Agouti signalling protein is an inverse agonist to the wildtype and agonist to the melanic variant of the melanocortin-1 receptor in the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

The melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) is a key regulator of mammalian pigmentation. Melanism in the grey squirrel is associated with an eight amino acid deletion in the mutant melanocortin-1 receptor with 24 base pair deletion (MC1RΔ24) variant. We demonstrate that the MC1RΔ24 exhibits a higher basal activity than the wildtype MC1R (MC1R-wt). We demonstrate that agouti signalling protein (ASIP) is an inverse agonist to the MC1R-wt but is an agonist to the MC1RΔ24. We conclude that the deletion in the MC1RΔ24 leads to a receptor with a high basal activity which is further activated by ASIP. This is the first report of ASIP acting as an agonist to MC1R

Morphological and Geochemical Evidence of Eumelanin Preservation in the Feathers of the Early Cretaceous Bird, Gansus yumenensis

Recent studies have shown evidence for the preservation of colour in fossilized soft tissues by imaging melanosomes, melanin pigment containing organelles. This study combines geochemical analyses with morphological observations to investigate the preservation of melanosomes and melanin within feathers of the Early Cretaceous bird, Gansus yumenensis. Scanning electron microscopy reveals structures concordant with those previously identified as eumelanosomes within visually dark areas of the feathers but not in lighter areas or sedimentary matrices. Fourier transform infrared analyses show different spectra for the feathers and their matrices; melanic functional groups appear in the feather including carboxylic acid and ketone groups that are not seen in the matrix. When mapped, the carboxylic acid group absorption faithfully replicates the visually dark areas of the feathers. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy of one specimen demonstrates the presence of organic signals but proved too insensitive to resolve melanin. Pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry shows a similar distribution of aliphatic material within both feathers that are different from those of their respective matrices. In combination, these techniques strongly suggest that not only do the feathers contain endogenous organic material, but that both geochemical and morphological evidence supports the preservation of original eumelanic pigment residue

Individual variation in corticosterone and personality traits in the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus

Source: Variation in personality traits is predicted to reflect physiology, but the extent to which variations in stress hormones derive from differences in personality and/or state-dependent factors remains unclear. To investigate this, wild blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) were briefly brought into captivity and scored for personality and corticosterone (Cort) concentrations. More active females had lower baseline Cort than less active individuals. Exploratory tendency and neophobia did not co-vary with baseline Cort. Stress-induced Cort concentrations were correlated negatively with exploratory tendency and haematocrit, but positively with mass gain in captivity. Therefore, baseline and stress-induced Cort concentrations in wintering blue tits were associated with state-dependent variables, sex, age and personality traits. Key to interpreting the physiology of personality traits seems to be their interactions with other traits that mediate ability to utilise resources, and thus influence an individual’s perception of its current and future energy balance

Trauertrachten - Ursprünge, Entwicklung und heutige Anwendung am Beispiel der Sorben

Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt einen Überblick über die sorbische Trauertracht. Aus-gangspunkt bildet, neben einer Erläuterung zu den Sorben selbst, eine ausführliche Beschreibung der sorbischen Trauertracht. Es werden die wesentlichen Bestandteile der sorbischen Trauertracht sowie die Bedeutung der Farben innerhalb der Tracht be-schrieben. Weiterhin wird auf die Anwendung der Tracht innerhalb verschiedener Trauerphasen eingegangen. Den Abschluss des 2. Abschnittes bildet eine Beschrei-bung der sorbischen Trauertracht am Beispiel des Trachtengebietes Schleife sowie ein Exkurs zur männlichen Tracht. Im Anschluss wird auf die Entwicklung der Trauertracht bis zur heutigen Verwendung eingegangen. Hierbei spielt vor allem die geschichtliche Entwicklung auch in Bezug auf die Tracht eine Rolle. Die Veränderungen bei den verschiedenen Trachtenteilen werden in separaten Abschnitten beschrieben, wobei auch hier versucht wird, auf die Unterschiede in den einzelnen Trachtengebieten einzugehen. Weiterhin erfolgt eine Darstellung, wie sich Materialien und deren Beschaffung, bestimmte Techniken und die Herstellung der Tracht verändert haben. Auch die Aufbewahrung der Tracht wird beschrieben. Den Abschluss der Arbeit bilden eine Zusammenfassung sowie ein Ausblick zum Thema.The presented thesis gives an overview about the national Sorbian funereal costumes. The thesis starts, beside an explanation to the Sorb culture, with a detailed description of the national Sorbian funereal costume. The essential components of the Sorbian fu-nereal costume as well as the meaning of the colours within the national costume are described. Furthermore it is entered on the application of the national costume within different funereal phases. A description of the national funeral costume at the example of the area of Schleife as well as an excursus to the male national costume finish the 2nd chapter. XXXI Followed up connection it is entered on the development of the national funereal cos-tume up to the today's usage. An important role on the development of the national costume is played by history. The changes with the different national costume parts are described in separate segments and it is also tried to come on the differences in the single national costume areas. Furthermore a representation occurs, like materials and their procurement, certain technologies and the production of the national costume have changed. Also the safekeeping of the national costume is described. The end of the work form a summary as well as a view on the subject

Increasing Parent-Teacher Communication in Private Preschools

Parent-teacher communication is a first step in increasing family engagement. Private childcare centers have been found to report less frequent parent-child communication than publicly funded early childhood education programs such as Head Start. Using a matched comparison group design, we tested the impact of a two-pronged intervention, the Family Map Inventory for Early Childhood (Family Map; family assessment) and Teaching Important Parenting Skills (TIPS; brief parenting interventions on broad array of topics), on parent-teacher communication in private childcare centers serving low-income families. The intervention included a 4-hour Family Map training and a 6-hour TIPS training aimed at improving parent-teacher communication. Trained teachers conducted Family Map interviews and implemented TIPS for four months.  Results indicated: (1) teachers were willing to implement the Family Map/ TIPS intervention in private child care settings; and (2) the parents and teachers in the intervention group reported higher levels of parent-teacher communication than those in the comparison group

Supporting Family Engagement with Parents of Infants and Toddlers

Engaging families of preschool children in partnerships with early childcare providers includes, among other activities, engaging in meaningful conversation, linking parents to needed services, and supporting parents as they capitalize on family protective factors. Early childhood programs struggle to implement systematic processes to support teachers in engaging families and documenting the interactions. This report summarizes the development and implementation of a tool designed to facilitate family engagement with childcare. The study targets a rural, multi-center agency serving Early Head Start families using an inventory called The Family Map. This report provides evidence of the feasibility of implementation, the reliability, and validity of the screening questions, and the range of risk and strengths identified in Early Head Start families served

Family Engagement: Establishing a System to Support the Parent-Teacher Partnership

The Family Map Inventories were developed to support programs in their efforts to engage parents and understanding family needs and strengths. The Family Map Inventories are supportive of the framework put forth by Office of Head Start’s National Center on Parent, Family and Community Engagement (NCPFCE) and were developed with the Head Start performance standards as a guiding principle. This study provides evidence of the feasibility and usefulness of the Inventories used with parents of Infants and Toddlers. Parents and teachers were accepting of the Inventory. The Infant – Toddler Family Map Inventory appeared to provide an accurate assessment of the risks and strengths in the home and parenting environments of young children. The potential for use by educators is discussed