Das zeigt doch nur, dass ich’s nicht kann : Zielorientierung und Einstellung gegenüber Hilfe bei Lehramtsanwärtern

Basierend auf Theorien der motivationalen Zielorientierung analysiert die vorliegende Untersuchung den Zusammenhang zwischen der beruflichen Zielorientierung von N = 224 Lehramtsanwärterinnen und –anwärtern und deren Einstellung gegenüber Hilfe. Durch die Vermeidungsleistungszielorientierung (das habituelle Verfolgen des Ziels, nicht als inkompetente Lehrkraft aufzufallen) konnte vorhergesagt werden, inwieweit die angehenden Lehrer/-innen das Erbitten von Hilfe als bedrohlich wahrnahmen. Die Wahrnehmung von Hilfe als lernförderlich konnte durch die Lernzielorientierung (das habituelle Verfolgen des Ziels, als Lehrer/-in die eigenen Kompetenzen zu steigern) vorhergesagt werden. Die Wahrnehmung von Hilfe als zusätzlichen Aufwand verursachend stand im Zusammenhang mit der Tendenz zur Arbeitsvermeidung. Die Befunde werden vor dem Hintergrund der Bedeutung motivationaler Faktoren für die Erklärung des Erlebens und Verhaltens von (angehenden) Lehrkräften diskutiert

An investigation into the techniques for detecting hedgehogs in a rural landscape

Various techniques and devices have been developed for the purpose of detecting wildlife but many only provide optimum results in particular habitats, for certain species or under ideal weather conditions. It is therefore advantageous to understand the efficiency and suitability of techniques under different scenarios. The effectiveness of methods for detecting rural Irish hedgehogs was investigated as part of a larger study in April 2008. Road kill sightings and questionnaires were employed to locate possible hedgehog sites. Six sites were subsequently selected, and in these areas trapping, spotlighting and foot print tunnels were employed to investigate whether hedgehogs were indeed in the surrounding landscape. Infrared thermal imagery was examined as a detection device. Trapping and infrared imagery failed to detect hedgehogs in areas where they had previously been recorded. Footprint tunnels proved to be unsuccessful in providing absolute proof of hedgehogs in an area. No single method of detection technique could be relied upon to conclude the presence of hedgehogs in an area. A combination of methods is therefore recommended. However, spotlighting was the most effective method, taking a mean of 4 nights to detect a hedgehog, in comparison to 48 nights if footprint tunnels were used as a sole method of detection. This was also suggested by rarefaction curves of these two detection techniques, where over a 48 night period hedgehogs were expected to be recorded 27 times through spotlighting and just 5 times in an equivalent period of footprint tunnel nights

Intra- and interhabitat differences in hedgehog distribution and potential prey availability

With little previous research on the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus Linnaeus) in Ireland, 22 hedgehogs (16 females and six males) were tagged at a rural Irish site between June 2008 and November 2009. Transect, surveying surface invertebrates were carried out in the centre and hedgerow in arable and pasture lands distributed throughout the site. In both years, hedgehogs selected arable land and this coincided with a rise in invertebrate density. This and the fact that within the arable field hedgehogs concentrated their activity where there was a greater density of potential prey suggest that hedgehogs learn the spatial location of prospective food. Contrary to other research, in most of the hedgehogs’ home range, individuals consistently foraged in the centre of both pasture and arable lands. Potential prey was lower in fields where the hedgerow had no bramble understory, and this suggests that hedgerow with good ground cover acts as an important reserve for invertebrates. Badgers (Meles meles Linnaeus) were seen on 12 occasions within the hedgehogs’ home range and they did not appear to have a negative effect on the hedgehogs’ use of the site. It was concluded that the main factor affecting the hedgehogs’ distribution within each habitat was the availability and accessibility of potential prey

An investigation into the occurrence of hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) on Irish roads

