Webinar Q&A Report:

Animal Behavior Video Tracking Using

ANY-maze Software:

Q: Can zones and grids be added after data are collected?

Yes, ANY-maze allows you to add new zones, edit existing zones, or delete zones post-test. Tracking
results will automatically be generated based on your new protocol without the need to re-perform any
tests.

Q: What types of videos/video files can be uploaded?

ANY-maze will play back any video file type, provided the appropriate codec to decompress and play back
the video is installed on the Windows operating system. If you need assistance identifying an appropriate
Codex contact techsupport@anymaze.com

Q: When I do a manual scoring and I display a chart with the active key, where can I find the graph when
the test is complete?

You can find the chart by going to the Tests page -> Test schedule report -> <Select test> -> Test details
-> Test charts

Q: Is it possible to count rearing behavior by defining an outer area and using a green dot on animal nose?

Yes, from what you’ve described it sounds like you want to detect a zone entry using the position of the
animal’s head. It is possible to interpret head entries into a 'wall' zone as rearing behavior, but you may
find that, rearing behavior away from the wall will not be counted. Typically, within ANY-maze rearing
behavior is detected when tracking from the side.

Q: Is there a trial version for any-maze version 5.1

The Trial versions of ANY-maze 5.1 will be available when this version of the software is released in early
2016.

Q: I noted that you did not take a background picture when starting the test… why is that?
Taking a background photo is not mandatory or necessary to start a test. A background photo is
recommended if the animal will be in the apparatus before the start of a test (ex. Home Cage).

Q: Can ANY-maze record the feed from 10 separate USB cameras for later analysis?

ANY-maze 5.1 allows you to perform up to 40 tests simultaneously provided your computer has sufficient
processing power and memory.

Q: Can you show how to turn on "Tracking the animal's head & tail" feature?

Check the option Protocol page -> Tracking -> Tracking the animal's head -> Yes, I want the animal's
head to be tracked. To display head and tail tracking markers go to Protocol page -> Testing -> “What to
display while testing” and check the relevant display options.

Q: How should one specify the “color of the subject” when using Long-Evans hooded rats?

Ideally, you want to select the color that represents a higher percentage of the animal's body. For
example, if the animal's dark areas represent 60% of its visible body. Then you'll want to select the
"Animal's color is darker than the apparatus background".

Q: In version 4.99 or prior versions, is it possible to track 4 animals at the same time? Or is this feature
new to 5.1?

ANY-maze 4.99 and prior versions allowed you to track up to 16 animals in separate apparatuses at the
same time. Version 5.1 will allow you to track up to 40 animals.

Q: In the new procedures, can you do something like ending a test when an animal has accumulated time
in multiple zones (for example, when doing a Novel Object recognition test)? Can you do that with the
events and actions in previous software?

Yes, you can do this in both new and older versions of ANY-maze. Simply, create a new zone which will
encompass your multiple zones and create an event which will trigger when the animal has spent X
cumulative seconds/minutes/hours in that zone. The Action for this event will be to End the test.

Q: Is 3 point tracking possible for multiple animals?

The three point tracking option is available for all test subjects

Q: What is the best way to get high quality movies when converting ANY-maze movie to AVI format

You will want to ensure you've installed a high quality AVI encoder onto your Windows operating system
and record your ANY-maze videos using the "Best quality" setting.

Q: What kind of data exporting is supported? Can it be exported in a timestamped file showing each event
and when it happened? For example, a .csv file showing the subject's zone in each second.
Data formats supported for exporting test data are sylk, csv, dBase III/IV, and tab separated text. The
Test data report spreadsheet can provide you with a timeline of events as they occurred during the test
with respective time stamps.

Q: Can the system track the nose instead of the body?

Yes it can. ANY-maze always applies three point tracking. The head, center and tail of the animal are
always being tracked. You can define what you want ANY-maze to display. ANY-maze can Mark the
animal’s centre point, Mark the animals head (nose) or Mark the animal’s tail. You can also have ANY-
maze Shade the entire area of the animal, Join the head, cetre point and tail with a line, or show the
animal orientation.

Q: Where do you set a time requirement that the animal has meet/exceed to satisfy finding the platform?

You can enter the time requirement using the Procedures wizard

Q: can you set up calculation to give distance data in CM, instead of meters?

Yes, you can create a calculation to convert one unit of measurement to another

Q: Can you upgrade from version 4 to version 5.1, or do you have to buy 5.1 outright separately?

You can upgrade to the latest version of ANY-maze provided your support license is still active and has
not expired. If your support license has expired you’ll simply need to purchase ANY-maze Upgrade/1 year
access (part number 60050) to upgrade to version 5.1. The cost is $495 USD.

Q: Is it possible to speed up videos during automatic tracking or during manual scoring in a way that the
software recognize that the time test should also be speed up?

Unfortunately, no, this feature will not be available in version 5.1 but we have it on our list for the future.
Tracking an animal can only be performed in real-time.

