Qualitative Study of Current and Prospective Student Perceptions of a University Website

Building a sustainable system that goes beyond myopic interests and short-term policies is an arduous task for any school leader. In the U.S., our education system has been criticized for being too shallow in curriculum and unsustainable in the long run. In fact, a 2007 report by UNICEF concerning children’s well-being in 22 countries ranked the U.K. and the U.S. at the bottom of the industrialized nations in the survey. Hargreaves (2007) laments that these two countries, in their single-minded pursuit of economic competitiveness and development at all costs, are destroying the planet, while “eating their young.

Development of non-destructive analytical strategies based on Raman spectroscopy and complementary techniques for Mars Sample Return tested on Northwest Africa 1950 Martian meteorite

The Mars Sample Return (MSR) is a near future mission to return samples from the surface of Mars to the Earth. The field operations to carry out data collection, selection of the samples, and sampling procedure, mainly related to the CanMars MSR analog mission, are well-studied and published. In contrast, studies related to the methodology implemented to characterize the mineralogy of the returned samples are scarcer and focused on biosignature detection. This work presents a non-destructive analytical methodology based on Raman microscopy (single point and imaging), micro-energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence imaging analysis, and scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive spectroscopy that could be used as a first analytical characterization for the Martian samples that will be returned to the Earth in the upcoming MSR mission, before any destructive analysis. The analytical methodology has been tested on a fragment of the Northwest Africa 1950 Martian meteorite, which gives us a mineralogical characterization of the meteorite. This methodology also allowed to define several chemical reactions taking place in some of the mineral phases (olivines and ilmenite) of the meteorite. In addition to the geochemical characterization of the samples, the fact that this methodology allows to assess the chemical transformations in several minerals gives important clues for describing mineral processes and geological evolution that took place on Mars. This work also shows the advantages and disadvantages that each of the techniques employed has when performing a mineralogical characterization, the information that each one can provide and the importance of combining them.This work has been financially supported through the RamOnMars project: “Contribution of the Raman spectroscopy to the exploration of Mars and Martian Moons: ExoMars, Mars 2020, and MMX missions” (Grant ESP2017-87690-C3-1-R), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and by the Spanish Agency for Research (AEI-MINECO/FEDER) through the Project Science and Instrumentation for the Study of (bio)geochemical processes in Mars (Sigue-Mars), Grant no. RED2018-102600-T. C. García-Florentino is grateful to the Basque Government for her Postdoctoral Grant. J. Huidobro is grateful to the Basque Government for her Predoctoral contract. I. Torre-Fdez acknowledges his predoctoral contract from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). J. Aramendia is grateful to the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 754513 and The Aarhus University Research Foundation for her fellowship. The authors thank the General Service of Electron Microscopy and Materials Microanalysis Laboratory from the SGIker (UPV/EHU, MICINN, GV/EJ, ERDF and ESF) of the University of the Basque Country for their collaboration in the analyses

Contrasting parental roles shape sex differences in poison frog space use but not navigational performance.

Sex differences in vertebrate spatial abilities are typically interpreted under the adaptive specialization hypothesis, which posits that male reproductive success is linked to larger home ranges and better navigational skills. The androgen spillover hypothesis counters that enhanced male spatial performance may be a byproduct of higher androgen levels. Animal groups that include species where females are expected to outperform males based on life-history traits are key for disentangling these hypotheses. We investigated the association between sex differences in reproductive strategies, spatial behavior, and androgen levels in three species of poison frogs. We tracked individuals in natural environments to show that contrasting parental sex roles shape sex differences in space use, where the sex performing parental duties shows wider-ranging movements. We then translocated frogs from their home areas to test their navigational performance and found that the caring sex outperformed the non-caring sex only in one out of three species. In addition, males across species displayed more explorative behavior than females and androgen levels correlated with explorative behavior and homing accuracy. Overall, we reveal that poison frog reproductive strategies shape movement patterns but not necessarily navigational performance. Together this work suggests that prevailing adaptive hypotheses provide an incomplete explanation of sex differences in spatial abilities

Friedrich Hayek and his visits to Chile

F. A. Hayek took two trips to Chile, the first in 1977, the second in 1981. The visits were controversial. On the first trip he met with General Augusto Pinochet, who had led a coup that overthrew Salvador Allende in 1973. During his 1981 visit, Hayek gave interviews that were published in the Chilean newspaper El Mercurio and in which he discussed authoritarian regimes and the problem of unlimited democracy. After each trip, he complained that the western press had painted an unfair picture of the economic situation under the Pinochet regime. Drawing on archival material, interviews, and past research, we provide a full account of this controversial episode in Hayek’s life

