Forging Structures, Systems and Policies that Work in Communities: Stories and Lessons from Building Healthy Communities

In this case study series, we explore successes, opportunities, challenges and transitions experienced "in place" as communities endeavor to create and sustain healthy communities for children and families

Learning through the waste: olfactory cues from the colony refuse influence plant preferences in foraging leaf-cutting ants

Leaf-cutting ants learn to avoid plants initially harvested if they proved to be harmful for their symbiotic fungus once incorporated into the nest. By this time, waste particles removed from the garden likely contain cues originating from both the unsuitable plant and the damaged fungus. We investigated whether leaf-cutting ant foragers learn to avoid unsuitable plants solely through the colony waste. We fed subcolonies of Acromymex ambiguus privet leaves treated with a fungicide undetectable for the ants, collected later the produced waste, and placed it into the fungus chamber of naïve subcolonies. In individual choice tests, naïve foragers preferred privet leaves before, but avoided them after waste was given into the fungus chamber. Evidence on the influence of olfactory cues from the waste on decision making by foragers was obtained by scenting and transferring waste particles from subcolonies that had been fed either fungicide-treated or untreated leaves. In choice experiments, foragers from subcolonies given scented waste originating from fungicide-treated leaves collected less sugared paper disks smelling to it, as compared to foragers from subcolonies given scented waste from untreated leaves. Results indicate that foragers learn to avoid plants unsuitable for the fungus by associating plant odours and cues from the damaged fungus that are contingent in waste particles. It is argued that waste particles may contribute to spread information about noxious plants for the fungus within the colony.Fil: Arenas, Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; Argentina. Universität Würzburg; AlemaniaFil: Roces, Flavio. Universität Würzburg; Alemani

The Global Employer: The Employment Law Review and Reform Issue

[Excerpt] Although the economies of many jurisdictions are improving, there is still some lingering global economic uncertainty. It is no surprise that governments the world over continue to revisit their employment laws to see what else, if anything, can be done to further stimulate their economies. 2013 was another busy year for employment law reform. Baker & McKenzie’s Global Employment Practice Group is pleased to present its 55th issue of The Global Employer™ entitled “The Employment Law Review and Reform Issue.” In this issue, we review changes to the law in 2013 and a look at pending changes for 2014. Included, you will find information pertaining to the leasing of employees in Germany; new measures in Spain intended to promote employment among young people under 30 and employee privacy rights over employers\u27 controls; challenges to the applicable interest rate to worker\u27s claims in Argentina; how employment law reforms will significantly impact employers in Mexico and in some specific cases, may considerably elevate increase the cost of formal employment; and controversy around making the Colombian Social Security System more progressive. We also review several significant legal developments in China during 2013 that impact employers operating there; legislative changes that were expected in Hong Kong in 2013 that may be implemented in 2014 including a focus on discrimination in the coming years; and welcome changes to TUPE and automatic pension plan enrollment in the United Kingdom