRRs with the hormone, fails to provide any insights into mechanism of receptor activation as the information regarding critical interaction of the hormone with TMD. This structure also did not provide any information on the role of the hinge region (amino acids 259-366) that connects the LRRs to the TMD in hormone binding and activation of the receptor. In the present study an attempt has been made to understand the role of the hinge region in hormone binding and signal transduction. The overall objective of the study is to elucidate the molecular details of the hormone receptor interactions, particularly FSH-FSHR interaction. Antibodies to glycoprotein hormones and their receptors have often provided insights into the mechanism of hormone-receptor interactions and signal transduction. While the TSH receptor antibodies and their effects on the overall physiology have been well documented (Khoo & Bahn, 2007; Rapoport & McLachlan, 2007), reports of such antibodies against FSHR or LHR and their possible effects on the reproductive functions are not available. In the present study, effects of FSHR antibodies with different specificities on FSH-FSHR interactions have been investigated. Antibodies to different regions of rat FSHR, were raised and extensively characterized and their effects of FSH-FSHR interactions and signaling were investigated. It was found that a polyclonal antibody against the hinge of the receptor (RF2 antiserum, amino acids 218-336), while having no significant effect on hormone binding and response could stimulate the receptor by itself bypassing the hormone. This stimulation of FSHR was very specific as this antiserum could not stimulate LHR or TSHR and could be blocked by preincubating the antibody with the antigen. Through competition experiments with different synthetic peptides of human FSHR, a stretch of hinge region corresponding to amino acids 296-331 was identified as the site recognized by the stimulatory antibody. This antibody did not interfere in hormone binding and could also bind to the pre-formed hormone-receptor complex suggesting that the binding site of the antibody may not participate directly in hormone binding. Subsequently the antibody was extensively characterized for its effect of hormone receptor interactions (Chapter 2). Previous studies considered the hinge region to be an inert linker connecting the LRRs to the TMD, a structural entity without any known functional significance (Vlaeminck-Guillem et al, 2002). However, the data with RF2 antibody suggested a direct role of the hinge region in signal transduction. Therefore, a systematic study to dissect the role to hinge region in hormone binding and signal transduction was conducted. Several truncations, deletions, activating and inactivating point mutations in the FSHR were generated to understand the mechanism of receptor activation. Firstly, these mutant receptors were characterized for their ability to translocate to the cell surface when transfected in the cultured mammalian cells. Secondly, affinity of all the mutant receptors for the hormone was determined in order to understand the effect of mutations on hormone binding. Finally, the cAMP response of these mutant receptors to the hormone and the stimulatory antibody was investigated to understand the effects of mutations on signal transduction. The results are described in Chapter 3. The hormone binding analysis and the affinity measurement of the mutant receptors showed that the LRRs are involved in high affinity hormone binding while the hinge region may not contribute to the process. This is in agreement with the crystal structure data which showed that the hormone was bound to the truncated receptor fragment representing only the LRRs (Fan & Hendrickson, 2005b). These binding data also corroborated the earlier data indicating that the antibodies against the hinge region do not interfere in hormone-receptor interactions. Further, the analysis of different N-terminally truncated receptor mutants provided strong evidence indicating that the constraining intramolecular interactions between the extracellular and the transmembrane domains are required to maintain the FSHR in an inactive conformation in the absence of an agonist. The analysis of the constitutive basal activity of the mutant receptors in absence of hormone suggested that certain regions of the extracellular domain had an attenuating effect over the TMDs that prevented constitutive activation of the receptor. This was demonstrated by a marked increase in the basal constitutive activity of the receptor upon the complete removal of its extracellular domain. Detailed analysis of the mutants suggested that LRR portion does not contribute to this attenuating effect, but it is the hinge region that perhaps interacts with the TMDs and dampens its basal constitutive activity. This attenuating effect was further narrowed down to a small stretch of 35 amino acids (296-331) within the hinge region. It was striking that the similar stretch was identified as the binding site of the stimulatory receptor antibody. In pharmacology, an ‘inverse agonist’ is an agent which binds to the receptor and reverses the constitutive activity of receptors. Thus the hinge region of the receptor could be termed as a ‘tethered inverse agonist’ of the TMD, since it is covalently associated with the TMD and their interactions dampen the basal constitutive activity of the receptor. However, careful comparison of the activities of the mutants (receptors harboring deletions and gain-of-function mutations) with maximally stimulated wild-type FSHR indicated that these mutations of the receptor resulted only in partial activation of the serpentine domain suggesting that only the ECD in complex with the hormone is the full agonist of the receptor. Moreover, the hinge region stabilizes the TMD in an inactive conformation and the activating mutations disengage the inhibitory ECD–TMD interactions bringing about partial activation of the receptor. Most interestingly, the deletion of amino acids 296-331 from hFSHR resulted in no further response to the hormone indicating that this part of the receptor is also critical for hormonal activation, perhaps playing a dual role in the attenuation of the basal activity and a direct involvement in the hormonal activation of the receptor. Progressive sequential deletions of ten amino acids from 290 to 329 yielded similar results (high basal cAMP production with concomitant loss of hormone and antibody response) clearly demonstrating that the integrity of this region is absolutely essential for hormonal activation. In conclusion, the study provides a conclusive evidence to show that the hinge region of FSHR, although not involved in primary high affinity hormone binding, plays a critical role in the modulation of the receptor activity in absence, as well as, presence of the hormone. A large array of reproductive abnormalities is associated with malfunctioning of FSHR. To explore the possibility of using the stimulatory antibodies for therapeutic purpose, three inactivating mutations of hFSHR were analyzed. In corroboration with the earlier reports (Doherty et al, 2002; Touraine et al, 1999), the mutants A419T and L601V are incapable of transducing the signal, despite having adequate cell surface expression and wild type affinities for the hormone, mainly because of defective TMD. The RF2 antibody failed to elicit any response from these mutants suggesting that its ability to activate the receptor depends on the status of the TMD. Interestingly, the activating mutant D576G, which showed very high basal cAMP production, could be stimulated by both antibody and the hormone to the nearly wild type levels suggesting that in this mutant the interactions between the hinge region and TMD are similar to that of wild type and higher basal cAMP production could be due to different interactions of the TMD with the G-Proteins. Structure-function studies of glycoprotein hormones and their receptors have been hampered due to low levels of expression of the properly folded proteins in heterologous systems (Chazenbalk & Rapoport, 1995; Hong et al, 1999b; Peterson et al, 2000; Sharma & Catterall, 1995; Thomas & Segaloff, 1994). Previous studies from the laboratory have shown that the Pichiapastoris,which blends the advantages of both bacterial and mammalian expression systems, can be used to hyper-express biologically active hormones (Blanchard et al, 2008; Gadkari et al, 2003; Samaddar et al, 1997). In addition, the same expression system has been used to produce single chain hormone analogs (Roy et al, 2007; Setlur & Dighe, 2007). Further, methodologies for Pichiafermentation and purification of recombinant hormones from the fermentation media have been wellestablished in the laboratory. Chapter 4 describes the work carried out to express, purify and characterize a fully functional hFSHR extracellular domain. Thus a stage is now set to attempt structural studies with the receptor. The results are discussed at the end of each of these chapters and future directions have been discussed at the end of this thesis.