Q: Is v5.1 still good for up to 25 computers that share a dongle?

The maximum number of licenses a dongle can hold is 14.

Q: Why aren't the circles that DO NOT represent the location of the platform highlighted green when
doing a swim test? Are they not considered part of their respective zone?

Zone positions are not highlighted during tracking because they do not represent the actual physical
location of the platform/island zone during a specific test. Only the area (zone position) set by the user as
the current position of the zone will be highlighted.
Q: Can tracking errors be corrected?

No, the user is not able to edit tracking data points.

Q: If I'd want to score all possible arm alternations (also AARs and SARs), I'd still have to program all of
these possibilities, right?

Yes, you'll need to add all the possible sequences you'd like to track and create a calculation which would
tally these.

Q: Can you analyze two videos side by side (we have two cameras in one animal chamber)?

Yes, you can create a 'montage' video which will 'stitch' two video sources together.

Q: When manual scoring a video, can I go back to specific time of test/ video a rewrite my scoring?

Currently, ANY-maze does not allow the user to manually edit individual data points regardless of
whether these are the animal's center point or key presses.

Q: Regarding virtual switches, would help to see graph of speed across time. Is this possible?

ANY-maze allows you to create a chart of both the animal's speed or when a virtual switch is active or
has been activated.

Q: Wouldn't it be possible to provide alternating sequences & calculations in the software? I have a macro
in .xls that does all these calculations for me, all that is required is the arm sequence.

Yes, ANY-maze allows you to calculate spontaneous alternation by using sequences and a calculation.

Q: Is it possible to have access to the raw data from my manual scoring for example to use that to create a
graph in another software?

ANY-maze provides you with a test data report which displays a list of events that occurred during the
test in a spreadsheet format. You could use this data to create a graph in a separate software.

Q: Can we get an Excel style output of calculated values per subject?

Yes. The software contains a section called the Data page which shows a spreadsheet containing all the
data in an experiment. In general, each row contains the data relating to an individual test and there are
different columns for each measure. This data can be easily exported as an Excel file.

Q: How to deal with lighter & darker areas in the apparatus (dark corners & reflections in center)?
Ideally, you want to avoid shadows/reflections which may affect the quality of your tracking. One way to
reduce shadows/reflections is to direct your lights towards the ceiling which will diffuse light more evenly
across the room.

Q: Can we put the software on multiple computers, if not can we put the analysis portion on multiple
computers?

Each license entitles you to one copy of ANY-maze from which you can track and save your data.
However, you do not need a licensed copy of ANY-maze to perform data analysis of your tracking data.
A critical thing to understand is that license numbers are paired with serial numbers. In other words, a
specific license number will only switch on the tracking system in the copy of ANY-maze that has its paired
serial number. For this reason, when you buy a license, you supply us with the serial number of the copy of
ANY-maze you actually want to license. A license activates ANY-maze only on one computer. But in most
cases you only need a license for copies which will be used for tracking , you can use other, free, copies (the
copy you download from the ANY-maze website) of ANY-maze on any computer (like your home or office
computer) to set up experiments, analyze results, transfer data, etc. In fact we encourage you to put ANY-
maze on as many computers as you’d like.

Q: Is it the case that, like in version 4.99, it is no longer possible to save results when I cannot afford to get
updates a year later?

If you've purchased a perpetual license then ANY-maze will always save results (even if you never
purchase the ANY-maze Upgrade/1 year access (part number 60050)). The Full ANY-maze license (60000)
is a perpetual license and it will continue to save results even after the ability to upgrade has expired (this
expires 1 year after activation of the license).
If you've purchased an annual developing country license (ANY-maze Video Tracking System-1 yr. lease
(Developing Country part number 60000D), the software will save tracking data for one year from license
activation.
 If you have additional questions for Chris Lloyd and Stoelting regarding content from their
webinar or wish to receive additional information about ANY-maze software please
contact them by email or phone:

Chris Lloyd
Lead Developer and Staff Scientist, Stoelting Co.
techsupport@anymaze.com

Headquarters Europe India Japan

Stoelting Co. Stoelting Europe Stoelting India ANY-maze Japan

620 Wheat Lane Ground floor, Hilton House, 3
Wood Dale, IL 60191 Ardee Road
USA Rathmines, Dublin 6
Phone: 1-800-860-9775 Ireland
Fax: 630-860-9775 Phone: +353 1 524 2200
Fax: +353 1 443 0784
Gentech Marketing & Muromachi Kikai Co. Ltd
Distribution Pvt Ltd 4-2-12 Nihonbashi-Muromachi,
B116 & B117 ,R G Complex Chuo-ku
D B Gupta Road Tokyo, Japan 103-0022
Motia Khan, Phone: +81 3 3241-2444
New Delhi 110055 Fax: +81 3 3241-2940
Phone: +91-11-41450265 Email: sales@muromachi.com
or +91-0-9871402197

Email:gentechmd@yahoo.com

Copyright 2016 InsideScientific and Stoelting Co. All Rights Reserved.