Development and Validation of the University Website Evaluation Scale (UWES): A Tool for Assessing Website User Experience on a University Website

The purpose of this study was threefold: (a) to identify factors important to university website users when forming individual attitudes about a university, (b) to develop an associated University Website Evaluation Scale (UWES), and (c) to assess the psychometric properties of the scale. The UWES was designed from the social and clinical psychology, marketing, and human computer interaction literatures. Content and face validity were established through interviews with marketing and website design professionals. The UWES was then piloted, revised, and launched referencing a private non-profit university website with 198 participants recruited through purposive sampling (university and association listservs, social media and business networks, and word-of-mouth). The final 24-item UWES consisted of four subscales with strong internal consistency: Heuristics cues (Visual Appeal and Interactive Links) and Systematic cues (University Experience and Website as a Resource). This study provides a number of contributions to the literature: (a) a new tool for universities to use in evaluating the appeal of their websites to the outside world as well as within the university; and (b) a new a multidisciplinary theoretical model to guide university website development. Limitations to the study included cautions on generalization associated with purposive sampling. Recommendations for future researchers include exploring how dimensions of the website user experience interact to predict consequential attitudes about the university, and even, the likelihood of desired actions, such as applying for admission to programs. It is hoped that this study will spark interest among clinical psychologists to branch out into researching users' thoughts, behaviors, and emotions associated with website user experiences

Proposal for the application of a scramble pedestrian crossing with an exclusive phase to reduce pedestrian-vehicle conflicts taking in consideration the behavioural response of road users at the intersection between Abancay and Nicolas de Pierola Avenues, Lima

En zonas con alto flujo peatonal y vehicular se presentan mayores congestiones e incidentes que afectan principalmente a los peatones y esto ocurre debido al reducido tiempo de cruce peatonal, consideraciones de diseño deficientes y el inadecuado comportamiento de los usuarios viales. Por ello, es necesario realizar el estudio y la aplicación de medidas que contribuyan a salvaguardar la seguridad de los peatones en estas áreas. Actualmente, en la intersección de las avenidas Abancay con Nicolas de Piérola, se prioriza el paso vehicular, a pesar de la alta demanda peatonal y la alta tasa de accidentes. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo reducir la cantidad de conflictos peatón-vehículo por medio de la aplicación de un crucero peatonal diagonal en esta intersección. Para ello, se construye un modelo de microsimulación en el programa VISSIM que represente el comportamiento de los usuarios y permita el análisis de la propuesta. La metodología se desarrolla en tres partes. Primero, se describe y caracteriza la intersección por medio de las visitas de campo y videos recopilados por dron. Posteriormente, los datos obtenidos se introducen al programa, el modelo resultante es calibrado y validado empleando 5 parámetros de fuerza social. Luego, se realizan modificaciones para incluir el crucero peatonal diagonal con la fase semafórica exclusiva generada en VISTRO. Finalmente, se plantea el diseño de la intersección con crucero peatonal diagonal. Como resultado, se comprueba la reducción de conflictos peatón-vehículo en un 74% y el incremento de la seguridad vial con un enfoque en los peatones.In areas with high vehicular and pedestrian flow there are greater congestion and incidents that mainly affect pedestrians, this occurs due to many factors such as reduced crossing time, insufficient design considerations and inadequate user behavior. That is why it is necessary to study countermeasures that help safeguard pedestrians in these areas. Currently, at the intersection between Abancay and Nicolas de Pierola Avenues, the vehicular crossing is prioritized despite of the high-density pedestrian traffic and the high rates of accidents. This investigation aims to reduce the number of pedestrian-vehicle conflicts by implementing a scramble crossing at the intersection. Therefore, a microsimulation model is generate using VISSIM Software that replicate the road user behavior and allows analysis of the applied proposal. The methodology used includes three main parts. First, the intersection is described and characterized by site visits and drone videos. Second, the collected data is entered into a model that represents the current situation, for which it is calibrated and validated using 5 parameters of the social force model. Then, on current situation model, a design is made with the crosswalk proposed. An exclusive pedestrian phase is included adapting the traffic signal optimization generated by VISTRO Software. Finally, an intersection design with an appropriate pedestrian interval is presented to help to increase the road safety and it is verified with a checklist. As a result, this verifies the reduction of road incidents caused mainly by the pedestrian-vehicle conflict by 74% and focuses on improvement of road safety for pedestrians.Tesi