Hedgehogs are one of the most common mammalian road fatalities in Europe. Between April 2008 and November 2010, two stretches of road measuring 227 km (Cork City to Caherlistrane, Co. Galway) and 32.5 km (Cork City to Bandon, Co. Cork) respectively were surveyed for hedgehog road kill. In addition to the sightings of road kill on the two stretches of road, a further 135 carcasses were collected over the study period from throughout Ireland and the sex and age group were recorded. Over the three years, a total of 50 430 km were surveyed and 133 hedgehog fatalities were observed between the two surveyed roads. The number of hedgehog road kill per km in the current study was low when compared to countries such as Belgium, Poland and New Zealand. It is suggested that this may be a consequence of hedgehogs having a greater opportunity to encounter larger busier roads in other countries. Over the three years, the majority of the 133 carcasses sighted were located beside pasture, which was the most prominent habitat along both routes. Arable land was the only habitat used in a greater proportion than what was available. K-function analysis detected clustering along the surveyed roads, with fatalities clustering annually at several locations. This would suggest that hedgehogs may use specific crossing points which would be important for the implementation of management strategies and underpass construction. Of the 135 hedgehog carcasses collected from throughout Ireland there was significantly more males than females collected, with peaks in male deaths occurring in May and June. Female deaths only outnumbered males in August, with further peaks in female deaths observed in June and July. It is suggested that these peaks are related to the breeding season (adults) and dispersal/ exploration following independence (juveniles)

Habitat selection, philopatry and spatial segregation in rural Irish hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)

As a non-territorial species with no known dispersal period, there are no obvious factors that regulate hedgehog numbers in an area. This study aimed to examine these factors and involved the radio-tracking of rural hedgehogs over a 3-year period. Males had a significantly larger mean annual home range (56 ha) than females (16.5 ha), which was at its maximum during the breeding season. Outside of the breeding season, the home range was relatively small (4-5 ha) in both sexes. The home ranges of males completely overlapped both each other and all of the females. In contrast, females occupied more exclusive areas with little overlap between one another. On a nightly basis, both sexes occupied spatially independent areas with little overlap. Compositional analysis of the data showed that habitats were not used in proportion to their availability but were selected, and this changed seasonally, with the highest preference being for garden and arable land. Hedgehogs tagged for consecutive years exhibited site philopatry and followed the same pattern of habitat selection annually. It is suggested that the spatial separation observed amongst individual hedgehogs could restrict numbers in an area and that female numbers reach a carrying capacity before that of males

Courtship behaviour of western hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in a rural landscape in Ireland and the first appearance of offspring

A study was conducted to investigate the timing of the breeding season of western hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in a rural landscape in Ireland, their courtship activity and the first appearance and possible dispersal of juveniles. Between June 2008 and June 2010, 24 hedgehogs (18 ♂ and 6 ♀) were caught and monitored by radio tracking and direct following. A preponderance of males was recorded in both adults and juveniles at the study site and the sex ratio deviated significantly from a 1:1 ratio. Courtship behaviour took place between April and July and occurred almost exclusively in a nine ha pasture. An individual female paired with up to seven males in a season. The first appearance of juveniles was recorded in September (2008) and July (2009). The majority (n=22) of juvenile sightings, both alive and as road kill, occurred in July but they continued to be recorded up until November (n=3). The presence of juveniles at the study site in October 2008 and a pregnant female being found in September 2009 indicated that late litters occur in Ireland

A preliminary investigation into the endoparasite load of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Ireland

The European hedgehog is strictly protected in the Republic of Ireland but has been little studied. Carcasses, such as road kill casualties, can provide valuable information on population demographics, parasite load and general body condition. This study aimed to examine the species of endoparasites present in hedgehogs, their prevalence and intensities and whether differences occurred depending on the age and sex of the hedgehog. Carcasses were collected and examined from around Ireland, over a 3-year period. In 21 of the 23 hedgehogs examined, endoparasites were identified. The nematode species, Crenosoma triatum and Capillaria erinacei were both positively identified. C. striatium was confined to the lungs, whereas C. erinacei was the most prevalent (87%) endoparasite and occurred in the stomach and intestines. There was a significantly higher load of Crenosoma striatum observed in male hedgehogs compared to females, but no significant difference was observed in the intensity of C. erinacei between the sexes. In all tissues, a greater mean endoparasite load was observed in male hedgehogs. Sex differences in exposure or immunity to parasitism could be related to the males’ larger home range and the effects of oestrogen levels on immunity