Chemical senses play a critical role in predator-prey and social interactions of many animals. Predators often evoke adaptive escape responses by prey, one of which is the release of chemicals that induce adaptive avoidance behaviors from both predators and conspecifics. I explore the use of chemicals in predator-prey and social interactions, using a crustacean model system, the spiny lobster. As predators, spiny lobsters are opportunistic, polyphagous feeders, and they rely heavily on their chemical senses during feeding. Some of their potential prey deter attacks through chemical defenses that act through the spiny lobsters’ chemical senses. An example of this is sea hares, Aplysia californica, which secrete an ink when vigorously attacked by sympatric spiny lobsters, Panulirus interruptus. I show that that this ink defends sea hares from spiny lobsters through several mechanisms that include phagomimicry, sensory disruption, and deterrence, and that the ink’s efficacy is enhanced by its naturally high acidity. As prey, spiny lobsters rely heavily on their chemical senses to assess risk from predators. One way to assess risk of predation is through ‘alarm cues’, which are injury-related chemicals. I show that injured Caribbean spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus, release alarm cues in their hemolymph, and that nearby conspecifics detect these cues using olfaction. Hemolymph from conspecifics induces primarily alarm behavior in the form of retreat, sheltering, and suppression of appetitive responses. In contrast, hemolymph from heterospecifics, depending on phylogenetic relatedness, induces either mixed alarm and appetitive behaviors or primarily appetitive behaviors. Spiny lobsters also use chemical cues to assess risk during social interactions with conspecific. I show that spiny lobsters use urine-borne chemical signals and agonistic behaviors to communicate social status and that these chemical signals are detected exclusively by the olfactory pathway. Dominant animals increase urine release during social interactions, whereas subordinates do not. Experimental prevention of urine release during interactions causes an increase in agonism, but this increase is abolished when urine of dominants is reintroduced. My findings lay the foundation for neuroethological studies of risk-assessment systems mediated by intraspecific chemical cues.

No description available.

The September 11, 2001 Jihadists attack on the West and the subsequent wars on terrorism indicate that war may be a permanent condition of life in the contemporary world. This implies that to understand contemporary society, culture and communication requires an understanding of war because war could perhaps provide a perspective through which to understand the world. The aim of this study is to provide such a perspective and to critically explore the link between war and communication. However, in approaching a study of war one is confronted with a pervasive pacifist anti-war ideological bias. To overcome the bias the study adopts a critical strategy: firstly it deconstructs the taken for granted assumptions about the positive value of peace and then it reconstructs and traces the contours of a Western tradition of philosophical thought that considers war as being an integral and formative aspect of human identity and communication. Chapter 2 uncovers the limitations of the pacifists' discourse on war. Chapter 3 traces the Western tradition originating in Heraclitus that considers war as formative experience of being human. Chapter 4 traces war and killing as formative of language and communication. Using these insights a careful reading and interpretation of how war informs the thought and functions in the texts of selected social theorists of the twentieth century. Chapter 5 traces war as an agonistic structure in the works of Johan Huizinga on the role of play and in the political theory of Carl Schmitt. Chapter 6 explores the idea of war as a model of society in the works of Foucault. Chapter 7 investigates the central influence of real and imagined war on Marshall McLuhan’s theory of the media. Chapter 8 explores the way war structures the thought of Lyotard on the postmodern condition. Chapter 9 concludes by drawing implications on how a perspective on war contributes to development of communication theory and understanding life in the postmodern condition. / Communication Science / D. Litt. et Phil. Communication )