News

We have launched a new Bluetooth device, DAQ-BT, for wireless control of Loligo^® swim tunnels for a much lower price than before!

The DAQ-BT allows for automated velocity data acquisition and control, and is fully compatible with our AutoSwim software for automated swim tunnel control, AutoResp™ software for intermittent respirometry and the Bluetooth power strip.

The wireless Bluetooth communication enables you to have your swim tunnel setup at a safe distance to your PC. No more tripping over wires, zero water splish-splashes on your PC and no need to use a grounded stationary desktop PC; the DAQ-BT can run straight from your laptop.

Most importantly, the Bluetooth technology allows you to connect multiple DAQ-BT to one Windows computer and thus operate multiple swim tunnels from a single laptop PC.

We hope that the new DAQ-BT controller will become a useful assistant in your swim tunnel work. Feel free to let us know how you use your DAQ-BT.

We are happy to announce our latest software solution: AutoSwim!

AutoSwim allows for automated control of water velocity in up to seven Loligo® swim tunnels using only a single PC. Important features are:

•          Adjust swimming velocity, e.g. in BL/sec
•          Correct for solid blocking effect
•          Full- or semiautomated calibration
•          Create automated user-defined protocols

The AutoSwim software requires our wireless swim tunnel controller, DAQ-BT, and a Windows operating system to function. AutoSwim is made for swim tunnel applications not requiring oxygen consumption measurements, as our more expensive AutoResp™ software will then be the software to use.

We hope that this new software will come in handy. Feel free to ask us any questions regarding AutoSwim.

Please note that the deadline has been passed.

A vacancy for a Neurobiology Convenor has arisen on the Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) Animal Section. This role is aimed at developing the field of Neurobiology within SEB, running sessions at the annual main meeting and getting involved in organizing satellite meetings, symposia and other initiatives. This is an excellent opportunity to develop and show leadership within your field and requires excellent networking and organizational skills.

Please contact Section Chair Lynne Sneddon (lsneddon@liverpool.ac.uk) in the first instance to discuss the role further by the 16th October 2017.

NOTE: You must be a member of SEB to be able to apply for this vacancy.

This is an announcement on behalf of SEB Animal Section Chair, Dr. Lynne U. Sneddon.

The latest version of our behavioral tracking software, LoliTrack (version 4.2.1), adds new features and improvements, including:

• Inter individual distance (IID) for up to three individuals, e.g., for pair-wise tracking used in sexual behavior or aggression research, or for tracking distances between multiple body markers.
• Resize and move user-defined zones or arenas using the arrow keys for effortless fine adjustments.
• Dimensions of user-defined zones or arenas are now shown (in pixels).
• Center position of zones or arenas is now shown (via View menu).

We encourage all LoliTrack users to download this new and free updated version, and hope that your research will benefit from these added features.

PhD course 
Animal pain 5-9 March 2018 (5 ECTS) - Copenhagen - Denmark  

Objectives 
To give PhD-students an overview of the concept of animal pain from a biological perspective. The course is based on presentations and lectures by internationally recognised researchers and practitioners, participants presenting relevant parts of their projects, combined with group work and plenary discussions. The final part of the course constitutes a written project.

Target group 
PhD students and researchers within science, veterinary, agricultural and health sciences working with animals, including animal model studies, experimentation, in zoo and animal parks, and with scientific questions related to animal pain.

Key lectures:
Prof. Craig B. Johnson, Massey University, New Zealand: What is pain and who feels it – from fetus to the end of life?

Prof. Robert Elwood, Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom: Comparative aspects of animal pain – how can we detect it?

Ass. Prof. Klas Abelson, University of Copenhagen, Denmark: The use of animal models to develop pain-relieving drugs

Registration
The course is organized by Aarhus University and University of Copenhagen. For more information about registration at: http://projects.au.dk/animal-pain/ 

Photos by Liat Romme Thomsen (Aarhus University), Pierpaolo Di Giminiani (University of Newcastle) and
Janne Hansen (Aarhus University)

We are happy to announce the employment of our new product specialist, Andreas Mørck.

Andreas has a background as a marine biologist from University of Southern Denmark (Odense, Denmark) specializing in fish physiology and osmoregulation. Throughout his studies, he focused on the importance of water-transporting proteins, e.g. aquaporins and claudins, during water and salt transport in the intestines and kidneys of fish. The work of his bachelor project resulted in a publication on osmoregulation in the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.). And while working on his Master thesis, Andreas produced excellent results on the expression of claudins in the intestines of Japanese ricefish (Oryzias latipes) using state-of-the-art STED-nanoscopy and confocal microscopy.

On a less scientific note, Andreas also holds a MA in Wildlife Filmmaking in collaboration with BBC from University of the West of England as he has been a keen nature photographer for many years. Moreover, Andreas has been a nature communicator at Fjord&Bælt, a teaching-instructor in biology at SDU, Odense, and is a co-author on a Danish Christmas-musical.

Andreas is pleased to have joined the Loligo® Systems team. He mentions that he is “exited and eager to contribute to the continuous growth of Loligo® Systems”. “I had a pleasant welcome and felt as an essential part of the team within the first hour of my first working day!” says Andreas as he continuous being Loligo® Systems new product specialist.

We are facing exciting times at Loligo^® Systems.

As of August 2017, we have added 18 new references to our Published papers section. Loligo^® products thus feature in 40+ research papers in 2017 alone and in +500 papers including previous years.

Our products are being used in research projects all around the globe. The 18 new research paper references span a rich variety of topics from behavior of the Japanese stone crab (Charybdis japonica), to metabolic rates and aerobic metabolic scope in shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) to effects of oil sands process-affected water on Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and more.

The team at Loligo^® Systems congratulates all the researchers and their hard work.