Managed parks as a refuge for the threatened red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in light of human disturbance

As the invasive grey squirrel continues to spread, red squirrels are dying out. The result may be isolated populations in managed parks, where access can be controlled. However, recreation can often have a negative effect on wildlife, reducing the conservation potential of parks. Fota Wildlife Park receives over 300,000 visitors each year and is located on an island that is currently free of grey squirrels. We examined the effect of visitors on the existing red squirrel population. Sampling was conducted in the presence and absence of the public. Ten trapping sessions took place from March 2013 to 2014 and faeces were collected to examine stress levels. Squirrels were observed to concentrate their activity in non-public areas and move into public areas when the park was closed. Radio tracked squirrels, from the adjacent gardens (intermediate disturbance), also used habitats in the wildlife park (high disturbance) when it was closed but returned when the park had opened. When squirrels were observed in public areas, visitors were only visible on 15% of occasions. Levels of faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) were highest in areas where human disturbance was greatest. However, there was no correlation between visitor numbers and the stress levels of squirrels. FCM levels were however, positively correlated with density of squirrels. The fact that high numbers of squirrels continued to utilise the wildlife park demonstrates that managed parks could provide an important reserve for the maintenance of the species, as long as non-public areas are accessible

Regulation of KCNQ Genes as a Mechanism Underlying Epileptogenesis

Epilepsy can develop in response to a brain insult, such as an initial seizure, stroke or traumatic brain injury. This insult induces a variety of cellular and molecular changes, observed in the clinic as a latent period, leading to a state of chronic spontaneous seizures. KCNQ/Kv7 channels are voltage-gated potassium channels which regulate neuronal excitability and protect against hyperexcitability through the Kv7 current. The transcriptional expression of KCNQ/Kv7 channels has previously been shown to be regulated by the transcription factors REST/NRSF, Sp1 and NFAT in peripheral neurons, but the presence of these mechanisms in the brain has not been examined. In this project, organotypic hippocampal slice cultures were used to investigate changes in Kcnq/Kv7 expression changes in epileptic conditions and in response to REST modulation. Adenovirus was used to deliver REST overexpression or a dominant negative REST to the slice cultures, with a novel delivery technique enabling up to 41% infection of total cells, including neurons and microglia, without observable toxicity. REST modulation had no effect on Kcnq2/3 expression, but inhibition of HDACs, which are recruited by REST to repress its target genes, caused de-repression of Kcnq2, suggesting Kcnq2 is regulated by HDACs. The chemoconvulsants kainate and 4-aminopyridine both caused a large upregulation of the epileptic marker BDNF. Kainate exposure caused a downregulation of Kcnq2, associated with a reduction of the Kv7.2 protein it encodes, specific to the CA1 hippocampal region. Expression patterns suggest that in contrast to REST’s known direct repression of BDNF, it may indirectly contribute to Bdnf upregulation following seizure through its pro-epileptic effects. Furthermore, Bdnf levels were correlated with Kcnq2 and Kcnq3, and Bdnf appears to help to maintain Kcnq2/3 expression in epileptic conditions. The downregulation of Kcnq2 after kainate exposure may contribute to epileptogenesis and could provide an area for therapeutic targeting

Tasks Performed by Medical Secretaries

This study was to determine what tasks are regularly performed by medical secretaries and medical transcriptionists. The objective was to learn with what frequency these tasks are performed and what level of skill is necessary in the areas of clerical practices, medical terminology, clinical procedures, and medical transcription.Occupational and Adult Educatio