Prolonged Middle Ear Development in Rhinella horribilis

Despite the benefit of the tympanic middle ear to airborne hearing sensitivity, anurans range in how soon they develop functional middle ears after transitioning to life on land. Previous evidence suggested that bufonids had particularly slow middle ear developmental rates, but precise timelines have not yet been published for this family. Here, we provide the first age‐verified middle ear development timeline for a true toad species (family Bufonidae). We find that although middle ear development begins during metamorphosis in Rhinella horribilis, the middle ear remains incomplete 15 weeks after the transition from aquatic tadpole to land‐dwelling toadlet. Using this new middle ear timeline, we discuss commonalities and differences in middle ear development among bufonids, as well as among Anura

Prolonged development of the middle ear in Rhinella horribilis

Despite the benefit of the tympanic middle ear to airborne hearing sensitivity, anurans range in how soon they develop functional middle ears after transitioning to life on land. Previous evi- dence suggested that bufonids had particularly slow middle ear developmental rates, but precise timelines have not yet been published for this family. Here, we provide the first age-verified middle ear development timeline for a true toad species (family Bufonidae). We find that although middle ear development begins during metamorphosis in Rhinella horribilis, the middle ear remains incomplete 15 weeks after the transition from aquatic tadpole to land-dwelling toadlet. Using this new middle ear timeline, we discuss commonalities and differences in middle ear development among bufonids, as well as among Anura.National Science Foundation/[IOS–1350346]/NSF/Estados UnidosNational Science Foundation/[OISE–1157779]/NSF/Estados UnidosNational Science Foundation/[PRFB–1611752]/NSF/Estados UnidosUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP

Weathering alteration in the Antarctic environment as seen in the Miller Range (MIL) 090030 Martian meteorite

The analysis of Martian meteorites is a key research to understand the mineralogical composition of Mars. However, they suffer different types of alteration due to the environment where they fall on Earth. These differences should be identified in order to characterize correctly the original Martian compounds. Most of the meteorites found on Earth are collected in Antarctica where the environmental conditions are such that, in general and based on many previous investigations, produce fewer alterations compared with other terrestrial environments such as hot deserts. In this study, the weathering alterations of minerals from the MIL 090030 Martian Nakhlite found in Antarctica were analyzed to determine which minerals are formed by Antarctic environmental conditions. It was confirmed that the south-polar region environment can contaminate Martian meteorites and, in this study, several minerals like halite, nitratine and niter, were detected as weathering alteration products that have not been referenced in the literature before.This study has been supported through the PAMMAT project ‘Alteration processes in Mars and Moon Meteorites, and Terrestrial Analogues at different environments: Mars2020, Rosalind Franklin and Returned Samples from Mars and Moon’ (Grant No. PID2022-142750OB-I00), funded by the Spanish Agency for Research (through the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, MCIN, and the European Regional Development Fund, FEDER), and the Strategic Project ‘Study of Alteration Processes in Terrestrial and Planetary Materials’ (Grant No. UPV/EHU PES21/88), funded by the UPV/EHU. J. Aramendia is grateful to the University of the Basque Country and the Ministry of Universities for her post-doctoral Maria Zambrano position. Open Access funding by University of Basque Country

A map of binary SARS-CoV-2 protein interactions implicates host immune regulation and ubiquitination

Key steps in viral propagation, immune suppression, and pathology are mediated by direct, binary, physical interactions between viral and host proteins. To understand the biology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, we generated an unbiased systematic map of binary interactions between viral and host proteins, complementing previous co-complex association maps by conveying more direct mechanistic understanding and potentially enabling targeted disruption of direct interactions. To this end, we deployed two parallel strategies, identifying 205 virus-host and 27 intraviral binary interactions amongst 171 host and 19 viral proteins, and confirming high quality of these interactions via a calibrated orthogonal assay. Host proteins interacting with SARS-CoV-2 proteins are enriched in various cellular processes, including immune signaling and inflammation, protein ubiquitination, and membrane trafficking. Specific subnetworks provide new hypotheses related to viral modulation of host protein homeostasis and T-cell regulation. The binary virus-host protein interactions we identified can now be prioritized as targets for therapeutic intervention. More generally, we provide a resource of systematic maps describing which SARS-CoV-2 and human proteins interact directl